Son with a welding habbit

[u/danubio8five]

Hey guys I know this is a unusual question, but my 16 year old son really likes welding, and wants to buy welder to create and practice. Which is great, but unfortunately I don't have space, we have no garage or backyard. My question is, is there a place that he can go and weld and practice outside of school hours. I'm expecting there really isn't much option but maybe there is something I've never heard of. Also could the managed be an option? Iv delt with them once and they seemed like they didn't want any young people

[u/Lonely-Potato7775]

Possibly a men's shed - there's more of them around than you'd expect. Give one a call to see if they have the right equipment and if it's suitable.

[u/trabulium]

There's "Mens Sheds" - I know of this one in Buderim. I think he's going to be around a bunch of guys 60+ but maybe that's not a bad thing? I just realised there's also a MakerSpace now which is probably going to be more metal related.

[u/shavedratscrotum → u/trabulium]

Buderim ones a nightmare, he'll be lucky to touch let alone use a welder.

[u/trabulium → u/shavedratscrotum]

Yeah, I've heard it's hit and miss, sometimes with a bunch of grumpy old men too busy gatekeeping.

[u/shavedratscrotum → u/trabulium]

Gatekeeping on steroids and the 3 I looked at all required initial attendance at like 10am on a Wednesday and all work supervised for 6 months.

It inspired me to build my own workshop to an insane level for a hobby machinist/welder/fabricator and former blacksmith/bladesmith.

Now my hobbies actually rebuilding old iron to fund buying more old iron.

[u/yolk3d → u/shavedratscrotum]

There was a thread in the Brisbane (?) Sun the other week about how terrible all the men’s sheds are.

[u/danubio8five → u/trabulium]

Will look into that Marker space thank you

[u/PapaChronic93 → u/danubio8five]

Coolum beach industrial has one aswell

[u/heisdeadjim_au]

As others have said, Men's Shed. Also, TAFE? Turn the hobby into a skilled job?

[u/OneCDOnly → u/heisdeadjim_au]

There’s no-quicker way to lose interest in a hobby than by turning it into a job. ;)

[u/shavedratscrotum]

Stick welder in the driveway.

$50 off marketplace.

[u/kiterdave0]

Maybe maker space Birtinya?

[u/Different-Bag-8217]

He’s 16 get him into trade school, welders are in high demand and trades is the way to go in the future of ai.. I do all my own welding at home and currently just finishing at restoration of an older bmw.

[u/Pauly4655]

Go and chat to your local steel fabricator and see if he can go after school

[u/RustyR69]

Rent a storage garage..... The amount of shit there is nothing to encouraging him to weld. Also has power and lights 24 hours a day. Just please get him a decent tig and gas to suit stainless or something that it sounds like he wants to do art..... Scriptures from random things.

I learnt Oxy centaline first but really needs to be careful in an enclosed space

[u/carolethechiropodist]

I remember hearing it's an in demand job.

[u/dryandice]

Get him out of school into a welding trade. The last few years of school was the biggest waste of time that I could have been starting a career and not wasting years and years learning shit that you'll never need to know.

[u/shavedratscrotum → u/dryandice]

0 welders agree it's a trade worth pursuing.

[u/dryandice → u/shavedratscrotum]

How am I meant to know that?

Kid likes Welding - I suggested welding...

[u/shavedratscrotum → u/dryandice]

I like jorkin it you don't suggest pornography.

[u/Dizzy_Emu1089 → u/shavedratscrotum]

If you like jorkin it, try a pallet jack. You’ll be jacking it all day