Welding II: Steel TIG Class

With Matthieu Lafontaine

This class has suggested but not required prerequisites. See below for details.

Take your welding abilities to the next level and lay down those perfect "stacked dimes" Instagram welds, and take home a steel frame you made! Often called the pinnacle of welding, the GTAW (TIG) process offers unparalleled precision and control, creating the strong, clean welds required for professional metal fabrication and artistic projects. This hands-on TIG welding workshop demystifies the art of TIG welding, focusing on the torch control, heat management, and filler metal technique required for strong, beautiful joints. This course also covers some of the most common welding joints that any fabricator will experience in the wild. Join this supportive friendly workshop, expand your handy DIY skillset, and connect with a community of fellow makers!

What You’ll Make:

  • A custom-fabricated steel picture frame. This project is designed to give you hands-on experience by practicing TIG welding T-joints and finishing by creating clean, welded corners on your picture frame.

Skills & Concepts You’ll Learn:

  • Fundamentals of the TIG welding process for steel.

  • Setting up a TIG welder: amperage, gas flow, and tungsten preparation.

  • Mastering torch angle, travel speed, and arc length for puddle control.

  • Properly adding filler metal to create a strong, consistent bead.

  • Techniques for creating clean T-joints and corner welds.

  • How steel TIG principles apply to other metals like stainless steel and aluminum.

Equipment & Tools You’ll Learn:

  • TIG welder with foot pedal, TIG torch, tungsten electrodes, filler rods, and various metalworking clamps.

Class Outline:

  1. Prep & Theory: TIG principles, welder setup and safety review.

  2. Demonstration: Instructor shows proper torch technique, puddle control, and adding filler metal.

  3. Hands-On Practice: Students practice laying beads on flat bar to develop muscle memory and control.

  4. Project Fabrication: Students weld their steel picture frame with instructor guidance.

  5. Wrap-Up: Review of key concepts, troubleshooting common issues, and Q&A.

Other Class Info:

  • Prerequisites: Welding I or other MIG experience is strongly recommended, but not required. Questions? productionlafontaine@gmail.com

  • Class Capacity: 6 maximum, 3 minimum

  • Materials Provided?: Yes

  • Age Limit: 18+

  • Partner Ticket Available?: No

  • Available for a Private Class?: Yes (info)

  • Clothing/Equipment Requirements?: Please wear closed shoes, long pants, and sleeves (ideally no synthetic material) that you don't mind getting dirty. If you wear hair ties or reading glasses, bring them.

About the Teacher

Matthieu Lafontaine is a metal artist with over 20 years of fabrication and design experience who has a passion for bringing a vision into reality. His diverse portfolio includes structural aluminum skylights, gas pipelines, stainless decommissioning equipment, trailer based mobile stages, bicycle frames, mechanical contraptions, furniture and kinetic art.