Welding 101 with shop-teacher dad

(If this typ. of post is what the blog tab is for, please let me know). Last night I broke out the 240V stick welder and gave my 12 year old daughter and 16 year old son their first welding lesson. I have a new Harbor freight welder and when they would get the rod stuck there was no hummmmmm. I am thinking it has an internal breaker? Any how, they both had a good time. My daughter ran a great bead with full penetration (we were using 7018 on 3/16 plate with 1/8" gap. from what I have read 6011 for penetration and 7018 for easy clean weld). I have a 120V Mig for body panels. I will have them try their hand at that and then help weld the floor pans in the jeep where it won't be so critical. Hoping to plant a couple seeds before I send them back to the Ozarks. Just wanted to share. It's been nice have this iconic American moment with them.:)

It's said that the "Family that welds together, stays together"!



I know... groan............:eek:**):whacked::LOL::LOL:

Sorry R2!

Strangely my son ask me today if I would teach him to weld with the stick
and Mig welder. I know you are just as excited about teaching your kids
to weld as I will be with my son.

Great post, I can relate to your thread. I am a retired pipe welder for over 40 years. I always thought my 2 sons would have done something different but both are pipe fitter/welders who are now both piping contractors. Two grandsons also pipe welders. I would have liked to see someone in the family do something different.

A family full of welders usually don't stay together much, as they are always on the road. LOL! but we are all close in spirit, and all are car nuts.

I taught both my boys a long time ago then Chris (the other half)asked if I'd teach her she now can weld with the mig and uses the plasma cutter as well

Very cool August! Teaching them trade skills is a great thing because it seems more and more schoole are not doing this anymore.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by desert dog

Great post, I can relate to your thread. I am a retired pipe welder for over 40 years. I always thought my 2 sons would have done something different but both are pipe fitter/welders who are now both piping contractors. Two grandsons also pipe welders. I would have liked to see someone in the family do something different.

A family full of welders usually don't stay together much, as they are always on the road. LOL! but we are all close in spirit, and all are car nuts.

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Pipe welder!! WOW!! Lets see some pictures of your welds!!(If you have some) When I was working in construction(carpenter)I would always wander over to where fitters were welding,You would see the most amazing welds ever produced with a stick welder,pure artwork!! Pete

"Very cool August! Teaching them trade skills is a great thing because it seems more and more schoole are not doing this anymore."

Among other things I studied to be a shop teacher. While I was student teaching I noticed a large portion of the class had assistants. I asked how does this work? The aid said that the person's IQ level was such that they required an assistant. The thought was (Breakfast Club moment), he told me, that shop fit in well for their aptitude. Other words shop was for dummies. Well, I am not a shop teacher. There was more to it than just the one incident. I like teaching. It just comes out. I am always telling people tid bits of trivia. The best moments in life are those Epiphanies moments when BAM! the light goes on. Helping to make that happen for someone is priceless.

Be glad to, I have some coupons out in the shop. SS and carbon pipe. I'll have to figure out how to post them in the morning.

hank

Welded lots of ammonia (liquor lines) lines in the Chicago packing houses long ago for refrigeration units