Grades for my first welding class came in

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Skidded by with a C. Which is new to me because I'm a straight A student. I struggled a lot with cutting and keep my welds straight. It was an intro class.I'm not going to get discouraged. I just hope this isn't a clue as to how the program is going to go for me. In any case, I have a lot of work to do. I have an open lab class over the summer before I start MIG. This will give me extra time to work on my welds.Any words of wisdom?
Reply:Nowhere to go but up.Get in as much hood time as you can. Practice. Practice. Practice!Make sure you can actually see what you are doing. Try different levels of shades until you can see the puddle, the seam to weld and the arc at the same time.Be wary of The Numbers: Figures don't lie,. but liars can figure.Welders:2008 Lincoln 140 GMAW&FCAW2012 HF 165 'toy' GTAW&SMAW1970's Cobbled together O/A
Reply:What is your progression in terms of classes?  My son started with Oxy/Acetylene.  Not sure from there but maybe basic stick, then MIG, then TIG. O/A taught him control and how not to set one's self or the shop on fire. The others just followed.Just before my son finished all the welding and machining classes, I met with his welding teacher before he retired. We talked for 4 hours.  Said my son was one of the most memorable he'd taught in his career, for his attitude and problem solving.  But there was another guy who was judged a loser and a nobody (even by his family) who turned out to be a very  naturally talented welder. So you never know.  My son had a welding job reconditioning Inconel gas turbine generator blades before he finished his TIG class.  But he went on to be a machinist. Loves welding but is more suited to working with half-thousands of an inch. He did get one "B" in an unrelated intro class, but otherwise "A" all the way. In college, it took me until my last semester to get straight A's. Some of us ramp up slowly. Keep at it, pal."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Hello Sm412, much too much emphasis on "grades" although everyone always thinks in terms of "A's" as being necessary or preferred. Consider the learning that you take away from your classes and what goes with you when you go out the door and into the working world. There can be many reasons for receiving grades that are less than an A, just never regret the effort that you have put forth and never say to yourself: "I wish I had done this or that and not pissed away the opportunity when I had it". I am a welding instructor and I do have to give grades because of the educational system as it is, but that doesn't mean that the grades that I give are indicative of a students true abilities. It can also work both ways: giving a better grade than really signifies a students abilities and giving a lesser grade than is significant of a students capabilities. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:I wouldn't worry about it. Just work hard. Learn whatever book work you need and keep practicing/improving. The odds of a potential employer looking at your grades are slim... All they see is you went through the program, now can you pass the weld test.- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:Originally Posted by Sm412I struggled a lot with cutting and keep my welds straight. Any words of wisdom?
Reply:Thanks all. I'm going to persevere. I'm not gonna let a crap grade discourage me. I have a quarter to straighten out my welds and I will. Going to focus on stability and seeing the puddle. I've also practiced drawing lines on paper. Idk if that helps.
Reply:Keeping welds straight also has a lot to do with body position. Depending on how you are standing, your body is goint to want to move in a certain way. You can force it to do what you want, if you are paying attention to it, but many times that part of your mind goes into auto pilot because of other things you are concentrating on.I see a lot of people have issues trying to weld directly straight across, like you would read a book. In general, your body doesn't move this way. Your arms tend to swing in an arc, not a straight line. Make that arc work for you. If you are right handed, sit down at a desk with a piece of paper and a pencil and note how your arm pivots on the elbow bear your body. Your right hand is in close to your body on the left, and as you swing your arm, as it moves right, it moves out and away for example. The reverse is true if you try and push a mig bead and weld towards yourself. It wants to start out and away, and moves in close. Position your plate, so your weld seem is in that natural line of motion, and you'll have less issues. If you can't move the piece, position your body so the motion follows the seem.As metioned being able to see well is key. You don't know how many students I try to get this across to. You may not need glasses for other things, but you may need them to weld well. A  good eye doc can get you a prescription so you can weld if you explain to him what you are doing. Also a good quality hood is key. I always love it when I loan one of the students my Miller AD hood and use theirs and they immediately comment on how clear and easy to see things are compared to their cheap hood. Good optics don't have to cost a fortune though. My fixed shade Jackson has optics as good or better than my $300 Miller Ad hood does at a fraction of the cost..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:dont worry about it, i wouldnt say i actually got real "good" at welding until after i started doing it everyday at work. At tech school i was an average mig welder and since work there isnt much i cant weld and not make it look nice. Even my tig skills at school wernt that great and since doing it at work its picked up a ton. ive been in the field about a year now.