My son and I have been working in the shop

[Terence638]

Don
At this time he his studying pharmasutical (?) but as he matures we are not sure where he is going to end up ,thanks for asking, We tried to look into autobody repair as a elective but we dicided that at yhis time he should yake the courses he is comfortable with and see where it takes him.
Terence

[dman033189]

Ill tell you that it is great having my son around the shop he is 15 now and has been coming with me for 2 years, he loves to play around with the mig gun and wants to run before he is walking, oh and another thing his mom ,AKA my wife is trying to veer him away from the working with his hands bit simply because he is gifted and is going to colledge now (yes at 15). though I want greatedr things for him I still need to be able to ground him and see that getting his hands dirty and his arms get soem spark burbn is as gratifing as it can get. Who knows maybe when he finishes colledge he can show me a thing or 2 about something
Terence

What is he going to college for? I am also 15 and going to the local college for welding and I am having alot of fun with it.

[jeffscarstrucks]

I have said this here before but some of the best times I've had with my boys have been in the garage. My youngest (now 15) teaches some of my grown friends to to TIG. His experience with his Jr Dragster and especially his RC cars have taught him more about machinery and the interaction of parts to make a whole than any amount of just watching ever could have. The welding interest (for him) just comes along with the interest in the machines. Maybe our passion for metal fusion can be passed along by some projects where the dad is just the helper.....go-kart....cool bike frame....or what ever the fertile ferous(or non) imaginations that are the main part of this forum can dream up. The other positive part of the trade is that most of the people I've met through the hobby side of welding are people that I am happy to have my kids meet as examples of truely good folks. Good Luck, JEFF

[Kelly Aitken]

My Story Is The Flip Side. My Father Was An Engineer. He Know I Had More Machanical Skills Then Brain. When I Went Into The Navy, My Dad Sat Down With Me And Went Through The Catalog To See What Schools The Navy Offered. He Found The Machinist Program. He Used To Go Down To The Machine Shop And Watch Them Work. I Didn't Even Know What Machining Was. My Father Was Smarter Then Me. I Learned My Trade In The Navy And Has Served Me Well For Over 25 Years. Since I Work With Metal It Just Seemed Natural To Prgress And I Started Welding. I Love It. Wish I Was Better At It. Fortunatly I Know A Few Real Welders And I Pick Their Brain When Ever Possible And They Don't Mind. Both Of My Boys Are More The Book Type But I'm Proud Of Them Anyway.

[Tanker John]

I completely agree with Steved!

I work with dozens of engineers and have known 100's more, there are lots who can tell you how it is supposed to work but don't have a clue beyond that. I have seen smart electrical engineers who could not install a 220V outlet in their garage. The VERY BEST engineers have a deep interest in how things work and love to get their hands dirty from time to time making, building, fixing....doing. There is also an intangible, namely it builds a respect for the skilled tradesman who translate that piece of paper into a real product....he has walked in their shoes or at least tried them on.

They may have started with dad's shop, cars, ham radios or what have you. Even knew one fellow that taught himself to blow glass and built his own X-ray machine while in still in high school. Remember that most universities with good engineering - science programs have machine- welding shops tucked away some place on campus. They will have a professional staff but there is a LOT of student augmentation.

My two cents...send him to university, but when he wants shop time...encourage and teach him.

John

[Steved]

Ill tell you that it is great having my son around the shop he is 15 now and has been coming with me for 2 years, he loves to play around with the mig gun and wants to run before he is walking, oh and another thing his mom ,AKA my wife is trying to veer him away from the working with his hands bit simply because he is gifted and is going to colledge now (yes at 15). though I want greatedr things for him I still need to be able to ground him and see that getting his hands dirty and his arms get soem spark burbn is as gratifing as it can get. Who knows maybe when he finishes colledge he can show me a thing or 2 about something
Terence

Let me say this about that.

I am an engineer by schooling. There were SO many very *smart* people in the classes that could barely tie their shoes together.

In the end, their grade point averages were higher than mine but guess what? When it came time to get a job, the guy that could acutally do something is the one that gets hired!

I love doing things with my hands and my Dad always encouraged me. It was for this reason that I was able to match the theory taught in school to the practical things that I did in the shop.

To be book educated is only half of the story. Keep him in the garage! Doing pages of 'theory' really sucks unless you can match it up to the real world!

Cheers,

Steve

[Terence638]

Ill tell you that it is great having my son around the shop he is 15 now and has been coming with me for 2 years, he loves to play around with the mig gun and wants to run before he is walking, oh and another thing his mom ,AKA my wife is trying to veer him away from the working with his hands bit simply because he is gifted and is going to colledge now (yes at 15). though I want greatedr things for him I still need to be able to ground him and see that getting his hands dirty and his arms get soem spark burbn is as gratifing as it can get. Who knows maybe when he finishes colledge he can show me a thing or 2 about something
Terence

[hankj]

Well, I got a great surprise this weekend. My shop assistant (Steve, my 10-year old Grandson) showed up to help Gramps cut some more 3/8 cuopons...



Life's good.

Hank

[aphexafx]

I wish I could find a way to impart more interest and enthusiasm when it comes to welding. We have a great father/son relationship and do a lot together with computers, legos, and RC cars. However, I simply cannot hold his attention when it comes to welding.

I thought about getting him to help build a aluminum scooter and maybe making it motorized. ANY THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ARE WELCOME.

HAWK, sit down with him in front of the TV and watch Monster Garage and American Chopper on Discovery. Seriously, the reason I got into welding was because of Jesse James. When he see's Jesse and Paul pull those elaborate cars and bikes out of thier ***es, from nothing, and realizes that the reason they can do that is because they can weld, he might get more excited about it. I did. Just a thought!

[HAWK]

I don't post a lot of questions, but...

Great job guys! My son is 10 and his interest in welding/fabrication is intermittent. He ran some TIG welds that looked pretty good for a beginner of any age. He showed a lot of interest in MIG when I tested the DVI prototype, but his welds are nowhere near the quality of bulldog's boy.

I wish I could find a way to impart more interest and enthusiasm when it comes to welding. We have a great father/son relationship and do a lot together with computers, legos, and RC cars. However, I simply cannot hold his attention when it comes to welding.

I thought about getting him to help build a aluminum scooter and maybe making it motorized. ANY THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ARE WELCOME.

[Mike W]

Nice pictures Bulldog! Thanks for sharing them.

[GaryM]

I am with you on that KB Fabrications. My son is only 16 months old but he loves to come out and look around and watch me do thing. Cant wait tell we can get some leathers on him and a hood so he can watch we weld.

Gary

[KB Fabrications]

Nicely done!

My sons are 3 years and 4 weeks so they are a little young to start out in the shop just yet. That said, it just melts my heart when my 3 y.o. pokes his head in the shop and says, what cha weldin' daddy .

Welding is a great skill to impart on anyone and I wish you and your son well in all of your projects/endeavors.

[Paul Seaman]

Hank- Bulldog:
Compliments to you both passing on skills to another generation, you guys are important in the cycle of life. Learning and passing the skills to another, hats off to you both. Bulldog your son is of admirable skill, keep up the great work.

Weld well, weld safe

[hankj]

I miss that close relationship, but they do grow up and do their thing. I get the 10-year old grandson occasionaly, and I love it!

Your son's work looks better than mine, although that may not be much of a compliment!

Hank