At what age do you start someone out in welding?

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There is a young man (12 I think) in my neighborhood that is interested in metalworking.  His parents are divorced and he doesn't have much, if any, contact with his father.  Genuinely a nice kid, and I like him a lot.  He's always hanging around my garage and quite often gives me a hand holding things, or making measurements, etc.  It's actually quite helpful at times.  He has asked me to show him how to weld.  I have concerns about this.  Aside from the obvious liability reason, I am concerned about potential health affects on a developing central nervous system and eyes.  I gave him some beginner books to start reading until I can decide how to handle this.  His mother is more then fine with it, and says that he really likes spending time with me.  I believe I am filling the pseudo "father figure" role for him.How young do you start someone welding (with close supervision obviously)?  Do you start with an auto darkening helmet or a fixed shield hood for eye protection?  Should I forgo this completely and find something else to do with him like car shows, sports, etc?What are your guys' thoughts?
Reply:I learned metal working in Jr high. OA welding, stick, forge work and casting as well as general fab work. I'd guess I was about his age roughly since I had two years of it before high school and we moved while I was in Jr high, so that would have been about 1980. That would have made me either 11 or 12 when I 1st started shop classes.If you have a good AD hood, I'd suggest that. I find it's easier for kids to learn if they can see the whole time what they are doing. If not, any good fixed shade hood would work. That's all they had around when I first learned years ago. Don't forget about hearing protection as well. Most kids will tolerate muffs better than plugs. I wished I'd gotten in the habit of using hearing protection much earlier in my life.I'd say go for it if his mom approves. Kids need to learn to do more with their hands these days and not sit and play Xbox or text..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:When ever the person is old enough to be safe while using the equipment thats when to start. In my opinion. Thats great......he'll thank you one day.A young green pipe welder asked an old salt one day...How can I make the weld on the bottom of the pipe look like the top.......The old salt replied....Screw up the top......
Reply:Here is my 12 year old son. He has been welding for 2 years under close supervision. We have covered MIG, OA brazing, OA cutting, plasma cutting, and some SMAW. I am a welding leader for the local 4-H and I would say 99% of the kids I work with are in his age group. We start with MIG and used horseshoes. Most of my time is spent scaring the he!! out of the kids, trying to teach them to respect the shop equipment. There is NO amount of money that can buy the smile on a kids face when he builds a trinket to show off!! Attached Images
Reply:My father started teaching me at 8Backed my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Mr. Jmtebbens I've Got About The Same Deal Going On - This Boy Is 14 - He Really Wants To Learn - Done Real Good On First Mig Weld - Had To Take It Home To Show His Mother And Grandpa - I Went And Bought Him A Hood - He Was As Tickled As A Rabbit In A biar Patch - If He Will Hang With Me - I'll Let Him Try SMAW - We Need More Young Kids Like This Instead Of Wanting To Play Video Games - Thanks
Reply:Never too young if the interest is there.My dad and uncle ran an auto body shop when I was coming along,Uncle Luck had been a hardhat diver/welder in the Navy during WWII.  Started me out on ox/ace when I was 6.  Safety was tops on the list.  My first "real job" was learning how to clean out the waste in the acetylene generator and dispose of it.  One of the first books he gave me was "The Oxwelder's Handbook" which was published by The Linde Air Products Company.  Mine is the 15th Edition and was copyright in 1939.  Still have it.  Reviewed it again a few months ago.  Funny how little has changed since '39.  Little tidbit, they called a welding torch a "blowpipe" back then.By the time I was about 8, I had moved to stick welding with an old Linde AC welder.  (Still got that old sucker in the shed).It's been my experience that young people "pick up" things faster than older folks.  Learning the basics under an experienced welder will serve this young man well for time to come.Make sure he learns how to do things "right" or he does them again.  Took me quite awhile to understand why my uncle was "so hard on me" but when I figured it out, I realized it was just "tough love".  Lessons learned the hard way tend to stay with us.  The easy lessons are soon forgotten.Find a "project" that you both can work on.  Something he can use once completed.  One of my first was a "bullet trap" I could use with my pellet rifle and .22.  Even had drop down/pop up targets.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:im 15 i started at 12 prollyQuality is our policy.
