Lincoln Electric Welding Advanced Motorsports School - Learn Quicker

The fourth day is reserved for magnesium, starting with a graphic demonstration that most will not likely forget. The instructor welds two pieces of aluminum plate together using a magnesium filler rod. Once the weld is finished, it's passed around for all to inspect. Indeed, it looks like the perfect weld with the proverbial "row of dimes" texture. The instructor then raises the piece high over his head and drops it on the metal welding table. Upon impact, the pieces come apart, including that perfect weld bead. As similar as they are, magnesium and aluminum cannot be welded together. The instructor adds a very useful tip about race teams that keep their aluminum and magnesium filler rods on opposite walls of the shop to keep from mixing them. Race teams donate broken magnesium castings to the school so you can learn how to repair them. Welding magnesium is much like welding aluminum, but you'll never forget to double-check your filler rod.

The last day is student's choice in that what you choose to weld is entirely up to you. If you want to revisit any of the four materials, you're welcome. If you have something you brought with you that needs more personalized seat time, the instructors will gladly help you there, too.

There are a few benefits that aren't listed in the school's brochures. One is the use of nearly any kind of welder in its vast inventory. It's the perfect chance to testdrive a welder you've been thinking about adding to your shop. In what may be the biggest surprise (but not a surprise anymore because we're telling you), students get a discount on any Lincoln product they may want to purchase. That includes the Harris line of oxyfuel gas welding equipment and air regulators for pit guns.

Another cool feature is a night out, compliments of Lincoln. You may go out for dinner, or you may even end up at the shop of the Cleveland Crawford Auto Museum to help put a car together over pizza and drinks. It's a great chance to get to know your fellow students, who will most likely help you learn by trading their own welding tricks and the new methods from the school. In the advanced class we attended, there were a few NASCAR fabricators who wanted to make themselves more marketable. It's simply a great opportunity.

Along with the variety of equipment you can testdrive, the folks at Lincoln can show you new equipment you didn't even know you needed. For example, we saw a portable TIG welder. Lincoln markets a line of Invertec inverter TIG welders (some with shoulder straps) that can be easily transported and stowed away on the hauler. These advanced inverter-based units allow the user to change the frequency, and therefore the size and focus, of the arc cone. It's truly amazing what these little red boxes (with only a portable generator to power them) can do when you need to make an emergency repair at the track.

Another new item was Lincoln's latest design of its Ultrashade welding helmets with instant-on, auto-darkening lenses. A cool feature controls the proximity of the helmet to your eyes. That's great for those wearing glasses, safety or otherwise. Also, the sensitivity of the lens is adjustable for the kind of welding you do. Did you know that a TIG arc is more intense than stick or MIG, even though it casts less light? We've all seen the cheap models out there and wondered if they were worth it or not. Ask yourself if it fits the crash helmet criteria. In other words, if you have a $25 head, buy a $25 helmet. What are your eyes worth when welding precision parts?

Along with digesting a great deal of new welding info, you get to learn about the equipment that can help you the most. It's also an opportunity to tell the instructors your welding problems and see what they have to solve them.