I think I'm finally an "old guy"

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Had one of my guys welding out a 6.5" bore on Thursday, he was using 5/32" 7018.  I walked by the shop and said "why don't you use that wire feeder right there, would be alot faster?"  I helped him get it set up and welded 8 or 10 passed on the bottom of the bore, swiched to the top to and just could NOT get comfortable and "in the groove" I couldn't see, I couldn't get comfortable, so I got disgusted and handed the gun to him and he laid down some real nice passes.  I don't really do this day in and day out anymore, but I have ALWAYS been able to outshine the boys in anything we happen to be doing at the time--not this time!  I got my A** handed to me.---So, being the humble guy that I am, I told him he was doing a super job, and that I think this is a young man's sport now, then I went and ordered some cheaters.  Will pick them up next time I'm in the states and see if they help, or maybe it's time to just hang back and let the boys do it?---off my rant.Last edited by ExpatWelder; 12-27-2010 at 04:38 AM.Reason: never heard of 79186 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:I did not enjoy your post.  I understand it, just did not enjoy it.  I, too, am an "old guy"--62 a couple of weeks ago.  I am not a welder, I am a commercial (charter) pilot in Alaska.  We pilots face mandatory retirement (under some circumstances-due to age).  I have a friend who is a couple of years older than me who welds "rag & tube" aircraft a lot.  He is good.  He is also very inflexible in his methodology.  He uses a Sync 250--He tried my Dynasty 200DX and declared it a POS.  I truly believe that attitude has a lot to do with the "getting old" thing.  So you made a less than perfect weld (That may be read as "really crappy". WHO CARES).  I find that many times, the younger pilots who work for me can make a better landing than I do.  But not always.  I still have clients who request to fly with me, because they know me (and trust me). I guess that I am trying to say, "Don't Give Up!".  There will come a time when you cannot make any decent welds--or when I can no longer make a good landing.  Delay it as long as possible.  If you give up, the rocking chair is all that is left.Best to youJerry in Anchorage
Reply:Jerry, not giving up, just not feeling as cocky as I once did.  Really just pokin a little fun at myself.--BTW I used to live outside of Big Lake, beautiful country.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:was a good read .a little wisdom in the yrswhat i am reading is you just need to practice practice and yes practice a little more  sounds like the thing we tell the new kids .if ya don't weld everyday or often you do loose the knack (NOT THE SKILL)take the coffee break an run some beads you can out shine the whipper snappers againidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Hey Expat,Naw.... you're still full of wind, pi$$, & vinegar as we all are..... you just gotta keep believin' that. I turned (67) last week..... never felt better. I weld every day..... keeps your mind busy & body occupied. That's how you stay healthy. As far as the "peepers", I had to get reading glasses at 44 as those letters & numbers really started to get blurry. I wear 1.50 double bifocal safety glasses that have not hindered me in any way & has been the same since. I can still give those youngsters a run-for-their-money with stinger, MIG, or TIG. Besides, it gives them something to think about. I remember my boss embarrass & tell the youngsters in the shop: "That 'ol SOB over there can work your lazy a$$es under the table." It did perk some of them up. Just remember: "Age is only a state of mind".DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Originally Posted by MusktI250--He tried my Dynasty 200DX and declared it a POS.  I truly believe that attitude has a lot to do with the "getting old" thing.
Reply:70 1/2 and stiill manage to run the welding business with one part time helper. Sure wish it would quit snowing, I am tiried of dealing with punch drunk from lack of sleep snow plowing contractors with broken plowing equipment. Work in the shop 6 days a week then clean the shop yard on Sundays is getting old. One of these days I need to upgrade the old Case 400 to a tractor with a cab and HEAT.
