New from Florida

[Certifiable]

Hey there. I am a sculptor from Florida. I started welding about 25 years ago, mostly self taught. I started out welding nails and cans on a little 75 amp sip buzzbox.
Then, when I went to art school they introduced us to mig, stick, oxy-acetylene and plasma cutting. But what I was really interested in was learning how to tig weld.
The problem was the school wouldn't check out the tig handle to a student unless they knew how to use it, and they were allways too busy to show me. So since the school wasn't going to show me I set out on my own again. I applied for a few tig welding jobs so that I would have to take thier weld tests. I figured at least I'd get to try it. Well, on the second try I passed. I got a job at a place doing stainless production welding.
I guess that's the beginning of my welding story. Lately I have been concentrating more and more on building my own welding and custom fabrication shop. In doing so I am also trying to get certified. This site has been a great help for that endeavor.

Thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself,
Ralph

By the way, does anyone know if I'm allowed to put a link to my website in the signature line?

[forhire]

Originally Posted by Certifiable

By the way, does anyone know if I'm allowed to put a link to my website in the signature line?

Welcome Ralph. I looked at your sculpture site (http://www.provisero.com) listed in your profile. Cool stuff. You must be a zen master after all the coal slag pieces. I look forward to seeing more of your work. What kind of focus do you have in fabrication?

Some guys have their site URL in the sig. Provided your not overly self promoting it's generally tolerated. I imagine if there is an issue someone will tell you.

[Certifiable]

Thanks, The coal slag pieces are part of a series still to be finished two more pieces to go to finish the entire installation.

As far as fabrication goes I will, (at least try to), build whatever my client can dream up. I have built anything from a copper fountain with copper leaves for a propane pit in a club, to the project I'm working on now which is a steel frame house made of I beams and tube columns.

I have done a few things in my life and making stuff by melting stuff is what I keep coming back to.

Thanks for looking and sharing your advise on the link.

Ralph