My 9yo nephews first welds.

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Since school is out my nephew has been hanging around the shop(My brother is my boss). Today we finally got him behind a sheild. The cool part is he seems excited about it. Here is a pic of his first weld ever, Not too bad for a 9 yeah old. His father(my bro) picked up his first stick at age 12. Short arc .035 w/ c25
Reply:Lookin' good for a 9 year old's first sparks.Just get your flame suit on - I'm sure you're going to hear it about him wearing a t-shirt
Reply:I kinda feel sorry for that little dude, havin' to learn to weld in a shop where the "adults" don't even care enough to get him some safety glasses, let alone some long sleeves.You could at least let him weld on a table where he can steady himself.Visit Tensaiteki.com
Reply:Told ya
Reply:Here we go.Personally, let him weld.  He's got gloves and a hood, thats good enough for me.  If he gets some burns on his arm I bet you wont be able to stop him from showing them off.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Our tables are up to his neck...if we had shorert tables..that would have been an option. I understand about the welding shirt. Your are correct, not a good idea to weld in a t-shirt.Whats the next comment gonna be about? Steel toes?Us "adults" are interested in getting a young kid into welding, and so far he is enjoying it. Next time he will be behind bullet proof glass. Last edited by Thatdude; 06-12-2008 at 11:41 PM.
Reply:No respirator?
Reply:His weld stuck, and look at him smile!  Here ya go...try this.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:There will always be those who believe we should try to shield ourselves from every danger this world can exhibit.   My immune system works and I don't have to worry about it because of all the cuts and burns I've had in my fifty years without a democratic government to pick me up when I fall and pay for my rehabilitation.  I always did my own rehab.  Don't need them now either.Old horsebarn for a shopBig scrap pile out backMiller Syncro200Lifelong collection of toolsBunch of other crapUnderstanding wifeUnderstanding neighbors
Reply:The little dude did a better job on his first weld than I did on mine. If he gets the welding bug you may never get him out of the shop.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:Shoot I weld in a Tshirt and shorts al day long!  but thats because I am in Tucson AZ and when its 115 degrees out side your welding leathers get soaking wet in about 10 minutes.  now whats worse welding in wet clothes or a T-shirt?  a little bit of a burn here or there will only toughen the little bugger right up.  Now by no means am I saying that he should be unsafe.  safety glasses gloves and a good helmet. Go get em tiger!
Reply:its not about getting small burns, which all welders have,  Its about teaching bad habits.  Theres tons of talk about flash burn, and whether or not auto darkening helmets from HF are any good all over this forum.  What about long term exposure to UV and infrared light?  Ever heard of skin cancer?  My grandpa has it, its not cool.Dont get me wrong, i think its great your getting your nephew into it, i wish i had been exposed to it earlier in life, but get the kid some safety glasses and cover up the exposed skin.good lookin welds for a first timer, keep him in there and away from the video games (thats all my 8yo cousin does)
Reply:Originally Posted by BeezerThere will always be those who believe we should try to shield ourselves from every danger this world can exhibit.   My immune system works and I don't have to worry about it because of all the cuts and burns I've had in my fifty years without a democratic government to pick me up when I fall and pay for my rehabilitation.  I always did my own rehab.  Don't need them now either.
