A special student

[mla2ofus]

My 14 yr old granddaughter has watched me weld for yrs ( w/ appropriate PPE) and expressed an interest in learning so I figured it's time. I think mig is the easiest to learn so we started w/ it. I picked up some clean scrap to make coupons and had her do a flat butt stringer, then stringers on a flat inside and outside corner. Then do a weave on the inside corner. After that she ran a downhill stringer on a vertical inside then did a downhill weave on same.
We disassembled an old rider mower tranny for the gears and she polished one side of each w/ a flap disc. Then we blued parts of them w/ the torch applied to the back side. She welded them together w/ the mig but had trouble w/ bubbles due to metal makeup or grease soaked into them so Granpa had to help w/ them. This gear project is a Christmas gift for me so all I have seen is the gears, LOL!!
I told her mig is easiest to learn so we start w/ it, then we'll go to stick, then O/A torch cutting which I think will intimidate her because she doesn't like loud pops or large sparks. I'll just have to convince her they won't kill her. She's gotten over the fear of the grinder, which when she first started grinding I noticed the long hair hanging in the front so had her get it under control on her back. Explained to her if the grinder caught her hair we'd possibly be making a trip to ER!! I have a 2' x3' piece of bar grate I can lay on the table so hopefully it will minimize large sparks flying around when torch cutting. After that she'll learn how to O/A torch weld and then finally how to braze w/ O/A.
Mike

[dbstoo]

Looking good!

Dan

[motolife313]

That's cool! Tell her I said good job! Kory

[Bistineau]

Be sure to post up the gear project when it is completed. Get her a welders cap for Christmas so she don't set her hair on fire with all the sparks. It could be a stocking stuffer.

[DSW]

Be sure to post up the gear project when it is completed. Get her a welders cap for Christmas so she don't set her hair on fire with all the sparks. It could be a stocking stuffer.

I can see the reaction to that request at the LWS...


" Excuse me, do you have a welding cap with my little pony on it in pink?"


Good for her on wanting to learn. Looks like it might be time to go pick up some horse shoes for projects for her.

As far as the grate. Be careful that the grate on the top doesn't just throw everything right back at her. Tech school has an open bar grate cutting area where below the grate there is an angled piece of sheet steel to funnel all the sparks and debris away from the person cutting and into a place where it can be easily collected and won't cause fires. For temporary use a piece of cement board would work to do the same thing, maybe even plywood if it's set in such a way that you don't hit it with direct flames and can wet it down to deal with sparks.

[Oldendum]

As for the long hair, have her use two of those rubber band things, just in case one decides to break.

[Gravel]

That's the good stuff right there! It's great that she wants to learn but even better that she wants to spend time with you.

[richey]

The best time is spending quality time together. She will never forget those hours with you. Glad she is learning to weld.

[Sparkie1957]

Good job Mike


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Steve
Lincoln IdealArc 250
Lincoln SA200 1966 Redface

[mla2ofus]

A pic of the finished project. She found out my first car was a '57 chev and I guess she thinks her granpa is a gearhead, LOL!! Whoda thought!!
Mike

[dbstoo]

It warms the heart, doesn't it? I see reason there for you, your kids and your grand-daughter to be proud.


Dan

[BrianC]

Like this post!!!!!

[BD1]

Cool ! Well did GRANDPA buy her, gloves, hat, welding jacket, AD hood, and grinder for CHRISTMAS ??? This would have been a great reason to expand YOUR tool and equipment inventory.

[soutthpaw]

If you all find kid size welding PPE's. I would like to know where. Kids she 6 and 8

[mla2ofus]

Cool ! Well did GRANDPA buy her, gloves, hat, welding jacket, AD hood, and grinder for CHRISTMAS ??? This would have been a great reason to expand YOUR tool and equipment inventory.

She's using granpa's speedglas while he looks on w/ his old regular hood. Wears one of my old long sleeve cotton shirts and a pair of insulated leather gloves I found in my collection that are too small for my paws. If she really takes an interest in it, her birthday is in May.
Mike