[TheForge] Welding in general

[RIES NIEMI]

Welding is certainly not essential to being a purist blacksmith, with the
exception of forge welding.
However, it is a pretty handy companion skill, and lots of times for reasons
of cost, it is common to combine electrical or gas welding with forging.

If you want to learn how to weld, there is no better place than your local
community college- they usually have low cost, night classes, and a wide
range of equipment with knowlegable instructors.
If you take a welding class at community college, you can try out mig, tig,
stick and gas welding, and find out which one is right for the kind of work
you want to do. Many of them will even let you bring in your own projects
and work on them.

Over the years I have hired quite a few employees out of the community
college welding programs- at least 5 of them with 2 year AA degrees in
welding. Someone who has been thru that program has a commitment to learning
about metal, has a basic knowledge of types of metals, fabricating
processes, and welding. I find this an excellent base for general metal shop
work. Some people can never learn how to weld, but I have never had a welder
who couldnt learn how to forge. In fact, they all are eager and ready to
learn it. 

Check North Seattle or Edmonds Community colleges, there may be more schools
I dont know about.