MinnesotaDaveChalmers
Platinum Member
Sad reminder of the importance of welding - this story is from a thread on WeldingWeb.
The $3 lesson
The $3 lesson
Posted by - lighttekku
The $3 lesson
So today, while I was out on my quest to find some scrap metal to weld, I pulled into a local scrap yard to ask if I could buy some scrap to learn with. I walked into the front door and the man behind the counter asked "can I help you with something?" I proceeded to tell him that I was a new welder and was wondering if they had any scrap metal I could buy from them for a few dollars. He replied "a new welder huh? I think I can help you out but first there's something you need to see." I said "sounds good show me the way."
So he led me out back past the cars to where there was a very mangled up trailer sitting alone in a corner. I asked what happened and he explained that the welder that made the trailer didn't have enough penetration when he was welding the tongue. The day after the welder sold it the new owner had it loaded up to half the capacity the welder said it was capable of. He was driving down the interstate at 70 mph when he hit a bump and the welds broke loose. The trailer ended up hitting the minivan that was following him and killed all 4 people inside. Two parents, one 12 year old girl and a six month old girl that they were taking to meet her grandparents for the first time.
As we were walking back to the shop he said "that trailer is the reason I will never teach someone to weld again." Apparently the man who welded the trailer had learned from the yard owner. Needless to say the welder is still in jail.
After we got back he gave me some scrap and told me that I could have it for free. I told him that I had to give him something for it. So I opened my wallet and handed him $3. He said "thank you. Please don't make the same mistake that he did."
If you have any doubts in your welding skills, even a little. Do NOT weld anything that can potentially cause harm if it breaks apart. Its simply not worth the risk. I will never forget this lesson. And I hope you guys won't either.
Yours in the pursuit of better welds
Lighttekku.