Reply:I'm a 47 year old teacher, been at the same district from year one. Last year when we started laying off teachers I looked at the seniority list I was shocked to find myself 16th from the top. Age has been good to me mentally, I have much more patience with students. Back in the day my I had a temper if a kid smarted off to me I got pretty ugly. Now I’m as cool as a cat and the class still runs smoothDave ReberWadsworth Ohio
Reply:Hi Expat. X2 on yorkiepap's comments!  I'm getting closer than I care to acknowledge to 56, but I can give most any of the kids a good run for the money most any day!By Muskt; There will come a time when you cannot make any decent welds--or when I can no longer make a good landing. Delay it as long as possible.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I think wisdom comes with age & a bit of experience.After seeing the stuff you guys do, in a foreign land, in the rough....I wouldn't be giving you any guff. You certainly have my respect. After all, you are running the show, are you not?Maybe you were just having "one of those days"........ I'm sure you have put your share of hours in making it happen & right the first time.Let the young guy have his day in the sun. He'll remember who the boss is when it comes down to the bottom line tho. .Your posts are super cool. You do some pretty amazing work. Just keep in mind that the guy running the show is doing it for a reason.... Sure, someone may have a better hand at a particular skill, but at the end of the day,  you're the guy calling the shots....... After years of running kitchen crews I learned one thing.....You don't have to be the "best" at every job to know how to run the entire job better than anyone else. Again, you are the boss man for a reason. Experience, tenure & wisdom are just a few of them .IMHO of course.
Reply:Feel bad about it??You got a right to, and it's not bad.I can't do very pretty work anymore.  For the last few months I've been very dissatisfied with my efforts.  Mostly I can't see crap anymoreThe cheaters help, but it seems that the begining of cataracts diffuses the light to the point of making any bright light fuzzy.  Distinguishing between the puddle, arc, and joint, seems to be getting harder.  It's just plain HAZY   The ability to see contrast is suffering.I find myself relying on travel speed and angle to do what I know needs to be done, without really having a clear view of the puddle.  This is a lousy way to have to work.If you see a halo around oncoming headlights on the road at night, or see a slight halo around street lights at night, chances are your vision is going bad.  Can't be helped."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Despite all the cheery drivel, you can't do crap about old age.  Welcome to the club.  Old age isn't for pussies!"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:ask any three legged dog...
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammDespite all the cheery drivel, you can't do crap about old age.  Welcome to the club.  Old age isn't for pussies!
Reply:I'm 25 and one thing I've learned from working with some of the older guys is:  they usually always have a better way of doing things.  I remember when I started welding I'd be the first to hop right in and start trying to muscle things around.  But then older guys would tell me to slow down and approach things with my brain and make work physically easier.  I remember me and another younger guy trying to pick up some metal and the oldest guy in the shop walked calmly over to us, pointed to the roof and simply said "use the crane".  Of course back then I thought he was being a dick, but looking back on it, he was just trying to keep us from getting hurt and killing ourselves and you better believe that I started using the overhead crane
Reply:Don't feel too bad Expat!I feel like a kid again when I do detail work with glasses like the ones below, I'M SERIOUS! The other Matt Attached Images
Reply:Expat, never admit it!  Never quit!  I'm sure it was just the equipment, or the weather, or the clothes, or just something on your mind.  Find an excuse and use it!    Don't worry, make some adjustments and get back at it.  I thought any landing you can walk away from was a good landing?  Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand
Reply:Im 62 and just now learning  to weld MIg first then Tig I am retired and lay with old cars and drag cars so I do it as a hobby. One thing I figured out a few years back is that I gotta grow old but I will never grow up.
Reply:You may be, an old guy now. But I see you still have a skill that is learned by few and forgot by many.    To take the time to show a new guy an easier way to do something shows interest in ones skills.But to stop and tell someone they are already doing a better job,will make a good worker try even harder.Those were the people I always knew still had things I could learn from.  It was the old guys that would tell me that they are twice as good as me.But had nothing to teach me.Now those are "OLD GUYS" that I knew just did a half assed job all their life.And were still trying tofind someone they could look down on.  Keep up the good work old guy.Being out of practice,does not mean you don"t have skills to teach us.