Hello Ernie and all you other weldors out there. Just want to tell you that this group has played a significant role in my ongoing change of profession. I have worked for 16 years as what we in Sweden call "an office rat". Sitting day out and day in in front of the computer screen, at the company computer help desk. During a project involving a recumbent bike, I found this group and realized how interesting the world of welding can be. When I was involved in the latest employee reductions, I wasn't to upset because there was some financial help from the company. With 12 months of pay I now have the chance of getting another education and have chosen to learn how to weld. The class I'm taking is for one year and will give me licenses for stick, MIG/MAG, TIG and gas. We will work on "ordinary steel" and stainless and I hope to get a peek at aluminum/magnesium at the end. This is my first week and I have spent it getting to know the TIG for the first time. Three more weeks with gas, MIG/MAG and stick, and then it's desision time. Do I want to continue with the rest of the year? I probably will. I just might have to accept a small reduction in pay when I take a job as a weldor compared to my old job, but I don't care. I hope to be able to continue to get lots of useful info from the group and maybe be able to contribute to some degree some time.
regards göran