Reply:I'm amazed, 12 replies and no comments on unrestrained gas bottles. As someone pointed out in another thread, ever looked at the dock where you get your gas from, there are hundreds of unrestrained bottles.Where was the earth clamp? Was that a gas powered adjustable height welding bench (aka forklift) and was the battery disconnected?All the above is intended as humor.My reaction is that the smile says it all. The lad is relatively well covered against burns but I have a lot of T-shirts with pinholes in them and when you've just done one of those "quick" welds, you look and think "Oh good, I haven't burnt a hole in my shirt" but look again after a couple of washes. It's also an excellent age to teach the appreciation of protection from a "can do" aspect, not a "can't do". "Can do" creates opportunities, while "can't do" denies them.Got any old spare coveralls? Cut them down for him because ultimately UV is the silent longer term killer.These are only intended as friendly thoughts, because as I said before, the smile says it all."One of the things we have to be thankful for is that we don't get as much government as we pay for." (Charles Kettering)Mitch 180 (NZ)Lincoln SAM-400-220 + ?-400 Fordson Major + 2 x Tractapac Humber 80 + Procut 40 PlasmaMiller Spectrum 375
Reply:I've seen adults that couldn't do that good after quite a bit of practice. If he enjoys it (like that big grin shows) let him go. Better than sitting in the house playing vidio games or watching TV. Yeah, I going to mention UV exposure too. If he is going to do this he needs a long sleeve shirt. I'm old enough to be a graphic example of skin damage from UV exposure. My arms to my elbows are mostly bleached white from the dermatoligst's nitrogen bottle removing precancerous leasions. Most of it was caused from working in a tee shirt in the sunshine but I have been guilty of welding with my sleeves rolled up too. My wife has had basal cell and squamous cell cancer carcinoma caused by UV radiation. Takes years for it to show up but it will.
Reply:Great opportunity for the kid!  And from the looks of that first bead it appears he has good instruction!He'll be building go-carts next week!!  Member, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:fair play to the lad, thats not bad at all
Reply:F-word!!! He did better than me...GUHHHHHHHHHHHH.This is soo crazy, a 9 yr old little man/welder is better than me. Thats cool though. I'm not jealous...*insert welding gibberish here*                    Mandy
Reply:Looks good.After reading all the comments it is no wonder we haven't got any jobs left in the USA anymore. So do you guys wear safety glasses under your helmet? I wouldn't think that would be necessary.
Reply:The smile sez it all!DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I wanted to thank you guys for all the positive comments. Hes been alongside of me reading everything with me. Hes did some practicing today as well...with leather sleeves and gloves so no more safety nazi comments.  Thanks guys!
Reply:Originally Posted by TensaitekiI kinda feel sorry for that little dude, havin' to learn to weld in a shop where the "adults" don't even care enough to get him some safety glasses, let alone some long sleeves.You could at least let him weld on a table where he can steady himself.
Reply:Hes doing pretty good there, as far as something for UV protection slather his arms down with the highest SPF sunscreen you can find, it's not much but it's better than nothing. I personally don't mind welding or O/A cutting in a tee shirt since I got used to it I don't even flinch now unless I smell cloth burning lol.
Reply:Originally Posted by ThatdudeWhats the next comment gonna be about? Steel toes?
Reply:Originally Posted by David RThe smile sez it all!DavidLooks like he is having a good time.  I really like it when my little guy (he hates it when I call him that) helps me.  He is waiting on my plasma cutter to show up and play with it.  And he has done a little MIG with me.It is a good feeling for sure.  And the smile does say it all.I have burnt my hand more than anything with no gloves, so if nothing else, gloves are a must.  The sunscreen idea I like, will try that too.
Reply:That young man may the future of our industry, ladies and gentlemen.Bless his heart, keep it up.I r 2 a perfessional
Reply:Originally Posted by 737mechanicLooks good.After reading all the comments it is no wonder we haven't got any jobs left in the USA anymore. So do you guys wear safety glasses under your helmet? I wouldn't think that would be necessary.
Reply:I was using a wire wheel last night and with glasses.  Stopped and put on a shield.  So I guess the guys will instruct him and watch out for him.  On the Mom will be on his but pretty fast.I had to get a couple wires in my cheek last night to move up to the shield.  Glasses still under the as well.Either way, good to see a young person excited about doing and learning something.  My little guy just came in from cutting a lawn.  He smiles when he comes in (gets to ride a mower AND get money too).  Smile is what it is all about.  And he would ride the mower for free, but do not tell my neighbors.
