Shakey hands

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Hey does anyone have any tricks to help get rid of the dreaded shakes whilst welding? I'm worse on the TIG than the MIG.I could drink a beer before each weld but I tend to lose interest in the welding and get more interested in more beer.
Reply:Originally Posted by flightriskHey does anyone have any tricks to help get rid of the dreaded shakes whilst welding? I'm worse on the TIG than the MIG.I could drink a beer before each weld but I tend to lose interest in the welding and get more interested in more beer.
Reply:I tell all my students to get as comfortable as possible and use any support they can.With tig that often means sliding their hand along the weld table vs trying to "carry" the torch. As you improve and get experience it gets easier to do things free hand. Same goes with mig. Don't be scared to use both hands on the torch. Feel free to cradle your torch hand with the off ahns and slide that on the work or table if needed. Some times it pays to set up a seperate support or rest to help stabilize yourself. If you look at a lot of Zap's picts of chuck work, you'll notice he has a piece of angle that he often clamps as a support for his torch hand..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:If you drink a lot of coffee, that may be a cause.I can fall asleep drinking a cup of coffee, but if I have 2-3 cups, then the shakes are very noticeable.  If I know I'm gonna be welding, I have no coffee or maybe one cup   Once after about 4 cups, and doing a small job with 1/16" rods, it looked like I was having a spaghetti fight...rod all over the place!
Reply:I find that if I just touch something with my pinky finger it helps a lot. It doesn't take much for me and if I put my whole hand down then I get jerky from trying to slide. I can usually reach the work with my pinky finger using either the mig gun or tig torch.
Reply:Haha alcohol does help me as well. Takes the edge off and relaxs the muscles. I used to have the same problem when I started. The guys who taught me said I was death gripping my torch and I didn't realize it till they said something. What I used to do is right before you hit the peddle/scratch start, is freeze and take a second to notice how hard your gripping your torch, take a few breaths and loosen your grip. Fire up and try to keep conscious of your grip while your welding. The more you practice, the more you relax and brawden your awareness of what your body is doing while under your hood. Then with time you'll be able to dance around the piece your working on and not even realize your doing the tig jig. Good luckLast edited by the vapricator; 08-08-2013 at 10:43 PM.
Reply:@ flightrisk - on a serious note, remember....~ Physical and mental comfort, irrespective of weld/body position, equals recipe for success~ No death grip on TIG torch.  Light pencil approach and/or torch resting in "v" between thumb & fore finger.~ Full-length "dry runs" of weld track prior to arc light equals confidence building ~ Never "be in a rush" to finish a weld.  Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.  Eyes on puddle at all times.Mentally & physical perform these steps before/during welding and they should help you. Last edited by ManoKai; 08-08-2013 at 10:36 PM."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Originally Posted by welderjI find that if I just touch something with my pinky finger it helps a lot. It doesn't take much for me and if I put my whole hand down then I get jerky from trying to slide. I can usually reach the work with my pinky finger using either the mig gun or tig torch.
Reply:flightrisk, I use brackets to keep the wrist with the torch anchored.   A bunch of Pony clamps used for furniture seems to make a fast hand steady jig, and can be set up to frame the steady rest in countless positions.I usually try to keep the wrist or at least the forearm of the torch hand on a steady rest and that seems to reduce my "shakes".  I know this is mainly for bench welding and not as easily adapted to larger items; but with one clamp to start- you can usually build something pretty quick that allows the torch hand to have a steady rest.Cheers,Kevin MorinKenai, AK
Reply:Great thread!I learned some new things.Thanks guys.Tim Beeker.
Reply:Thanks for the replies. I've been welding for about 18 years but only really started the get the shakes in the last few. Just curious to see what others did.On the beer note; There's better beers here in Australia than Fosters which I couldn't even tell where you can buy it!An old bloke told me once, one beer your welds improve, 2 beers your skills peak and 3 or more you may as well relocate to the couch.One thing I am going to try is reducing the sizes of my torches on both the MIG and TIG. To help reduce the holding mass.
Reply:If you have to freehand, brace your elbows against your body, don't let them float out in space. Use both hands clasped at the wrist/torch to make a triangle with your body, and rotate your body to follow the weld.
