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What can help me achieve my goal of joining a trade school for welding after high school?
What can help me achieve my goal of joining a trade school for welding after high school?
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Liam’s Answer
The big thing with trade school is to keep what you learned in high school fresh in your mind. Keep your math and reading comprehension skills up to date and be prepared to learn and study on your own so you can get through your book work easily.
Too many times people think "I want to weld!" and are prepared for the difficult working conditions or are interested in just working with tools. They forget their algebra, have a difficult time reading instruction sheets, or they rely on just learning by watching rather than learning from books.
Other than that, build and become familiar with tools. There are a ton of cheap tools on aliexpress, amazon, and at harbor freight. Start to get some tools and build anything. If you are metal working try to get used tools as well. American made wrenches from the 1970s are pretty great and I am sure you can find other inexpensive well made used tools as well just to start to build your own shop!
https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesale-metal-working-tools
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=welding+tools
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=metal+working+tools+vevor
Too many times people think "I want to weld!" and are prepared for the difficult working conditions or are interested in just working with tools. They forget their algebra, have a difficult time reading instruction sheets, or they rely on just learning by watching rather than learning from books.
Other than that, build and become familiar with tools. There are a ton of cheap tools on aliexpress, amazon, and at harbor freight. Start to get some tools and build anything. If you are metal working try to get used tools as well. American made wrenches from the 1970s are pretty great and I am sure you can find other inexpensive well made used tools as well just to start to build your own shop!
Liam recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Ronald’s Answer
After High school I would suggest going to 1 of the local union halls, preferably the plumbers and steam fitters local( their scale is higher) and get into an apprenticeship program. Not only will this improve your welding skills but will put you in touch with older Tradesmen who can help you with the tried and true "old school" ways.