Victory is mine!
Boom!
Apparently, it pays to weld angry. That is what a successful Direct Overhead weld bend test looks like when you’re done.
As the root bend coupon was being pushed through, my instructor was looking at it and said “it looks like we’re going to have to measure this one too.” So I got ready to be disappointed. When it dropped out of the bending machine, he snatched it up and said “nope, no to need to measure it.” without a measure of emotion on his face, and I was feeling like shit. He flipped it over and handed it to me. As I flipped it over to look at it, he said “there is no way that is close to 1/8.”
Because it was 1/32.
Had the same on the face bend coupon, but got a compliment on the blending waves you can still sort of see.
So, practice and get another test plate ready for a Vertical test on Monday. The instructor and I went through the procedures for a successful test today and then I knocked a practice plate out of the park, so I’m feeling confident.
Tuesday will be Vertical bending test day and then Aluminum TIG welding. After that will be Stainless Steel TIG. Then, Dual Shield and MIG certification tests. The quarter is over on December 11th, so not a moment to waste. I’ll likely be going in on Saturdays from here on out to get ready.
How does a welder drink to celebrate? He goes on a bender!
ba-da-boom!
How does the welding instructor inspect a weld? With his beady little eyes!
ba-da-bing!
Why did the welder stay up all night? He was wired!
ba-da-(whack)!
OK, OK, I’m stopping already… shish. No respect, I tell ya’…
You made my day …………..
I assume that you have to pay for all this steel you are getting hot & bothered with, but I’m curious, what happens to it when done? Do you get to at least take it in for scrap and get a couple of bucks back?
By the way – now that you are using industrial supplies, I’m sure you’ll be happy to see the EPA is planning on regulating….
argon.
Yup, I thought you’d be thrilled.
Please keep doing these updates. I’m from the self-taught ‘the bigger the glob, the better the job’ school of farm machinery welding and the subtleties of actual professional welding are a treat to see.
I’m really curious to hear about the steel vs aluminum vs stainless tests.
Everyone thinks they’re a comedian, Rolf.
Why are welders like hookers? Because they’re always screaming for more rod, more heat and more pay.
Mad, the fees for this class are huge, and that pays for the steel. Also, we recycle certain pieces until they are down to next to nothing, and after that, they go into a 6cu.yd. recycle bin that gets picked up by the smelter and turned into new steel, which we buy from them. They give us some piddling amount like $0.06 lb pound and we pay $0.40 lb for the hot rolled stuff.
Will do, guy. It should be interesting.
I feel your pain. I was just informed at work today that next week I get to test for certification on 12ga. sheet (both primered and galvanized) using .035 hardwire.
Looking at the prepped coupons…they’re *NOTHING* like what I actually weld in production. :-/
Well done,looks very cool.
Phs, we took our sheet metal MIG test on 16ga sheet w/.035. Lap, butt, corner and tee.
Lots of drag on the flat and overhead, and lots of downhill on the vertical. Fastest shit I ever welded until I got to aluminum MIG.
Thanks Phil. Every welding course I’ve ever looked at was pretty expensive, so I figured it was something like that.
At least you are all getting your money’s worth out of it & it’s all getting recycled.
Congratulations!