ASAP starts tomarrow

[youngwelder_154]

Well, tomarrow I start the most important day fo my youth. My youth apprentiship, I have been in this shop before but I still have butterflies because this year its actually not just a for fun its for my career. I still don't know what to expect, I go there and I know I'm going to have a good time learning and laughing. I am going to take all the information I learned form you guys over the past two weeks and put it straight into my work, I really do thank all of you for your easy to understand information about TIG and repairs for MIG welding. I'm still going to be on here every night with more questions and I know I'll be receiving correct information that I can depend on to help me survive the trades. I will be keep this Thread updated with the different stuff I do everyday so I hope you guys will enjoy reading it as much as I do doing it!

[youngwelder_154]

Day 1

Today was day 1, It wasn't as bad as expected. The shop was just as I remembered it. The guy who I helped last year was still in there doing what he loves and it was one of the good feelings in the shop, I haven't seen him in a long time and was happy to. The day was really just for me to go in and talk to everyone and introduce myself to the new guys. Which there was and he was a very nice guy, John the man I am usually with said "you will be his shadow this year, What you learned form me last year will have to be remembered because I'm not doing it this year" which I found very funny. SO this new guy was just as nice as john and really made my 2 hours there very easy to handle because I was nerves going in. After I helped them for a little while the guys who go out to build came back and I introduced myself to them and met a guy who didn't seem much older then 24 we talked for a little while until it was time to leave. In the end I was told to get coveralls and a auto shade helmet (just a cheapy) I want tog et a miller one but that will be for college. So I went home and told my mom and she yelled at me because I am short on money because I just burned a hole in my pocket during the summer when I worked full time. So I don't think any of the stuff I need is going to be gotten so I think ill end up kissing my job good bye. Unless they decide they don't want me. I asked about days I have off holidays and such and they didn't have answers for me they told me we will see how you get along. But on the topic of auto glass helmets would a cheapy be ok for now? I don't want to get a bad one and mess my eye sight up? Will it?

[FusionKing]

A lot of guys at my work swear by their Harbor Freight cheapies....

[srl_welder]

Ya the harbor freight ones are good, I have had no problems with mine, and its seen a lot of use. I think it's good for the price.

[youngwelder_154]

Day 2

Well today was a bit better. it was a very slow day for everyone there. The guys were all doing there thing in the shop John was working on a hand railing. Another guy was working on a fence like door. It was made of I'm pretty sure galvanized (sp) zinc if I'm not mistaken. it made blue smoke and turned the guys hemet a bluish powdery color. Well anyway he was stick welding it and then he asked me to "blend in" the welds, So I did as he asked and really enjoyed getting the grinder back in my hands. Well other then that I ended the time I was there by moving steel with the shop crane and other by hand. So all in all it was a very good hour and a half. Mind you I want to be there longer but school is interfering with that but an hour and a half is better then none the hours all add up for my apprenticing.

[fun4now]

for what you are doing i think one of the HF cheepo hoods should be fine, they are not the best option but you can get by with one as they work ok for MIG and stick, just seem to be lacking the most in TIG low amp aplications. i would not let not haveing the $$ for a good auto hood stop you from keeping the job.
do you get paid at this job? if so you might explain to the boss $$ is tight at home and would it be possible for him to hold back part of your pay to put tword the hood.
if this is what you want to do for a carear you might consider holding back part of every check to put tword tools on your own also.
i hope all works out good for ya.

[flmeier]

I agree with the Harbor Freight helmet. I have an auto darkening that I paid around $60 for about 3 years ago. I am not a professional welder, hobby and acreage projects and some things for work, but it works well for me.... I have a century flux core welder, an old Lincoln 225 AC/DC (buzz Box) and recently bought a Hobart Tigmate with both tig and stick features. This helmet has worked perfectly fine for me.... Like others have said before, don't let $$ stop you from following your career, especially if its something you enjoy. You may try checking into student loan and/or grant programs. There are many government programs out there that are there to help out young people in your situation. Hope everything works out for you and keep us updated.

[fun4now]

flmeier
welcome to the show.
how do you like the tigmate ? and what kind of stuff do you use it on ? i have herd a lot of people say its ok to lern on but you out grow it fast, whats your thoughts on it?

