I think I am retarded/lucky.... I think

admin

first my backround I am 2 months into a 7 month welding school,  I just found out that my wife's bestfriends husband is a foreman in the best welding employer in town. We went to the christmas party and was bs'n with him and he straight up offered me an aluminum welding job. That's where it gets sticky. I've never welded a single chunk of aluminum before. I mig`d for 3 years carbonsteel. Been stick welding for 2 months carbon steel as well.I need advise on the following:1- I am having trouble running straight lines. My instructors say beads look good, just not straight. We are doing verticle t joints right now and I am either too high or too low. I feel like I'm missing something. what am I supposed to be looking at in the puddle? makes me feel like dumb.2- I am having trouble with steel and now all of a sudden I have to move mig/tig never touched a tig torch before (which is the reason I went to school) but THIS is the place to work, I really want to work there, but I don't want to walk in there and feel/look like a fool. I was honest with the guy but I have to pass a weld test in two weeks.thanks for your input.Tom
Reply:Sounds like good timing but you've gotten yourself in a pickle. You have 2 weeks to learn something that it takes most people months or years to be proficient at.If you were honest with him and he wants you to test in 2 weeks i think he might be a dumbass.Almost forgot... welcome to the forum!GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Hahaha. I was also thinking one might not have been as honest as they thought they were.I say don't worry about looking like a fool. Just go do your thing. It might not work out this time or the next time or ever but you have to go do stuff.
Reply:Well, you could try to pick it up in a couple of weeks.Aluminum mig is pretty easy, everything just happens way faster than it does with steel.Major kudos to you though, if you can learn to tig it well enough to pass a test in two weeks also.Or...You could go see him, tell him you would really like to work for him, talk about your strengths, but tell him you are new to aluminum, and may need some time to get up to speed.If you impressed him before, he may say no problem, and offer to call you on the next opening, or he might say you will be starting out on non-critical stuff, and can pick it up on the job.Best wishes!Hobart Beta-Mig 2511972 Miller AEAD-200LEMiller 250 TwinNorthern Ind. Hybrid 200Longevity Stick 140Longevity Migweld 200SThermal Arc Pak 3XR
Reply:When you say bs'n, what do you mean exactly? If you told him you've welded aluminum and never have, come clean ASAP or you will look like a fool! If you just said you've done some welding and are currently taking a course, then he might have been impressed. If he seems easy to talk to, say you'd like to learn aluminum welding. Welding is something where the truth comes out real fast with regards to your skill level. If he thinks you're pretty good with aluminum and your test proves otherwise, you might have totally blown it and you're wasting his and your time.
Reply:Go be honest.  If you've never touched a tig torch before you're not going to be able to do aluminum properly within two weeks.  I didn't start practicing on aluminum until I had passed 6g pipe and it still took me a week to get to an acceptable point.
Reply:Try to learn what you can in a couple of weeks and go take the welding test. In my opinion employers want solid, trainable employees and it doesn't hurt that you have three years mig even if it's a different process.
Reply:Contact the guy and discuss your strong points and come clean on not being able to pass a test if you can't.  Let him know you will do what ever it is he has open while you get the welding up to speed. Get a foot in the door on the up and up and show him you are a good investment. If he has to invest money in you taking a test don't let him throw away the testing fee!!!  BS'ing at a party sounds like some alcohol may have been involved. He may have just given you a chance to prove yourself if you accidentally misrepresented your skill level.
Reply:Originally Posted by burnsTry to learn what you can in a couple of weeks and go take the welding test. In my opinion employers want solid, trainable employees and it doesn't hurt that you have three years mig even if it's a different process.
Reply:thanks for all the replys! I am not near a 6g test yet (about a month away, I think) I know I am not proficent yet with anything but mig, but I really want to be a good welder. I love to take a pile of steel and make something. It's fun. I just hope I don't look too bad my first month or two. At least I was honest with the guy, and he has known me for a while, and he saw my welding before I knew he was a welder!!! I am a ball of nerves still, I wish I had a ac welder to practice with. I only have a stick welder and a oxy/propane setup so I cant practice at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by nomoreusmcthanks for all the replys! I am not near a 6g test yet (about a month away, I think) I know I am not proficent yet with anything but mig, but I really want to be a good welder. I love to take a pile of steel and make something. It's fun. I just hope I don't look too bad my first month or two. At least I was honest with the guy, and he has known me for a while, and he saw my welding before I knew he was a welder!!! I am a ball of nerves still, I wish I had a ac welder to practice with. I only have a stick welder and a oxy/propane setup so I cant practice at home.
Reply:well I didn't think I'd be posting in this thread again but my instructor said he wouldn't help, what a dick. He is a good welder and a decent teacher but damn, work with a guy. I got 2 days before I go in.
Reply:Welcome, a little belated.  Sounds like you have a dlckhead as an instructor.....or he doesn't know aluminum himself.  30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Originally Posted by storemanWelcome, a little belated.  Sounds like you have a dlckhead as an instructor.....or he doesn't know aluminum himself.