Who is this guy?

[Mr Meck]

I logged on as Mr Meck cause Steve was already taken. Since you all need to know who I am and where I been here is the story. Take it for what its worth cause its who I am.
This year I turn 55. I left home back in 71 and became an avionics technician on the F-106 fighter aircraft. 21 years later I retired and came back to North Dakota as that is where the wife(bless her soul) was from. I framed a few houses and fell into a boat shop. Al tig welding with a Lincoln 300 square wave. Three years later I'm at a dirt moving outfit on steel. Except when the truckers find the only rock in the pit with their fuel tank, then its Al again. That be in 92 or so. All I know came from doing and applying what I have read. Certified? To do what? Certified enough by The boss to fulfill his dreams and keep his equipment running. There used to be 5 of us and now there is only me.
Motto: Thou shalt make all attempts to weld it...once...forever.
I give the company what they pay me for. Cell phones belong in your locker. There is no reason with todays equipment for crappy welds. Crappy welds come from crappy welders so get your.... in one sock. There are NO stupid questions. If you are smart enough to ask then you deserve all the info available. When we work we are at work and when we aren't, then I guess we aren't and enjoying the fruit of our labour.
All my experience has come from time under the hood and time in the books applied. Been welding since 94 or so. So if you ask me what heat settings to use I could not tell you. I go by the puddle as I weld. Stress welds get test welded first so as to get the fusion required. I understand the limitations of my abilities. I use my equipment to best of my ability. If I am short I strive to be long.
Do not read between the lines of my posts because there are no lines to read between.
Lastly and the best is that this forum is good. The sharing of good information from all our experiences as welders is a wonderfull thing.
Let the two pieces become one... forever.
Oh did I mention I have a daughter in Iraq?

[Knowledgeworker]

May she return home safe and without harm...

Jim

[Mr Meck]

Thank you Jim.

[Craig in Denver]

Welcome.
I thank you and your Daughter for your service. May she return safely.

My Avatar is a Salute to all of our Armed Forces.

[yorkiepap]

Hey Mr Meck,
Just wanted to applaud your post and kinda relate to those of us who approach the senior years. I've got you beat by 10 years but you are from the era, like myself, that grew up with parents, teachers, and friends who instilled the work ethic and value of a days' pay for a days' work. I have blue-collar roots and learned discipline from old world fundamentals. That has pretty well died off in the last 2 generations. Today, the discipline we received growing up would have had our parents put in prison for child abuse. The proof in the pudding is the end result of todays' youth who do not comprehend discipline, ethics, morals, and especially honor and respect. It all starts with the crap they are taught in our so-called educational systems and the pea-brained teachers who instill todays' "politically correct" way of life. And you wonder why things are the way they are........

As a Nam vet and having a son who has done 2 tours in the Gulf, I do salute your daughter..... and you. Thanks...... Denny

[hankj]

I logged on as Mr Meck cause Steve was already taken. Since you all need to know who I am and where I been here is the story. Take it for what its worth cause its who I am.


This year I turn 55. I left home back in 71 and became an avionics technician on the F-106 fighter aircraft. 21 years later I retired and came back to North Dakota as that is where the wife(bless her soul) was from.

I framed a few houses and fell into a boat shop. Al tig welding with a Lincoln 300 square wave. Three years later I'm at a dirt moving outfit on steel. Except when the truckers find the only rock in the pit with their fuel tank, then its Al again. That be in 92 or so.

All I know came from doing and applying what I have read. Certified? To do what? Certified enough by The boss to fulfill his dreams and keep his equipment running. There used to be 5 of us and now there is only me.
Motto: Thou shalt make all attempts to weld it...once...forever.

I give the company what they pay me for. Cell phones belong in your locker. There is no reason with todays equipment for crappy welds. Crappy welds come from crappy welders so get your.... in one sock.

There are NO stupid questions. If you are smart enough to ask then you deserve all the info available. When we work we are at work and when we aren't, then I guess we aren't and enjoying the fruit of our labour.

All my experience has come from time under the hood and time in the books applied. Been welding since 94 or so. So if you ask me what heat settings to use I could not tell you. I go by the puddle as I weld. Stress welds get test welded first so as to get the fusion required. I understand the limitations of my abilities. I use my equipment to best of my ability. If I am short I strive to be long.

Do not read between the lines of my posts because there are no lines to read between.

Lastly and the best is that this forum is good. The sharing of good information from all our experiences as welders is a wonderfull thing.
Let the two pieces become one... forever.

Oh did I mention I have a daughter in Iraq?

Steve,

That's a good post, and I took the liberty of adding some paragraphs to make it easier to read for us old folks who have trouble without "between the lines".

Thank your daughter for all of us for her service. Those of us who have served understand.

Hank