Welding Web Down?

dragoneggs · Mar 16, 2020

Just strange that it took so long to put something out like this.

Muhammad · Mar 17, 2020

So do you guys vote for me to start a welding site now or are you thinking they'll get it together?

PILOON · Mar 17, 2020

If you do as good a job with a welding site as U did with TBN you'll be a success for sure.
I'd urge U to aim at the 'hobby DIY amateur' crowd vs the pro.

While not all that frequent a weld site user I was very disappointed with every visit as I could never find answers to my needs.
IMHO it was a 'Ford vs Chevy' scene.

Heck, how about a DIY build discussion.
Hey my first welder was a re wound transformer that put out about 200 amps.
Made another from a scrapped HD battery charger!

AND on some of my TBN visits I found some very informed welding discussions.
I think that among TBN members U have all the experts U need, just a matter of recruiting them.

Go for it!

downsizingnow48 · Mar 17, 2020

A new site would be very welcome. I never got as much value from WW as I have from the TBN welding forum. We need a place where DIY and beginners can get guidance and support. And a strong emphasis on making things ("projects") would be wonderful. Practical fabrication, as opposed to technical details. I thought Mark (everlast) had an excellent overview of the structure. Add to that a helpful TBN style tone from Day One. WW has valuel, but a TBN style site can create a lot of value in different areas.

stuckmotor · Mar 17, 2020

Pat said it well. Go for it.

Peter 315 · Mar 17, 2020

WeldingByNet...:laughing:

searcyfarms · Mar 17, 2020

i have gotten a lot of tips from WW but for the hobby welder and hobby machines that is not the place to discuss, some guys are helpful, some guys are turkeys, like anyplace you have to have thick skin as they will tell you explicitly how to do things, what i found worked best was to say look guys........im a hack farm welder, my tractor broke, it needs welded it doesnt need to be spit shin polishes with stainless steel repairs it needs to function, once they realize you admit you are a hack and going to do it like that they lighten up, i dont have 3 days to fix my broken weld, i have 3 hours till dark of the beans and hay get tuff from moisture and im done so i need to get to work etc...........no time for pristine stuff

i dont do pretty work, i do functional work, if i want it pretty and engineered i have THEM do it for me - i am very aware of my limits so for the average joe around here with a 300 dolllar mig in his garage or barn shop i think there is room for a welder portion separately

Big Barn · Mar 17, 2020

Peter 315 said:
WeldingByNet...:laughing:

Buy the name now if you can. Sell it to Muhammad next week.

California · Mar 17, 2020

I'm 50/50 on whether to compete with WW.

Muhammad has to make some money selling ads or we're just asking him to subsidize our hobby. Would advertisers be interested in a non-pro site?

This thread yesterday on WW reveals that Robb has been an employee of the site owner for several years and presumably (?) remained responsible for WW through its changes of ownership.

Reason to change the Welding Web?

Now he posts that he finally has the backups to bring back WW as it appeared until recently. So the pros would have little reason to migrate over here. That opportunity has now passed.

I would like to see an expanded welding sub-forum on here but WW's return seems to have shut off the opportunity to replace WW.

Muhammad · Mar 17, 2020

California said:
I'm 50/50 on whether to compete with WW.

Muhammad has to make some money selling ads or we're just asking him to subsidize our hobby. Would advertisers be interested in a non-pro site?

This thread yesterday on WW reveals that Robb has been an employee of the site owner for several years and presumably (?) remained responsible for WW through its changes of ownership.

Reason to change the Welding Web?

Now he posts that he finally has the backups to bring back WW as it appeared until recently. So the pros would have little reason to migrate over here. That opportunity has now passed.

I would like to see an expanded welding sub-forum on here but WW's return seems to have shut off the opportunity to replace WW.

Well that's assuming their revert goes smoothly.

I like the idea of doing something beyond just welding---more on the fabrication, build-it-yourself, home built, creator lines which would encompass welding of course. Thoughts?

downsizingnow48 · Mar 17, 2020

In the machining trades there are websites that cater for accomplished professional machinists and those that cater for DIY, amateur and beginner folks. Plenty of room for both.

Ford850 · Mar 17, 2020

Muhammad said:
Well that's assuming their revert goes smoothly.

I like the idea of doing something beyond just welding---more on the fabrication, build-it-yourself, home built, creator lines which would encompass welding of course. Thoughts?

I like all of that. And I agree about the revert going smoothly. What priority will be allocated for future support, design, and maintenance when they let it sit withering for all this time.

California · Mar 17, 2020

I like the idea of a welding category here with all the sub-categories proposed above. And with the general good-natured advice typical for here. Please do it!

WW went down, like this time, about a year ago. After a couple of weeks, backups from six months prior were finally found and WW came back up with six months lost, a huge gap. It didn't seem to cost them any members. If Robb can do that again I doubt they're mortally wounded this time.

Big Barn · Mar 17, 2020

I agree with California. The haters and trolls who have no lives will not be going anywhere and Welding Web will be just fine.

Underdog57 · Mar 17, 2020

Muhammad said:
Well that's assuming their revert goes smoothly.

I like the idea of doing something beyond just welding---more on the fabrication, build-it-yourself, home built, creator lines which would encompass welding of course. Thoughts?

Yes, Yes, Yes, TBN is the only forum I visit and the Welding section is where I feel I can ask a dumb question and get great advice (especially Shield Arc

) without being ridiculed for being a part time hack!

dragoneggs · Mar 17, 2020

Muhammad said:
Well that's assuming their revert goes smoothly.

I like the idea of doing something beyond just welding---more on the fabrication, build-it-yourself, home built, creator lines which would encompass welding of course. Thoughts?

Sounds great!

Underdog57 said:
Yes, Yes, Yes, TBN is the only forum I visit and the Welding section is where I feel I can ask a dumb question and get great advice (especially Shield Arc ) without being ridiculed for being a part time hack!

Ditto... I rarely go to other sites. There is a built up community here that I have found much friendlier than the several other sites that I have joined over the years including WW.

California · Mar 17, 2020

Ok, so far we're hearing from the enthusiasts here. With real enthusiasm. Me included.

Additionally, there are posters here who have a substantial 'investment' in their participation on WW. You guys would likely be the foundation of experienced expertise if this gets going, and you participate. Does anyone in that category wish to comment?

Muhammad · Mar 18, 2020

I love our welding forum here. It's a great resource. If we could expand on that and do so with the same quality, I would be happy with that even without a million posts in the archives. But the success will largely depend on the founding members.

Little history lesson about TBN... it was actually an overnight success. We had probably 50 people and 50 posts in the first day. Yes there were ups and downs but with the right quality, even in 2020 I think new forums can do well.

Fallon · Mar 18, 2020

Muhammad said:
I love our welding forum here. It's a great resource. If we could expand on that and do so with the same quality, I would be happy with that even without a million posts in the archives. But the success will largely depend on the founding members.

Little history lesson about TBN... it was actually an overnight success. We had probably 50 people and 50 posts in the first day. Yes there were ups and downs but with the right quality, even in 2020 I think new forums can do well.

Websites & forums are easy. It's the community that's the hard part.

Lots of work maintaining & properly backing up forums. But a lot more luck or possibly skill in getting the right community that will sustain itself.