Reply:my boys we're 11 and 12 when they wanted to learn to weld. my niece was 15. my cousins boy and girl are 11 and 13 and i'll be teaching them shortly along with their dad lol. as the others have said pound the safety into them. i start them with stick then oxy, mig and lastly tig. they all wanted to start out with the mig and tig but i told them they have to earn the step up to the modern methods after they show me they can handle the stinger and torch. as for cutting it's about a 50-50 split as to whether they prefer the plasma or torch. the boys tend to prefer the fire breathing torch and the girls lean towards the more subtle approach of the plasma . good luck and have fun.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:I started in the first week of sixth grade when my brother came home and was using my dads ac stick welder, he only did it one day and wasn't into it. My dad seen I had interest and helped me, showed me some things, what to do what not to and safety points. Then pointed me to the scrap pile and said have at it. He would look at my welds and show me what was wrong and how to correct it. I would watch him and he would explain while he was welding what point he was trying to get across yo me. If I couldn't get something he would watch while I was welding and point out what needed to be changed. Also gave me some old books he had. Made it much easier to learn by doing it rather than just reading about it. I used to read the books then try it myself. And good for you for taking the time to teach him and let him hang out and help you. I remember I couldn't wait to get home from school and go out in the garage. You are doing a great thing! Watch the puddle not the arc lol
Reply:And like stated, make safety a huge concern of his. Explain what could happen without eye and ear and skin protection. Don't forget about ventilation also so he understands how bad some of what we do really is. Find some easy projects he would be interested in, maybe some kind of plant holder/stand for his mom that HE built, they will both love it
Reply:As the father of 3 teenage boys, I've been around a lot of their friends that don't have a father figure, at least, one that cared about them. They always seem to be the kids in trouble. You have a great opportunity to make a difference in this young mans life. I wouldn't worry about affecting a growing boys health by welding, I would worry about him hanging out with other boys that may get him to try drugs and such. In my opinion the more you can keep him in your shop with you, the better.Safety 3rdGump
Reply:I bought my first Oxy/Acet at 15. Neighbors taught me to cut and braze. Even my pop was impressed.My kids learned to tig at about 15 on summer breaks.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:my grandson is 2  -1/2   . when he comes to my house(4 days a week while momma works) he knows where his hood and stinger are, where his steel plate is and where the rods are . first thing he says is "Pop, i wanna weld.."when he gets out of the car.  he knows how to hold the stinger and make little circles(6011....3/32 rod, zero amps..) when hes done with that, all he wants to play with is my tools...voltmeters..clamps..i figure in a few more years ill start him on oxyacet ...
Reply:Well the pic in my avatar is me the summer of 1968 in Skellytown, Texas. I was playing on the tail of an old welding rig bed that my Dad had trashed. I always wanted to be a welder and would gather up the old rod stubs and his old stingers and play away. I passed the Oklahoma state welding test when I was 14, I retired from welding in the gas process plants Nov.6th 2006, and now am just an inspector...I still love to weld and do so as much as I can. It has fed me and my family for our whole life's, and being still connected to the industry will continue to feed me and maybe one day support my grand kids.....A young green pipe welder asked an old salt one day...How can I make the weld on the bottom of the pipe look like the top.......The old salt replied....Screw up the top......
Reply:Stress the safety stuff making sure he always adheres to it,  especialy things concerning his air way, and turn him loose.  It does not sound like his mom would sue you but I assume you have home owners insurance just in case.   America needs welders!!!!AEAD 200LE, Lincoln precision tig 185, Millermatic 251, Spectrum 625 extreme, Victor torch , Smithy 1220LTD. and  Do all C-4 band saw ,  Always adding.
Reply:Screw the liabilities and risks. I would teach the kid. You know how to keep him safe.
Reply:My dad had me gas welding when I was 11, and I started stick welding when I 12. I am only 14 now, and am already reasonably good at stick welding. I started with a fixed lens helmet, and still just use a pipeliner helmet. I am hopeing to get a lincoln viking auto dark for christmas. Now that I think about it, he actually let my try brazing when I was 10. Mind you this is a man who had be in the wood shop with him since I was 1.Deereman75 from TBNLincoln electric AC225SBlueshield O/A torchSmiths aircraft torchCH 3HP 220V air compressorlots of power toolslongevity stickweld 250
Reply:Wow.  I was expecting at least one negative comment.  I've gotten enough feedback to help me decide what the right thing to do is.  Also, regarding the liability, if I'm doing my job as an instructor, there shouldn't be much of a chance for anything to happen.  I can't get my wife to come in the garage and lay a bead, might as well have some company!Safety is a big deal for me.  He's already got his own glasses, earplugs, gloves (leather and a set of worn out Tillmans of mine ), and an old leather welding coat of mine.  I've been looking for a good reason to upgrade my Miller Elite hood anyway.I just gotta start looking at some projects that will be applicable for him.  Laying thousands of stringers with no end in sight is a great way to learn, but also a great way to lose a young kids attention.
