Welding Basics

Welding is such a versatile skill to have and comes in handy when something needs to be fixed, fabricated or your creativity kicks in. We are excited to show you how to get started and help you get the basics under your belt so you can move on to those long awaited projects.

- Safety comes first so wear appropriate clothing:

closed toe shoes, work clothes that can get dirty or singed, preferably jeans and a long sleeve 100% cotton shirt (synthetic fabrics can be flammable) and your hair up.

In this session you will be learning MIG and Arc welding: welding safety, equipment use, proper preparation, hands on practice of various types of welding joint techniques, as well as what quality welds should look like and how to trouble-shoot. This workshop is set up as a first time experience and practice session (there will be no specific project that you will be taking home at the end of this lesson).

-Reminder to Makerspace Members-

This is a  REQUIRED METAL SHOP SAFETY COURSE. Learned skills are necessary  before you can use the Metal Shop independently. 

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We have all been cooped up during these strange and stressful times. Many of us are trying to find fun and safe activities to do with friends and family to help us reconnect after being apart for so long.

Rest assured that the Makerspace staff are doing their best to keep this a safe environment with extra cleaning and safety protocols. High traffic surfaces are wiped down with disinfectant, but please help us out by following these protocols:

If you have been feeling sick please communicate with the instructor to postpone or reschedule. Open communication is Key!

Wash your hands periodically, Sign in when you arrive, Wear your masks, Have A Blast During Class, Sign out before you leave.

Your Instructor for this class will be Dustin Swiers. If you need to get ahold of him to schedule/ reschedule a class, ask him a question or advice about a project, or commission him to make something for you please contact him here:

Dustin Swiers: dustin.swiers@gmail.com 507-273-0745

A Little about the instructor:

"Dustin is a very patient and encouraging teacher, all of the classes I have taken with him have been fun and informative. He has a knack for making you feel comfortable right away in the artistic process and eases any anxieties you might have about trying a new art form."

Dustin is a visual artist who has been honing his craft for over 10 years. He has a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) and Masters of Arts (MA) degree in Metal Sculpture and Ceramics from MNSU. He also is a professional Glass artist and is the sole proprietor of Flame In Hand Glass. He is a board member and our Metal, Glass and Ceramic Shop Lead here at the Mankato Makerspace, where he helps run the shop and teaches classes on Glass blowing/ Lampworking, Stained glass, Pottery, Welding and metal fabricating/ sculpture. You are in safe and capable hands with this knowledgeable individual.