Welding Practice . . . .

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I just want to give a little encouragement to the "young-un's" out there that may be visiting this site....LISTEN TO ME ! ! !   Don't get discouraged if your welds look like s#it....we've all been through it !   This is a science that you're not going to learn in a few weeks or months.....AND...you're not going to learn it by reading a book !    You're going to learn by PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE ! ! ! !You're going to make mistakes....you're going to burn through joints,  you're going to get "torch-pop",  you're going to get 'cold welds" that don't hold,  you're going to burn yourself,  you're going to wonder:  "How in the Hell am I going to weld that" !.......rod's will stick,  you'll flash yer' eyes,  you'll get FRUSTRATED ! !LISTEN TO ME !  Keep practicing, and slowly (very slowly), it will start to get a little more familiar.   Believe me...every bead you attempt will "store" itself in your mind....and each time you practice a certain position, or process....it will come just a little easier !   The idea is not to get "rattled"....if you screw up, just stop...and think: "why did that happen" ?Like many things..."the more you do it, the easier it gets"AND !....Don't discount the great pointers you get from the "Old Farts" on this site !....they didn't get to be "Old Pro's" by being stupid !   AND THAT'S MY OPINION ! !I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Many years ago, one of my mentors told me the most important thing about welding is knowing when to STOP.  If you don't learn that, you get to sweep the weld pool off the floor.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Franz....That must be a "standard" admonition for mentors......When I was in mortuary science college, my embalming professor once told me that the very best thing i can do if things start "going wrong" is STOP !I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:That sure piques my interest.  Maybe you could start a new thread.  It'll be a new reality show -- Tonight on FWN (Fox Welding Network), "When embalmings go wrong."
Reply:I just set up my MM175 and started welding on 2X2X1/4" tubing as practice for a car rotisserie.  I had taken classes for ~20 weeks 2 nights a week at the local (nearly) VoTech, finishing just under 2 years ago.I was amazed at how bad my first weld was, and even more amazed at how quickly it came back to me.A part of the process was sterpping back when something didn't go right and, like my instructor said - THINK ABOUT IT!This is the best advice - and not just for welding either.  I'm glad Franz brought it up.  Wiithout thought, you don't know what you're doin'...I stopped with a complete weld all the way around on the tubing that looked great!  This was the fourth piece I welded.Part of my problem was the Auto Darkening Welding helmet got set to 13, after I had it set at 10.  I then went and got my dual 500W Halogen light stand and set it up and figured out how to keep the helmet from darkening until I was ready to weld, then be able to see where I was welding.I finally turned the helmet down to 9 and hold one hand in front of the lens while aiming the gun and starting, then use the other hand to help guide and control the gun.Once I had all this worked out my last seven sides of tubing were great.I only mention this to illustrate that you have to find out what works for you.As a side not - the settings in my MM175's manual (and cover) worked perfectly!I am SO STOKED - I can't wait to get going on the rotisserie, and I am contemplating a crane/trolley/hoist setup for the back of a big pickup for unloading pallats of sod/cement/whatnot....
Reply:david r.......Weldors and Embalmers have at least one thing in common:  If you take pride in your job, and do it right, your accomplishments will be in excellent condition long after YOU have ceased to exist.ON THE OTHER HAND:  If you do less than a perfect job, it will (sooner or later) come back to haunt you !  (Usually sooner).I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Now I'm curious.... What can go wrong when embalming? (I'm serious- hence the lack of any of the multitude of obvious witty, or half-witty, followups to the wuestion)