tips and tricks for arm support/bracing

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Hi all, I am 4 weeks into a 10 week course in Welding and an soon to have a cert in stick welding then moving onto flux. Right now I have a comfy booth outfitted with a convenient stand that allows me to brace my arms and get comfortable enough to make nice straight beads. I like my instructors and I am not complaining about them but when I ask them about the techniques I will need when I'm on the job and don't have a table they tell me not to worry about it now and basically to figure it out when I'm on the job. As a student that wants to land a job and make my employer happy, I worry that I will be clumsy and produce sub-par welds at first and look bad in front of my employer without the help of the stand and welding table that I am getting so comfortable with. Are there any good videos. pictures or tips/advice that anyone can share about bracing your arms in a real job scenario that doesn't offer me the luxury of a table and stand?
Reply:Watch a bunch of Jody's stick welding video'sLike, every single one.http://welding-tv.com/category/stick-welding/Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:Don't prop on the booth when learning.. Problem solved Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopWatch a bunch of Jody's stick welding video'sLike, every single one.http://welding-tv.com/category/stick-welding/
Reply:Originally Posted by SquirmyPugDon't prop on the booth when learning.. Problem solved
Reply:I ALWAYS find a way to prop at my job MIG welding large 9 axel low bed trailers.  With Stick you can pretty much one hand all the drag type rods easily (7018,7024,6013,ect) but one handing 6010 takes a little more skill.  When I was in welding school (not that long ago) I seriously wondered the same question.  The younger instructors told me "DONT GET USED TO PROPIN ON THIS WELDING TREE" so I took off my little prop arm rest and the real old timer instructor came in my both and got upset I took it off, he told me learn how to do it right here then figure it out in the field.  Every situation is different but I can say 80 percent of the beads I run in the shop I'm pretty propped up and steady but for the few occasions where I cant prop I still make it work and they come out good.  I was worried about the same thing as you in school but in conclusion I assume you payed a good amount of money to be in welding school so you should take full advantage of the bench and really try to get good beads free of undercut and lack of fusion.  And really ask as much questions as you can while your in school.  I did and I learned a lot a lot of my class mates were older than me and felt embarrassed to ask for help and they would just struggle in their booth all day long and no one knew because they wouldn't speak up.  You can spend a lot of time doing something totally wrong and wasting time and money in school.  Once you get in the field its a totally different ball game, welders compete with each other and are very reluctant to help another welder and give him an obvious tip even if he is struggling, they would rather see him laid off than see him correct his welding.  So yeah sorry for my rambling, just ask a lot of questions and look at Jody on weldingtipsandtricks!!Last edited by Lunchbox148; 12-25-2014 at 05:13 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by Lunchbox148I ALWAYS find a way to prop at my job MIG welding large 9 axel low bed trailers.  With Stick you can pretty much one hand all the drag type rods easily (7018,7024,6013,ect) but one handing 6010 takes a little more skill.  When I was in welding school (not that long ago) I seriously wondered the same question.  The younger instructors told me "DONT GET USED TO PROPIN ON THIS WELDING TREE" so I took off my little prop arm rest and the real old timer instructor came in my both and got upset I took it off, he told me learn how to do it right here then figure it out in the field.  Every situation is different but I can say 80 percent of the beads I run in the shop I'm pretty propped up and steady but for the few occasions where I cant prop I still make it work and they come out good.  I was worried about the same thing as you in school but in conclusion I assume you payed a good amount of money to be in welding school so you should take full advantage of the bench and really try to get good beads free of undercut and lack of fusion.  And really ask as much questions as you can while your in school.  I did and I learned a lot a lot of my class mates were older than me and felt embarrassed to ask for help and they would just struggle in their booth all day long and no one knew because they wouldn't speak up.  You can spend a lot of time doing something totally wrong and wasting time and money in school.  Once you get in the field its a totally different ball game, welders compete with each other and are very reluctant to help another welder and give him an obvious tip even if he is struggling, they would rather see him laid off than see him correct his welding.  So yeah sorry for my rambling, just ask a lot of questions and look at Jody on weldingtipsandtricks!!
Reply:Depending on your position, tacking a piece of steel to what you are welding to support your arm helps a lot . If possible I try to make a sling with the stinger cable to set your arm in. Like welding pipe, throw the stinger cable over the pipe and make a half hitch for your arm. It depends on the situation. A pipe stand will work too. Even something as simple as a 2x4 can work and help.
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Depending on your position, tacking a piece of steel to what you are welding to support your arm helps a lot . If possible I try to make a sling with the stinger cable to set your arm in. Like welding pipe, throw the stinger cable over the pipe and make a half hitch for your arm. It depends on the situation. A pipe stand will work too. Even something as simple as a 2x4 can work and help.