Boy Scouts now have a Welding Merit Badge

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Here's a good article on the Boy Scouts new Welding Merit Badge. We should all offer to help local Boy Scout troops as Merit Badge Counselors. I have been associated with Boy Scouting for almost 50 years and I promise you this will be time well-spent for both the boys and you.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47615409...iness-careers/I hope you will be supportive.     Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:The troop here just signed me up as a councilor. The requirements aren't bad and it should give the boys so time under the hood.http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/...s/welding.aspxI also do the metalworking merit badge... along with a few others. I spent a week last summer working the blacksmith shop at scout camp.
Reply:My troop (from which I earned Eagle) recently signed me up as a councilor as well.  If all goes well, I'll probably offer it to the other troops in the area next year.Who is John Galt?
Reply:Im a scoutmaster of  my sons troop and I'm the welding merit badge councilor to since it came out but no interest as of yet
Reply:We completed our first Welding Merit Badge sessions last Saturday.  Two weeks ago, we spent the morning watching safety and welding videos as well as discussions on safety equipment, welding equipment and procedures.  Saturday was the actual welding day at the local union training facility.  The father of one of our scouts is an instructor there.  As long as he was there, we got the run of the place.A few observations.1. No one got hurt so we can call it a success.2.Most boys could run a decent bead in about 45 minutes.  Until then, it looked like they were trying to stab ants.3. Those with prior experience did much better.  Some had run MIG machines with uncles, dads and grandpas.  My son had some time in the garage with my Syncrowave.4.We tried to start them on  7018 (3/32) but they had a hard time starting and maintain the beads.  They all ended up using 6010 (1/8), which is much easier to start but tougher to run.  Used 75 amps for both.5.  We used 3/16x4x4 or 1/4x3x3 plates; material, cutting and preparation all donated.Had one session in the morning  in another in the afternoon.  By going to local fabrication shops and asking, we ended up with donations of 18 helmets, and a dozen sets of gloves and chipping hammers.  When you ask a grown man who is Eagle Scout with the resources, the floodgates come open.  Lots of rod, too.  Especially fifty-pound cans that were open too long and that could not be used for critical weld and were destined for the garbage can.Had one kid from our unit (Troop 484) who has been and Eagle Scout for about a year.  He’s a senior next year and will be in a program where welds for 3 hours a day.  The goal is to have a 6G Pipe certification by the time you graduate high school.  Then, he is off to college for Mechanical Engineering.  When he can put all of that together, he’ll be on fire.  He stayed around to clean up without being asked and did everything I told him correctly the first time.  Yeah!!We are in Bakersfield, otherwise known as "Houston West."   We have a huge oilfield presence, to say the least.  It's great to see how excited the kids and especially the adults to put on and participate in the class.  Our goal was to simply keep them safe and get them some experience and confidence with the skill.  This is one more skill that can be used for service projects and Eagle Scout Service Projects.
Reply:Originally Posted by wrpriceWe completed our first Welding Merit Badge sessions last Saturday.
Reply:I finished Wood Badge last Christmas.  Much work but good experience. For one of my projects, I tigged up what looked like a large fuel cell, then cut it in half and added wooden racks and boxes inside to hold 18 BB guns, BBs, targets, safety glasses, etc.  Now the council's BB guns have a transport case that will hold everything needed to set up a range.  I even made the hinges.  Made from .080 5051 aluminum, rustproof.Two weeks ago, we had a Merit Badge Pow-wow with 35 kids signed up.  We could accommodate 24 with the balance on the wait list.  Only 14 showed up.  A few more got the safety training done and so, Saturday, we had eight in the morning and eight in the afternoon.  The initial signups filled up in four days, which is very fast.  Because of the strong interest, I am planning and requesting insurance certificates for the second session on June 29.The other MB counselor is a Cub Scout dad, a Certified Welding Inspector and the instructor at the training facility.  Two more union welders attended to help and demonstrate.  They were the real welders.  Besides me, we had at least two dads there that acted as safety watch and helped out where they could.  I'm a garage welder, so I was of some help.  We all just hopped from booth to booth, got them rod when they needed it and supplied plates and instructions as they progressed.  Our adult/boy ration was 1 to 2.The *think* that the facility could handle 16-18 welders at a time.  I didn't stop to count.  Each boy had his own welder and booth with a file, a chipping hammer, and wire brush.  The booths all had Miller inverter welders capable of about 150 amps and lift TIG.  The booths all had ventilation systems.  We did all stick.  No MIG.The welding, being so new, was was tough to find any kids with experience.  One did the MB in the morning and then stayed to help in the afternoon (mentioned in previous post).  We went over safety and equipment and then talked about Requirement 7, Careers in Welding.  That took about 45 minutes.  We then handed out equipment and had a welder demonstrate a bead.  After that, it was nose to the grindstone for two hours to get them through requirements 5 and 6.  We needed every minute to get it done.I had to get a waiver written and approved.  All the parents and all the kids had to sign one, even if they were just watching.  The Councils have insurance which covers these activities.  I also had to get a certificate of insurance from the Scout office that covers the specific day and location of the session.  I went to the office, filled out a form and then they make them up right there.  Both of these documents had to be approved by the training facility before we scheduled the session.If you're in Wood Badge, you probably have extensive leader experience.  So assuming you've had Youth Protection Training, and BALOO /BOLT-OWL, you should be good to go.  If you haven't already, you will need to be trained as a Merit Badge Counselor.  Ours took about an hour.  Then, you can turn in a separate application to be a council-wide MB counselor.  Even though I'm registered as an Assistant Scoutmaster, that only associates me with my unit, within the district.  The other application gets you registered as a MB counselor for the whole district.  Same goes for the other MB counselor.  We could then exceed the requirement for two-deep leadership.
