Many years ago I did an oxyacetylene welding course as evening classes along with a mate, the two of us thought we would be doing all sorts of repairs, but I never actually got around to buying an oxyacetylene Porta Pak, though occasionally I did borrow a small arc welder.

I was actually taught soldering and brazing in the workshop at school whilst doing the O-Level Metalwork course prior to that and have a selection of five propane gas torches.

For mobile repairs a oxyacetylene Porta Pak is probably still the simplest option for use in the middle of a field, but these days there options that are far easy to use, but that usually mean getting the workpiece to the workshop.

Last night after reading the original post I had a look to see what introduction to welding courses are being run locally, the pickings are at bit thin, back when I was a lad every college ran part time evening courses for hobbyists as well as starting people off in a career. There’s nothing in my immediate area, the closest being in the next county as a part time day course and it is only open to those aged nineteen and over, which isn’t an issue for me, but doesn’t help a young budding engineer to start gaining additional skills.

I could actually quite fancy doing a term of evening classes over the Winter doing basic welding or some other skills training, but nothing like that really seems to exist anymore.

I pretty much taught myself 45 years ago. In those days, an affordable car needed annual welding.

I pretty much taught myself 45 years ago. In those days, an affordable car needed annual welding.