I am gonna use all your barrowed time:rofl:. Welding is an Art for sure, but anyone can be taught the proper ways to do it. I was taught by a very cool old guy, knew it all and never would gloat. If you messed up he would mak you fix it, and would show you the easiest way, the quickest way, the best way, and his way. It's all about penetration though, no matter the position,
happy2:isn't it always?) but you just need a steady arm and alot patience. I like to teach through hard knocks. I'll bring some schedule 40 2" inch pipe Galvanized. That is the most fun you can have.
I was taught by a machinist/fabricator.
Most of my teaching was done when i was building 30 gates for our farm.
He made me set up a jig on his $50,000 table. Its a slick setup thats precise to within .001" if used properly. And if i had anything on the gates off by more than 1/16" i had to redo it. Hes very fussy. I spent 3 straight days in 90* weather in full safety equipment. Another thing he is fussy about. I was all gung ho about becoming a welder and after those 3 days i said no way. I love doing it but im not doing it every day.
Out of the hundreds of beads he looked at i got two comments. And they were on my vertical welds. The rest all had something that wasnt right. But it was good in the end, taught me how to run a good bead that looks nice and penetrates well. Also taught me setup and how to "strategically" weld to keep everything true and minimize warpage.
I was also taught TIG welding by him too, took me a little longer to get good with TIG on aluminum though.
I was taught the skills of speed production fabrication by my uncle who builds railings, staircases, spiral staircases and such for a large structural steel company. At that place its about being precise too, but how they get there is different. They are all about speed, so if the railing isnt true there is always the torch. Again, working with him was another time i decided i didnt want to be a welder when i learned he burns through a 60lb spool in a days time.
Anybody has to potential to make good welds. Some learn faster than others. And then there is some who just never can do it like my dad. But if you understant whats going on, why its going on and what exactly you are doing and why, its a lot easier.
I got Zinc chills two summers ago when i spent 2 straight days welding galvanized pipe. It wasnt fun. Throat was pretty tight too. I didnt know about the milk thing. Ill have to remember that next time.
