Howdy Welders

[SaxonViolence]

I took my first class in Welding almost ten years ago. I was in the process of getting a Degree in Industrial Maintenance.

I knew that when I graduated that I'd be older than most Dudes looking for their first Maintenance job--so I took as many classes as possible. I wanted to be more than "Minimally Qualified".

I was still between jobs when I finished my Degree, and decided to go for a Second Degree in Welding.

I knew that I'd probably never be a Great Welder--but I was hoping that as a Maintenance Technician that I'd be a Very Good Welder.

Well even that turned out to be way too ambitious for my aptitude.

I was only missing Pipe Welding (Two Semesters) and a couple Academic Subjects, when I stopped going to school to search for work full time.

I could tell that I was never going to be even a Mediocre Production Welder.

My instructor--who was a couple years younger than me--said that I'd have probably picked it up much easier, if I'd started younger.....

{I'm 55 nowadays...}

Plus, I didn't realize how much corrective lenses could improve my Welding, until half-way through my last semester. (You know, that age related Far-Sightedness.....)

Anyway, I only worked for about six months after school, and then had to get on Disability.

I am a reasonably good Welder with MIG; TIG and OFW--Provided that I'm not the least bit rushed.....

MIG is a bit coarse for most Gun applications. Half-Way decent TIG Welders are very expensive.

I really want to get set up with an OFW set-up, preferably with a small Jeweler's Torch.

I like the "Self-Paced" nature of TIG and OFW.

Set up MIG or GMAW however I would, I always felt like the demands of the Machine was forcing me to move faster than I'd have chosen too.

Anyway.....

Saxon Violence

[tanglediver]

You done good cowboy! I say, stick with the self-paced action. The faster you work, the faster you foul up anyways.