one hand or two??

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this is mainly for pipe welders, but all can chime in. Ive been welding at school for two and a half years, always welded with both hands. Lat night was my first night on actual pipe instead of open back plate. and my teacher said I should be doing it with one hand and use the other to stabalize myself. I tired it and it worked ok. But I feel alot more confedent in my welding with two hands controling the rod. I was just wondering do most of you guys run single handed or use both? I think I can make it work using both just have to learn to be more flexible.
Reply:I use two hands as much as possible, or try to anyway .  Everybody has there own way of doing things,  some places you only have room for one hand, or you might be holding on to something to keep from falling or such,  just my two scents,  boo  ,
Reply:I just use the one for the stinger, the other hand for making a sammich....
Reply:I like TEK's idea hahamulti-tasking is the way to goCertified Welding Inspector at your service...Level II Nuclear Welding InspectorLevel II Nuclear Electrical InspectorLevel II Nuclear Civil InspectorLevel II Ultrasonic Thickness Testing TechnicianCertified Smartass,and Wise Acre
Reply:get use to using one hand, a time will come when you will not be able to use two hands, what do you do then?
Reply:I've been using two hands since i tend to shake a bit too much especially with stick, but as drivethruboy said, someday i might not be able to use 2 hands so i'm starting to try to use one hand, while i'm still at school it's time to make mistakes
Reply:I always use one hand.  My stinger is not large enough to get two hands on it real well.Oh Heck!  We were talking about welding.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:One handed here. I've worked with a few guys that can only use one hand and go one way. It will at some point have you learning to weld again. So get both hands taught to do the job.
Reply:I can weld with one hand, but I tend to hold the stinger with one hand and steady the rod with the other as the situation occurs.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I use 2 hands unless I cant. I'm shakey and have to overcome it somehow...  If I had more hands I'd use them too.I like to party!
Reply:I use both hands whenever I can, but many times that isnt possible especially with pipe. Learn to do it either way and with either hand. Dad made me learn to cut and weld with either hand. It's been real handyThe difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Yea, I guess I should learn to do it one handed, but doing it one handed with my left hand... my right was bad enough, me left would be like starting at square one again.
Reply:It's like a shooting a pistol.  Use two hands when you can, but one can get the job done nicely when it has to.
Reply:I always needed both hands and anything I could prop up on. Now I could use four hands. I used to have to occilate(?) my torch to A/O weld, now it just shakes around enough on it's own that I just try to hold it close to what I'm trying to weld. This is supposed to be funny but it is something all you young fellers have to look forward to. Getting old ain't no joke.
Reply:I've taught  myself to do alot of things both right and left handed and it is funny how often you use your non dominant side when it becomes an option. I find that I have to sight with the other eye when I switch sides. It takes commitment and practice to teach yourself to do something that is uncomfortable, but it adds one more weapon to the arsenal.
Reply:violatedppl, i find a lot of times  if i change just one one thing, it  means going back to square one..i practice and get something to work sitting  , and if i try it standing , btso..many examples..oldtimer-cracked me up..and getting old beats the alternative.
Reply:I have shaky hands. I have to stabilize the rod with my other hand.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:I usually hold the stinger with my right hand and hold the cable with my left to take the weight off. If my welds look like crap it is usually due to the cable/whip catching on something.  Starting out with SMAW i would use either my left or right, i figured in the field i would have to deal with the job in the position it was in - i wouldn't have the option of welding in the position i preferred.  Most times it would be very difficult to redo the weld - grind out - due to space constrictions, so nailing it the first time was paramount.
Reply:I'm a hobby weldor. I mostly use TIG. There are occassions when I can't get to the weld with my right hand. Doing 'lefty' is quite a challenge. I pretend that I'm a real weldor and make it work. I've never been much good with my left hand, just use it for the clutch on my motorcycles. And I only use that 70% of the time. 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:after having hand surgery from a lathe accident I learned to use my left hand for darn near everything. my writing with my left looks just as bad as my writing with my right. try this one it will surprise you. Wipe your backside with your other hand.tis a strange feeling.That being said , I believe the instructor was trying to impress upon the student the importance of getting yourself in a good stabil position to make your weld.There are certainly times when your hanging from a rope trying to weld a new link on a dinosaur collar. but for the most part getting stabile and "set" will do more to improve your welding than just about anything else.my 1.5 cents. 2 cents canadianinsert thoughtful quote from someone else2000 Thermal Arc 300GTSW 3.5 hours1946 Monarch 20 x 54 Lathe1998 Supermax 10x54 Mill2004 Haco Atlantic 1/2" Capacity Lasernot mine but i get to play with it
Reply:chenryi kept turning around to see who was helping me....
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerI use both hands whenever I can, but many times that isnt possible especially with pipe. Learn to do it either way and with either hand. Dad made me learn to cut and weld with either hand. It's been real handy
Reply:i use two hands but i can use one only on my hot and filler. If I try one handed on my root or cap it dosent come out so purrrtyAs said by CHENRY:you cant weld on a thingamajig like that. are you even certified to do thingamajig welding ? I once saw an improperly welded thingamajig fail and eleventy twelvoteen things got ballywhacked. I dont think i would risk it.
Reply:I weld on towers off the ground and i agree that one handed is the way to go. It takes some getting used to though. If i dont have to hold on to something i usually hold the whip or lead in my other hand and it helps stabilize my gun or electrode holder.
Reply:Don't let oldtimer fool ya, even with the shake he still does some beautiful work. I have it too now but not as bad. He made me learn to cut and weld with either hand, forward, backward, upside down and backwards you name it (he also started me very young and that probably didn't hurt any). I get a lot of how the h@ll do you do that? Sometimes there aren't any options. I spent a total of two years with my right hand in a cast and never got to where I could sign my name with my left. I did get pretty good with ratchets, wrenches and screwdrivers, but never got to where I could drive nails very good.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.I weld a lot of pipe and the roller machine sometimes snags here and there so a lot of that welding, I use one had to roll the pipe and the other to weld. I normally lock in my elbow to the side of my body and there is little to no shakiness or movement.