GreinTime wrote:He actually replied in post #40 saying "My machine has left, as have I, can't master it can't dwindle on it"
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It's a shame he has deprived himself of a lot of satisfaction.
Not every art or craft fits every person. If he gave it a good go, and found the process or the learning frustrating, he may never have been satisfied with it. It takes a certain kind of person, with a certain kind of patience, to learn this craft.
His statement is telling... "...can't master it..." This is something that takes years to master. There is no "instant gratification", unless you're a savant.
That's what a hobby or a career should give you. Satisfaction. If he wasn't finding it, so be it. Move on.
His statement is telling... "...can't master it..." This is something that takes years to master. There is no "instant gratification", unless you're a savant.
That's what a hobby or a career should give you. Satisfaction. If he wasn't finding it, so be it. Move on.
Steve S
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Otto Nobedder
Weldmonger
Posts: 3633
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:40 pm
Location: Near New Orleans
Yeah, maybe it isn't for him. I do believe sometimes what separates slow learners from fast learners comes down to interest, and confidence. Nothing steadies the hand better than confidence. If you didn't know beyond a doubt that you are the very best at what you do, you wouldn't be.
I think one of the things with the Tig process is that when you watch Jodie or someone like him it looks fairly straightforward - but like many other specialist skills it is something perfected over time & you need to respect that - people like the stack of dimes look ( though I don't understand why it's become such a big deal ) & don't realize the level of skill involved - they think oh yea I could do that or at least I'd like to do that - problem is if they're looking at a Tamjeff weld or the bicycle dude that is totally unrealistic - we can't all be great at everything & high class looking Tig welds need constant practice - it would be arrogant to assume that it's just a basic skill that anyone could do - me I welded every other process since I was a kid - but Tig never comes out as nice as I'd like - I can do it - but I don't do enough at a time to get good - no one ever complains about my work - but I'm not happy with it - for someone that has no welding background especially gas welding it will be hard - just the coordination can be a problem - it's one reason I would say learning the basics without a foot pedal helps - I lost track of what the OP has done recently - but if he gave up there is no shame in it - I'm sure he has some other skill that compensates which may elude the best welder.
I thought Tig looked so easy when I started but I have spent days just running beads trying to get better. I finally got a decent stack of dimes last night. The hardest part for me was that the person who taught me started me on aluminum. I love it and can't wait to get better.
It's always best to build your own, especially when it comes to hitches!!!
Matt
Glad to hear your doing well with Tig - the coordination & very fine hand control required is something only time will improve & some will never find it - I found flat stuff came fairly easily - trouble is most of mine is thinnish wall small diameter pipe which needs to look good - torch angle changes so fast it's a whole different animal - by the time I finish a handrail or whatever - I'm just getting settled - then I won't do any for weeks - sometimes months - starting the next one it's not like I forget how to weld - but I'm not happy with it & I rarely have much spare material to have a quick practice on - I think I may get a small torch though - I can see how the length of the consumables magnifies movement - so It's probably worth it.
Hope you continue to improve & enjoy the experience.
mcoe wrote:I thought Tig looked so easy when I started but I have spent days just running beads trying to get better. I finally got a decent stack of dimes last night. The hardest part for me was that the person who taught me started me on aluminum. I love it and can't wait to get better.
Aluminum is not the place to start. A year ago I worked with steel only briefly, then switched to aluminum. It ain't easy, and it makes the shortcomings of an entry level welder really come out, but I love that it won't rust. It warps less than steel, weighs less than steel. I don't have to prep and paint when I build something, and again soon after when it looks ratty with rust and chips.
As with oxyfuel welding aluminum, getting better at TIG welding aluminum helped with my steel TIG welding. I believe Braehill asked if I was smoking drugs when I said I thought aluminum was way way way easier to weld than steel Seriously though I much prefer to weld aluminum over steel.
Seriously though I much prefer to weld aluminum over steel.