Reply:God Bless you sir.  Spend time with him as a mentor/teacher and you will have a lifelong friend.Soon you will be holding things for him as he welds them together Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:As has been mentioned already As soon as an interest is there .. sounds like you have safety fully coveredMiller Xmt 350Lincoln Ln-25Ahp 200xSmith Gas Mixer AR/HTig is my Kung FuThrowing down dimes and weaving aboutInstagram http://instagram.com/[email protected]
Reply:jmtebbens, I think you`re right about the stringers lol......goodl to learn but could be boring. Off the top of my head I cant think of any simple but interesting projects, maybe a search would pull up something of interest. Im certain some of the guys here will chime in. Mabye a coat hook rack that screws to the wall, show him how to bend the hooks in a " j " shape (either with or without heat if material is thin enough) show him how to lay out the strap stock (maybe 1/8 x 1 1/2 flat) that the hooks will get welded to etc....
Reply:Ha!  He's got his own ideas.  Ramps for the lawn mower.  Wants to make it easier to clean the deck.  He's planning to mow grass during the summer to make some cash, and has a whole bunch of stuff he wants to build, including a trailer to pull behind the mower around the neighborhood with gas cans and weedwacker.I like this kid.  I also like that I'm not going to be mowing my grass this summer!
Reply:I agree,  go ahead and teach him.  make safety #1  talk about it every time he comes over even if only for a couple minutes.  show him some pictures of accidents etc that are here and on the web.   If he gets an allowance see if you can talk to mom about him buying his own PPE stuff, hood etc.  This will give him value and understanding.  If you have a local LWS like airgas, see if you can arrange a little tour and ask them to give him and educational discount on purchases.  explain what you are doing and the situation.  We need more folks like you willing pay it forward... Horseshoes are great for teaching as they can be had for free just by asking around and you can build all kinds of stuff out of them (that horse nuts like my sister will buy).   Thanks for posting, these threads just make me feel good inside that folks are doing the right  by the younger generation.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawI agree,  go ahead and teach him.  make safety #1  talk about it every time he comes over even if only for a couple minutes.  show him some pictures of accidents etc that are here and on the web.   If he gets an allowance see if you can talk to mom about him buying his own PPE stuff, hood etc.  This will give him value and understanding.  If you have a local LWS like airgas, see if you can arrange a little tour and ask them to give him and educational discount on purchases.  explain what you are doing and the situation.  We need more folks like you willing pay it forward... Horseshoes are great for teaching as they can be had for free just by asking around and you can build all kinds of stuff out of them (that horse nuts like my sister will buy).   Thanks for posting, these threads just make me feel good inside that folks are doing the right  by the younger generation.I started stick welding when I was 9... I got burned a few times but never got seriously hurt.
Reply:I know an old farmer who showed me the ropes on his AC-225 on afternoon when I was 15. A week or two later I was going at it with my craigslist find AC-225 by myself out at our farm, gooood times. No serious injuries, just a lil metal in the eye from wearing safety glasses that dont fit running a cheap grinder. lol. Im told I was somewhat responsible (?) With someone telling me what to do at the farmers place I was just fine. Im 18 now. Wow, Im already 18. I could have gotten started earlier, like a lot of you all did. With some supervision and guidance, theres no reason not to start out young.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Bottom line is if you like the kids company and want to make a difference in his life teach him.  Believe me, you'll do more for this kid than you'll ever know.  Wait till his older one day sits down with you and thanks you for making a difference and being his friend.  I've seen it happen more than once.Linde V160 MigmasterLincoln AC/DC 225CE 200amp migCE 90Amp flux-core welder
Reply:Lots of good comments above. The only thing I can think of adding is that it might be helpful to use the opportunity to show him how "booklearning" also is useful in the field; how being able to read and write well, and particularly do mathematical calculations, if possible just using his head, will likely be necessary if he ever works on any big projects.
Reply:I got started around 9 or 10 with no supervision or guidance.  Flux core in a borrowed welder then MIG.  I don't remember how I got it all figured out.  Trial and error I think. I don't believe I was on the web much or at all then.  My HS shop teacher wasn't really into welding so I don't think I got any real instruction till I hit CC at 18.  I don't think I even touched stick or TIG till HS either.  It's all a bit hazy. Spose it's the fumes?Last edited by Boostinjdm; 12-20-2011 at 03:27 AM.My name's not Jim....
