Kiddo with a tig

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My oldest (16) son joined a robotics league at high school. Team members have to do it all - including welding the aluminum 1"x1"x1/8" square tubing - my son volunteers I've got pics and video:Warming up on day two:Little brother (12) peeking in the black mask.Watch his left hand - i told him to learn to feed rod consistently - who says kids don't listen and can't focus Under the hood look - now he has to learn to keep his rod tip steady during feedingNext post the results...Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Warming up on the plate Butt joints, 1/8" That's it for day 2 - I think he has the pics of the tubing, flat, outside corners and fillet welds. Mike has four days in now, about three hours each and feels pretty good.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Looks like he is off to a really good start Dave. Now you need to crank the amps up and let him run it fast and fill in the craters at the end Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Fn awsome Dave, awsome! Ill watch the vid on home pc, on my phone now. And I love his name! Tell him way to go from me and keep at it! And good on you bro! I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Oh man I'm jealous! I have grandsons that age, I'd give my left nut if they would even walk in my shop.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Cool beans!  Wish I had the opportunity to learn TIG at his age.Two  (Root Beers) for him!MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by SquirmyPugLooks like he is off to a really good start Dave. Now you need to crank the amps up and let him run it fast and fill in the craters at the end
Reply:Dave that is awesome, nothing like that time with your son. I am jealous of his ability to feed filler that good that quick, as i sit here trying to retrain my hand after a recent injury. His feed is much steadier then mine now.Mike
Reply:CEP and Duane - Thanks bunches guys! As you can imagine, I'm a happy guy Just want them to constantly try new things so that they have something to go by as they make career decisions Plus, the more times they try something hard, fail, try again, work through and finally succeed - the better! Originally Posted by leightrepairsDave that is awesome, nothing like that time with your son. I am jealous of his ability to feed filler that good that quick, as i sit here trying to retrain my hand after a recent injury. His feed is much steadier then mine now.Mike
Reply:Good job all around. I hope to get my son in the shop with me more.Arcon Workhorse 300MSPowcon 400SMTPowcon SM400 x 2Powcon SM3001968 SA200 Redface1978 SA250 DieselMiller Super 32P FeederPre 1927 American 14" High Duty LatheK&T Milwaukee 2H Horizontal MillBryan
Reply:Tell Mikey boy not to pull the filler out of the argon pool so far, It will contaminate when he re dips. And move a little faster as he gets comfortable. And for a big azz guy you sound like a sissy. Cold weather must have your nuts like two cashews. Good job Mikey boy!   I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Thank you Dave, it has been a struggle. But getting better every day.Mike
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeTell Mikey boy not to pull the filler out of the argon pool so far, It will contaminate when he re dips. And move a little faster as he gets comfortable. And for a big azz guy you sound like a sissy. Cold weather must have your nuts like two cashews. Good job Mikey boy!
Reply:Great job on his part and great job of being a dad on yours.
Reply:Originally Posted by jlamesGreat job on his part and great job of being a dad on yours.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveThanks Jonathan But we'll have to wait about 15-20 years to see if I did good as a dad though
Reply:That is awesome. Why the Hell didn't my school have a robotics league when I was that age? Better question. Why the hell don't it have one now? I bet my nerdy 16 year old would LOVE it. Even if it DID mean dad teaching him to weld. Good job Mike Good job dad. If you cant fix it with a hammer, it must be an electrical problem."Boy, everyone starts with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before the bag of luck is empty."-Grandad circa 1990ish
Reply:that's pretty awesome.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonQuestion is, was Dad as good as him at 16??????Gotta be proud of him though.Nice.
Reply:Something tells me you won't have to wait for 15-20 years Dave. Good kids are hard to come by these days because it all starts with good parents who take the time to instilled good character. I'd say you've got a prettty sure bet there.
Reply:Awesome stuff! Glad to see the kids getting into it!
Reply:Originally Posted by larpheadThat is awesome. Why the Hell didn't my school have a robotics league when I was that age? Better question. Why the hell don't it have one now? I bet my nerdy 16 year old would LOVE it. Even if it DID mean dad teaching him to weld. Good job Mike Good job dad.