Reply:My nephew is an 11 year old Scout and does not appear to be mature enough to get the most out of the Badge requirements. In your opinion:What is the appropriate age for a Scout to get their Welding Merit Badge?
Reply:TigRx I think you answered your own question. Age and maturity don't always go hand in hand and are different for each person.Keep in mind also that part of the reason for these merit badges is to expose Scouts to a wide variety of experiences. This allows them to find hobbies or careers that they might not be otherwise exposed to. In some cases such as archery and rifle/shotgun these experiences also help to teach maturity and responsibility. The Scout is forced to "grow up" if they want to participate in their chosen activity..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:Originally Posted by DSWTigRx I think you answered your own question. Age and maturity don't always go hand in hand and are different for each person.Keep in mind also that part of the reason for these merit badges is to expose Scouts to a wide variety of experiences. This allows them to find hobbies or careers that they might not be otherwise exposed to. In some cases such as archery and rifle/shotgun these experiences also help to teach maturity and responsibility. The Scout is forced to "grow up" if they want to participate in their chosen activity.
Reply:Unfortunately our litigious sue happy populous has forced a lot of changes to scouting and similar organizations over the years... mostly for the worse....   People suck.   My Dad was a scoutmaster for over 30 years.  He has seen so many of these changes occur and most  are due to actual or potential legal action, of greedy people playing the victim to get something for nothingTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:When I was a kid, my buddy and I were on a Boy Scout camp out in Quantico, VA.  We started working on our own Ordinance Disposal merit badge.  We wandered onto one of the ranges at the Marine Corps base and found some neat stuff, including some bazooka or mortar round.  Brought it back to camp.The Scoutmasters called EOD and we didn't get to keep our prize.  They said it was live but I wonder.  The rest of the camp out was dull, as we only had .22 starter gun blanks and cans of applesauce to throw into the camp fire."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 TigRxMy nephew is an 11 year old Scout and does not appear to be mature enough to get the most out of the Badge requirements. In your opinion:What is the appropriate age for a Scout to get their Welding Merit Badge?
Reply:Please don't tell me they give out Merit Badges for Lego's now...  .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:I think that it depends on the kid.  As mentioned before, there is no age requirement nor prerequisites for this merit badge.  Welding is inherently dangerous, so, if he's not up to it, wait for the next class.I do think that by the time a Scout gets to Eagle, there isn't much that intimidates him since he's had such a wide range of exposure and experiences.  Most have been on long hikes, long bike rides, and multiple campouts.  They've paddled a canoe, been on powerboats, passed swimming tests, had first aid and lifesaving courses.  Many have been rock climbing, snorkeling and scuba diving.  They're required to do really scary activities like public speaking.During our merit badge session, I saw firsthand the removal of fear and apprehension associated with trying this skill.  In the end, they aren't qualified to weld anything but are more than willing to drop the hood and burn a rod.  Besides emphasizing safety, I DO think that is the point of many of these merit badges.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWPlease don't tell me they give out Merit Badges for Lego's now...
Reply:This is great to hear! At least someone is "allowing" kids to learn trade skills.I have two older daughters in girl scouts and I have been doing all that fun stuff with them. Soon my son will be getting into all the school and boy scout stuff, I'd love to help out if I can!
Reply:Jody at Weldingtipsandtricks made a few videos about this a while back -[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKn8Ccgtdpw"]Stick[/ame][ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBpEMwKfRYo"]Wire feed[/ame][ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ9OM3fKodI"]Flux core[/ame]
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWPlease don't tell me they give out Merit Badges for Lego's now...