Reply:Another thing that helps reduce the shakes is to start from least comfortable position and weld towards the most comfortable. If you do it the other way, you induce muscle fatigue and that makes for shaky hands.This is a similar technique to do smooth pans on a tripod with a video camera. Start with your body rotated and end with your body in the most relaxed position.PapaLincoln Idealarc 250 (circa 1962)Lincoln Weldpak 155 w/Mig KitLincoln Squarewave TIG 175
Reply:I often find that the rhythm of torch and filler to create shakes especially at the start.I think another major player in shakes is an over grip. Practice the movements without gloves and helmet, use pencils for the tools or whatever you have.
Reply:Get comfortable!That is requirement #1.....You are not eating at the table so elbows are allowed!I see guys all the time try to weld in the air and it don't work.Really does look like the too much coffee syndrome when they do that...I can drink coffee all day and it makes no difference to me...Arms/hands must be the last things to worry about..I use whatever method works when tigging to get comfy and I do some really strange stuff once in awhile..Standing up sucks but the same thing applies...Get comfortable!!!!!!!...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Tight and close, only way I've ever done it.  Got to brace your hands if your on a swinging staging or leaning forward supporting your weight.  Obviously the pictures without gloves are just for demonstration. Attached Images
Reply:Breathe through your nose. They also say potassium steadies the hand. More bananas and tomatoes :-)Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:Less caffeine... More comfortable positioning, i sometimes use a 2x piece of wood as a kickstand for my support arm.... Or if you're using stick or tig,,, place support hand pinky on work piece and open hand like the signal the surfers do... Put stinger hand pinky on support hand thumb... Its a great stabilizerSal
Reply:Start uncomfortable, end comfortable.Find "accepted" ways to brace your hand.. I use vice grips usually.For stick you can always shorten the rod, but you'd better be good at tie ins. I can't comment on freehand tig... haven't done enough, but the "tig finger" (i.e. spark plug boot insulator) seems to work well.
Reply:Originally Posted by akabadnewsStart uncomfortable, end comfortable.Find "accepted" ways to brace your hand.. I use vice grips usually.
Reply:You have to train yourself to go into zombie mode and become as gentle as a butterfly. Weld with your mouth open almost like your in a coma. I'm serious here too. Practice weird! Grab your filler at the very end and hold the torch by the power cable and don't  even touch the handle and lay wire while your standing up. Crank the radio, move and groove while your welding. All these may sound weird but they help guys. I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by smilexelectricBreathe through your nose. They also say potassium steadies the hand. More bananas and tomatoes :-)
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleI thought it was the carbs?Either way eat some bread or banana or something before. Don't weld on empty stomach.If you get shaky walk away and have a snack and come back and see how that works.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapster I do some really strange stuff once in awhile.....zap!
Reply:When you breath your chest moves... Doesnt matter if its mouth or nose... Control your breathing to minimize movement for which ever orifice you choose.SalOriginally Posted by weldermikeIf you breathe through your nose it causes your chest and everything attatched to it to heave back and forth. Breathe through your mouth and let it sift very slowly esp on the exhaust. Me personally, I hate welding on a full stomach. It makes me sleepy and lothargic esp in the heat. I like to weld on a empty stomach, but im not a fatty going through food withdrawals! And practice comes with dedication and you gotta spend some money.
Reply:Or you could get a robot and have it weld for you.Thermal Arc 252iHobart StickmateIf you aint burn'n you aint learn'n.
Reply:Originally Posted by Weldkid14Or you could get a robot and have it weld for you.
Reply:Kevin's method looks really good and I have used it many times when welding lots of parts. (Production)  I like to compare signing your name with a pencil, you will make it much easier if you rest your hand,wrist,arm on something solid first....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Zombie mode is a good way to put it. I'm thankful nobody can see me under the hood.. eyes wide open, mouth hanging.. I've even drooled a few times on some bigger pipe sections. Sometimes you get in the zone lol. I forgot to mention in my earlier post, a buddy of mine has hands that shake like Michael J Fox. It's almost funny to watch him sometimes. He always wears leather sleeves so he can prop an elbow on something.Also, this just came to mind. How hard are you holding the stinger/torch/gun? A loose grip will help keep you from shaking too.
