Welder advice

That's funny you say that! That's basically how I learned. I was a marina boat yard bottom painter, just turned 16 years old that March for a summer job and the old welder at the marina just had his helper quit, this guy was a WWII/Korea Vet, was 60yo+ then, chewed tobacco and smoked at the same time!!! Anyway, he drug me around "not by choice" to help him with re-welding dock flanges that hold floating docks together on steel piles. Looking back, it "SUCKED" in July and August but he did show me the basics, 6010, 6011, and 7018. I had no idea what I was getting into but I took to welding like a fly on a hot turd! . That was the beginning of my welding career.

 

Great story of your beginning, Dave!

 

I like that little machine. My best suggestion is "how thick" of material do you want to weld and see what it's rated for. Small MIG machines are good for up to 1/4" in there amperage range. Do you want a versital machine to run Aluminum wire, now you get into the bigger $$$$. There are many machines out there and good products. "NOTE" In the welding world, my opinion is stay away from a name you either can't pronounce or never heard of it! I've seen some on e-bay and other places that are "cheap" or good deals, but you get what you pay for! Stay with "any" brand name welder and you'll be fine. "My preferance" is a Miller or Hobart machine. I've had both for years and years, not one problem.

 

Don't know how great it was at first, hot, smelly, burn holes in my head and the tops of my feet, eyes itching and burning every day from flash , caught myself on fire 2 times that summer And, I learned a few new Profane words I never knew existed, But it gave me a pay check and I got better at it. I figured, this was my ticket to a "decent" respectful living. The real learning started in the Navy! That's when I realized, there were "welders", and people who can weld... Big difference!!! Some may agree or not and I don't want to offend anyone! The guys that I used to think were either "Nuts" or had balls of Bronze were the guys who jumped in the water under a ship to weld Something about water and electricity just didn't click with me.

 

Great analyasis, and very very true!!!

 

Awesome!!! 33 years!, Passing your knowledge to those folks, great news to hear, so many young folks could care less anymore. I taught Vo-tech evening courses years back for "basic arc" welding, and the majority of my students were retirees but always had a few ladies! They loved it and seem to really do well. They have more patience!

 

Amen!!!

 

That "IS" quite the humble beginning!!! I can't imagine burning through whats inside the bottom of a dumpster!!! That had to have been a smell like no other...
I had to go find this, the machine I learned with was an "Airco Wasp". It seemed to run forever and even on 100º days it was like the energizer bunny! It never had an oil change, just kept adding when needed. I haven't seen one in 30 years!