What got you into welding?

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Well behind every great welder there must be a story. Just for fun post what really triggered you to say damn I want to be a welder.What really made me want to do it was in grade 7 Someone was welding who was a grade higher then me, I asked him what he was doing he told me I was welding, I said I wanted to try he told me I have to be in grade 8 which sadly didn't make my hopes of trying it very slim. I asked the teacher he said OK just make a write up and answer a few questions on this sheet of paper (thats how we learned to start projects in Jr high) and I was so happy I did everything about 20 questions in about 5 minutes. So He showed em how to do it and it was SMAW welding so I found it quite challenging. Then next year everyone else started to weld, and for the next two years of Jr. high I helped people to there projects so it ended up giving me god marks and I loved every second of it.Now start sending your stories i'll love to read them.
Reply:I had a go cart when I was about 9 years old. My dad owns a body shop. I used to pretend I was in the General Lee and try to jump everything in the back yard with the go cart. I broke the frame many times and my dad would stick weld it together. (The body shop is in the back yard) Once the shop was open on a Sunday but my dad wasn't around and I broke the frame. I turned on the welder (Luckily I was smart enough to put on the mask) and proceeded to melt the crap out of my go cart frame. It did however stick together enough for another jump before Dad got back.  (Still don't know how I didn't get killed jumping that thing off of my 9 year old homemade ramps.)I am not a pro welder, That is just the first time I welded.Drivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:Sweet. I always wanted to make a go-kart.But I have never had a change to weld outside of school. But I use to jump ramps with my GT snow racer and the frame broke and I didn't know anything about welding at that point so I coulden't do anything about it.
Reply:A strange desire to punish myself with aquiring knowlege of an unknown skill.But I still luv doing it.
Reply:I needed a job!   I uncle had a old lincoln stick welder stored at our shop since I was about 13 and I was always interested and fooled around with it but didn't really use it until I was around 14 and started working on my first truck, it came in handy.  then 4 years of welding in HS.  Been welding for a living ever since.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Back in the 60’s, around about the time when I knew everything about everything (except prostrates and draft boards, the real enemy!). I’m leafing through my Grit magazine and saw an advertisement for a welder for sale for about $9.99 or whatever the price was, and a Charles Atlas muscle man kit for about the same price. Now I’m not bragging, cause I don’t like to brag about how smart I was (am) at times. But, I know a deal when I see it. I dug in and scratched and saved about a summers worth of newspaper and lawn care profits together and sprung for both. Not only was I gonna be welding on ships and bulldozers and skyscrapers, I was gonna be muscled up and kicking sand in my spare time. Well old Rube or whoever the shrewd bastard was, I think he may as well have sent me a surplus Lionel model train transformer with mini leads and an ARC WELDER sticker on the side. And Charles Atlas, he pimped me so bad it’s even been blocked from memory!Ever since then, I think I’ve been trying to figure out how to recoup my money and my summer with a good welding deal!PS - Oh I’m sorry, you said  “Well behind every great welder there…”  Please excuse my post!Last edited by denrep; 11-26-2006 at 07:17 PM.
Reply:Henry Ford, the Wrights, Davinci, Sikorsky, Goodard; you can build all thier dreams welding and some of your own too. Your built in God's image and working with the lights of creation at a job good enough for God hisself, how you gonna beat that? So, when did this dawn on me? I think it was first year metal shop while I was stick welding 1/4" 7018 rods wearing sandals. I still have the revelation scar between my second and third toes. Yep, there was definately more to be learned here(like wearing boots), along with the opportunity to invent things that may put you in the history books as a bonus.
Reply:Well as you braught up scars form the past I have a few. One on my lower arm from OXY/FUEL welding I put the filler rod in half and forgot what side I cut and then I picked it up and ended up putting the hot piece cutting and burning a nice big hole in my arm. Also I was having a very bad day and ended p stick welding, and the rog got stuck for aobut the 100th time and I got so ****ed I started hitting the metal that was stuck against the booth and it bounced off onto my neck. Ill never do it again im telling you that.
Reply:I work in a factory and welding pays more than assembly and sheet fab. I happen to like it also.
Reply:It saves me money.  Yesterday, I brazed together a bevel gear for a trailer jack that split in 2.  Cost me $.50 worth of brazing wire and saved me $60.