[flmeier]

Hello Fun4now.
Thanks for the welcome. So far, I like the Tigmate. I first used a tig about 10 years ago off and on for about a year (a large Miller, I dont remember the model) and then changed jobs and had not touched one until about 6 months ago at my new job. Thats when I decided I wanted one for home. We have a Miller Econotig @ work and it worked pretty good for what we used it for (tigging light stainless / stick reg. steel). After doing some research I came to discover that the Miller Econotig and Hobart Tigmate are the same machine produced by Miller and just different paint. In fact, when I got my Hobart, the instruction DVD was for the Econotig and the finger control that I opted for was packed in a Miller box and had Miller printed right on the torch. I found the Hobart online @ Sears for $1100 (my budget range) and the closest Econtig was $1600. I have used the tig for a few things, I made some nozzels for work out of stainless tubing, some stainless mounting brackets for speakers on my boat and a few other things just to play. I have used the stick to build a log splitter, repaired a snow blade and a few other things. For what I will ever use it for I think it will be fine. Time will tell. If I need more power I still have the Lincoln 225 AC/DC that I picked up at a farm auction 6 yrs ago for $35.
This is a pretty nice site. There is a lot of interesting information and good conversation here.

[fun4now]

the hobart are not exactly the same with diferent parts, the miller has some upgraded internal parts, but they are close. the millers are just a little more robust but in that size unit as a home welder its not enough to realy consider paying the extra i dont think. i looked real close at the miler hobart diferences when getting my MIG and went with the miller for the small upgrades. they are infact both owned by ITW but built a little diferent.

[youngwelder_154]

Day 3

Today was the best day ever! Today as soon as I got there they threw a grinder at me to grind big steel beams. As I did that and completed it I jsut helped move it andhold things for them when they welded it. But near the end part of the hour one of the guys said Ryan get over here graba helmet. So I did as the man asked me to and he could only let me tack the things in place. But it has been a while but I caught on to the stick welding in like two tries. So I tacked some stuff together and that was the end of the hour and a half But after that we just talked and one of the guys said holy **** you remind me of that ****er from the Simpons that is with Nelson that helps beat up Bart witht he touqe so he told me my Homework was to get his name. I rememberd his name was Jimbo so thats my new nickname aroudn the shop. We had a very good laugh over that.

[triggerman]

A bit of advice

I am always anxious about offering advice, but I will try here.

What I have for you has nothing to do directly with welding, but with life in general. It sounds like you have the start of a good relationship between the other guys at the shop and yourself. That is a good thing. Jobs and projects come and go; but, it is the relationship you have with your co-workers and supervisors that will make or break your situation. If welding is what you want to do, make the most of this first chance. It is the only one you'll have. Because you are the new guy, they will tell you to do things you don't want to do. Do it anyway and with the same professionalism as a preferred task. Make the most of this opportunity and you will remember it with a smile for the rest of your life.

"Amateurs practice until they get it right. Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong."

[youngwelder_154]

Day4

Today I found was as good or even better then any of the other days. I got to paint cut with this machine that was pressurized and looked like the mid evil things they use to cut peoples heads off with. So I cut a bunch of pieces. Nearing the end they got me to grind some more witch I didnt mind at all, So not a that bad of a day if I say so myself. Triggerman I am following what youy are saying to me it works very well and makes me look like I want to work too thank you for youyr advice.

Today during one of our classes we had Grant one of the most importent people at holland College come talk to us. My teacher told him about me so he had a little chat of our own off to the side of class. I got his phone number he would like me to call him after I put my application in and I can get another tour at the welding school for HC so that really is a good thing to me, I have both peoplethe teacher for the course and the big cheese of HC to talk to so Lifes pretty good

[fun4now]

glad to see all is going good, and you see the wisdome in triggerman's post.

[JonnyTIG]

Youngwelder,

If you are doing any amount of grinding or hammering, you should consider getting some anit-vibration gloves / impact gloves.
I worked hard at grinding and buffing for the first ten years of the trade, and fell into the 'trap' of numb hands and arms once in a while... After a few years I developed tendonitis and carpal tunnel in my forearms and wrists, as a direct result from continued high frequency vibration. Now, as a TIG welder, I have troubles with prolonged welding because my hands and arms get over fatigued. Use any personal protetive equipment (PPE) that is available to you... It pays off in the long run.