What You’ll Learn in Michael’s Welding Course

Michael’s Introduction to Welding course at EOW runs for four weeks, with each two-hour session building up your skills.

You’ll cover:

• The three fundamental welds – lap, butt, and T-welds (all in the flat position)
• Measuring, cutting,and grinding metal
• Safe use and maintenance of MIG welding equipment
• Hands-on practice, from laying dots and lines to shaping your first project

By week four, students usually make their own small piece – from plant stands and tool racks to quirky creations like a desk pencil holder or even a miniature cat gate (yes really)!

“With those three welds you can basically weld anything,” says Michael. “Most people walk away with not just a finished project, but the confidence to keep going.”

The Value of Community Workshops

Michael is passionate about community workshops like EOW.

“Kids don’t always get the chance to use tools at school the way they used to, and community spaces are vital for anyone who wants to learn skills for life. In Edinburgh most of us live in flats – where would you put a workshop? Places like EOW give people that opportunity.”

And for him, making things yourself beats flat-pack furniture every time.

“Even if it’s not perfect, it’s special because you made it.”

Beyond the Basics

Outside of teaching, Michael has created some remarkable work – his favourite being a life-sized steel cello sculpture, commissioned by a PhD student researching 19th-century instruments.

But it’s often his students who inspire him most.

“I love seeing people go from nervous beginners on week one to confident welders by the end. They push me to try new things too.”