Reply:I think most people start from necessityDewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:I started cause there´s a lot of projects that involved that skill to be completed... So I went to the SMAW and Oxy-ace school. Then proceeded with MIG and TIG that I learnt by myself...Now I need to weld and have a welder...just not enough $$$ for the projects...Finished a go kart and a barstool racer...lacking the dragster...mini bike...mini buggy... a Baja Bug...a insane go ped and so much more projects...of course, all insanely powered...My Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!
Reply:Used to solder everything in sight- electrical connections, broken antennas, etc. Used to use fire to bend/ shape steel and wood- toy swords, pretzels, the neighbors' tree with just a magnifying glass....(To prove I could do it...) and then I got into motorcycles and offroad trucks. You have to make what you need, so I moved onto more advanced welders. Still like oxy/ acetaline on steel, brazing the best.
Reply:my father told me, "Always maintain a friendship with someone who can weld."  I followed his advice for years until my welder friend died and left me his torch and buzz box.  Everything I know, i learned from watching, reading and trial and error.  I have a couple of clients in a manufacturing business which requires a lot of welding so I have the advantage of discussing any problems with experts.  I seldom pick up a torch or stinger that I don't learn something.  This website has been a valuable resource, as well.
Reply:I agree w/ WillieB. Welding is an ongoing education as long as you keep an open mind and are willing to try doing something a different way. I learned from the old blacksmith in the small town I grew up in. After military service the job required welding knowledge. Must have burned hundreds of #'s of rod from 3/32" to 1/4" in 32 yrs.Didn't get into MIG until after retirement. Seems I learn something new about it every time I start it up.                       MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:i had a shop teacher in high school that thought if i knew how to weld and stuff just maybe it would keep me from going to the front lines over in vietnam.well ,learn to weld made it through hs then nixon called off the draft.not before i cut my long hair,sold my car,and said good bye to my girlfriend(ex-wife).hair grew back ,got better car and bike,better wife as well,been weld'n ever since....lol
Reply:I didn't have any choice, I wanted to go stock car racing.....and roll cages cost a lot to get installed.....unless you do 'em yourself! (With the prices of steel these days, they still cost a lot).  My first weldling project was......yep, you guessed it........the roll bars in my first hobby stock!!    I know, I'm older (and hopefully a little wiser) now!EdLast edited by BigEd36; 11-27-2006 at 07:51 PM.When the  drops the  stops!Check out my website at:  Tombstone 180 ACHandler 120Millermatic 210Powermax 380Harris & Victor torchesSawzallChop Saw
Reply:One thing that really worries me that I ahve been told was Welders dont live long they die very young. Is this true or is thatjsut for the people who arnt safe with the stuff they wear ofr safty?
Reply:Originally Posted by youngwelder_154One thing that really worries me that I ahve been told was Welders dont live long they die very young. Is this true or is thatjsut for the people who arnt safe with the stuff they wear ofr safty?
Reply:The welders that die young are the ones that smoke and drink.
Reply:Originally Posted by 76GMC1500The welders that die young are the ones that smoke and drink.
Reply:Originally Posted by 76GMC1500The welders that die young are the ones that smoke and drink.
Reply:First learned how to cut and weld with Oxy.  Took a summer job at a gas station (back when you pumped gas for others...full service was all we had) and when I wasn't pumping and checking the oil we ran a muffler shop. Some of the folks would come in from what seemed like a 100 mile trek to have their mufflers replaced.  Needless to say I spent a ton of hours under hot vehicles during a few texas summers (we had a 4 post lift that was outside in the sun) cutting off mufflers and welding on new ones along with tail pipes. It wasn't until many years later that I had access to a mig welder and now I'm teaching myself tig.  Don't do it for a living but always seem to have a need (or at least my friends and neighbors have a need) for something to be welded.
