Old guy, new welder

**johnday** · 02-12-2005, 11:29 AM

Just found this place not too long ago. Right now, I'm taking a college level welding course. I've managed to stick a few pieces of metal together, but my welds look terrible. Bluntly put, I'm struggling to keep up with the kids with the hands on.

Flat square groove and verticle up laps are really giving me problems. The instructor wants 3/16"coupon welded with 6010 rod, 75 amps, verticle up done, DCEP. After 2 hours of practice, I'm still not there. Any suggestions out there other than stay with housebuilding. I want to get good enough to fab my own implements and repair ag type machines, but at this rate I'm better off having friends do the welding. I have the opportunity on Sundays to go to the school and practice to my hearts content. Thats what I'm doing tommorow.

One thing I really did suceed at was welding flat laps with a 7024

. I guess I could always rotate my workpiece so I could always weld like that!!!!!!

**hankj** · 02-12-2005, 11:40 AM

John,

Welcom to the board.

Flippin' them bigger green tractors around to flat weld is a *****. Don't be discouraged! Practice, and then more practice, is what it takes. I had to walk away now and then and get my head straight because sometimes, you just get in the same rut and keep making the mistake over and over. All of a sudden, you'll lay one down (or up!) just perfect and wonder "How the **** did I do that?". That's the beginning of the fun, and confidence builds from there.

Hang in!

Hank

**toolaholic** · 02-12-2005, 11:55 AM

the instructur has to spend time with each student. I taught my son fast because he was the only student. when you go to mig it will be love at first bead.

but you need to master stick also. good luck

from my own experiance. my welding instructors were excellent welders , and fair teachers. this is understandable, they came from the welding world, not the teaching world!!

moody · 02-12-2005, 06:11 PM

i started stick welding about 5 months ago

it just takes lots of Practice

you know what they say

Practice makes perfect

keep at it

**Sundown** · 02-12-2005, 07:55 PM

Believe what Hank told ya, he's older than dirt, and I am older than him

.....keep at it, you will be glad you did.....and just think after you get really hooked on this stuff, you will want to learn tig

**James D. Clark** · 02-12-2005, 09:18 PM

John; I'm another old guy. A subject that should be mentioned is how good are the old peepers? Do you wear corrective eye glasses? How well are you at seeing the welding puddle? Looking at welding through a helmet can be put you at the wrong distance or at a bad position to see well. It can make a difference.

**Graham Brown** · 02-12-2005, 09:28 PM

I'm an old man in the same boat. I am welding with a bunch of young guys at the Community College and I'm having a hard time. I can tell you how it is done, but my welds don't turn out too good. Mabey we will get it later on.

**storts** · 02-12-2005, 10:44 PM

Im self taught, looked over a guys shoulder for a couple of hours when i worked for the highway dept, went in on sat, and sundays, as the other members said BINGO,,and said WOW!!! Practice, are you using a dc machine? Mig is here,,But if you cant stick weld, you could be the best migger in the world, but thats as far as you go,Keep at it, wish you lived closerer to me

I could in 2 days make you pretty decent,and the rest is up to you,,,,DONT GIVE UP, Jack

**johnday** · 02-13-2005, 09:36 AM

Guys; Thanks all for the encouragement. This is something I really want to get good at. Since I do wear specks, my instructor was concerned about me being able to see. I'm thinking one of problems is not being able to read the puddle, I'm not sure what I'm looking at!! I'm going in this afternoon to practice and I'll show some photos when I get back. I'm going to conquer this!!!!!!!!!! Can't let those whippersnappers show the old guy up ya know

**Mike W** · 02-13-2005, 01:45 PM

Old age and treachery,always overcomes youth and skill.

**Roger** · 02-13-2005, 02:16 PM

Your glasses might not have enough correction for how close you are to arc when welding. Correction lenses in helmet in addition to your glasses will help. Lenses must be clean to see clear. I remove cover lens and filters and wash with dish detergent and water. First brush off big chunks. Put drop of dish detergent on lens and smear around with light finger pressure and continure while adding water then wash off in stream of water. Shake water off and blot dry. Clean cotton is better than toilet paper but both will work. Ok to do this to cover lens for auto dark filter but LCD filter and electronics would be water damaged. I would follow manufuctures instructions for cleaning auto dark filter. Camera lenses are cleaned with lens tissue dampened with cleaning solution. SLR camera mirror is cleaned only with clean oil free camel hair brush or better blow dirt off with dry oil free low pressure air. Besides water damage have to guard aginst scratches in thin film filter damaging filter then your eyes.

I have posted many times about training how to read weld puddle puddle. Here is link to my 11-09-2004, 12:32 PM post and Rocky D has some great posts on that thread also.
http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/...t=Roger+puddle
http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/...t=Roger+puddle

**Ryel** · 02-13-2005, 02:49 PM

Good advise on eye support. Get the teacher to go over puddle manipulation with you one on one and verify that you can see what they are seeing. One other mention is consistant arc length...very difficult with that rod sticking out a foot so work on different postures that stiffen the body and use both hands in supportive stance. Oh, and number one is BREATH, slowley, deliberatly breath while chanting the mantra arc length, puddle wet, speed control.
oh yeah...enjoy

**johnday** · 02-13-2005, 03:51 PM

Alright!! Just back from the college, and after listening to you guys, what an improvement. Did verticle up lap in 2 tries. And the one I impressed myself with was the verticle up square groove in one try.

I'll try and post photos of each. Now I'm on verticle up, three pass, T joint. Having trouble again with that one. It's sort of funny, my confidence increased greatly with the first 2 tasks, then went south with the T. But, I WILL overcome!!