welding page - hilarious

What a sissy! How could you become a professional welder and not know what to expect? I was a machinist in a shipyard, no way I would have been a welder or rigger.

I just read it in my boredom. It is true and I even laughed. My grandfather was a welder, for navy ships after ww2 for some time, and by some ww2 event not very smart. He even died young. Some would say he was dead before he was dead, and the work he had done was no doubt a factor.(Died mid 30's) I tried it on small projects and quickly realized what that website babbler took 5 years to figure out. I could never do it for longevity. setting up shoe lasts in a 1500 a pair a day shoe factory seems better.... New equipment, and rules etc must keep the diehard classic welders going. think of the grandkids you may not meet...

heh, and the occasional lesbian.

funny.

Don't take it too seriously? Everything said there is dead on true. Maybe stretched a little here and there, but I could relate to everything said.

But you must admit that there's a world of difference between welding plate all day every day at a shipyard, and doing it less than an hour a day in a home shop. And then it's not even welding plate, but lawnmower handles, shelving, busted gate hinges, and tinkertoys compared to shipyard welding.

Shipyard work ........... AAAARRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

(Matey!)

Steve

yeah, funny enough one of our apprentices at work is a militant lesbian. first one ive come across, but seems to fit the bill pretty much

shaun

if you take it too seriously you might end up crying instead of laughing ;-) the first time i read it years ago, i laughed myself stupid, particularly the decriptions of welding. re-reading it, i still had a few giggles, but he had added all the post comments with the stories about accidents, i had to stop reading about halfway down because it was getting too depressing. I got into welding because it offered big money in australia when i got back from teaching english overseas, and i was low on qualifications.... now its

Shaun

I stopped after I read about three of the stories, because with all the PTSD I have from various incidents and accidents, it was making me nervous.

My moment of clarity was when I repossessed my welding business from the guy I sold it to. He only owed about ten thousand on it, but I took it back. After a month, one day I was driving to work, and said, "I can't do this any more." (I had heart health issues.) Then a clear voice in my head said, "I don't want to do this any more." I liquidated it, and got right more than the 10k.

Now, I do it for fun and for stuff for myself, kin, friends and neighbors.

I still have spots on my arms and legs from burns I got years and years ago. I can't weld when it's hot outside. In the summer, I get up at dawn, and get in a couple of hours before it gets warm when I have a project going on. I don't miss it one bit. If you're good, you're in demand, and usually get to work with the big heavy dirty stuff. Just like the story says. I used to like to stand back from a finished test weld on 1" vertical travel up,

All that welding on clamps and dogs, and hammering wedges to get the plates to match, and usually inside something that made it 10x louder, and poorly ventilated to boot.

Those were the good old days. No wonder we drank so much.

Steve

I was reading a welding trade rag that comes in the mail . It seems all issues carry the common theme that it's getting hard to find welders. There was one article about some actor involved in a program for kids called "nuts, bolts, and thingamajigs" intended to help introduce modern kids to the concept of actually doing something. Another article stated that the free welding schools in New Orleans are way under-used, mostly because there is nowhere to live near the schools. Another said a company that builds and repairs oil platforms in the same region just imported about 300 Paki or Indian welders under temporary work visas. Let them have it.

I enjoy welding, it's a fun past time, and I seldom spend more than a few hours a week at work actually making sparks. No way I want to weld plate all day, every day.

Hear, Hear! I'm a government welder in a west coast navy yard- I love welding, but I certainly do not love some of the spaces I've had to weld in!

I got sick and tired of sick and tired people, so I jumped from the medical field into the Shipfitter Helper position at a navy yard, then into the Welding Apprenticeship program. I'm not out of it yet, but I've passed all my academics, and after welding and burning for three years now, all I have left is pipe school. Like I said earlier- I love welding, but not all the situations I'm put in. Being able to stand pierside and watch a Lord-only-knows how expensive SSGN (reconfigured trident submarine) head out for seatrials, knowing that you welded hull patches, missile tubes, fire control foundations, nuclear reactor components and silverware trays all in preparation for this day. 200 plus men give their lives into your hands because of your skill putting their boat back together. Getting and then using my subsafe quals always make me remember just how important our work is.

Only one person passed away on the USS San Francisco. Think about it.

Take ownership and pride in your craftsmanship. Ultimately, that little weld you put somewhere may make the difference between life or death for someone 30 years from now.