Oxygen Acetylene Welding (OAW) for Beginners

Ready to learn the basics of oxy-acetylene welding and cutting? Come familiarize yourself with basic safety and setup of oxygen and acetylene gas tanks, and welding, cutting, and bending metal using a torch.

SHOP140: Intro to Oxygen Acetylene (OAW) Welding will cover the basics, spark up the flame, and spark your DIY skills! This 2 hour class and aims to be a crash course that will have you welding like a pro in no time.

In this class, you’ll be introduced to the set up and safety of welding and cutting with a torch. Whether you're a beginner looking to get started or a seasoned DIYer wanting to sharpen your skills, our expert instructors will guide you every step of the way.

Oxy-acetylene torch welding is one of the oldest welding processes, widely used for welding thin metal sections and for heating and cutting tasks. It is a flexible and forgiving process, making it a great fit for amateur to expert welders, and easily adaptable to art fabrication and sculpture.

Expect to get hands on with a torch and a few tips. By the end of this class, you’ll walk away with newfound or developed skills and the confidence to take on the OAW Make Something classes for cool projects to take something home.

Spaces are limited, so sign up today and let the sparks fly!

In this hands-on session, you'll be introduced to:

The Basics of OAW Welding

• What OAW welding is and its advantages
• Safety considerations in welding
• Safety considerations for OAW welding
• Lefty not-always Loosey

OAW Welding Equipment

• Introduction to OAW welding tools
• Learning the lingo that'll make you sound like a welding wizard - OAW welder components and their functions
• Additional materials used for OAW welding (Filler rods, firing bricks)

· Preparing your workspace and equipment for welding

OAW Welding Best Practices

• Knowing where your flame and hoses are
• Important reminders for safe and effective welding
• Setting up, cleaning up, and storing your stuff

What you'll learn:

• Safety and proper set up of OAW tools and workspace
• The fundamentals of OAW welding
• Basic welds of like and differing metals
• Using filler rod for function and for art
• Basic cuts

Grab your gloves, ignite your imagination, and let’s spark some creativity together! Whether you're building functional pieces or just enjoying the art of welding, Clear Creek Makerspace is the place to light up your potential. Let’s weld! 🔥

Class requirements: Closed shoes, long pants, and sleeves (no synthetic material) that you don't mind getting dirty. Long hair needs to be tied back.

PPE available. If you have snug fitting leather work gloves, please bring them.

And who knows? You might just spark a lifelong passion too!

Hello! I am Kathleen, but you can call me Kat. I am a multi-media artist working with welded metals adorned with found objects. I first picked up a welding torch in New Mexico the Fall of 2022 and was hooked. My favorite work is my Warrior Figures, inspired by the feminine warrior spirit of the land, wind, and fire. I also create sculptures ranging from sunbursts to snowflakes, crosses to trees, and abstract forms in between. I salvage metals of many types and past lives from boneyards, salvage lots, thrift stores and garages. Adornments are gathered from estate sales, friends’ jewelry boxes, second-life craft stores, and nature. I am so excited to be a part of the CCM community as a Metal Shop Captain and instructor.