Here at Pasco High School, there are 6 metals classes offered through our outstanding welding program. This program has included metals 1 and 2 which focus on the basics of metal work and fabrication. Specifically oxyacetylene welding and cutting, arc or stick welding, MIG welding, and sheet metal fabrication. In addition, the basics of shop safety and the proper use of tools are taught. Pasco High offers Metals 3 and 4 which go more in-depth into the basic skills taught in 1 and 2 as well as the basic and advanced skills of TIG welding. Finally, metals 5 and 6 allow students to fine-tune their skills in all areas of the previous classes in a more self-directed style of learning.
Pasco High’s extensive welding program also offers Welding Club. This allows students to take trips throughout the school year to learn more about the many careers in metalworking. These dedicated students in the spring also have the opportunity to test their knowledge and skills while competing in welding competitions against other schools. The Welding Club also works on large projects throughout the school year as fundraisers.
For students looking to sign up for welding in the next few years here at Pasco High School, there are a few things you may want to know about enrollment and dual credit in metals as well as the welding processes you will learn. First, the only requirement before taking the class is you must be at least 10th grade. Once in a metals class, an opportunity is offered through the CBC CTE Dual Credit program which allows students to earn college credit in high school if they meet the grade requirements for the class, as well as take and pass both a written and physical weld examination which is assessed by the CBC welding faculty. A few of the welding processes you will learn to use when taking metals include oxyacetylene welding, more commonly known as gas welding. This is the process of mixing the correct proportions of Oxygen and Acetylene to create a flame hot enough (roughly 3,200 degrees) to melt metal into a puddle and push it across the surface of your welding material while adding a filler rod to bind the two pieces of metal together. The next two welding processes are called MIG, or wire feed, and stick welding which are both arc welding. Each uses an electric arc to melt filler material but uses two different shielding materials to protect the weld. MIG welding uses a mix of argon gas and helium gas to purify the welding surface right before the filler material which is a thin wire that is pushed out of the MIG torch melts and binds together the metal. The final welding process you need to know is stick welding which is like MIG welding in the fact that it uses an electric arc to melt the filler material and merge the metal together. The big difference is that stick welding uses what is called flux as its shielding material which coats the metal rod you clamp into the electrode holder or stinger. Then instead of pushing across the material you are welding, you drag the rod slowly across in tall oval-like motions. In conclusion here at Pasco High, you have the opportunity to learn in-depth concepts, and skills of welding and metal fabrication through our metals program.
