Old eyes...

[slim_boy_fat]

I would like to thank all who contributed. It looks Like my enthusiasm is writing cheques that my skill level can not honour.
Having burned 20kg of rods I started to make headway but I am now upsetting the neighbours with the grinding and chipping.
So I am giving up on this dream, this getting old is really starting to make me feel more useless as each day passes.
Thanks again

Never give up, persevere and one day it'll 'click'.

 

[Ed.]

back to the basics ,,, put the phone book , if you have one or a bible ,,, or the back of a medicine bottle etc etc etc , where you weld ,, set your self up in the position you would be when welding no mask and normal lighting..
then ask your self ,,,, honestly ,,,, can you read the print.
if you can , then its lighting and mask , but
if you cant ,,,, thats the problem you need to sort out first you need to be able to see it to weld it well, most folk can aim a mig roughly where the joint should be , and get by ok , but its not the same as actually being able to see well what your working on.
not trying to be smart , but a lot of folk miss the basic bit out and start throwing money to solve the wrong issue.

Very sensible advice!

 

[Myles1970]

I would like to thank all who contributed. It looks Like my enthusiasm is writing cheques that my skill level can not honour.
Having burned 20kg of rods I started to make headway but I am now upsetting the neighbours with the grinding and chipping.
So I am giving up on this dream, this getting old is really starting to make me feel more useless as each day passes.
Thanks again

It would be a shame to give up so soon after making progress, but I understand how stick welding can impact on those around you with the chipping hammer & smoke. Perhaps a compromise could be reached whereby you limit your welding/grinding endeavors to certain times of the day?

 

[tom2207]

I would like to thank all who contributed. It looks Like my enthusiasm is writing cheques that my skill level can not honour.
Having burned 20kg of rods I started to make headway but I am now upsetting the neighbours with the grinding and chipping.
So I am giving up on this dream, this getting old is really starting to make me feel more useless as each day passes.
Thanks again

You dont stop doing things because you get old ,,,,,

you get old because you stop doing things .

 

[Cobbler]

At 60, 662MFG, you are just a boy, I’m 72 & there are many on here older than me! There was a while back someone from the States that said he was 80 odd, learning to weld & the person teaching him was if I recall 88. So as Tom says, don’t stop get stuck in & have fun!

 

[662MFG]

Thanks guys, just a bit depressed at the moment. I used to race motorbikes up to getting into my fifties but I can not have anymore concussion from the crashes. There was a saying "the older I get the faster I was...". Because it is a long time since I welded I think I must think I was better than my memory tells me. So I have gone and got some mig gas and I am gonna start from my begining in welding and do what I am familiar with. If I still cant get it because I can not see then I will have my eyes tested again. And If I can not see with new glasses Then I will have to chalk up on getting a job in welding and get a job as a referee(spectators always say they are blind).

 

[Cobbler]

That’s it, don’t give up. Not being able to see is quite a usual problem, my prescription glasses are bifocals, I can’t weld in them, I resort to cheap readers from Wilco. With the bifocals I’m looking through the wrong bit, the other thing that causes problems is the light behind you & the light is reflecting on the inside of the mask, so move the light & a dark cloth over the back of your head to cut out the light. All can be overcome!

 

[tom2207]

Thanks guys, just a bit depressed at the moment. I used to race motorbikes up to getting into my fifties but I can not have anymore concussion from the crashes. There was a saying "the older I get the faster I was...". Because it is a long time since I welded I think I must think I was better than my memory tells me. So I have gone and got some mig gas and I am gonna start from my begining in welding and do what I am familiar with. If I still cant get it because I can not see then I will have my eyes tested again. And If I can not see with new glasses Then I will have to chalk up on getting a job in welding and get a job as a referee(spectators always say they are blind).

With a pair of '' task specific '' glasses you will be flying ,, welding is mostly practice and patience ,,, as I keep telling people , if it was easy it wouldnt be a five year apprenticeship , its about enjoying it along the way , keep your first few welds , hang them up on a wall or whatever ,, in five years time you will look at them and giggle ,,,,