Reply:dont lose that weld in the scrap pile. hang it on his wall..he'll treasure it in 10 or 50 years....
Reply:man good lookin weld man i have been welding for a couple of years and i cant weld arc that good but keep him in the shop and he will thank u when he gets older i thank my dad and my mentor every day for keeping me in the garage and under a hood in both cars and welding it has helped alot has taught me a lot  about life keep him welding and keep that weld and hang it up i wish i had my first weld still but he should at least put on a long sleeve shirt on him find a 5dollar shirt store buy him a couple just big enuf for him to slide on as a leather it is hard to find small leathers i have looked cheep insurance i am only 18 and i am already paying for my ignoranceold skool idealarc welderEsab multi tool Milwauake 7inch angle grinder the best of all tho the oxyacceteline set up
Reply:How about some new pics.
Reply:First you let him try out welding and get him hooked. (nice weld too)Next you tell him, "Glad you love it, now here's how you stay safe..."Show him your gear.Nothing impresses more than gear and tools (just check out some of the forum sigs)Now he's hooked on welding AND wants his own gear.Next thing you know he'll be browsing catalogs for auto darkening helmets, sleeves, a pair of work boots, maybe even his own torch.If you get him excited about welding before you lay down all the safety rules, he is more likely to see it as something he can work with instead of something he is forced to do.
Reply:so this is a little out of date but i am very new to welding... your boy probably knows more than me lol... i am curious though why safety glasses? do you mean when your welding? as in under your hood? if so can someone tell me why? as for the boy welding that is awesome my stepdad has all kinds of welders in his shop but never tought me anything about any of them... i wish i had that when i was younger... good for you for teaching him
Reply:I think it's great that he is taking interest in our craft. I feel as if the true "art of welding\fab" is being lost due to modern technology. Journeymen welders are becoming difficult to find. Teach him the art, and he will prosper in life. Energy turbine manufactures are offering 30+/hr.,,,, International nuc. comp. are offering 48+/hr.and 150+ perdem. Both are having trouble finding welders that can pass certifications. Also I read that welding inspectors are getting 50/ hr.  As far as safty goes, hard lessons learned are always remembered, but I would suggest taking precautions to protect his eyes, the're the only two he will ever have.Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:Originally Posted by blazin454so this is a little out of date but i am very new to welding... your boy probably knows more than me lol... i am curious though why safety glasses? do you mean when your welding? as in under your hood? if so can someone tell me why? as for the boy welding that is awesome my stepdad has all kinds of welders in his shop but never tought me anything about any of them... i wish i had that when i was younger... good for you for teaching him
Reply:Originally Posted by blazin454...i am curious though why safety glasses? do you mean when your welding? as in under your hood?...
Reply:It's great seeing that grin. Keep him interested. I started at about that age myself and safety was taught right along with the welding. I never have welded in short sleeves or with my sleeves rolled up but grew up under some of the most intense sunlight in the world. The docs told me I have skin cancer when I was 29 years old. Fortunately none has turned malignant yet. I have tried telling young adults about the dangers, but guess what, they don't listen. If you start learning safety at a young age (and especially if it is explained why you need to do it) it just becomes second nature to you.Every outfit I have worked for since 2000 has required safety glasses under the hood. I started using them under my hood in 1980. Several years before I had to get prescription lenses. You get used to them, and your eyes are really important in this business. I have had to go to the eye doctor one time in all those years for something in my eye. It was a splinter of aluminum that managed to get in over my glasses when I flipped my hood down. The magnetic strips didn't help me a bit, lol. I've worked with quite a few handicapped welders but never a blind one. All it takes is one fireball inside the hood.Teach the kid all he wants to learn. My grandfather was a farmer and carpenter by trade and dad was a welder and pretty good mechanic. I know very little about farming but I never call a carpenter, have never ever called a welder, and don't need a mechanic very often though these modern cars are making it harder and harder to avoid them.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.