TIG welding...too shakey

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I'm brand new to welding.  Been taking a beginners TIG down at the local votech college.  I've noticed that once I put the helmet down and start trying to lay a nice bead I start to get the shakes.  I know it's my nerves because if I see the instructor come into the booth (reflection in my lens) I might as well forget trying to weld.  Stage fright, had it all my life no matter what the hell I'm doing.I'm wondering if anyone has used wrist straps to help stabilize their hands.  Some of the guys say to pivot off your elbow or wrist but I find I'm more stable when nothing is on the table and my arms are floating, but then I will dip occasionally...back to the grinder.I did pretty good in the stick class I took a while back but this TIG stuff on the really thin plate really gets me to shakin.
Reply:I prefer the 'get my elbows on the table' technique.  bone+table = steady. I would say in general GET COMFY, you want to be relaxed and in as natural position as possible. If you arent layed out on the table, your not going to be able to maintain consistancy over a long travel.  Try spending a few minutes just skootching around on your chair and leaning on the table in various ways until you get comfortable. Then, do some dry run welds and watch your hands and focus on shifting beyond that 3" arc your elbow makes for longer welds. I feel your pain on performance anxiety, i have that problem in the stadium bathroom  , but you gotta learn to ignore your teacher. If you are being nervous nelly when hes in your booth, he's not seeing your 'normal' technique to give you good feedback. Just consider that goof in the booth next to you sucks so bad, that its a pleasure for him to come in and watch someone who can actually weld.
Reply:Quit trying to steady your hand Do the opposite make it shake like your holding mr. happy You want to go to the extreme of steady to unsteady, now bring it back the other way toward steady. Go as far to the steady side of the spectrum as is easy. Repeat. Welding is of a physical nature and will respond like other physical activity's- to training. Let yourself dunk your filler into your tungsten-you will not die in fact it will be good for your ticker (heart) because of the repeated walkings to the grinder.Remember there is practice... then there is practice. You are not trying to weld with the above exercises, you are taking control of your nervous system/muscular actions/reactions.ps. you may sense some Shaolin kungfu/zen/monk musings-side effect from lunch, had Chinese"after a long day of doing nothing...its gooood to kick back" Pumbaa
Reply:You CAN"T TIG if you arn't braced. Unlike stick, a momentary close-in from a twitch is deadly to the tungsten and to the weld. I tend to weld hangin in the breeze with stick (had to learn one-handed in school to pass-- One to hold the part, one to weld. The instructor learned in an auto plant) for nocritical things. For critical welds, I brace. Did an overhead job with a box and a table leg to wedge myself between, resting my elbow on my knee to help guide in. Looked awkward, ended up cramped after several hours, but the weld came out smooth and full like a nice young set of..kegs, right from th brewery    Depending on the joint configuration, I rest my writs, my elbow, mid-forearm, extend the pinkie, whatever. For longer joints, set up so you can slide support along smoothly, rather than bend the wrist. I'll throw on an extra clamp of a piece of scrap stock to brace on if needed. Helps a lot to drape the torch line over a shoulder to keep it from snagging and take the weight.Speaking of performance anxiety, practice forcing yourself to handle awkward situations. One trick I learned when I was starting out as a performer (former life), though a tad cruel, is talking to the guy at the next urinal in a public. Makes most guys REAL uncomfortable. Takes a LOT of effort to do. The other guy will be even less comfortable. Try explaining how uncomfortable it makes most people. Had one guy turn to leave while stil going.
Reply:Sounds like a bad case of beginnin waitress disease to me.Yup, I know yer all sayin where the hell is he goin with this.Well, grab onto a hot cup of coffy, full, and try carryin it across the room without spillin it.  Nobody can pull that off.Now, when you're finished wipin the coffy off the floor,Fill the cup back up, and carry it across the room while yer watchin some hottie's a$$ walkin in front of you.  99% chance you won't spill a drop.It's all about concentrating too hard on a simple task your body would normally perform automaticly.Now, on the subject of bracing, a few pieces of DRY 2x4 in various length will come in real handy while you're learnin to TIG.  Having your arm on the weldment is a very bad idea because of heat and HiFreq, both of witch hurt like hell.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:I often use a MIG glove (thick) between my hand and the part as a rest to prevent the problems Franz mentioned, when a better rest is not convenient/practical
Reply:I'm doing TIG in class also.I tried "floating" my torch hand above the work piece last night, much like I do when O/A welding, and I wasn't too stoked on the results.I often use any available method of bracing as said above. Edge of the wrist, side of the wrist, pinky finger as a pivot point, elbow, knuckle - whatever. Another trick is to use the edge of the table like a "fence" - brace against the edge and use it as a guide.No such thing as cheating as far as how you get the weld to turn out right.
Reply:INTP, noticed you're in Dallas and a fellow code monkey too.  Who do you work for?  I work for Integrated Telecom Solutions just across from the Nortel complex in the Telecom corridor in Richardson.Have you ever gone through the Mountain View College welding program?
Reply:Doggus, I just sent you a PM.