2nd day of actual welding

admin

hey guys this is my 2nd thread i written...i mostly just read and try and soak up the knowledge thats going around on here. well i am 4 days into my welding class....today was actually the 2nd time we welded.  my course is 10 weeks long and all we are doing is mig welding.  im enrolled for a 9month course in august which covers all aspects of welding.  but i was talking to one of the instructors and i told him my situation with having a 1 year old son and still have to work full time to provide and it would just be really difficult to work and attend a 9month program that runs M-F 7am-3pm.  i asked him if its possible to move up as far in the welding field over the years just attending this 10 week course as opposed to taking the 9 month program.  and he said its defianetly possible you know...as long as i want to excel and show good work ethic all around.  so im really thinking of dropping the 9 month program and just do this 10 weeks and get a job and just bust my *** over the next few years to be where i want to be....as far as actually welding...its defianetly something im interested in and its friggin awesome now that i got to experience it....the first day wasnt to bad either.  (NOTE:  im new to welding so if my termonology/slang is off just please bare with me)  i was welding .035 inch wire and i did pretty good.  we just practiced on coupons or just a flat pad and just kept making welds over welds.  some of my beads were horrific but as time progressed i think i got the basic hang of it.  today was somewhat of an improvement.  id lay down my beads like anywere from a 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart and then id fill em and try to get the top of the beads pretty steadily even throughout the weld.  also on my 2nd time welding(today) i kind of had more of a clue as to what im looking at while welding.  for example, when laying down a bead between 2 welds i was able to understand more of what i was looking for when the puddle was filling the gap.  doing that helped me make it smooth on the top....well as smooth as a newbie can do it i guess.  i did have problems also tho.  one being when i line up the torch and wire to the pad to get ready to weld, when i thro my helmet down it kind of throws of my positioning of my hands.  i have gotten better at it as the instructor gave me some tips.  he said, anyway or anything i can use to get comfortable or to prop myself to use that.  so that defianetly helped out and i solved the problem a little bit but not entirely...and then when he told me, most places dont let you sit when mig welding because of beads falling into your lap.  so i tried to give it a try standing and man what a disaster....couldnt keep my hands steady as far as the problem i just explained above.  now keep in mind that im 6'4 and these tables were welding on are probably 3-4 ft off the ground.  i know its my 2nd day of welding and all but i just have that jittery feeling of like....am i ever gonna get good??  im probably gonna have anxiety attacks when i start my first day of work in the shop because im sure a course at votech and actual work is like night and day.  did all you guys suck at one point when you first started?  also when you guys are welding are you holding your hands in the air when moving along the bead or do u rest them against the table and move along?  im just trying not to start any bad habits before its hard to break them.   well thats it for now guys and i appreciate any advice that you can send my way.  hope this was the right forum.  sorry for this thread for being so long just got a lot to say.   thank you.josh
Reply:You could build up your table a little. Get a piece of pipe or something about 2' long, tack it to your table and then tack your practice piece to the top of that to bring it closer to eye level.You can pay attention to your breathing and that can help steady things a little.What ever you do don't weld all tensed up. Just relaxing helps alot.
Reply:Man, you sound pumped...that's cool. I usually rest against the table, the steadier you are the better control you will have.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:Mosey, mosey...Oh hey! I was just moseyun' along and overheard you talking! So, you decided to learn to weld, eh?  Yup, I sucked pretty bad at first, sometimes still do.  (Shhh, keep that on the down lo.)I will just say this, don't hold your breath, or you can only weld a little bit. Nobody expects you to be an expert from the gitgo, so relax! Have fun, you'll learn better & faster!! Last edited by tanglediver; 05-13-2008 at 02:41 AM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:hey thanks for the advice...i did notice yesterday that when i had good control of my breathing i was welding better.   i was able to move at a steady pace and straight too.  now that you said it im def. gonna practice on getting that aspect better.....swells...your right man i am pumped.  i been wanted to do somethin hands on like this since i was 18 or so....4 years later im finally doin it.  cant wait to drop my current job to learn welding...i just want to get good and kno alot of information about the whole trade.  thanks for the advice everyone....these forums rock.
Reply:bigman,   Just try to relax and focus on what you are doing.  Sometimes making a "dry run" before you actually weld will ensure that you will be comfortable throughout the pass. If you have a digital camera, take some pics and post specific questions, and you will get good advice and help. Good luck!
