Welding Tips and Tricks

So as I am watching builds on YouTube and surfing the web. I notice lots of folks getting either killer deals on thousands of pounds of steel or they have a magic Scrapyard that just so happens to have 4 tons the good stuff at $.001 a pound. I have used Posner, Brothers' $teel works and Metal Super Market for new steel. I just can't find a used reseller in my area, Prince Gorge's County, MD. Is, Do, Can, Will anyone let me know where or of a spot that has fairly priced used steel?

"Tell me your secrets human."

Hey, TD, turns out I'm around the Beltway from you, outside the Beltway on the VA side. I haven't had much luck with steel either: the nearest steel supplier I know of on the VA side is a 30 minute drive, has a $40 minimum, and won't let you browse for drops. I'm going to check out a scrapyard near here called RRT Metals: passing by from the outside they look like a hole in the wall operation that would let a guy browse. I can let you know if that pans out, but the distance may make it unworkable for you.

For the edification of the group, we are just outside Washington, DC, so the predominant industry here is government, government employees, and corporate employees that work with / for / at the government, not a lot of smokestack industries or people that DO things. I've met a lot of people that are very well educated but not very smart, from a practical point of view.

I didn't realize how spoiled we are here till I went over to the state capital to do some work. I had to have materials and fittings shipped in from home cause even the supply houses didn't have any idea about what I was looking for. They would say it was going to take weeks to get stuff that's a normal stock items at home.

Artie F. Emm wrote: I've met a lot of people that are very well educated but not very smart, from a practical point of view.

Yeah, give me a heads up even if it is an hours ride I can get a trailer full if the price is reasonable.

Poland308 I get the or face everyday from the counter jockeys.

I've met a lot of people that are very well educated but not very smart, from a practical point of view.

Got quite a few around me also........

TDLanders wrote:

Artie F. Emm wrote: I've met a lot of people that are very well educated but not very smart, from a practical point of view.

Yeah, give me a heads up even if it is an hours ride I can get a trailer full if the price is reasonable.

Poland308 I get the or face everyday from the counter jockeys.

I just got the look of dis-belief the other day when I stopped at a HUGE lws near my new metal supplier and asked if they had 4943 tig rod. The idiot actually snickered and said "there is no such thing...you means 4043". I told him I would bet him a $1000 that I was right. He looked it up and found out I was right but the whole time was trying to make me feel like I was just some stupid welder. The AirGas near me is full of assholes like that.

exnailpounder wrote:

TDLanders wrote:

Artie F. Emm wrote: I've met a lot of people that are very well educated but not very smart, from a practical point of view.

Yeah, give me a heads up even if it is an hours ride I can get a trailer full if the price is reasonable.

Poland308 I get the or face everyday from the counter jockeys.

I just got the look of dis-belief the other day when I stopped at a HUGE lws near my new metal supplier and asked if they had 4943 tig rod. The idiot actually snickered and said "there is no such thing...you means 4043". I told him I would bet him a $1000 that I was right. He looked it up and found out I was right but the whole time was trying to make me feel like I was just some stupid welder. The AirGas near me is full of assholes like that.

Hahah. Gotta love those guys working in a welding related store and they are not keeping up to date with the trade's advancements, really makes them look stupid.

That'd be a sweet $1000 to spend... but I bet you'll have a tough time collecting.

Artie F. Emm wrote:That'd be a sweet $1000 to spend... but I bet you'll have a tough time collecting.

It would because you know they don't have it but like to make people feel beneath them. Maybe it's to cover up for the fact that they are embarrassed about not being able to weld and have to show somehow they are smart about welding. This same retard actually told me what tig gloves I needed. I bought a pair of deerskin that are soooo soft and he said nobody likes those so I bought 'em anyway and I think they are awesome.

Realize that most guys that think they know everything about something or think they know how to do something, rarely do.

I think its extremely rare that you see someone here saying "I am the best welder in the area" or just "I am really good at welding" OR "I have been welding for so long, this is what you want"

We are all very humble people, because we know that there is more to learn, when someone says "I know everything about this" they slam the gate shut to learn more about it, just the way it is.

So when you see these guys telling you what you need or want, challenge them and see if they actually know what they are doing or talking about, at least then, they might stop acting like it when they realize they don't and the next guy won't get the same load of crap.

I try to be nice when people throw stuff like that at me, but if they ain't got the scars to show for it, I won't take their word.

For the record, deerskin gloves are awesome. I use Millers Classic TIG series now, because they are soft. My boss only uses deerskin ones, he's been welding for over 20 years.

Anyone that thinks they know everything about anything or everything is living a very boring life. No new cool things to learn or try to figure out.

Olivero wrote:Realize that most guys that think they know everything about something or think they know how to do something, rarely do.

I think its extremely rare that you see someone here saying "I am the best welder in the area" or just "I am really good at welding" OR "I have been welding for so long, this is what you want"

We are all very humble people, because we know that there is more to learn, when someone says "I know everything about this" they slam the gate shut to learn more about it, just the way it is.

So when you see these guys telling you what you need or want, challenge them and see if they actually know what they are doing or talking about, at least then, they might stop acting like it when they realize they don't and the next guy won't get the same load of crap.

I try to be nice when people throw stuff like that at me, but if they ain't got the scars to show for it, I won't take their word.

For the record, deerskin gloves are awesome. I use Millers Classic TIG series now, because they are soft. My boss only uses deerskin ones, he's been welding for over 20 years.

