poll: how young?

[d-dawgg]

I want to make a poll to see whats the youngest age someone should or could buy their own welder. Unfortunatly I am not an adult and i live with my parents and they wont let me get one untill i am 16 but I am currently 14. That is why I want to see what you think. I say as long as you know what you are doing you can go ahead at 14 yrs. what do you think?

[Teeps]

If I were you, I'd try to get them to enroll you in schooling for welding.
Or if you can weld in shop class with the guidance of a teacher, and then you can prove/show based on your shop teachers testimony that you are qualified to operate a welder.

Besides you get free practice out of the deal, and pick up some new tricks.

[arcdawg]

take some time and do some research..........take a class, read a book get some dvds ect..........you can only post so many questions !

dawg

[oldudbob]

Without knowing you it would be difficult to say whether or not you are old enough to be welding on your own. There are risks associated with welding and safe practices that need to be followed. You may be mature enough or you may not. It really doesn't matter what we think because it's your parent decision to make. I am sure that they have your best interest at heart. If they say you have to wait till you are 16 then that is what you should do. As previously mentioned there is a lot you can learn about welding in the mean time by surfing the web. There is a lot of good information out there.

You might check around and see if you can find a responsible adult who will teach you how to weld with your parents permission. Most states have laws about children under the age of 18 operating equipment. I don't know whether this is applicable to operating your own welder at home or somewhere else. You may want to check in to that aspect. You can also check in to the feasibility of taking welding at school, etc. Don't try and go around your parents.

I know that this is not the advise you were seeking, but it's the best I can give.

[migmaniac70]

OLDUDBOB That was very sound advice you gave there. Could'nt of said it better myself.Different kids mature at a different age,I have 7 of them and can say i know that for a FACT.I am a trained professional parent.

[bigwelder]

i would say you should wait till u are 16 it took me the better half of 7 years and moving away from my parents before i got my first welder

[fun4now]

d-dawgg

i think the best thing you can do is show youre parents you are concernd with safty as with welding.
Teeps mentioned looking into a class sounds like a great way to show mom and dad you are not just looking to play with fire.

oldudbob
said it well about age having lil to nothing to do with being ready to weld, i have met ment kid's at 18 that i would never hand a torch to. othere that i would teach and mentor welding to at 12.witch kid dose your parents think you are????think of ways to convince them you are ready, i dont mean bug and argue with then dayly. do you have chores, do they have to tell you to do them or do you get them done with out being asked. thease are the things that would bee looked at by me if i were the dad being asked by my son/dauter to start welding.

[fun4now]

d-dawgg

you said
I say as long as you know what you are doing you can go ahead at 14 yrs. what do you think?

how did you lern to weld and do youre parents know about this lerning?

[Alex]

Never too young, IMHO

d-dawgg,
How would you pay for this welder? I have a 14 (almost 15) year-old son myself. Every time he asks me for something expensive (motorcycle, chainsaw, anything with an engine or big electric motor), I ask him the same thing "how are you gonna pay for it, 'cause if it's comin' outta my pocket, it ain't happenin'." Now to be fair, I've got to say that I DID give him a 100A mig welder last year when I got my MM251. However, I don't let him weld without me keepin' tabs on him. I make him read every safety precaution that comes with any power tool and I won't let him use it until I'm satisfied that he truly understands everything he's read. I have a really good relationship with my son. If I tell him he can't weld today, it's a dead subject and he goes on to something else. I know I can trust my son. He would rather take a severe *ss whipping than ever tell me a lie or do something behind my back. How is your relationship with your father? Can he trust you? Can he even afford to buy you a welder? If you have friends with welders, will your Dad let you learn from them? Maybe if you bought the things you can afford, like a welding hood and some gloves, your Dad might see how serious you are about this without your spending a lot of money and possibly tickin' him off. Like others have said, young men mature at different rates and I guess not all are ready to start welding at 14. I knew my son was because we do so many things together that he had my confidence that he would do things the right way. My apologies for rambling...

[paulrbrown]

d-dawgg, my dad said, Paul, as long as you don't set your crib on fire, it's ok....to tell the truth, my mom kept telling me to be careful and watch my eyes until I was 51 bless her heart. I think the parents and how much they use/understand/are afraid of tools are the limiting factor. They just need education sometimes, enlighten them and show them you are responsible and safe.....you go for it buddy, Paul

[d-dawgg]

d-dawgg,
How would you pay for this welder? I have a 14 (almost 15) year-old son myself. Every time he asks me for something expensive (motorcycle, chainsaw, anything with an engine or big electric motor), I ask him the same thing "how are you gonna pay for it, 'cause if it's comin' outta my pocket, it ain't happenin'." Now to be fair, I've got to say that I DID give him a 100A mig welder last year when I got my MM251. However, I don't let him weld without me keepin' tabs on him. I make him read every safety precaution that comes with any power tool and I won't let him use it until I'm satisfied that he truly understands everything he's read. I have a really good relationship with my son. If I tell him he can't weld today, it's a dead subject and he goes on to something else. I know I can trust my son. He would rather take a severe *ss whipping than ever tell me a lie or do something behind my back. How is your relationship with your father? Can he trust you? Can he even afford to buy you a welder? If you have friends with welders, will your Dad let you learn from them? Maybe if you bought the things you can afford, like a welding hood and some gloves, your Dad might see how serious you are about this without your spending a lot of money and possibly tickin' him off. Like others have said, young men mature at different rates and I guess not all are ready to start welding at 14. I knew my son was because we do so many things together that he had my confidence that he would do things the right way. My apologies for rambling...

Me and my dad are good friends. The money would come out of my pocket, he couldn't afford it, he said he'd pay up to $50 wich is great. I been savin forever, ever since i first saw monster garage and all those fab. shows on T.V. I have about $1000 canadian (approx. $700 american) and that not very much for a welder. My family is one of the ones who arn't rally concerned about money we have an ok house and all the essencials but its really boring like that and i was just gonna buy a welder to have something FUN to do. Everyone I tell about me getting a welder thinks im crazy so i don't think i should get one.

[fun4now]

d-dawgg

Everyone I tell about me getting a welder thinks im crazy so i don't think i should get one.

if you are willing to give up just cuz you got called crazy by a few frend's then i agree you should not get a welder.

spend your $700 on a bike and a playstation and go play

[d-dawgg]

you said
I say as long as you know what you are doing you can go ahead at 14 yrs. what do you think?

how did you lern to weld and do youre parents know about this lerning?

the poll is for weather i should buy one, i learned a school in shop

[d-dawgg]

Everyone I tell about me getting a welder thinks im crazy so i don't think i should get one.

if you are willing to give up just cuz you got called crazy by a few frend's then i agree you should not get a welder.

spend your $700 on a bike and a playstation and go play

cool down man , I said i don't think i should not i won't. I will be getting one a.s.a.p. but it may not be the best idea because i am the only one in my fammily and friends who know how to weld and so if something happens i will be on my own (except for the forum).

[Paul Seaman]

I believe in parental advice but I also see parents not listen and encourage the creativity. Mixed emotion sets in, you must convince them this is better than chasing girls and racing motorcycles, or whatever is getting your classmates into trouble. I would say if you make a convincing argument and present the facts and are willing to do the work for the machinery then they will probably give some to the will of your youth. You must do the work and not ask for them to sponsor the entire bill, or you are probably barking up the wrong tree.

I am in your corner, but the burden of proof is on you!