How do you find a good welder?

[tglass]

I'm not allowed to weld for medical reasons, but I always seem to find these little jobs I'd like done.. Right now I'd like a bracket welded up so I can hook my snow plow to the FEL for snow removal.
How can I find a good welder locally? And how do I know what a fair price is for welding.

Wedge

From what I understand from a neighbor with a pacemaker you can still weld as long as you are a distance from the welder. He has the wife start the machine and was told he could use a remote without a problem. Anything to this or am I wrong.?

 

[wedge40]

From what I understand from a neighbor with a pacemaker you can still weld as long as you are a distance from the welder. He has the wife start the machine and was told he could use a remote without a problem. Anything to this or am I wrong.?

First, I've heard/read that you can weld as long as you're far away from the machine and the ground is very close to the weld site. They say you should have someone with you while you weld. Just in case.

The only real issue is the electromagnetic interference may turn the pace maker off. Not sure how long it will shut down for, but I'm guessing it's minutes. Enough time to trigger an "episode".

Now here is the "kicker" with me. I have an ICD.. implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Kind of combo pacemaker and defibrillator. I was told that it feels like getting kicked by a mule when it goes off. YA RIGHT!!! Mine went off like 6 or 7 times in a row. The first two I faired pretty well, but by the third one I was curled up in the fetal position waiting for things to stop.

I can laugh at this now, but lets look at what going on. Your heart is racing and out of sync. So they shock you. Now I dont know about anybody else, but when I get jolted it tends to make my heart race, so even if things are in sync but your heart is beating to fast you get shocked again. Kind of catch-22 thing happening here. And my speed limit is a mere 132 BPM. Lucky for me I was clear headed and started work on slow long deep breaths.

But... I'm not too keen on doing anything that may self induce something like that.. :laughing: :laughing:

So I'll find a shade tree welder.

Wedge

 

[Redneck in training]

You can shield yourself. You will need fine metal mesh and make a long sleeve "shirt" out of it. Then you connect the mesh to the ground by single wire. And you are set. Don't know what is the source of the mesh is but suitable mesh fabric is used to construct insulationg mats in example for steam turbines.

 

[rScotty]

I'm not allowed to weld for medical reasons, but I always seem to find these little jobs I'd like done..
Wedge

If the medical is electrical, why not do your own welding/brazing with oxyacetylene?

Torch welding & brazing is more versatile anyway.
rScotty

 

[KML]

Wedge, I'm about 40 miles from you, send me a pm. If you don't need it done yesterday I can help you out.

 

[RoyJackson]

From what I understand from a neighbor with a pacemaker you can still weld as long as you are a distance from the welder. He has the wife start the machine and was told he could use a remote without a problem. Anything to this or am I wrong.?

The welding cables themselves have a magnetic field around them. If you hold the stinger, MIG gun or TIG torch; you'll be in close proximately to that magnetic field.
So, if you have a pacemaker, ask your doctor...not some internet forum. Some pacemakers may be more susceptable to those magnetic fields...and I doubt there are too many cardiologists on TBN.

 

[rjmack]

If the medical is electrical, why not do your own welding/brazing with oxyacetylene?

oxy/acetylene has it's good points...

but welding structural steel is not one of them, and most of the sort of welding that is needed on hitches/buckets/blades etc, is structural.

if you see a welding rig sitting in a driveway or backyard, stop in and talk to the guy. it's always a better price if you bring the pieces to him, and many rig welders, once they hear your story, will give you a deal, especially if it's just a small job. :thumbsup:

but whatever you do... DONT tell him 'it's a 5 minute job'! :laughing:

 

[bunchgrass]

I'm not a cardiologist but I play one on the internet Just wondering if you can ask your Dr if there's something you could rig up to wear and block the EM field from impacting your pacemaker - similar to how lead aprons are used to block gamma radiation. Then you might just put on a vest and be good to go OR maybe I'm nuts.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm not a cardiologist but I play one on the internet Just wondering if you can ask your Dr if there's something you could rig up to wear and block the EM field from impacting your pacemaker - similar to how lead aprons are used to block gamma radiation. Then you might just put on a vest and be good to go OR maybe I'm nuts.

Can't hurt to ask, but I've never heard of anything blocking out or negating a magnetic field except for distance...

 

[bucktaker]

Are you friends or neighbors with any farmers ? Most have the tools and ability to do small welds as long as its not in their busy times