Stick experiences?

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Well to start, I am a Canadian high school student, I just started welding, but I love it and I am progressing rather well. Just wanted to hear some peoples stories regarding welding, weather they be good, bad, funny or otherwise, here's mine I guess. So I just realized this, when I weld, if I'm on the right side of the machine I like to bring the electrode around my back and left side under my arm and hold the electrode holder in my right hand while my left elbow is on my knee and my hand is guiding the electrode, then if I'm on the right just around my back and over my right shoulder. That's all fine and comfortable, and I just realized the peeling skin on my left arm, when I support the electrode, my sleeve rolls out of the glove exposing my skin… so good news is, if I keep welding like this I'll die of skin cancer from welding before mouth cancer from chewing. Haha!
Reply:Well CanadianStickTeen16, welcome to the wonderful world of welding! If you keep your eyes and ears open, listen, watch, and learn, you'll have a long happy life of self-worth and satisfaction from everything associated with welding. No doubt you've already witnessed a lot of things that can come from learning this skill. If you can't buy it, you can often build it. If you can't afford to buy it, you can often still afford to build it. When the chips are down and someone is in need, you might very well be the person that comes to the rescue with your abilities to repair or replace what they need. I've been welding for roughly 41 years, 35 professionally, have enjoyed every minute of it. When you get the time in that many of us have you will speak lovingly, even of the times when you were out in the freezing cold, wet to the bone, and a experiencing a host of other challenges. That's what gives all of us color and individuality. Just always remember a very important thing: whatever the work challenge is, you always want to be able to go home at the end of the day in one piece and the same for those working around you. Welcome to the forum and good luck. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Best think about building or modifying your own stuff is when something breaks you already know how to take it apart and what it should look like. Just taking something like a welding machine and cleaning it, checking connections and tightening loose connections and replacing burnt ones can prevent most problems.Get your self the good lincoln, hobart, whatever gloves that are around $10 a pair, a good leather welding jacket, one size bigger than what you need and welding pants.When I finely gave up on cotton tops and got an actual leather welding jacket my numbers of burns from sparks, slag and rays went pretty much to 0.The welding pants last longer than denim and will save your blue jeans by there being dedicated pair of pants to burn holes in.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Remember, when you break something or royally screw it up from your own botched welding, there's always a professional weldor close by that you can pay to fix it for you. Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Remember, when you break something or royally screw it up from your own botched welding, there's always a professional weldor close by that you can hire to fix it for you. Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I don't doubt it haha. I'm pretty well set on SMAW welding, either recreationally or as a career. Course if welding don't work out I could always pursue a career in flying or SCUBA diving. Never amused unless I'm high above sea level, way below it, or have the power to melt metal in my hands haha. Or if welding works out maybe try my hand at hyperbaric. If you guys have any welding stories I'd love to hear 'em.
Reply:You are in one of the welding capitals in the world. Get good at SMAW, then get into pipe as soon as you can! Then you'll make a very good living.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Well Canadianstickteen, your post reminded me of something funny that I have not thought about for awhile. Over 20 years ago I worked in a small fab shop where it was just me and the owner building frame straightening machine racks. I ran a mig gun welding parts on while the owner cut other parts. The owner did not like to carry a striker for his torch and would often just crack the ace and oxy valves a little and hold the torch near where I was welding to let my sparks light it. I got use to hearing it "pop" as it lit while I was welding and there was not much I could say anyway..I was just a kid and he owned the place.Then one day he went to light his torch off of my sparks and without realizing it he stuck the torch into the back of my welding glove. I don't know how long he held it there but I am sure he was just holding it there and looking away to avoid getting flashburn from my arc and waiting for his torch to lite. It did, and when it did it was more than the normal "pop", it actually hurt my ears more than it did my hand. The explosion was loud.