Learning to weld

[Tanya]

So my bf (rabidchimp) has been teaching me how to weld recently. Took me a little bit to get halfway decent, my first attempts were awkward and clumsy. I am still having issues seeing correctly out of the helmet, I don't like it being so damn dark.

My first attempt at welding 2 pipes together:

I'm ok at welding in a straight line right now

Not very good at welding around turns yet

Running out of scrap metal to mess with. Going to try to find some more so I can finish my abstract metal lawn art :biglaugh:

 

[ForcedTorque]

You rock Tanya! I wish I knew half of what you know. You will get better, and it doesn't look 1/2 bad as it is.

 

[Poodles]

Looks nice to me.

A good quality welding machine makes a lot of difference. The best welder in the world will have to fight a shitty welding machine.

If the glass isn't dark enough it's very bad for your eyes, so try and get used to it instead of getting a lighter lense.

 

[IJ.]

Very nice beads Tanya
(marry me)

 

[Tanya]

If the glass isn't dark enough it's very bad for your eyes, so try and get used to it instead of getting a lighter lense.

I do realize that, however, I've been a dumbass for a lot of years and have stared at the sun more times than I can count without any (further) damage to my eyes. Some kinds of dim lighting can give me headaches. With the helmet lens as dark as it is, I can't see the line that I'm supposed to be welding on, and it screws me up... this mostly happens to me trying to weld on curves.

 

[MK3Brent]

Try using an auto-darkening hood.
You get used to it.

What kinda of machine are you playing with?

 

[Poodles]

Auto darkening masks still aren't very safe. Depends on how much welding you do, but it will strain your eyes.

 

[Tanya]

Lincoln Electric Pro Mig 175

the auto-darken helmet my bf helps me a lot, but he takes it to work w/ him during the week.

I strain my eyes far less with the auto darken, with the non auto I squint like I think I can see through the dark or something, LOL

 

[MK3Brent]

Auto darkening masks still aren't very safe. Depends on how much welding you do, but it will strain your eyes.

I'm not going to sit here and proclaim I've measured the UV rays through one of my auto-darks, but there is a dial inside that adjusts for brightness. I bet you're referring to the RT between the initial arc and the darkening of the lens.

In comparison to a standard hood I have, the shielding "seems" the same.

 

[Poodles]

Yes, the light is faster than the darkening.

Over time it will do damage. Most of the people I know that weld for a living don't go near em...

 

[s383mmber1]

Looks very good!

Now grab a TIG welder and report back to us

Lincoln Electric 275 squarewave TIG over here

 

[Rennat]

if your just going to be doing little things, then an auto-darkening helmet is going to be fine for you.

and if its too dark, get a spot light, or a bright shop light on the area where your welding and it will help. or go weld out in the direct sun light so that way you can see. because i have the same problem, i cant see with the always dark helmets... and i hate when i miss a tac weld...


and if you wanna keep practicing, then just stack the welds on top of each other. or try to spell things as you weld. that way you get use to moving the arc while welding.

 

[suprahero]

Very nice beads Tanya
(marry me)

Either she missed this or she's trying to let you down easily, and I won't let her........:evil2:

Those are some great beads Tanya. I bet you don't even like to cuddle after sex, I bet you fall asleep right away.........:biglaugh:

 

[Tanya]

LOL Jay

Yeah my big brass balls are feeling heavy these days with all the extra testosterone I am using by building my own engines & welding. WOOHOO!

And IJ, marriage is da debbil! LOL

 

[suprahero]

:yelrotflm

 

[IJ.]

Yes, the light is faster than the darkening.

Over time it will do damage. Most of the people I know that weld for a living don't go near em...

RonR uses one....... :nono:

Tanya: How about we just "practice" ?

 

[HommerSimpson]

Nice welds.... :} Good job... got any pics of you real greasy ? :}

 

[Tanya]

Tanya: How about we just "practice" ?

Honeymoon practice? :evil2: