What changes can we make to our lives to deal with the economic and energy crises ahead? Have you already started making preparations? Got tips to share?
JavaScriptDonkey wrote:Any idiot with 30minutes instruction can puddle some slag on the surface of a bit of dirty steel and think he's mastered welding.
I've seen some shocking repairs over the years that looked okayish until the vehicle was in an accident and then it parted like it was held on by sticky oxides.
Grab the chance for some professional guidance while it's available as a lot of colleges have already converted their engineering workshops in to classrooms for Business Studies.
That's not right. I have shown 4 people how to stick weld and they all got it in under an hour. Their welds looked as ugly as sin, but they were strong enough. It's not hard to learn to make a strong arc weld at all. It's just hard to make one look pretty. But that comes with time.
Not only that, welding bits of vehicles never even entered my head. There's loads of jobs round my place for which a rough but firm weld is sufficient, none anything to do with passenger or pedestrian safety.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
stevecook172001 wrote:[That's not right. I have shown 4 people how to stick weld and they all got it in under an hour. Their welds looked as ugly as sin, but they were strong enough. It's not hard to learn to make a strong arc weld at all. It's just hard to make one look pretty. But that comes with time.
I'd dispute that they were in fact strong enough but I suppose it depends on what you were welding and how important it was.
Ensuring even weld penetration without introducing weakness involves a lot more knowledge that waving a bit of galv wire at some rusty steel.
I was thinking of my welding instructor at college when I was talking about 'any idiot' as it was one of his favourite aphorisms in between tut-tutting at my oxy welds.
We got to weld and then mill back down the seam to see exactly how bad we were. Very revealing.
stevecook172001 wrote:[That's not right. I have shown 4 people how to stick weld and they all got it in under an hour. Their welds looked as ugly as sin, but they were strong enough. It's not hard to learn to make a strong arc weld at all. It's just hard to make one look pretty. But that comes with time.
I'd dispute that they were in fact strong enough but I suppose it depends on what you were welding and how important it was.
Ensuring even weld penetration without introducing weakness involves a lot more knowledge that waving a bit of galv wire at some rusty steel.
I was thinking of my welding instructor at college when I was talking about 'any idiot' as it was one of his favourite aphorisms in between tut-tutting at my oxy welds.
We got to weld and then mill back down the seam to see exactly how bad we were. Very revealing.
The particular method I used to use for testing my welds when I first started welding was the following; I'd seriously wallop the bugger with a bloody great big lump hammer....several times.
Nice pics JSD, but we're not likely to be welding gas pipe or nuclear coolant systems, and who said anything about a using a piece of galv wire on rusty steel ?
The average weld will be on a farm gate or tow-bar, and in my experience most stick welds done with an adequate current source ( not a Halfords buzz-box ) will penetrate just fine. MIG is even easier, and TIG can give you a quality of weld that will surprise you.
You don't need college to learn welding, just a decent welder, materials, a good book and some time.
I've seen home welded tow-bars ripped clean off and become potentially deadly missiles whipping back towards the pulling vehicle.
Bad welding kills.
The pretty picture was there to show you how badly it can go wrong even when you have the right tools and are working with good steel. The failure was completely the fault of the guy holding the torch.
Never thought I'd have to defend the sense getting properly trained while training is still available.
Catweazle wrote:Incidentally, that broken weld you posted is from a crane, I'll bet the welder was qualified and trained, didn't seem to have done him much good.
Indeed, training is no gaurantte of competence. Generally I am a fan of training though.
Adam, Steve, thanks for your comments. Very interesting.
Just thought I'd mention, one of the problems with an arc welder is that it can't heat metal up for bending or for brazing, which puts it at a disadvantage when compared to oxy fuel rigs.
Except, I've just discovered that's not true!
You can heat metal for brazing or for bending using something called a dual carbon arc torch. Basically this involves setting up a tool whereby two carbon electrodes can be brought close together until they are nearly touching. At that point an arc will be created between them. The tool simply attaches to the negative and positive leads from your arc welder. The arc created can run independently of the job and so you can move it away from the piece being heated or brazed and it will still continue to arc. You can even weld with it I am given to understand in much the same way as you would an oxy fuel welder. Basically it should be seen as a kind of electric blow torch. Except, of course it doesn't blow and so you don't get delicate pieces being moved off position. This type of set-up was used between the wars when acetylene was hard to come by. Apparently, you can even use one of these as a cutting torch, the arc produced is that hot. Just don't expect the cut to look pretty.
There is a link below for how to make one for yourself.
You'll get some structured, relevant instruction (not a load of opinions on the internet). You'll meet some other people interested in welding, which might lead to interesting and fruitful relationships. You might find out where to pick up consumables or decent second-hand kit. You'll be able to ask questions. You'll be helping to keep a local resource alive. It won't hurt to cover the basics.
The internet can't replace every sphere of human interaction.
featherstick wrote:I'd go on the course, for lots of reasons.
You'll get some structured, relevant instruction (not a load of opinions on the internet). You'll meet some other people interested in welding, which might lead to interesting and fruitful relationships. You might find out where to pick up consumables or decent second-hand kit. You'll be able to ask questions. You'll be helping to keep a local resource alive. It won't hurt to cover the basics.
The internet can't replace every sphere of human interaction.
No it certainly can't. However, I learned welding from a book, some research on the web and a couple of mates. No course required.
Don't misunderstand me, if the welding someone needs to do immediately following learning to weld has some significant health and safety issues related to the item that has been welded then maybe a course is the right choice. But for hobbyist welders and/or when, in the early stages of learning to weld, the stuff to be welded does not involve significant health and safety issues, then a formal course is over the top in my opinion.
It's a case of risk tolerance and inclination for self-reliance I guess. Mine is quite high on both counts.
As is mine. My point was less about one's levels of self-reliance, and more about taking advantage of a learning opportunity while it's there, expanding one's network of acquaintances, and supporting a local college.