Reply:Had watched my dad weld for a few months with an old helmet. Then broke a hitch on a tractor doing something I shouldn't have. I was scared he would find out. He was gone when I got to the place so I decided to fix it myself. An old Forney arc welder. It held so I finished the field I was working in. When he saw my welds he just laughed and signed me up for junior high 4H welding. Have never welded for a living, just for a hobby.He who dies with the most tools wins
Reply:With me it has always been about cars.  Started with oxy/acet and found how useful it was...... bought mig to repair rusted floor pans..... buying tig for panel replacement with less haz (distortion).  To me cars are a magic carpet ride.   Being able to 'glue' steel together, well that is fantastic too.  I can fix what others can't.  Latest project my friends 67 vw.  Insurance totalled it.  9 hours into it we have pulled out the body using chains, tree, and maslamm power pull.  We have a little more to go.  Goal is no body filler.  I think about 5 more hours.Thermal Arc 185 TigHTP 200 MigCraftsman O/A1942 Bridgeport Mill12 Ton Hyd PressConsew Walking Footi started welding because it was the only time my dad would let me play with fire i started welding for a living after 15 years of being a machinist the company i was working for at the time had a job that had to be tiged and none of the welders could do it time was running out so i asked if i could give it a go ,i welded it tested it and shipped it the same day the next day i got asked to weld full time and got a pay raise been welding ever senseChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I did a big house renovation about 15 years ago. The architect specified lots of steelwork and it was hard getting someone to come and weld on-site when I needed them. So I bought a stick welder and taught myself how to do it. If course, now I know how welding should be done I occasionally wonder how bad those welds are. The house is still up, though.Scott
Reply:umm,,, fame and fortune, still waiting for those to kick in!
Reply:Preface; prior to this journey, I had never welded anything or attempted body work...Bought an old 4X4 pickup that I was plenty happy with but the wife expressed her concerns about the rusted and rotted, multi-tonal "vehicle" being parked outside.     While asking questions to co-workers about autobody repair and patch panels, one offered a lightly used MIG welder for sale.    $175 later, I had a small Lincoln Weld-Pak 155, 220v MIG.     A week later, I had new bedside patch panels welded in place.     Don't get me wrong, it wasn't pretty, or straight.   It was probably the ugliest welding job in the history of man, but it was enough to get me hooked.    I now own two Lincoln MIGs, (one set up for steel and the other for aluminum) and a buzz box.    There's a TIG unit in my near future, I can feel it.BTW, I finished the truck, painted it and sold it on Ebay for a 30% profitThere are no small projects
Reply:Wow, so many got into welding at such a young age!I'm 38 and have been welding for a few months now.   I have always wanted to weld, as a hobby, so that I can make stuff that I want (like my recently made rock rails).   For years I've always thought that it was too much time commitment to learn how to weld.   I have a couple of buddies that do it for a living, and they convinced my to get a welder, do some research, and try it out.I bought a MM135 about 3-4 months ago, and used the crap out of it for a month.   I was so excited, I immediately when out and added a MM210.    In addition to that I've added jig saws, many grinders, reciprocating saw, at zillion other tools.   I'm completely hooked, and I'm not done yet.  TIG purchase is in the future sometime, but I need to settle down right now just simply keep building stuff and practicing.  I have about 1000 projects lined up, the only limit in my available time! I'm still kicking myself for not getting into this year ago.
Reply:Like guilow said in post #30, "I'm still kicking myself for not getting into this year ago."In my case, I'm 59 years old and got into welding last year.  I'd soldered and brazed for years - but it always seemed to me to be a lot of dollars to get into welding.  (I was right!)To me, buying a welder was like buying an air compressor; both added a lot of 'capability' to what I could do... yet entry $$$ were a long-time barrier to me.  Well with time prices have come down, and I now have both... and when I look back, I too wish I had got into welding years ago!Every day I weld is an new adventure - it's fun and very self fulfilling to make something yourself - yep, even if it costs more!"See that, I made that myself!"I like to be able to say that - feels great!Rick V
Reply:I worked and learned fabrication for four years before I got an opportunity to learn to weld.  After working at Texas Instruments and Collins Radio where there was a distinct division of task, I went to work in a two man shop.  My boss and myself.  He did all the welding.  I practiced on my own time and before long became more skilled than my boss.  So that's my story.
