After about five years of soaking up knowledge from this group I enrolled, along with my wife, in an "art welding" course at Austin Community College.
The instructor's highest priority is to teach us to gas weld. That's just fine with me because I have more enthusiasm for, and less experience with gas welding, than any other process.
Our first project assignment was to weld up a cube from 4" squares of
1/16" steel.Unfortunately, by the time we got the rudiments down, we were short of coupons, so we were supposed to cut up some more at last night's class.
Then, on the way home, I had a blow-out on the old Ford diesel van. By the time I got the tire changed and made it home we'd missed the class. Not only was I tired and dirty, but my nerves were pretty frayed too. The blowout occurred at fully 70mph on the right passenger side. It's almost a miracle I didn't lose control.
In order to not fall behind with the class, today I cut up some 5" squares from a 6' long strip of 3/16" x 5" material I had on hand.
This means Alma's and my boxes will be the biggest and baddest even if they don't win "best" honors, which of course, we hope they do.
I nearly finished my cube today. To my surprise it's reasonably square. Once I got in the groove, my welds looked pretty decent too. Maybe after the class is over in May I'll feel proficient enough to learn to TIG weld.
Alma is showing early promise of being the best welder in the class. She took to laying beads like a duck to water.
So hers will probably be better.
Regards, Vernon