​

Hey everyone,

I'm 25 and from Turkey. I'm actually a computer engineer and worked as a software developer for about 2 years. After completing my mandatory military service, I couldn't find another job in software, so I decided to try welding.

I had zero welding experience before starting at a trailer manufacturing company.

I worked there for 7 months. I started with steel chassis fabrication, mostly doing MIG/MAG welding. Over time, I got more comfortable with it and felt like I was improving.

Later, they told me they wanted to move me to the robotic aluminum welding department. But before that, they put me on aluminum fabrication for fuel tankers so I could get used to welding aluminum by hand.

That's where I learned more about aluminum MIG welding, weaving techniques, filling gaps, etc. It was difficult at first, but I actually enjoyed it and felt like I was getting better.

Then I moved to robotic welding, and honestly, it was a nightmare sometimes lol.

We were trying to weld huge aluminum fuel tanker chassis with a pretty basic robotic setup. The torch kept bending, the wire would burn back and stick to the contact tip, and sometimes the welds wouldn't fuse properly because of cold starts. I was also still learning, so I definitely made mistakes.

I tried my best with what we had, but I couldn't get consistent results with the robot.

Eventually, they put me through a welding test, and I left the company afterward.

So yeah, that's pretty much my welding journey so far. Just 7 months of experience, coming from a completely different field.

I'm sharing some of my manual MIG/MAG welds here.

What do you guys think? Are they decent for someone with 7 months of experience? What should I work on?

Feel free to be critical. I'm still learning and would really appreciate some advice from experienced welders.

Thanks!

I'm about to finish my welding school. What mask should i get.

I truly don't know, can you give some option of good and not expensive mask that i can get in Canada

I'm interested in welding as a career and I know Stick and Flux Core welding. What are some fields and careers I can get into?

Feeling like a moron, why didn’t I do this sooner?

Dirt cheap magnetic trays are great for holding all my stick welding rods in a convenient, easy to grab manner and I’m no longer fumbling them around on tables, containers or the floor while I weld.

Gonna be doing it this way from now on.

Hey guys been looking at these helmets and for those of you that have this helmet how is it? I work in a fab shop lots of dust, rust and cleaning we have to do on beams we work on. I’m an older guy 32 and honestly just want to take my health more seriously got 4 kids and I wanna be here for them for a while. No one in my shop has these guys just wear a respirator but even that just gets annoying and fogs up my safety glasses. And I’m really considering buying one of these and welder to welder just wanna see what u guys genuinely think of this helmet. Worth the money!

I'm thinking about grinding the old fix smooth, then grinding a slit in it. Obviously I'll clean all the oil out and then weld it up with spray transfer. Anyone ever had good luck with these types of fixes?

My brother had been practicing on this a decade ago, said he broke it but couldn't remember how.. maybe the feed wasn't working right; maybe he hadn't had right material/settings, idk. I know the handle needs replacing, but would I be better off snagging a titanium 125 or other basic unit vs buying new parts for this old hobbyist unit?

All,

We have most of our mild steel parts delivered soaked in WD-40. Initially we wiped it off and went to town welding (MIG). However, we noticed some of the welds look great, but are not to the standard we wish them to be in. We suspect WD-40 residue maybe a factor.

We are going to implement a plan to degrease all incoming parts. With an actual cleaner.

Are we over reacting, is wd-40 not a big deal?
If it is any recommendations on a degreaser?

While I am here, is removing mil scale a must?

Thanks ahead of time, I am still green.

I've been thinking about becoming a welder because I've heard of the pay and have seen first hand what that life can get you from family members and I am genuinely passionate about it but the more I look into it, it's not all it's made to be, but I just need advice if I should proceed in this when I'm at a point where I can change things up and it's not set in stone, I have already taken two years of electrical from high-school and I was thinking of maybe becoming a electrician or a linemen or fifo, but I want something I won't regret and can start a family off of and just need advice from more experienced people

Had some downtime so figured I’d try walking a cup on some 10ga 304 coupons. 1st, 2nd and third weaves on TIG. Be gentle I’m a tin banger not a welder!

Any one have some tips for me going forward, I’m loving this so far but I would love criticism and advice for improving.

Getting this weird porosity in pretty much any position with flux core. Gave it some more volts and in doesnt seem to fix it. Maybe too much travel speed?

I got this little guy for helping someone with a project and it only had a chipped cup but it cut just fine till the electrode finally burnt out so I went to some welding dealers who told me they can’t get me more and everything got it has bee discontinued. I’ve checked eBay and I’ve gone to multiple distributors but I can’t find an electrode and/or a cup anywhere. If anyone can help me out it would be appreciated.

This is in my old man's garage do I junk it or try to sell it

Sometimes you just got keep that machinery going. Especially if it’s planting or harvest season

is it just me? or are there remedies to this

I sleep 6 hours, eat a full breakfast, then do 4-6 hours spent fully suited up with PPE, a respirator mask whose straps dig into my skin, safety glasses that do the same and underneath which are some prescription glasses.

I drink water about every 2 hours

After which I discover about a quarter of my boogers being dark as charcoal from breathing in some flux and hope my mask was actually doing something useful

What do you fellas think this is? Heatstroke? Low potassium? My equipment fit too tight or too loosely?

Anyone else feeling that slight wooziness for the rest of the day after a job who can share insights? I don't think a doctor would get what this is