Classes

Washburn's MetalClasses · Orange, CA
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Washburn's Metal · Classes

Welding & Metal Craft ClassesHands-on instruction from the same crew that builds and restores the cars in our shop

4Classes Offered
Hands-OnLearning Format
0Gear To Bring
1Class At A Time
Class 01

Intro to MIG Welding

Where you start if you've never struck an arc before

MIG is the most common process in this shop, and the one most people should learn first. Hands-on the whole time — enough to walk out comfortable setting up your own machine and running a clean bead on mild steel.

Hands-on class Lunch included Helmet & gloves provided Helmet raffle at the end
01

Setup & Safety First

Setting up a MIG welder from scratch — gas, wire, polarity, amperage — plus the PPE and shop safety habits that keep you welding for decades.

02

Machine Care & Consumables

Keeping your gun, tip, and liner running clean, and knowing when a worn consumable is the reason your welds look bad.

03

Running a Bead

Reading your machine's settings and running a consistent bead on mild steel — and fixing the most common beginner mistakes: bad penetration, porosity, inconsistent travel speed.

04

Real Practice Time

This isn't a lecture. You'll spend most of the day at the bench with a hood on, welding — with us walking the floor correcting technique in real time.

Class 02

Intro to TIG Welding

Slower, cleaner, and worth the learning curve

TIG is the process behind most of the clean, factory-style welds that leave this shop — and it has a real learning curve. A class dedicated to just TIG, so you're not splitting your attention with another process in the same session.

Hands-on class Lunch included Helmet & gloves provided Helmet raffle at the end
01

Setup & Safety First

Torch, tungsten, and gas setup from scratch — amperage, polarity, and the PPE and habits that keep TIG welding safe.

02

Machine & Tungsten Care

Grinding and prepping tungsten correctly, cup and collet care, and dialing in gas flow so your arc stays clean.

03

Torch, Pedal & Filler Rod

Getting comfortable coordinating all three at once — puddle control, foot pedal timing, and feeding filler rod without breaking rhythm.

04

Real Practice Time

We slow it down and get everyone laying a clean, controlled bead before the day's out — with real bench time, not just demonstration.

Class 03

Intro to Factory Panel Replacement & Rust Repair

How we actually fix rust in this shop — not the shortcut version

This is the class for anyone tired of watching internet tutorials skim over rust with filler. We show you how a repair actually gets done here: cut it out, fabricate the patch correctly, weld it in flush, and finish it so the repair disappears.

Hands-on class Lunch included Welding & grinding gear provided
01

Reading the Metal

Assessing how far rust has actually spread, telling salvageable metal from metal that has to come out, and where the repair boundary belongs.

02

Cutting Out & Prepping

Clean removal of the affected section and prepping the opening so the patch has something honest to weld to.

03

Fabricating & Welding the Patch

Shaping a patch to factory contour and welding it in flush — no filler bridging a bad seam.

04

Metal Finishing

Grinding and finishing the weld so the repair reads as factory metal, not a patch — the step most shortcuts skip.

Class 04

Intro to Traditional Lead Work

Old-school body solder, taught the way it used to be done

Before filler was the default, lead was the finish under nearly every great paint job. It's a slower, more deliberate process — and one fewer shops still teach. Hands-on instruction covering how to tin, apply, shape, and finish lead the traditional way.

Hands-on class Lunch included Safety gear provided
01

Prepping & Tinning the Panel

Getting bare metal clean enough for lead to actually bond, and tinning the surface correctly before any lead goes on.

02

Applying & Shaping Lead

Working lead while it's in its plastic state — building it up and roughing in the shape before it sets.

03

Filing & Finishing

Filing lead down to a smooth, factory-contour finish — the technique that separates a lead job that looks right from one that doesn't.

04

Working Safely With Lead

Proper ventilation, PPE, and hygiene practices for working with lead in a shop setting — covered before anyone picks up a torch.

A note on safety: lead work involves molten lead and lead dust, and we run this class with the ventilation and PPE the material requires. We'll walk through exactly what that looks like before anyone starts.
Logistics

The Day

Same setup across all four classes — just show up ready to work
Hands-On
In-person, hands-on class — dates and length to be confirmed
Lunch
Catered — no running out to eat
Gear
Safety equipment supplied for each class
Raffle
A helmet raffled off at the end of the MIG and TIG classes
Before you sign up

Class Questions

What people ask before they get on the list
Do I need any experience to take a class?

No. Intro to MIG Welding is where you start if you've never struck an arc before, and the sign-up form asks for your experience level so we can pitch each session correctly — complete beginner, some experience, or comfortable and wanting structure.

Do I need to bring my own gear?

No. Safety equipment is supplied for each class. Helmet and gloves are provided for the MIG and TIG classes, welding and grinding gear for the panel replacement and rust repair class, and safety gear for the lead work class.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is catered so there is no running out to eat in the middle of the day.

How much of the day is hands-on?

Most of it. This isn't a lecture — you'll spend most of the day at the bench with a hood on, welding, with us walking the floor correcting technique in real time.

Can I take more than one class at once?

Each class gets its own dedicated day rather than a rushed half. We split them apart on purpose, so you're not splitting your attention with another process in the same session. You can register interest in as many of the four as you like on the form below.

When are the classes running?

Dates and length are still being confirmed. Tell us which class you want on the form below — the more interest we hear, the sooner we schedule it, and we'll follow up as soon as dates are set for the classes you picked.

Is there a raffle?

A helmet is raffled off at the end of the MIG and TIG classes.

Is the lead work class safe?

Lead work involves molten lead and lead dust, and we run this class with the ventilation and PPE the material requires. We'll walk through exactly what that looks like before anyone starts, and proper ventilation, PPE and hygiene practices are covered before anyone picks up a torch.

Reserve Your Spot

Get On The List

We're still locking in dates — tell us which class and the more interest we hear, the sooner we schedule it
Enter your name.
Enter a valid email.
Pick at least one class.

This opens an email to the shop with your info filled in — just hit send.

You're on the list.

Your email app should have opened with your info ready to send — hit send there to finish. We'll follow up as soon as dates are set for the classes you picked.

Looking for something else? Have a class idea beyond these four — let us know.

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© Washburn's Metal · Orange, CA · Hands-on classes taught in our own shop. Tech Bench · Welders · Glossary · Contact