So welding is only half the battle...

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I am new to welding and finally just got around to really trying to make something today. Something I learned today was welding is only half of the skill needed. The other TWO halves are prep and holding the damn things together AND grounded so you can weld them. I spent all day chasing and positioning repositioning, moving, tacking etc... parts just to spend about 1/10 of the time actually welding. Sure is fun tho....mike
Reply:so were are the pic's ?ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:i hear ya, i spent about 5 hours houndin up, grindin up an cuttin up about 60" of angle, only to have it done welded in bout 20 minutes or so.was a great time.
Reply:There is no 5 minute welding jobs, there isnt many 20 minutes welding jobs. Most of the time it takes longer to set up to weld a few beads then it does to actully weld! funny how it works outNothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:I hear 'ya!   I just started welding recently and found that out too.  You learn lots of different skills in fitting, cutting, measuring, etc on top of welding.  Actual welding only takes 1/8 of your time.... well I started with a hacksaw prior to getting the chopsaw so back then  welding was just 1/2000 of the time.. the rest was focused on cutting 1/8" steel. ehhehehe..  I'm building my first welding cart and setup eats majority of my time.... new thing I did actually learned was how to control distortion... measuring twice before cutting... etc...   The whole process is totally fun though_______Miller Maxstar 150 STLLincoln ProMig 140Hobart Handler 210
Reply:Originally Posted by chopper5so were are the pic's ?
Reply:Yes, layout is a big part of welding. You will learn lots of tricks to make things easier as you learn to weld. Easier is faster. Being able to visualize what you are trying to build is a big plus.
Reply:Small jobs take more time to get the stuff out and put it away than do the actual weld.  If its on the road, even more time......Setup and layout can be the hardest part.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RSetup and layout can be the hardest part.David
Reply:Don't forget design. I see so much stuff built with beautiful workmanship and the design sucks so bad that the stuff doesn't last a week.I friend of mine once bought a beautiful Henry-J. It had a small block in it and someone had put independent front suspension in it out of a nova or camaro. Whoever did it was a great welder. This thing looked like a show car.One big problem though. He had the caster backwards. You couldn't hold it straight going down the road. But you could back up as fast as it would go and it handled great. Just don't try to go very far forward.Not to mention when you are doing repairs, you have to understand why the thing failed in the first place. then you have to do something about it, and the something that you do can't over stress another component.Joewww.CummingsHauling.com
Reply:Yeah I found that out after my first few projects. I am currently build a 3 pt landscape rake. I drilled 32 holes and tacked in 32 nuts. That tack welding was the only fast welding I have ever done. DanMy instructor said someone will catch on fire during class...He wasn't joking!!
Reply:Unfortunately , many of you will learn that the general public thinks fitting is EVERYTHING  , a welder is a nobody. Even though they expect a weldor to be an expert in about 9 different trades. then , he's still a nobody if he calls himself a weldor.[SIZE="5"Yardbird"
Reply:I had a stainless job at an old folks home.  Sunday night because the dishwasher was not used at that time.  Burned ONE 308 stainless tig rod.  4 hours labor including getting there, unloading......Customer was pleased with the work and will call me back.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Roy, that is absolutely true. Most welders get about as much respect for their abilities as does the busboy in the local cafe. Years ago I was hooking up the production equipment for a gas well. This thing was producing 5000# at the well head. I overheard the old geezer drywatching the stacked out drilling rig tell the gangpusher on the job that all welders were drunks. After that I would catch him watching me and I would go to my truck, lean in and act like I was sneaking a drink. The gangpusher and I got a kick out of it.
Reply:Generally in commercial operations you can expect at minimum 75 percent of your time is handling or fitting.  Everyone tries to develop faster welding processes when we need faster ways to get to the job, set up, cut, and assemble the material.