Couldn’t think of anywhere on this site better to post this recommendation:
MK Engineering – Welder Training www.mkengineering.co.uk £60p/h

Martin, as I’m sure others on this site can testify, is a top bloke and very knowledgeable.

As for the specifics of the training: I’ve never personally enjoyed the fixed pace course type instruction offered in group environments as I always feel they get dragged down to the lowest common denominator of the group and I get bored and loose concentration. So when I wanted to brush up on my welding prior to starting my own project I opted for a couple of hours of one to one with Martin. I had done a very small amount of mig work about 20 years ago but had no confidence in my ability to do structural welding. Whilst after 2 hours I’m no expert I am confident I can now produce structurally sound welds, what’s more he has given me the pointers needed to practice and improve further on my own.

Whilst I spent the majority of my time on the MIG, I was curious about the TIG process so within my two hour session I also managed some time tig’ing both steal and alloy.

Whilst the welder training was exceptional value, picking his brains about things that will help me on my own project can only be described as priceless!

£60 p/h

I got a 14 week course, 3 hours a night, 6 or 7 in the class, each in individual bays with the instructor coming round all the time. Also he was about before class to chat too and discuss stuff with.

Ended up with C&G qualification and I'm sure it didn't cost 2 hours of martins time.

Not claiming I learnt more in my 14 weeks ..... but it was continual learning and i got to practice stuff at home in between lessons + felt good value to me.

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeR
I got a 14 week course, 3 hours a night, 6 or 7 in the class, each in individual bays with the instructor coming round all the time. Also he was about before class to chat too and discuss stuff with.

Ended up with C&G qualification and I'm sure it didn't cost 2 hours of martins time.

Not claiming I learnt more in my 14 weeks ..... but it was continual learning and i got to practice stuff at home in between lessons + felt good value to me.

---

£90 for 15 two hour sessions at the local colledge.

so far have spent 2 sessions solidly stick welding -getting good at this.

last night started on the mig for 2 hours and will spend the next 4 hours on the mig

then on to te Tig

Paul

I guess it all comes down to what’s important, welding I see as a means to an end and whilst I could have spent several weeks doing the night-school-coarse gig that’s not for me, obviously it is for many and there are obviously social benefits from group learning.

I’m also happy to differentiate between learning and practice, I have my own welder so I can practice further at home, the pointers martin gave giving me confidence to decide if I’m heading in the right direction or not.

As for picking his brains, this went way beyond welding especially as his current project is a zx12r midi and I am starting a 12r powered one off midi project.

At the end of the day, value is relative, could I have had more training hours for my ££££ elsewhere, yes, would the quality have been better elsewhere, I don’t believe so, would anywhere else have been as tailored to my needs, probably not.

So I paid my money and made my choice and for me it was the best value two hours I’ve had in a long time!

[Edited on 22/4/09 by orton1966]

quote:

---

Originally posted by orton1966


So I paid my money and made my choice and for me it was the best value two hours I’ve had in a long time!

[Edited on 22/4/09 by orton1966]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by omega0684
£60 p/h

---

Yea I thought about it a short while ago reading a post on piston heads, VX dealer quoting £90+ hour labour, brings it into prospective ?

It's Martin's time, machinery and materials not subsidised by an education authority or local government so I think he is entitled to ask what he wants and if people are willing to pay for his knowledge that is a good trade. While he's doing that he is not doing something else which could be making him money unlike a college instructor who is being paid solely to teach a class ( usually very handsomely as well )

quote:

---

Originally posted by omega0684
£60 p/h

---

Welding (and presumably a bit of fabrication etc) lessons from Martin Keenan would be like having a guitar lesson with David Gilmour, with him providing the studio, guitars, amplifiers etc.

John