Reply:Wow!You taught him advance the rod thru his fingers every time he dips? That is skill.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonWow!You taught him advance the rod thru his fingers every time he dips? That is skill.
Reply:good hands! I wish I had someone show me when I was younger! hard to find someone to teach me!Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveMaybe it does have robotics?  I only say that because I didn't know his school had it until he told me.Kind words, thank you
Reply:Originally Posted by larpheadDoubt it.Unless it involves hitting a ball with a stick or 22 morons chasing a ball around hitting each other. This school district dosent care. They DO have a pretty wicked marching band that my oldest is involved in and a archery program that my youngest is in.
Reply:Great stuff man. Wish when I was 16 I A) Had a tig welder to use and B) had someone to teach me how to use it. Awesome
Reply:Lucky kid. And great on you teaching him! I'd love to have learned this skill as a kid and not being paying to learn it now. Enjoy the time together, surely the best part. Weld on!"I fully know my place in life, and it's behind a welding helmet...." - Jesse JamesIG: @weldakota
Reply:Thanks guys It's coming along for him, found a pic of his first try at a fillet weld.He had a hard time on that tack, but the weld turned out ok for day 3 Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveThanks guys It's coming along for him, found a pic of his first try at a fillet weld.He had a hard time on that tack, but the weld turned out ok for day 3
Reply:Thanks man - and I'll pass along your encouragement Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveThanks man - and I'll pass along your encouragement
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaI know it's nice hearing it from somebody besides your old man. Especially at that age. Weld on!
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveFunny - and true (from what I remember 27 years ago)
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveFunny - and true (from what I remember 27 years ago)
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPOh my God, are there any adults here?
Reply:43, I got boots older than that! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Dave, is your son on a FIRST Robotics team?"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:Originally Posted by CEP43, I got boots older than that!
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumDave, is your son on a FIRST Robotics team?
Reply:My older son co-founded Team 975 "Synergy" (which is dormant these days, I think). Both boys participated and I was a team mentor for 5 years.  Va Commonwealth U named one of their FIRST scholarships after the older son, who was in engineering there.Last edited by Oldendum; 01-09-2014 at 10:50 AM."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:Originally Posted by CEPOh my God, are there any adults here?
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumMy older son co-founded Team 975 "Synergy" (which is dormant these days, I think). Both boys participated and I was a team mentor for 5 years.  Va Commonwealth U named one of their FIRST scholarships after the older son, who was in engineering there.
Reply:so awesome!
Reply:Dave, at least your boy can immediately apply what he learns.  We didn't have welders when we were doing FIRST, or anything for machining aside from a drill press.  The young one has since gone on to community college and is a proficient welder and machinist.  He should have his AS degree here pretty soon.  The other team co-founder got one of the FIRST 4-year scholarships to VCU and graduated in mechanical engineering - Summa Cum Laude.  She's a smart gal. Oh - if you are interested, one of the teams has the ultimate web site forum for FIRST-related stuff.  Technical, motors, game strategy, etc.  It's www.chiefdelphi.com.  Forum:  http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/index.php?   It's a great resource and there are a lot of helpful old-timers and engineers on there.Last edited by Oldendum; 01-09-2014 at 12:02 PM."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:Thanks for those links My boys come back for my week on Friday - these will definitely be passed on.Naturally I'll have him read up on the excellent comments in this thread as well Last edited by MinnesotaDave; 01-09-2014 at 02:10 PM.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:If your son has the interest and drive, don't forget about the various FIRST-inspired scholarships available for the taking.  My older one did not apply, but since we were locals in the FIRST competition at VCU and were quite familiar with the folks at the engineering department, they gave him a 4 year scholarship.  We didn't even apply, they just found him one sponsored by Alcoa. It was also nice to be on a first-name basis with the assistant Dean and some of the professors."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:Will do - thanks for the heads up! Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDave.....long time for a pair o boots to last....lol