Now I have to learn to weld!

[markct]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The biggest reason for me buying the Auto Darkening Helmet is Bifocals. )</font>

hmm interesting, i have never heard of that before, an old welder that i knew had complained about us not having a helmet with the larger window cause when he was welding something once cause he said that made it so much easier with bifocals, is it the auto darkening that helps or just the fact that most auto dark ones have the larger window?

 

[MMM]

I think you would have to do alot of welding to feel the results of 1/20,000 sec. I've worked in fab shops and been exposed to "second hand flash" all day and burn't my eyes more than a few times. I think it is way more dangerous than auto helmets. I have 3 hoods: hand held tack hood, regular hood and auto hood. The auto sees most use, with tack hood next . I really use the tack hood a lot for simple reason I don't have to put it on.
Slag wiil flake of some welds, not all. For welds where slag is compressed, like corners and deep v, I find a needle gun is the ticket

 

[markct]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For welds where slag is compressed, like corners and deep v, I find a needle gun is the ticket
)</font>

interesting you mention the use of a needle scaler, being that they are an air tool it brings to mind how i have heard a few proffesional welders say never to use air tools for weld prep cause the oil they spray around will turn get on the material which in turn adds carbon to the weld when you weld over it and thus makes a brittle weld, i know that welding on oily stuff will do that but i always sorta doubted the amount of oil an air tool sprays would have a noticable affect, i never worried about it, but i rarely do any critical welds or anything like that

 

[Kevin_in_VA]

I have a neighbor that is a welder. We have a deal. He does my welding and I do his gunsmithing. Played with stick welding a few years ago, but rapidly came to the conclusion that I should stick to what I know. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[markct]

yea but once ya learn to weld ya will wonder how ya ever got by without it instead of having to go see your neighbor ya just walk out to the garage and flip a switch, i know dozens of people who weld, but i love the convenience of doing it myself

 

[Dargo]

You gotta love this; an acquaintence of mine had a tough time keeping the front dove tail sight in place on his pistol, so he welded it in place. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif No, it didn't explode when he shot it, but he can't hit anything with it and can't understand why gun shops won't take it in on trade. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ronjhall]

<font color="blue"> is it the auto darkening that helps or just the fact that most auto dark ones have the larger window? </font>
In my case it is the ability to line everything up. Vision, Electrode, and project. Just start welding. When wearing bifocals your close up vision is usually at the bottom of your glasses. It is somewhat of a narrow area that has unblurred vision. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[PineRidge]

I gotta agree with you on that. I leaned to weld in high school (metal shop) lots of years ago. I don't do it for a living and my welding beads aren't the prettiest, but they are strong nevertheless. It's nice being able to head for the pole barn to do a repair or project without relying on a welding shop.

 

[slydog]

Ok,
I just got the info back from the Wm R Moore school. It is a 3 trimester, year long course if I take it at night. Two nights a week from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, and it requires one elective course also as it is for a certificate, or diploma which I don't need. Also, as I work 2 evenings, followed by 3 days as week, I don't see how I could even fit that into my schedule on a permanent weekly basis for a whole year. Until I can hopefully find something else, I guess I will do as much reading up on welding as I can possibly find, maybe some "welding for dummies" books, or the website offered in the earlier post, and perhaps buy me a decent/reasonable stick welder and play/practice on my own. That being the case, what welder would yall recommend? I do not have any welding equipment at this time.

Thanks again,

Ken

 

[Kevin_in_VA]

I know, but his welds are so pretty. He was a nuclear welding instructor for the Navy. I guess I could teach him stock bedding for a few lessons with a wire feeder.

My stick experience was with a steel fabricator, doing structurals. I just couldn't get it right.