my son's first real welds

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he is 9 and is wanting to be like his dad.  he wanted to weld so i helped him cut some 11 ga sheet with an o/a.  i tacked it up and helped him keep a steady hand.  you can see as he progressed up the joint he got better at manipulation.  all i did was keep him steady so he would stay in the puddle.  he did all the movement to tie in the sides.  i have been letting him watch me weld and i have been helping him understand what to look for.the set up is 11 ga mild steel in a vertical down outside corner joint.  we were using a 3/32 6013 set somewhere between 65 and 85 amps.  we back stepped the weld. Attached Images
Reply:That's a great first weld!  I'm sure you're quite proud of him!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Wish I could have had help when I was young.  I would be better today.  My father wansn't a welderYou're a good father.  Keep at it Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:He did better than I did on my first welds......and I was 28!
Reply:That is frikkin' awesome.  My parents divorced when I was 6. Dad was in Chicago and his two kids were in Denver. Summer visits.  He didn't weld, but was most certainly a Craftsman. Missed out on a LOT of learning.  How much is hard to tell: when I was 12, I put a 120v porcelain light fixture, with switch, in the attic; while my Mom was at work. She told me later that she woulda kilt me..........except she was glad I was still alive.  (yes, I turned off the circuit breaker in the box.)EDIT: Holy Crap, Farmersamm just hit 5000 posts. Last edited by Craig in Denver; 09-11-2009 at 11:42 PM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Thats amazing for hes age, imagine at 20? Wowsers, keep it up lil buddy, and good work pops.  I didn't strike my first arc till I was 24... kinda sucks.. I wish I could have started at a young age. I did get my flat horizontal vertical and overhead  stick - cwb (structural positions) within the first month of my  welding apprenticeship. I'll be headed back to school soon,  few more years and hopefully do some pressure welding.
Reply:Good stuff my buddy used to tell me about how his dad would sit him on his knee at age 7 and teach him how to burn sticks
Reply:That is awesome!!  You'll have to post more pics as he welds more!!Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:i have let him burn a few rods to watch the sparks.  when he was young he would call them sparklers.  he has the motion down, but he still needs a little help.  i believe this joint is the easiest joint for beginners.  if you can kiss the rod on the edges and stay just ahead of the slag, you will have a perfect weld.  it is almost fail proof when welding 10-11ga metal.