Reply:All those slick, strong, hard working men!!!  They just drive a girl wild!On a whim I decided to move to the other side of the country.  After finding a place to live and not knowing a soul, I took the first job I was offered at an ornamental metal/powder coating shop.  Welding fascinated me (all those pretty colours my father would yell at me for looking as a kid!  lol).  They offered to teach me after a time.The owner was a retired Journeyman.  He got my Blue Book, registered me for my first school term and even gifted me with leathers.  Four years later, I work in the oil and gas industry.  I have my Journeyman and B Pressure tickets.  I owe that man my career....still waiting for fame too...I'm not mean, you're just a sissy!
Reply:took metals calss in high school did it all mills, lathe, forge, welding,realy liked the welding part.then took the auto shop ?(got know know to fix your ride).then the rest is historygot into prop repair (1982 inbetween jobs) then got back in to it in 1991 an doing that now
Reply:I was raised on a ranch.  My dad and two of my brothers are great welders.  They tried to teach me when I was 13.
Reply:College desing course for Mechanical Engineering at UCONN.  We were designing and building a miniature Formula type racecar to be raced in Detroit.  I was on the frame team and we hooked up with CFR Welding in Manchester, CT to help us build the frame.  Chis Foley (Owner) forced us to TIG the aluminum frame and tought us how to do it.  He was a master and his abilities hooked me.  I finished my degree and became an engineer.  I have thought about those nights in his shop frequently and now 15 years later I just starting my own welding and metal fabrications shop.  Getting sick of working behind a desk and where I live there is a need for high end welding work.Thanks Chris.  Your patience and generosity tought me more than most things I got from going to class.Bill
Reply:I decided to play with my hubbies toys, no real reson for it...thought I'd try something new, plus I ended up dropping out of auto tech classes due to finances a few years age, and my hubby can teach me this for the cost of scrap metal and some rod (much cheaper than college)
Reply:Learned basic welding in shop class, when they still ofered shop. Then got tired of spending hours driving boken gear to and from the welder. My weld my not win the  pretty prize, but they do hold without complaint! When the weld is serious, I call a real welder!
Reply:i have a jeep im building up, and im at the point i want to start making stuff. i want to go spring over axle and make some skid plates. so im here to learn.
Reply:Neccessity.I kept breaking my FIL's tractor and back-hoe so I learned how to fix them!  And have just kept with it.  I even took a couple of classes (mig, arc, and ocy-acet) after my auto tech classes.And it makes the work on my jeep so much easier.  I did my own SOA this last year, and many of the brackets had to be rewelding onto the Ford 8.8 I put back under my YJ.  And now I am working on a CJ7 that will need lots of welding done.  Eveything from sheetmetal to bumpers.
Reply:I really hope to learn TIG welding. I can do some oxy/fuel, I am pretty sure both processes are very much the same. I have watched people do it but I dont think I will learn it until I get my hand on the rod and torch but honistly do any of you ybelieve there kind of the same?
Reply:my welding teacher says oxy fuel welding is great to learn before tig. i started welding 3 years ago. i have always wanted to learn to weld b/c i had the same passion of ramping my go kart. the motor would rip off and we would take it to my uncle. im addicted to it now and have completed many projects and made quite a bit of money
Reply:My teacher said if you can learn to weld with oxy fuel, you can learn any of the other welding techniques.  He started all students with oxy fuel.So I figure that I can learn any of the other techniques.  I'll be putting that to the test soon when I hook up the argon and get filler rods...
Reply:Got out of the army in '58 after two years as a helicopter repairman (mainly standing around B'Sing and drinking coffee in an ex-Nazi hanger in Germany).  Tried to get a job and get rich maintaining helicopters for oil exploration firms in Alaska.  They wouldn't talk to me because I didn't have an A&E license (probably my luckiest moment - I'd probably still be out on the tundra now if they had given me a job), so I signed up for aircraft repair course at a local summer school.  Had to learn OA welding.  Instructor liked my work and brought in a piece of an airplane frame for me to weld for a friend of his.  I was scared, but did it.  Never heard that the plane fell out of the sky.  Went on to college and a totally different career, but have gotten bigger and better torches and welders every few years since.My first electric welder was an ancient Craftsman buzz-box.  I spent many hours in my girlfriend's driveway trying to run a bead and thought, "Man, this arc welding sucks.  I'm going to stick with gas."  Then got an old WWII era 300 amp Harnisfager stick/TIG welder surplus at a military auction and WOW!  What a difference.  This is EASY!  Been using that welder for 40 years.  Gonna connect up the TIG plumbing any day now.awright
Reply:My Jeep got me into welding! It really twisted my arm.
