Thread: old guy student?!?

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well
i decided to further my education by attending CNM this fall.
i want to learn to be a welder.

havent gone to school in 31 years.
this oughta be interesting....

this time i wont be chasing skirts pounding booze and generally getting loaded.
so mebbe THIS time i'll learn sumpin?

my motivation is twofold
knowledge is a good thing at any age
and most importantly
i got tired of paying someone a wage that is 10 times what i make.
to do something i know i am capable of doing myself

Originally Posted by billy zz

my motivation is twofold
knowledge is a good thing at any age
and most importantly
i got tired of paying someone a wage that is 10 times what i make.
to do something i know i am capable of doing myself

Billy,
I predict that you will love the new skill, and find a whole new level of enjoyment "gluing" metal together! I'm no welder, but I try and I'm getting better slowly, but metal work is just plain fun!

I felt the same way. Everytime I got into something that required welding, I called the mobile welder down the road. Got tired of supporting his family, so I went to the local community college at about age 40 and took up stick, MIG, cutting. Purchased a Lincoln 200 amp MIG and a cutting outfit and never looked back. Even at my advanced age today, I would love to learn TIG. I'm not sure that I have the eye/hand coordination to make pretty little rows of dimes, but I'd like to try. As far as welding goes, I don't think there is anything quite as pretty as TIG done right.

My late, great friend, Glen Neyenhuis used to talk with me about metal being alive. If you work with it long enough, you'll understand what he meant. There's nothing quite as sweet as massaging something of value from a rack of raw material.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

I felt the same way. Everytime I got into something that required welding, I called the mobile welder down the road. Got tired of supporting his family, so I went to the local community college at about age 40 and took up stick, MIG, cutting. Purchased a Lincoln 200 amp MIG and a cutting outfit and never looked back. Even at my advanced age today, I would love to learn TIG. I'm not sure that I have the eye/hand coordination to make pretty little rows of dimes, but I'd like to try. As far as welding goes, I don't think there is anything quite as pretty as TIG done right.

My late, great friend, Glen Neyenhuis used to talk with me about metal being alive. If you work with it long enough, you'll understand what he meant. There's nothing quite as sweet as massaging something of value from a rack of raw material.

hell tig not to hard if you can gas weld you can tig . if you were not so far away you could come over and i show you. it is more about time under the belt and getting in position and be come part of the machine .were i have some hard time with my fibro. some aluminum can be a bitch if full of junk .but when clean it.s fun to weld

You ain't never too old to learn new tricks. Good on ya !

Good friend of mine celebrated his 75th birthday, and receiving his bachelor's degree on the same day last spring!!!!! Never too old for school!!!!!

Good for you welding, you will be amazed just how many things you will be able to make and repair. I say it is the best tool and most versatile tool I have. I'd love to learn TIG and agree with Pat regarding the comparison of gas welding I cannot justify the cost for my needs.

Heat is your friend, I will say in general best to buy a 220 rig cause you will need and want one. Bet my next 3 paychecks, you go the 110 route within a year you'll be looking for the 220. Best of luck and enjoy, clean surface is a key, you'll be amazed just how easy it really is.

Yep, I agree---tig welding is like gas welding but with a throttle pedal--want more, push it down harder!!!!!!!!!There's a good link that I'll find and post to a guy that posts a different video every week on tig welding

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Yep, I agree---tig welding is like gas welding but with a throttle pedal--want more, push it down harder!!!!!!!!!There's a good link that I'll find and post to a guy that posts a different video every week on tig welding

..... www.weldingtipsandtricks.com ?

Yes Pat, thats the one---also tigdepot.com for stuff

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Yes Pat, thats the one---also tigdepot.com for stuff

i still buy from the local air gas but pick up a torch setup from usa weld on Ebay

i am going to do this with one goal in mind.
to learn how to do my own welding.
i am using grants from the govt not loans to pay for this.
i am in to bad of physical shape to be a welder day in and day out. (servere spinal arthritus)
never in my life have i taken govt handouts /welfare/ssi/etc.
but if they will pay for me to go to school to learn something useful
i am all for it!

Yeah,Billy..Good onya for learning something new,to help yourself..Many others would take the governments cash and sit on their arses and do nothing.. And if you enjoy learning too,,its got to be a bonus..Would be good if everyone had the same ethics..