Hands at work in a trades workshop.
Guide wanted

Welding Fundamentals: First Bead to Finished Project

Take people who bought a welder from tinkering to a finished project they're proud of.

6 weeksOne 3-hour session a weekLocation set with the Guide4–6 Members
Apply to teach this Course

The Course

For the person who bought a welder and can stick two pieces together but doesn't trust the weld. Members learn setup, safety and technique on MIG first, then plan, cut, fit and weld a small project of their own, such as a welding cart, a bench or a trailer repair, with a pro checking every joint.

What Members walk away able to do

  • Set up a MIG welder: polarity, wire, gas, voltage and wire speed
  • Run consistent beads in flat, horizontal and vertical positions
  • Read a weld: spot porosity, undercut and lack of fusion
  • Cut, fit and tack a project square
  • Finish a project of their own design

Draft outline

A starting point. You shape the final version with us.

  1. Week 1 — Safety, PPE, machine setup and first beads
  2. Week 2 — Bead control and reading your welds
  3. Week 3 — Joints: butt, lap, T and corner
  4. Week 4 — Out of position: horizontal and vertical
  5. Week 5 — Project build: cut, fit, tack
  6. Week 6 — Project finish and inspection

Who we're looking for

  • A working welder or fabricator (AWS certification a plus)
  • Access to, or a plan for, a safe space with ventilation
  • Someone who likes explaining why a weld failed

What AlongSide brings

We build the Course with you

You bring the know-how. We help shape the outline, write the checklists and handouts, and set the pacing.

A place to teach

Where it fits, the Course runs at an AlongSide Space — the Philadelphia garage, or the Linwood kitchen or gym.

Enrollment and payment handled

Members enroll and pay through AlongSide. Reminders and attendance are handled for you.

Members already asking

We promote the Course to people on AlongSide who have asked for this skill.

Already teach it? Bring it here

If you already run a Course on this subject, list it on AlongSide after a short review. It carries the AlongSide name and reaches our Members.

Pay agreed up front

Tuition, schedule and your share are agreed together before the Course launches.

How it works

  1. 1
    Apply

    Tell us about your experience. It takes about five minutes.

  2. 2
    Talk with us

    A short call about the Course, your schedule and how you teach.

  3. 3
    Audition

    Teach a 20-minute sample, either as a short video or live at an AlongSide Space.

  4. 4
    Build and launch

    We finish the Course with you, set the dates, and open enrollment.