young or old

[COFBack]

Worked for a welder doing pipe work in OKC when I was 17 (1980 ish).
Flash forward 27 years. Received a MIG from a fallen friend, determined to learn how to use it they way my buddy did.
First project (rockrail for my jeep) installed last night.
Will post some pics

[MAC702]

7 here, too. I remember the machine my dad had at the time, a Hobart with the footprint of a refrigerator and about half as high. We had a homemade AC/DC full-wave rectifier on it, too.

I remember building our first welding trailer with it and then we bought a Lincoln Ranger 8 for the trailer.

Other than O/A, everything was Stick. Even tubing gates and stuff. I never touched a MIG or TIG or plasma cutter until I was in my mid-20s.

[terry welds]

young or old

man this thread brings back old memories. burned my first rod at about 12 or 13 years old remember it very well. on my brother-in-laws farm. useing a old linicon welder wear you pull the led out of the welder to change the voltage. remember it looking like indians shooting arrows at the steel from the rods sticking. didnt use my first mig til 18 or 20 years ago.thin i was hook. went to work in mine construction for 12 years got tired of liveing on the road.and being a single parnt with twin girls. now have a small business on the side with my farther-in-law. and working for the village i live in. im 47 now and feel like 27 haha

[Bert]

Homeshcoolweldor and the rest of you,
MAKE ME SICK!!! (JEALOUS!!!) 45 now and just started 2 1/2 years ago Wish I started at your age...See all the things I missed out on...
Dad was a insurance man....shucks...
bert

[youngwelder_154]

I started at the age of 12 with my first stick project at school and have been MIG welding for 3 years oxy fuel for 2 and TIG for about 1 month. I don't think I could ever give up my addiction to burning metal.

[Homeschoolweldor]

Homeshcoolweldor and the rest of you,
MAKE ME SICK!!! (JEALOUS!!!) 45 now and just started 2 1/2 years ago Wish I started at your age...See all the things I missed out on...
Dad was a insurance man....shucks...
bert

Thanks Bert that makes me feel better

Of course your welds probably look 20 times better than mine

Oh, well. I'll just continue practicing.

[turbo38t]

Started at about 18-19 I guess. Tried stick welding with no guidance, not much look . My bosses chair broke apart the second he sat in it. Bought a Century MIG after that and had some pointers. Taught myself. Built 4 or 5 minitrucks with hydraulics, air rides, channels and body mods, then at 28 started my first fulltime welding job at a large construction company and have learned ten fold in the short year I have been there. Dave

[Bert]

Homeschoolweldor,
School was for 2 years. 1st year: 6 months 6011,6 months 7018 4 days a week, 3 hours a day (minus summer,holidays, etc.). 3rd semester was TIG stainless and aluminum on small plates: lap,corner,T over and over until it looked GREAT! Now welding something "real life", didn't look so great...but I LOVE the practice!!!! Since I wasn't one of the kids hanging around the "duck pond" and actually went there to LEARN, I did ok...Still not as good as my instructors by far!!! OR a lot of these guys on the forum!!!
bert

[Trooper]

I started with a tombstone welder in my dads auto shop when I was 15 (I had to do it when he was test driving). The other mechanics helped me out at first and when my school grades went down I took a night school welding class to graduate. I was welding as often as possible until I went in the Marines and had a job that had nothing to do with metal work. I got out and worked odd jobs on different farm equipment until I got my present job that again has nothing to do with metal work. Days off and “honey do’s” is about the only time I get to put on the hood.

[Pitalplace]

4 H welding class when I was in junior high about 40 years ago. Welded for about 10 years on the farm then a 25 year hiatus and a new miller 210. What fun.

[ThunderRobo]

15 years old, gas welding for 4 months, MIG and Sticking for 3 weeks

[hz293]

Started 4 months ago at 65.

Harris

[HMW]

Funny I see alot of Marines on here....Semper Fi... Interestin ages of people trying welding, range from teenager to 65, pretty cool. Keep it up, Teach a kid to weld, or a retired person!

[Richard]

started welding around age 10 . my Father was a welder
had his own business with welding rigs and everything
welded with my Father
. . he was the Best ! . . . that was my Dad.




age 10 as best I can remember

[Richard]

[QUOTE=HMW;8566]Funny I see alot of Marines on here....Semper Fi...

I work with a lot of ex-Marines, one thing I know that all Marines are cool guys . . just a special quality, Marine = great person

my Father was a Marine



.....................
Richard