Reply:We used to go to the neighbor to get stuff stick welded when I was younger. He welded our gokart and minibike frames with his Lincoln Buzz-Box. He was building a "Doodlebug" when I was 11, so he let me lay a few beads. (chicken splatter) The point is if you want to mentor him, AWESOME! Too many people worry about being sued and politically correct these days. I believe the biggest problem in life is lack of "Hands On".This isn't the first Forum where there is a 2 page Thread on lack of basic blue collar skills.By the way, that was 40 years ago.
Reply:I had to teach my self at 22-23 now I'm 25.  I say do it for sure.  If nothing else, maybe metal working isn't for him in the long run.  But it could teach values that one may need later on in life.JoeMiller 140 Autoset (2010)Miller Syncrowave 250 (1996)
Reply:Originally Posted by joebie I say do it for sure.  If nothing else, maybe metal working isn't for him in the long run.  But it could teach values that one may need later on in life.
Reply:I was 12 when my dad started me with torches and an old tombstone buzzer. I started my son at 8 he's now 12 and can cut up to 4" plate with the gas axe and runs 1/8 wire like a pro slave labour is great lolAnother day in paradise You only have to be smarter than the metal".   WeldiniMaking an honest living is nothing more than stealing from someone who can afford it and everyone feels good when it's over .      Weldini
Reply:I started teaching myself when I was around 12, started welding ties together for making wide concrete wall pours around then (Dad owns a large commercial construction company and I helped around the shop) Bought my first machine when I was 15 and was given a second, sold them both to friends and bought a new machine at 18. Taught myself how to run an O/A torch and stick/mig weld. took metals shop in high school to fill in some of the blanks and taught myself what I didnt learn is school.Anytime you can teach someone to be self-sufficient and give them functional knowledge your doing the world the economy and the community a huge service in making sure the next generation can support themselves without having to ride on the previous generations coat tails.I'd say set him up with the proper gear, teach him how to be safe and start him out on the hard stuff, If you have tig its a good controlled process that wont take off and get away from him like stick or O/A can and if something goes wrong you just pull your foot out of it. Its also a process that lends itself to observation very well, there is no smoke to block the puddle and he can sit across from you while you walk him through it then just hand the torch over and kick the pedal under the table for him to go at it. I've done this with several of my friends with good results.
Reply:Originally Posted by HandymanBottom line is if you like the kids company and want to make a difference in his life teach him.  Believe me, you'll do more for this kid than you'll ever know.  Wait till his older one day sits down with you and thanks you for making a difference and being his friend.  I've seen it happen more than once.
Reply:Originally Posted by jmtebbensThere is a young man (12 I think) in my neighborhood that is interested in metalworking.  His parents are divorced and he doesn't have much, if any, contact with his father.  Genuinely a nice kid, and I like him a lot.  He's always hanging around my garage and quite often gives me a hand holding things, or making measurements, etc.  It's actually quite helpful at times.  He has asked me to show him how to weld.  I have concerns about this.  Aside from the obvious liability reason, I am concerned about potential health affects on a developing central nervous system and eyes.  I gave him some beginner books to start reading until I can decide how to handle this.  His mother is more then fine with it, and says that he really likes spending time with me.  I believe I am filling the pseudo "father figure" role for him.How young do you start someone welding (with close supervision obviously)?  Do you start with an auto darkening helmet or a fixed shield hood for eye protection?  Should I forgo this completely and find something else to do with him like car shows, sports, etc?What are your guys' thoughts?
Reply:My son started watching me weld at 3.5. He loves it. I only have a GTAW machine at home so it's a little easier to see what's going on than if I was stick welding. I figure I'll start teaching him after I can get shop safety through his thick head (something he got from his dad
Reply:Get that kid out of your shop asap. 10 years down the road you might find yourself facing child molestation charges for no reason and there aint $#!+ you can do about it. Just watch the news bro. Its sad that this what america has come down to... But what can we do other than cover your own and dont take that kind of chances.
Reply:WOW,Took 39 posts for the dumbazz to come out of the woodwork.Don't think the OP's last name is Sandusky.Really sad to see that there are some who have so little faith in this country.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:If it keeps him from hanging around idiots any age will do kids minds are like sponges they soak it all in sounds like he needs a mentor .Hope he enjoys his himself we are running out of quailfied tradesmen
Reply:Originally Posted by Malave16Get that kid out of your shop asap. 10 years down the road you might find yourself facing child molestation charges for no reason and there aint $#!+ you can do about it. Just watch the news bro. Its sad that this what america has come down to... But what can we do other than cover your own and dont take that kind of chances.