First Post & Intro
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 5:40 pm
Hello,
I am a retired aerospace Engineer/Researcher. During my career, I have frequently been embarrassed by having to critique welds done to my design - knowing that I lacked the ability to weld myself. I was early-on intimidated to attempt welding due to a horrible experience in an undergraduate welding class required of engineering students back in 1959. As I recall, I spent the whole semester breaking off rods that had frozen to the work! I just couldn't see what I was doing.
In retirement, strictly due to the availability of auto-darkening helmets, I signed up for welding at the local junior college. i ended up taking every welding class offered, over a period of 3 years, and I eventually succeeded in getting a Structural Steel Certification from the City of LA plus the AWS. I haven't done anything with those certifications - just DIY projects around the homestead.
The real motivation for me to get into welding came from a vacation trip taken in 2003. My wife and I drove our truck and trailer to Bellingham, Washington to commence a 2-month cruise up to Petersburg, Alaska aboard our dinky little cabin cruiser. The rain in Alaska has to be experienced to be appreciated. The "rag top" on our boat proved insufficient to keep out the damp. Something had to be done. So, I promised my wife that I would construct a water-proof, solid "pilot house" for the boat. Steel, wood, and fiberglas were all too heavy for stability. It would have to be aluminum. And, since bolted construction is not suitable for salt water condition, it would have to be welded. So, I had to learn to weld.
During school, I acquired a used Ranger 8 plus a crotchety old Lincoln 25 wire feeder. For the aluminum project, I bought a new ThermalArc 186 for TIG, and also SMAW. Very recently I have purchased a Lincoln PowerMig 256 for several necessary projects: Driveway gates, perimeter railings for my deck reconstruction, and repair of wear-damaged skids on a 6' "Brush Hog" that I use behind my tractor for brush clearance on my 10 acre pasture.
All of these projects were put on hold last year when I received a dread diagnosis. The winter on onto summer I spent in treatments and I now have a clean bill of health and am recuperating from the treatment. When the doctors told be that I was clear and should live many more years, I calculated (rationalized) that I could probably get sufficient use out of a new welder as to justify the expense. So, I just recently popped for the the PowerMIG 256. But, I am running into some problems doing Plug (spot) welds on the brush hog project. Having watched Jody's great videos and even buying the 4-disc set, I naturally turned to this forum for information. In order to post, I had to register, so here I am. I anticipate starting a thread on the Plug weld issue and expect to offer a review of the Lincoln PowerMig 256, which like all welding machines, has both good and bad points. I have been able to work around the bad points and I am very pleased with the machine at this point.
Well, that's enough. I'll sign off and await the moderator's OK to make posts.
Arlie
I am a retired aerospace Engineer/Researcher. During my career, I have frequently been embarrassed by having to critique welds done to my design - knowing that I lacked the ability to weld myself. I was early-on intimidated to attempt welding due to a horrible experience in an undergraduate welding class required of engineering students back in 1959. As I recall, I spent the whole semester breaking off rods that had frozen to the work! I just couldn't see what I was doing.
In retirement, strictly due to the availability of auto-darkening helmets, I signed up for welding at the local junior college. i ended up taking every welding class offered, over a period of 3 years, and I eventually succeeded in getting a Structural Steel Certification from the City of LA plus the AWS. I haven't done anything with those certifications - just DIY projects around the homestead.
The real motivation for me to get into welding came from a vacation trip taken in 2003. My wife and I drove our truck and trailer to Bellingham, Washington to commence a 2-month cruise up to Petersburg, Alaska aboard our dinky little cabin cruiser. The rain in Alaska has to be experienced to be appreciated. The "rag top" on our boat proved insufficient to keep out the damp. Something had to be done. So, I promised my wife that I would construct a water-proof, solid "pilot house" for the boat. Steel, wood, and fiberglas were all too heavy for stability. It would have to be aluminum. And, since bolted construction is not suitable for salt water condition, it would have to be welded. So, I had to learn to weld.
During school, I acquired a used Ranger 8 plus a crotchety old Lincoln 25 wire feeder. For the aluminum project, I bought a new ThermalArc 186 for TIG, and also SMAW. Very recently I have purchased a Lincoln PowerMig 256 for several necessary projects: Driveway gates, perimeter railings for my deck reconstruction, and repair of wear-damaged skids on a 6' "Brush Hog" that I use behind my tractor for brush clearance on my 10 acre pasture.
All of these projects were put on hold last year when I received a dread diagnosis. The winter on onto summer I spent in treatments and I now have a clean bill of health and am recuperating from the treatment. When the doctors told be that I was clear and should live many more years, I calculated (rationalized) that I could probably get sufficient use out of a new welder as to justify the expense. So, I just recently popped for the the PowerMIG 256. But, I am running into some problems doing Plug (spot) welds on the brush hog project. Having watched Jody's great videos and even buying the 4-disc set, I naturally turned to this forum for information. In order to post, I had to register, so here I am. I anticipate starting a thread on the Plug weld issue and expect to offer a review of the Lincoln PowerMig 256, which like all welding machines, has both good and bad points. I have been able to work around the bad points and I am very pleased with the machine at this point.
Well, that's enough. I'll sign off and await the moderator's OK to make posts.
Arlie
