Anything welding

Was being a bit facetious in my post, but more because of what @soundman98 said some pages ago along with your mentioning of mechanical engineering.

Welding comes really easy if you possess a few things such as mechanical aptitude, a willingness to learn, and a few other things.

Going to toot my own horn but mainly just to prove some of the points made here earlier - I did go to welding school, and I did pick it up really fast, and did it so well I was the only student in some 2 years that made and stayed on Dean's list all the way through. Not to mention having passed my cert for the major processes, and yet again for employment as I was certified in MIG (3G), SMAW (4F), and then GTAW (3G at my second job). Having practiced a lot of 6G on pipe taught me to pass 4F easily on SMAW.

At the same time, there were some other students that just flat out could not run rod for shit. Or they couldn't figure out how to dial in their settings for MIG. And worse, constantly dipping their tungsten when doing TIG or contaminating their filler as they pulled and dabbed. I mean some of these students were so bad, that you later learned that they lacked the ability to properly use tools like the belt sander, band saw, and other various tools we used.

Fast forward to both fab shops I worked at and there are plenty of guys that'd run circles around me that were self-taught.

I always suggest if there's a willingness to learn, you're halfway there already. Understanding how shit works gets you that much closer, and finally positive control will get you doing it consistently.

 

Oh I figured. Just adding a comment that if you are with the right company and get good on the job training it’s potentially better than the schooling and can set up a nice future for you.

 

Absolutely

 

Cut aluminum for the first time; followed the cut guide loosely as it's 12 gauge 5053

For scrap aluminum that sat outside in the elements and only running air, I have to say I'm impressed







Also cut out a house number/sign for another member on here along with mounting tabs





And last but not least got my mounting tabs folded on my stand legs

 

Got bored, drew up some feet and cut them out.



One is blank and the other has a silhouette just to not add "too many shapes".



An even better mock up of how it'll stand upright.



Once the bolts arrive I'll get to cutting the aluminum rod to evenly space apart the legs and bolt them into place.

If I like how sturdy it feels I'll TIG weld the feet bottoms to the legs, get the hardware unbolted, and get it alll painted up.

 

Looks like an F-15...

 

Wingshape and cockpit would be the giveaway, yep!

Just wanted to add to the whole "aero" theme since I added the logo to the side of the legs from my joystick



You'll see the small logo at the front of the base here

 

Be glad you got into a decent company I was lucky I fell in with great Co Workers.

I was lucky I had great teachers in school . In those days most all the trade teachers were pulled out of industries. Having years in the trade one learns so many things to share. Maybe the physical side of the job became to painful.


When I started a self taught welder might not even get asked to take a weld test. Times have changed since 1975 .

So many end up with bad teachers and even worse companies to work for. When your young you have nothing to compare things with.

 

I wasn't kidding when I said cheap lol

https://www.ebay.com/itm/323897169423?var=512927961653

I got the #20 torch it's comparable to a #9 torch but handles 250A

Much smaller than the #17 air cooled I was using before.

 

You can get a water cooled CK torch for only $40-50 more with flexible neck, also 250A

With your experience I'm sure you'd find benefit to using it

 

First liquid cooled torch if it gets warm stop make sure the cooler is still working far to many keep going and cook the power cable.


My first thought was a Miller Clone or knock off.

I hope you at least put a cover on.

As long as it works and if it fails your not left hanging to get a critical job finished.

Most of the failures that were not being run over cut through with a grinder or hot steel.

Are at the crimps . If you have your own crimping kit repair is not bad out sourcing at that price it is a throw away. Can you buy new parts or would they be to expensive ??

Try not to stretch things.

Good Luck!!

 

God damn can't believe it's been almost 2 1/2 years now

 

Framed some windows and added sides to the camper. No real plan, just figuring it out as I go

 

The older you get the faster time goes!

The Y2K adventure seems like last year!

The1980`s seem like a few years ago.

 

Finally a little bit of welding







Now just needs some cleaning, paint, and for the wood top to arrive so I can cut and stain it before mounting on top

 

That should be able to handle some serious G-Forces...

 

I seent wut u did there.

 

And painted









If it holds up for a year then it would've done its job.

All in this cost me $17 for both paint and the aluminum rod; everything else was already at my disposal.

 

That’s sick man. I would have way more personal projects if I had a burn table available. So many fun things to build.