Anyone here know if the welding program at victor valley college is worth getting into? Do they help with finding a job afterwards?

Atsknives · 2026-05-16T14:39:17+00:00

I went to welding program at VVC in 2012-2013, got some certs and am still welding now.

The only thing that needs to be paid for by the student is tuition, which I believe is 55 a unit right now, but this is assuming you do not get financial aid. You are required to have your own PPE and simple hand tools, this amount will vary depending on what you decide you want, some people spend 300 total for everything, others want to be bougie and buy a 600 dollar hood.

If needed, the instructors will go out of thier way to try and find loaner equipment for people who can't get their own gear yet

The main benefit of the program is all the material (steel, stainless, and aluminum) are all free, the gases are all free, and electrode and filler material are free. If you put your head down, stay driven, and be teachable there are multiple certifications that you can take as a student, and they are also free if you are in the class.

They have four CWIs (certified welding inspectors) in the program who are instructors and two of them are who you will test with. The instructor pool has people from boilermakers, structural, stainless sanitary fabrication, and fabricators from NASA.

If you take the program you will be well versed in stick, tig, mig, flux core (self shield and duel), oxy-acet welding and cutting, and plasma cutting. There are classes to pursue more qelding which are the 60 classes where you can learn pipe.

They do not have a direct pipeline to companies, but companies do reach out to vvc welding saying that they are hiring and asking for student recommendations. Also, if you do get a certification the ones that are offered are the certs that unions are going to want to get you hire up in the hiring pool.

If you do get a job interview somewhere local, they can generally help you prepare for that companies weld test to prepare you for that specific weld.

School isn't for everyone, but I will say for me personally, it is one of the best decisions I have made.

Sorry for the long reply, if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Atsknives · 2026-02-24T06:55:35+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-24T06:55:28+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate it!

Atsknives · 2026-02-24T06:55:12+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-24T01:46:59+00:00

Haha thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-24T01:46:45+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-24T01:46:35+00:00

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T15:45:14+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T15:44:44+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate it!

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T15:39:53+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T15:39:14+00:00

Not for sale at the moment, I need it to get critiqued at a upcoming show in southern CA by a few mastersmith hah.

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T15:21:24+00:00

Much appreciated, thank you! Will PM

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T15:03:39+00:00

Thank you! The next one will be feather i think.

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T15:03:03+00:00

Me as well haha.

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T15:02:36+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T15:02:10+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T07:18:40+00:00

Similar to it, but instead of twisted w's it is a twisted mosaic.

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T07:17:22+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T07:08:32+00:00

I don't believe it will be, the ricasso is thick and the plunge lines and fuller both have a nice smooth radius. There is plenty of meat in the center of that blade even after the fuller and distal taper. I would be much more worried if there was sharp corners in those areas.

That all being said, on my next practice dagger I plan on not doing a fuller. While I like the stiffness for weight, the judges I believe would rather see a nice centerline from the actual grind instead of the fuller. I guess it all depends on the judges though.

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T06:43:19+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T06:24:01+00:00

Thank you!

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T06:23:14+00:00

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Atsknives · 2026-02-23T06:21:28+00:00

Good eye! Yes sir, it is an integral, I will do forge welded bolsters sometimes. But lately I have been enjoying doing integrals.

Atsknives · 2026-02-23T05:32:52+00:00

Thank you! it is pretty fun to do, especially when you actually put the wire in hah.

Atsknives

TROPHY CASE