Taking Some Welding Classes

[mbohuntr]

You can feel some of those eraser sized dinkleberries dropping on your chest.., occasionally, one will find it's way under your leathers and bounce and roll it's way down your chest like a drop of water on the top of a hot wood stove until it spirals it's way down into your belly button hole where it sizzles it's life away...:laughing: A green jacket wouldn't last long there. Seriously, MIG won't be anywhere near that bad, especially in a light classroom enviroment. Enjoy the class! MIG is probably the safest process in my opinion. :thumbsup: You can run the hot wire into your hand while speed tacking if your not paying attention...(don't ask...)

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I was building one of the trailers I build on the side not long ago, and was laying up under it tacking when I laid the gun in my lap and there was a hot ball sticking out about 1 inch and it plowed into the inseam of my thigh. It cauterized instantly of course, but I had a 1/2 inch deep hole in my leg 1/4 inch wide from the ball when I pulled it out sideways.

 

[mbohuntr]

Be sure to put antibiotic creme on it and keep it covered till it closes. I got a good infection from the one in my finger...

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

It healed.

I was told to leave it open and not to use heavy creams except a neosporin type ointment. It just a little dark spot now.

Keeping it covered allows bacteria to breath in a moist environment.

 

[Denwa]

The nice thing about taking a weling class is that you will probably use different brands of welders. Unfortuantely it sounds like you will only do GMAW, not stick, tig or O/A welding which I did in my first welding course. In my course I saw different machines and used different methods of welding so that I coule make a better choice of welding machine when I finally bought a couple of machines.

Right! Well I spent two hours last week torturing and ruining some perfectly innocent pieces of mild steel. Dang, running even a crummy bead is no easy task, but I did do a little better towards the end of the session.

One of my class mates did a great job of welding a piece of 2" angle to the work table. Was a pretty good bead too! Took the instructor quite a while with a 8" grinder to cut the thing free.

My second revelation was that auto darkening helmets are the only way to fly. More stuff to spend money on ;' >.

This week we start building a 3 piece ant w/ wire legs. (Required project)

Dennis

 

[dwco]

Dennis,
Congrats on taking some welding classes. It is best to learn from folks that have "been there, done that". When you are under the hood, think like a machine. Try a dry run pulling or pushing the gun/stick/ what ever you are using to see if you are comfortable for the run you want to make.... If not, change body posture, bracing etc until you are. You will see how much better you weld once you are comfortable!! Keeping a constant stick out 1/2 to 3/4 with your mig will give you the best results... Also some wires need to be pulled, others pushed. Listen to your instructors....
As for the auto darkening hoods. Find the fastest one you can afford. What I mean by fast is how fast it goes dark. For the weekend warrior that time may not be too important. If you are burning copious amounts of wire or making a lot of starts, the effect on your eyes is cumulative for your welding session. If you eyes feel fatigued, try another hood!!
One more thing. Enjoy yourself!! Try not to weld stuff beyond your skill.. I read on this forum folks giving well meaning advice. However welding is a science..Not difficult, but it is a skill. I have been in the business for over 35 years and I never stop learning....
Please, Never weld brush hog/mowerblades once broken!!! It can be done. However with an approved procedure and some fancy post weld heat treating.

Keep us posted on your progress and good luck!!

Dave.

 

[smfcpacfp]

My second revelation was that auto darkening helmets are the only way to fly. More stuff to spend money on ;' >.

This week we start building a 3 piece ant w/ wire legs. (Required project)

Dennis

I agree on the helmet. I bought a Miller Digital Elite in January and it makes welding so much better if you can see well before you start welding, especially when stick or tig welding, like going from a manual typewriter to a computer word processor. Best money I ever spent. Also it works well for cutting.

 

[Denwa]

I agree on the helmet. I bought a Miller Digital Elite in January and it makes welding so much better if you can see well before you start welding, especially when stick or tig welding, like going from a manual typewriter to a computer word processor. Best money I ever spent. Also it works well for cutting.

I've looked at those tricked out helmets and, Ohhh daddy, they do look good. If I was committing to the concept of getting set up to do welding (who am I joking ;'>) I'd, well, it's on my shopping list. However I think I need to approach this gradually, and will put buying a big bucks hat off for a while. Backwards thinking I'm sure.

However, another "lesson" I taught myself last night is to make quit sure that the electronic hat one *is* wearing is actually turned on before one makes that first pass. I wondered why I could see so well. Still have some spots this AM.

Live, hopefully don't maim yourself, and learn,
Dennis

 

[gauthier]

Yeah,have stuck a hot .035 mig wire in my arm,but unless you've had a spark from a 6010 go in your ear,and down to drum,you ain't experienced toe curling pain,[thats why they make them welders caps,but even than....]