MCHS students learn about TIG welding
ANDERSON — Cody Epperly of Apex Welding Academy in Exeter was a guest speaker on April 3 for welding classes in the agriculture department at McDonald County High School.
Jimmy Hinson, who teaches the welding classes, said students have to design and lay out items they would use on a farm. He said students had been building items for themselves, their parents, or people in the community.
“We want to teach them the basics of welding for use on the farm or in agriculture,” he said. “If they want to be a professional welder, they will need additional training.”
Hinson said Epperly was going to give a presentation on TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding, which is commonly used with steel, stainless steel or aluminum. It looks nice and is used often used on house interiors, he said. Students have been doing a lot of MIG (metal inert gas) welding, he said, which is a quicker process.
Epperly said he used to teach for the state of Missouri at a vocational school at Monet. He has been teaching for three years at Apex Welding Academy. He has a small outfit where he teaches pipe welding and pipe fitting, he said. He went to vocational school after high school, worked in custom welding services and then taught at his vocational school before working for the state.
Epperly demonstrated TIG welding and then allowed the students to try it. He also told the students about some of the ranges of pay he has heard welders make and gave them some career advice.
“There are all kinds of trades out there. You’ve got to make yourself more valuable than the next guy,” he said. He advised the students to take advantage of career counseling in high school.
Student Adam Jones said the class built round hay bale feeders during the first semester in class. This semester, they are working on personal projects, he said. He is now working on five round bale feeders. He said he has a procedure list so that he does not end up with too much or too little material. The spacing on the one he is working on is wider than the average bale feeder because it is being made for some horned bulls, he added.
“It’s a great way to learn some hands-on stuff in shop,” he said. “We’ve got all this stuff to do it, a big shop to do it in. I think it’s one of the best experiences you could have.”
After observing the demonstration, student John Parish said TIG welding “Seems a little tedious. It’s a lot different from what we’ve been doing.”
He said in addition to the round bale feeders he has made, he is now working on a bale spike and an adapter for a front-end loader.
Parish said he has decided not to be a professional welder.
“It’s fun and handy to do everything I need to do in here instead of having to pay for a professional school,” he said.
Student Malachi Neale said of the presentation, “I think he’s very detailed and knows a lot. People my age need to be surrounded by people with life experience. Just a pool of knowledge.”
He said he has been wanting to learn TIG welding for a while. He said he is absolutely interested in becoming a professional welder and hopes to go out and make his mark after high school. Neale said he got a quote from Tulsa Welding Institute, and it seemed like a good deal, but now, after hearing Epperly, he is thinking about Apex Welding Academy.
Hinson said, “I hope the kids were able to take something from it — not just the welding, but if they’re able to make themselves more valuable as an employee.”