Reply:hey daddy thanks for your advice....i was trying that "dry run" idea today in class...we welded on the same pads as we did yesterday so they are getting pretty damn thick.  thats a good idea about taking pics....i just might have to do that.  today in class i kept having trouble with when i position the torch and wire on the metal of where i want to start at and i then flip my helmet down and press the trigger....sometimes, actually quite a few times nothing happens.  the wire just feeds but it doesnt spark up....is this because i lose my postioning when i flip down my helmet and the wire isnt touching the pad anymore when i press the trigger? my next problem is i think i hold the torch to close to the pad when welding because the heated metal dries to the tip making me not able to keep moving along the weld...really screws me up...or maybe its becuase i hold the torch to much on an angle....to me its like walking down the sidewalk at a smooth steady pace and then the tip of your foot gets caught in a crack or somethin that wont budge to your foot.  i dont know...i got fusterated tonight and i know its only my 3rd night.....im just impatient.  its a big step to try a whole new career field and start from scratch.  i like to know im doin the right thing.   but thats all that really happened tonight guys....no class tomorrow...next class is on thursday and he said hes gonna take our stools away so we can now get used to welding how they weld in the workplace....standing.  well thanks all for your great advice.....ill keep taking it til im blue in the face.josh
Reply:I do not know how much this will help. However it helped me out alot when i was starting. If you cant flip your mask down and keep the gun in the proper spot. Turn the gun so you can rest the nozzle on the piece firmly then put mask down and tilt gun up to proper angle. Or you could try to just leave a small amount of wire sticking out of the tip and press down on that slightly(if the amount sticking out is not alot then it should not bend under slight pressure).Goodluck and never stop learning. Everyone knows something you do not.edit: or buy an auto helm
Reply:Get yourself an Auto Dark helmet. It turned me from a putz into a 'semi' weldor.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:hey sunsun.  thanks for that advice.  im def. gonna try that.  im def. gonna keep on learnin like you said.  5 classes in to my course and i know alot more than i did on the 1st day.   and im sure thats a tiny tiny fraction of what there REALLY is to know about welding....as far as the auto dark helmets...i heard about em but havent looked into them yet....i just might have to do a little research on them.thanks guys
Reply:Originally Posted by bigman19hey daddy thanks for your advice....i was trying that "dry run" idea today in class...we welded on the same pads as we did yesterday so they are getting pretty damn thick.  thats a good idea about taking pics....i just might have to do that.  today in class i kept having trouble with when i position the torch and wire on the metal of where i want to start at and i then flip my helmet down and press the trigger....sometimes, actually quite a few times nothing happens.  the wire just feeds but it doesnt spark up..That sounds like you lost your ground connection or the wire completely missed the work piece...is this because i lose my postioning when i flip down my helmet and the wire isnt touching the pad anymore when i press the trigger? my next problem is i think i hold the torch to close to the pad when welding because the heated metal dries to the tip making me not able to keep moving along the weld...really screws me up.Yes it will! This ain't stick welding, you MUST keep the contact tip away from the work piece! Only the wire "stick out" should touch the work, or you'll weld the contact tip orifice shut into a ball of steel!..or maybe its becuase i hold the torch to much on an angle....to me its like walking down the sidewalk at a smooth steady pace and then the tip of your foot gets caught in a crack or somethin that wont budge to your foot.  i dont know...i got fusterated tonight and i know its only my 3rd night.....im just impatient.You said it! You just need time to practice.  its a big step to try a whole new career field and start from scratch.  i like to know im doin the right thing.   but thats all that really happened tonight guys....no class tomorrow...next class is on thursday and he said hes gonna take our stools away so we can now get used to welding how they weld in the workplace....standing.  Take a folding stool under your coat!  Better not,  they just want you to avoid learning bad habits that are hard to break.well thanks all for your great advice.....ill keep taking it til im blue in the face.josh
Reply:If you pull the trigger and nothing happens and you are not clean off the plate, you may be loosing your ground due to spatter build up. Do you have the practice plate clamped? Welding is a skill and is not learned overnight. MIG is one of the easier processes to learn but it is still a skill.  The more you can prop up on something the easier it will be on you. I know welders that have years of experience and they must prop on something or the puddle is all over the place. Don't rush yourself. Watch the puddle and watch the edges of it more for tie in. Most new welder I have tried to teach want to travel too fast. Consentrate on maintaining a steady speed. Its all about the practice once you have the basics. Did you guys have to cut your own cupons? I see a thread here that a guy said they had to cut plates with a hack saw. It could be worse.SA200,Ranger8,Trailblazer251NT,MM250,Dayton225AC,T  D-XL75,SpoolMate3545SGA100C,HF-15-1  RFCS-14 When I stick it, it stays stuck!
Reply:Our shop bought me a new Syncrowave 250 DX last week and with it came a free Optrel Satellite AD helm(thank you Acklands). No one really had any interest in it so I got that as well. I have never been a fan of auto helms well mainly the green shade of the ADF. However these new ones with the blue/true colour are wonderful for my eyes. I recommend this helm(but it is prob not best one to look at untill you know your set on welding or have a some spare $$$ you dont need). It was even taking 30 min FCAW passes today no prob without anything flaking out. The cover plate warped though lol.
