Welding class

Starting in January, I'm back in college taking welding. We spend little time in the classroom, with the bulk of the 4 hours out in the shop. Class is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I'm having a great time with the class, even when the practice sessions in the shop are tiring/frustrating, and the bookwork is tedius at times. The teacher, Gabe, with 15 years experience in the industry, is very good. Half of the class is the intro class, with the advanced 2 and 3, MIG and TIG students also in the class with us.

Intro students start with Oxy-fuel (gas torch) welding. Students have to complete the tasks in order and meet the teachers approval before moving on to the next and usually more difficult task. I just completed all the oxy-fuel tasks and get to move on to shielded metal arc wedling (stick welding).

Here's the tasks required for the oxy-fuel portion of the class (in case you want to follow along at home).
-Practice moving the torch in a straight line -- raise a puddle [of molten metal] (4 times)
-Add filler rod to a puddle (4 times)
-Full plate puddle penetration - make the puddle melt through the whole 1/8" plate without creating a hole (3 times)
-Lap joint weld (2 sides)
-T joint weld (2 sides)
-Outside corner weld with a gap
-Butt joint with a gap
-Horizontal weld with a gap
-Vertical weld with a gap
-Overhead weld with a gap (!)

I just passed the overhead weld test. I did 4 welds before I figured it out--I have to get the top of the plate to melt to the puddle in additon to the bottom. And it really is overhead welding-the torch and I are underneath the puddle and the shower of sparks from the torch flame rain down from above.