I will be ordering a set of bambie mittens. I found Clinton Metal Company while recycling old appliances. I asked the manager and gave him a card. So hopefully if a good plate or load on tube comes in he can help me out.

homeboy wrote:Anyone that thinks they know everything about anything or everything is living a very boring life. No new cool things to learn or try to figure out.

geothermal aquaponic greenhouse in zone 7

TDLanders wrote:

Olivero wrote:Realize that most guys that think they know everything about something or think they know how to do something, rarely do.

I think its extremely rare that you see someone here saying "I am the best welder in the area" or just "I am really good at welding" OR "I have been welding for so long, this is what you want"

We are all very humble people, because we know that there is more to learn, when someone says "I know everything about this" they slam the gate shut to learn more about it, just the way it is.

So when you see these guys telling you what you need or want, challenge them and see if they actually know what they are doing or talking about, at least then, they might stop acting like it when they realize they don't and the next guy won't get the same load of crap.

I try to be nice when people throw stuff like that at me, but if they ain't got the scars to show for it, I won't take their word.

For the record, deerskin gloves are awesome. I use Millers Classic TIG series now, because they are soft. My boss only uses deerskin ones, he's been welding for over 20 years.

I will be ordering a set of bambie mittens. I found Clinton Metal Company while recycling old appliances. I asked the manager and gave him a card. So hopefully if a good plate or load on tube comes in he can help me out.

Bambie mittens.... Haha

my gloves are supplied so I try to change them pretty often, I have an apprentice as well but he doesen't weld a whole lot at the moment, too much of other stuff but I tend to wear my gloves down a bit, get a new pair and give him the old ones.

When I first started out, I bought my gloves at 7-11 and wore a sweater while welding because its all I had with a long sleeve for almost 1 year!

Then I started getting the good stuff once I showed I could so something real

I still have that sweater and I hold on to it because it reminds me of the fact that you don't need all the fancy shit to weld, you just weld.
The guy I am teching was saying he needed better gloves and bla. bla. so I showed him the sweater, the enitre chest area is browning due to the UV burns Told him when he did something worth while, I would get him stuff. Then he did and now he's getting the hand-me-downs

Bambi Mittens.... I like that

After all these years and all the different stuff I've tried, I've found I prefer to weld with cheap-o goat skin bulk-pack work gloves from Fastenal. I rarely wear long sleeves unless I'm migging overhead, stick welding, or plasma cutting. I just give my arms a good coat of SPF-45 or better, and no more flashburn. I'm not outright recommending that to anyone, it's just what I'm comfortable with.

In very hot weather, I'll wear very light shirts and then the SPF goes on like I'm at the beach, because you can be burned through thin fabric, especially when it gets sweaty.

Another good use for sunblock is when working in a confined space or around other welders, to protect your neck and ears from light coming in from behind.

Steve S

Otto Nobedder wrote:Bambi Mittens.... I like that

After all these years and all the different stuff I've tried, I've found I prefer to weld with cheap-o goat skin bulk-pack work gloves from Fastenal. I rarely wear long sleeves unless I'm migging overhead, stick welding, or plasma cutting. I just give my arms a good coat of SPF-45 or better, and no more flashburn. I'm not outright recommending that to anyone, it's just what I'm comfortable with.

In very hot weather, I'll wear very light shirts and then the SPF goes on like I'm at the beach, because you can be burned through thin fabric, especially when it gets sweaty.

Another good use for sunblock is when working in a confined space or around other welders, to protect your neck and ears from light coming in from behind.

Steve S

Yeah, I have heard that using sunscreen is just fine but apparently it only blocks certain types or wavelengths of the UV where clothing would offer more blocking. I have yet to find a good unscented sunscreen so I stick to my sleeves, my shop is air conditioned so when I am in it, its all good.

Then there is when I am repairing a bollard outside when its summer in Florida in the nice sun baking me, I just bite the bullet and get a burn because there is no way in hell, I am wearing any more clothing than I have to on jobs like that.

Just no way, I think its more dangerous for me to sweat that much than to get a small burn

Olivero wrote: Then there is when I am repairing a bollard outside when its summer in Florida in the nice sun baking me, I just bite the bullet and get a burn because there is no way in hell, I am wearing any more clothing than I have to on jobs like that.

Just no way, I think its more dangerous for me to sweat that much than to get a small burn

I'm sure dermatologists would disagree with this reasoning, just drink plenty of water not soda.

Otto Nobedder wrote:Bambi Mittens.... I like that

After all these years and all the different stuff I've tried, I've found I prefer to weld with cheap-o goat skin bulk-pack work gloves from Fastenal. I rarely wear long sleeves unless I'm migging overhead, stick welding, or plasma cutting. I just give my arms a good coat of SPF-45 or better, and no more flashburn. I'm not outright recommending that to anyone, it's just what I'm comfortable with.

In very hot weather, I'll wear very light shirts and then the SPF goes on like I'm at the beach, because you can be burned through thin fabric, especially when it gets sweaty.

Another good use for sunblock is when working in a confined space or around other welders, to protect your neck and ears from light coming in from behind.

Steve S

I just get extra chocolatey after most builds if I don't have on sleeves to keep from getting spatter burnt, reverse farmers tan.

Did some shopping today and well it seems I am getting the best price for new steel in the DMV. MS wanted $175 for 2 sheets of 16ga hot so I went to Posner and spent about $60 less with 3 cans of green paint to kick the frog.