Reply:An auto-darkening hood is well worth it's weight in gold.  You will know exactly where your electrode/wire/tungsten is when you start.  Good luck, and keep at it!Miller Syncrowave 200MillerMatic 180 AutoSetHobart Airforce 500iVictor O/A (80cf)
Reply:hello everyone....thanks for all the great feedback you guys have given me.  i didnt expect to get this much....just shows how kickass this site is.....well yesterday we got to start on new coupons and it was so nice to weld on a clean flat surface....my instructors say im movin along and learning at a very good pace....and i even have to say so myself....my beads were lookin pretty good for my 2nd week in.  ive for the most part have fixed all my little problems that i was having earlier in the week....thanks to the great advice and just a little bit of practice.  yesterday we tried for the first time welding t-joints.   those were fun....and i was layin down some multi-passes.  not bad but def. need to practice more....i also got to try tacking a few t-joints and doing it that way standing.   thats fun too but like i said i gotta defianetly practice.  i wish i would have takin some pics so i could show you my welds to get some input....but when time comes to go to class i always forget the camera. once again thanks for all the great advice...you guys rock.  oh and mooseye, no we did not have to cut our own pieces....the instructors did them on the sheer machine which me might be able to use sometime in the coming weeks....
Reply:One thing to take a close look at, how clean are the lenses on the helmet you're using? I never realized how bad(blurry) mine was until I put in a new outer glass. Night and day! Also, it's a good idea to clean out the "crust" that builds up inside the cone fairly often to keep gas flow consistent. There's a nice little tool they sell in welding shops called a "MIG Tool". It's basically needlenose pliers with a cutter and a couple other openings. Don't be afraid to use both hands, maybe rest one forearm on something(make sure it's not hot first) to steady yourself. On the welding job side of things, keep in mind that MIG is usually used because of it's speed and efficiency, so if you get a job as a MIG weld"o"r they'll probably look at how fast you can be.
Reply:An auto dark helmet will drastically improve your learning curve, as it completely eliminates positioning problems when you start to weld. You can see what you are doing and don't have to guess.
Reply:hey jeff...you know whats funny....all the advice you guys are giving me im either stumbeling upon right before you guys give it or right after you give it.....its funny how you mentioned the helmet lenses.....one of the instructors gave me a new plastic outer lense and holy crap what a difference....it was so easy to see my molten metal puddle while welding....it was so clear.....i didnt even notice how dirty my old one was until i put on the new one.  can you buy those lenses in a welding store??  like do they come in like a 3 pack or something and are relatively cheap????  i think those would be handy to stock up on.....and ya i got me a pair of those MIG pliers....to me they are so much better than regular pliers when it comes to cleaning out the nozzle of all that buildup...you can really get in there with the needle nose like tip....i think that was one of my problems was not cleaning it out enough....now i try and do it a little bit more often.thanks for the advice man.i think once i get a some money i might look into one of them auto darkening helmets.....wish i could use my stimulus check but i got some bills to take care of.....thanks all for the advice.
Reply:Originally Posted by Craig in DenverGet yourself an Auto Dark helmet. It turned me from a putz into a 'semi' weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by nosleepnoThats the truth, learning to weld without an auto darkening helmet is like trying to read in the dark.
Reply:I've been at this for quite a while now and this is some of the best advice I ever got. Listen to everyone because even the dumbest welder you ever meet will know a trick that you don't. My dad told me that a long time ago. He heard it from one of the guys he worked with when he was learning. From personal experience I will tell you that you should watch everyone you can when they are welding, put your hood on and observe their technique. I've been at it for 40 years now (and no I am not old) and I still do it if I'm not welding and someone else is. You can learn an awful lot through observation.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Oh, on the A/D hood. The Miller Pro/Hobby is a very good hood for the price (around $140 if I remember correctly) and fairly light for an A/D. I have a Jackson Boss EQC (big lens is a heavy lens) and it is great, but it is heavy. My partner has the Miller and I am thinking of getting one myself.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:hey jolly roger...that is some good advice that your old man gave u and ur now giving me...and thats what i been doing...im always observing when the instructors are welding....checking out there stance and positioning....there movement on how they work the puddle....everything...i even watch my fellow classmates...even tho there new to it like me...maybe they do something that might just help me out.  thats one thing our instructors tell us... we will all weld differently and uniquely.   thanks all for the advice once again....you guys defianetly have given me some useful advice that i have used in class and it has worked for me....thank you.