Reply:At the age of 21 (1967) I was working at a plant running a sandblaster and a friend of mine, who was a maintenance welder came in to make a repair on the machine. After the work was done we were sitting around talking and the subject of welding came up. I had never had any interest in welding and had never done any before. Finally a bet was made and I was to make the next repair weld, on the blaster, when it was due. I went down and took a crash course in welding at the local CC, and a month later at work, he came walking back in to make another repair. I got to make the repair and he asked me if I wanted to get a job as a welder. I told him yes, if it pays more than what I'm now making. He called a friend of his and I went for an interview, got the job and started welding. Worked in a fab shop and the shipyards, for a few years. In early '75 I was asked if I wanted to join the pipefitters, so I did. Have worked on quite a few nuclear power projects during the construction and during refueling shutdowns. One of the first huge jobs I worked was on the building of the Trans Alaska oil pipeline in '75. Was up there for a year and must say that it was very interesting, to say the least.So what started out as one of the only bets that I've ever made, since I very seldom gamble and win, turned into a very rewarding career. The most rewarding part of the whole thing has been, that 10 years ago, I was asked to be an instructor for the apprenticeship and welding program. I am now teaching what I have learned over the years and to me, this is the best part, is to be able to give back ones knowledge acquired, over the years, to the ones that want to learn.So, I guess I can say that I won the bet.Last edited by Diverbill45; 12-13-2006 at 05:07 PM.
Reply:I started stick welding at 8 years old my grandfather was a welder at buick and farmed with my father,so i was always around them when repairing equipment. I bought my first mig machine when i was 16 to do body work and  fix motocross bikes and other stuff me and my friends were always breaking. I went to college and really didn't have a clue as to what i wanted to do. A good friend of mine suggested sheetmetal working to me. I went to the local hall took the apprenticeship test and started at a industrial company two days later. I couldn't believe i was getting paid to do the stuff I really liked. I passed every welding test I've taken including tig root pass for fermi nuclear plant last week. I have 24 years of sheetmetalwork and a nice coustom fab and welding buissness on the side. I'm still amazed that I get paid to have so much fun!!! In the morning I get to weld new sleeves on a 6" diamter fan shaft and replace bearings!!!
Reply:Did some in high school. Joined the Navy and became a Machinery Repairman (machinest) on a Destroyer Tender... worked our#sses off. Got out and my brother was working offshore making good bucks..heck after $300.00 a month anything was good bucks. Let Uncle Sam send me to welding school became a pipe weldor. Went offshore welding pressure pipe and handrails...miles and miles of handrail.. That was back in 1975.
Reply:Holding Heart ! ! ! Freaking Out ! ! ! ! Zappster used stick ! ! ! !  Totaly Awesome......the world came to an end...... oh wait nope he melted the ice of the ice age...... ROFLMAO..... Zap i am just kidding....just had to pick...only got into this because i wanted to create things with my hands, i like making things..... so when i retire i will try to make things for a living....by the way where is the soup line start..... the guys here at work wished i would retire so they don't have to hear about welding..... NICE ! ! ! ! !Last edited by crenshawjm; 12-21-2006 at 01:10 PM.MikeHH210Hobart Champ 10KLincoln Buzz BoxCampbell Hausfeld 115Victor JourneymanMilwaukee 14" Chop Saw7" Chop Saw4/12" horz band sawmetal benderother toys forthcoming.
Reply:Just getting started now, at 35. I did HAZMAT and asbestos work for 14 years(at one point I was certified for asbestos removal in 16 states). Money was good, but the traveling was too much. I finally decided I'd do whatever it took to be home every night. I applied for all kinds of jobs that I had at least a little experience at. One company I applied as a painter. A couple days after the interview, the supervisor called me to say he found a more experienced painter. A couple days after that, he called me and asked what I knew about welding. "Uhhh, nothing." "Well, come on down and I'll see if you're trainable." He handed me a helmet, gloves, and a MIG gun. After making a few odd looking lumps on some scrap steel, he said he thought he could train me. Now I've been at it 6 months, and the company is paying for some night welding classes for me.