-> school course on welding, and then listen. Don't resist. Just listen.
-> If someone grabs your hand in the middle of a weld and says, "hold
-> your hand at this angle and go at this speed," do it. Don't be a
-> know-it-all,
That was an attitude I developed young and it took me a long time to
break it. I'd also try to bullshit my way out when I'd trap myself,
too. After I got older I realized how foolish it was.
I once had an employer who was very upset that I was taking longer than
he thought I should to fix a complex network malfunction.
He said, "I thought you were supposed to be an expert at this?"
I said, "I am, but if I knew everything, you'd be paying me a whole lot
more money."
-> that's how such skills are preserved in an age of diminishing public
-> school interest in the trades. If you keep on learning, twenty or
-> thirty years from now, someone is going to say to you, "uh, could you
-> come down to the school and give a demonstration on welding?" <smile>
As fewer and fewer people have basic metalworking skills, such skills
become more valuable. There is only one welding shop in my town now.
You used to be able to take small jobs anywhere and have them done for a
few bucks. Now it costs you $20 for the only guy in town to strike an
arc - $50 if he uses TIG.
I don't really blame the guy, but it was a big factor in me learning to
weld. The MIG is like a bright smoky hot glue gun; I use it for things
I would never have imagined paying to have welded, like my killer
triangulated frame that supports a window air conditioner. <grin>
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