Reply:I had this problem for ever. Its how i learned and all the suggestions are great. Prop is key. I actually learned to use it to my advantage in a sense. I would time the shake into a weave of sorts and go with it. Depended in the day. On a real note I had a straight up drinking problem. That was the bottom line couldn't leave the house without a few nips. I got clean a few years ago and bam!  No more shakes!! I can even see better. Who would of thought. Funny thing is I had to rework some of my techniques since I had welded like that for so many years.  Good luck. Nick
Reply:If all else fails see your doctor. If you are older there may be other health related issues. Dan
Reply:I recently reduced the size of the TIG torch and my hands have become much more steady. I also found reducing coffee intake helped a lot too.Thanks heaps for the suggestions people!Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Reply:How long have you been welding? I know when I was first starting TIG it was like my hands were having seizure! The more I did it, the more I got comfortable with it (not saying that I improved much, lol.) and the less I was shaky. Mine was due to the fact I was scared/timid. I know when my Dad started on his high BP meds it made his hands real shaky, could yours be related to meds?*insert welding gibberish here*                    Mandy
Reply:Originally Posted by TMW llcI had this problem for ever. Its how i learned and all the suggestions are great. Prop is key. I actually learned to use it to my advantage in a sense. I would time the shake into a weave of sorts and go with it. Depended in the day. On a real note I had a straight up drinking problem. That was the bottom line couldn't leave the house without a few nips. I got clean a few years ago and bam!  No more shakes!! I can even see better. Who would of thought. Funny thing is I had to rework some of my techniques since I had welded like that for so many years.  Good luck. Nick
Reply:Consider this..................12pack a day x $13 = $78/week x 52 weeks = OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEARI treat myself to some real goodies with the 4 grand I save"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammConsider this..................12pack a day x $13 = $78/week x 52 weeks = OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEARI treat myself to some real goodies with the 4 grand I save
Reply:Tons of good advice here regarding proper bracing, positioning, relaxation, diet, alcohol, and caffeine. And all of those are the very FIRST things which should be tried or changed. But if you have been welding for 18 years, you are probably well aware of the importance of bracing. If all else fails, a couple of pharmaceuticals worth considering:RopiniroleOriginally used to treat Parkinsons, now used quite often in very low doses to treat Restless Leg Syndrome, or for shakes/tremors when they cant figure out any obvious cause for the shakes. PropranololOriginally for blood pressure, also used in low doses to treat performance anxiety "Stage Fright" as well as tremors/shakes. Both work very well, minimal side effects at the small doses used. I have had several patients using them, they work well and no shakes. Prescription item here in the US, they should be available in Australia as well. Talk to your doctor about them.Hobbyist - At what point is a "hobby" out-of-control?
Reply:Ask the doc for something. They don't often prescribe things that work any more because of the vast stampedes of junkies out there. A low dose Xanax, 12.5(or even half) would probably do wonders without any feeling changes.I had a friend who's hands trembled horribly (non drinker). His doc gave him ?? Something. Early seventies. Maybe Valium ? Mothers lil helper. That was another one the meatheads popped like candy and caused it to be demonized.I was on it for about 2 months after a neck injury. Great relaxer without being f'upped.Don't hear much about them these years. See what the doc says.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:I know this may not be the case for many of you older folks. I'm only 16 and have adhd. I starting taking adderall when I was 14 because I couldnt concentrate in school. I'm not restless, shaky, and impatient as much anymore. I can concentrate better which definitely plays a big role in welding. The days when I forget to take my adderall I get quite shaky. But all in all DRUGS ARE NOT THE ANSWER. I don't plan on taking this drug the rest of my life. I'm trying to teach myself to concentrate and keep myself attentive without the use of drugs.
Reply:A lot of good advice in this thread. I agree with Burpee on the meds maybe a anti anxity pill just knocks the edge off a bit. Another thing you can try is hand and wrist exercises stretch things out and get a rubber ball to do hand squeezes while you watch tv or relax. Had several hand injuries so been through some re-hab techniques in my day.Miller 250DX HTP 221 DV AC/DCHenrob O-A Miller 180 MigMiller 150 Inverter   Hobart 10,000 Welder-Generator   Have a good day!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by FORTEALLOYPropranololOriginally for blood pressure, also used in low doses to treat performance anxiety "Stage Fright" as well as tremors/shakes. .