Most uncomfortable position?

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No not THOSE positions Today it was overhead TIG alum sitting cross legged working the foot pedal with my left knee.
Reply:I'd say twelve hrs on my knees welding floor tubes and roof tubes in a boiler or in the hair pens .don't  be mad cause i can be mad cause you can't!
Reply:Another vote for flat on the floor. Hard on the back, neck and knees!Now days about all I do is FSW on this tool.Last edited by Pangea; 03-03-2011 at 08:47 PM.Two turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:The Tijuana pirate!Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Originally Posted by PangeaAnother vote for flat on the floor. Hard on the back, neck and knees!Now days about all I do is FSW on this tool.
Reply:Originally Posted by Showdog75Do you by chance work at AEDC ?
Reply:Hello larphead, I have included a picture of some welding that I got in on at a Coast Guard Radar station. They were required to have a containment sleeve system on the fuel lines to their back-up generator. I was welding the various components together to allow for this. The picture is of me inside of one of the transfer boxes between the fuel tank and the actual generator room. I was cheating here and having one of the other fellas operate the pedal for me on verbal command. Best regards, Allan Attached Imagesaevald
Reply:Its funny the conditions that we tune out while staring at an arc.UA Local 598
Reply:Haha here are some of the positions my particular job requries me to be in. I do alot of highpressure welding in various confined spaces. I work a hydro generation company in canada, at various dams and coal fired plants. The worst id have to say is the superheater section of the boiler when you crawl in its either on your back or stomach to do tubes, theirs about a foot and a half of room to move up and down. But the crazy thing is i love it haha. Attached Images
Reply:Pangea,Man, talk about "clean room" work.What you going to do when the gravy train (NASA) pulls into the station?What do you hear about work up here at Langley.  Seems like they've got work to last them several years at least.Some of the positions I see some of our "young bucks" welding in just wouldn't work for me.  Not at all cost effective.  They'd have to keep  a couple helpers on hand "to pull me out" after the job was done.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Not welding, but I was going to comment to Steve that I know something about trying to fit a "double wide" in a "single wide" space.Then I saw aevald & spent some time reasoning how he got in there? AND if one helper was enough to get him back out??? The memories of being stuffed upside down or similar and coming back out fine years ago is making me feel a bit wimpy now...Matt
Reply:Hello Mat, as Steve commented, I didn't spend anywhere near 18 hours or otherwise in that particular space. I did however, have to take my boots off to fit various parts of me into various positions to ultimately end up where you saw me in the picture. Other portions of this same job required similar contortionism, I found joints, muscles, and tendons that I apparently hadn't used in many years. Was also wishing that I had done more mirror welding, would have been handy in lieu of trying to fit the ole body in in order to complete the welds. I have the utmost respect for anyone that makes a living out of making welds in the nastiest and oddest of places(specifically all of the folks who are boiler techs, as I do believe they have some of the most challenging welds that are needed to be made). I am not counting anyone else out, as I know from personal experience that there are any number of fabrication, welding, and repair areas where one can run into the oddest of challenges. Am enjoying this thread immensely. Funny how we generally complain profusely about these sorts of things and then on the other hand are proud to have done them. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Yeah aevald, I dont believe I could have gotten INTO that position, much less make the weld (with a helper working the pedal no doubt!) and gotten back out. kudous! I did dig up these pics a buddie took of me putting a floor in an armored up conex box in Iraq back in 2004. If I remember right it was about 12" high and and about 5 foot deep. Of course that was 7 years, about 30lbs, and 2 less bad knees ago
Reply:All in all, I think we have some HOF candidate photos above... While I got stuck in some spots, I never had a bucket on my head, and at any time I could drop my hands and relax for a time (didn't weld till later in life and didn't have to get in these places and stay with a task).Worst welding positions I can remember was building a new floor to firewall in my '84 toyota rat snow plow (little pieces cause I'm stubborn) . Nothing like these.Matt
Reply:doing these bellow welds is not easy in the first place but you should see some of the spots they are in ....last coupple were from a tube job down in pa i was on what a pain those last welds were lol 9018 top 308ss lower dutchmen 2 inches off the crown seals.After the arc has died the weld remains
Reply:boilermaker 237 those would be bad enough with 7018 or 8018 but dang 9018 and 308 thats torture in them holes feel your pain brother been there and done that them aint't for the faint of heart or beginners.don't  be mad cause i can be mad cause you can't!
Reply:Wow I never thought about all those small places to be welded! Im way to fat to fit in there! You guys really earn your money.
Reply:its the challenge that makes it fun for me after welding for many years it still keeps me interested lol..the harder the better all those welds were xray and most of theme were  mirror welds as we got deeper into the banks of tubes behind the collector beams.After the arc has died the weld remains
Reply:I have done a few mirror welds (with varying success ) I think the last one I done was overhead  on the bottom shelf of a rack I built at work. I could have laid on the floor or even flipped it on its side.But I am a bit lazy so I laid across an office chair and put the mirror on the floor
Reply:BoilermakerFor me its just the thrill of learning something new. Im having so much fun at this, as long as everything is flowing right! Ive learned alot off this site from you all.