Practise practise practise

[IrishDave]

I sometimes wonder if this sort of work is worth putting the hours into

But I will of course keep at it because there's nothing better to do may as well do something with spare time

 

[NickyEng]

Your'e doing really well Dave. I have seen qualified welders leave much much worse work behind than that. I have worked on plenty of work boats where some of the welding was atrocious and carried out by fully qualified guys

 

[MichaelV]

Hello Dave

I hope you don't end up joining the steady flow of folk leaving NI - we could really do with people staying about and helping make something of this wee place. Mind you, I was away for quite a few years, so completely understand the desire to travel and develop yourself. Noting this thread, and your other one concerning work abroad, could I suggest you have a go at getting a training place in some of the North's BCSA-registered structural fabricators? In that environment you stand a better chance, perhaps, of getting the kind of training and on-the-job experience that would serve you well, should you decide to travel farther afield. These firms would expose you to MAG and MMA, and in come instances FCAW, all within the context of "CE" (BS EN 1090). As some of the older hands here have pointed out, there's a lot to be said for learning and seeing how welding fits within the wider scheme of fabrication, manufacturing and construction.

For reference, this link should bring up a list of NI BCSA members:
https://www.steelconstruction.org/d...search-submit=Search&cat[]=&posts-per-page=10

As an alternative, you could check out Terex and some of the other established quarrying/screening machinery manufacturers down in Co. Tyrone. They too may give you the kind of setting that may help.

Keep up the hard work and you'll not go far wrong.

Cheers
Michael

 

[IrishDave]

Cheers lads a bit of motivation goes a long way

@micheal I was actually having a chat with my uncle tonight and he has put my name out to guys who do structural work to see if they have anything for me but I will check out your link. I mean I love our wee country an all but at the same time I don't want to be kicking myself on down the line at missed opportunities off shore

 

[MichaelV]

Cheers lads a bit of motivation goes a long way

@micheal I was actually having a chat with my uncle tonight and he has put my name out to guys who do structural work to see if they have anything for me but I will check out your link. I mean I love our wee country an all but at the same time I don't want to be kicking myself on down the line at missed opportunities off shore

Good stuff, Dave - Aye, I know exactly what you mean. You have the advantage of youth, though!
One thing - I am biased for various reasons, but I would urge you to seek out the structural professionals; i.e. BCSA member firms who are proper structural practitioners and can give you authentic training and guidance. It's a somewhat controversial point, perhaps, but you'll be better served by learning within such a company, if you do head off to Canada, Oz or wherever.
M

 

[IrishDave]

I'm starting to realize the training is with the firms and not the school I'm more or less being bluffed through it at the moment which isn't a good sign for the future of the industry

 

[Richard.]

more or less being bluffed through it at the moment which isn't a good sign for the future of the industry

No one has met or knows your tutor on here. Don't go away thinking your been taught a bag of s##te. Your getting on fine. It's easy to tell you where your going wrong, I can do that via the keyboard and there are far better mma welders here than me. Just continue learning, seek a few good pointers from here and school and have fun with it.
(Oh and keep the Piccys coming)

 

[MichaelV]

Dave - in the comment above, @Richard. makes wise points. As with lots of disciplines, both practical and academic, your teacher is out to give you a basis on which to learn, and in time you add in bits for yourself. That process takes time, and there's often a bit of to and fro. Stick with it, cultivate an interest in the theoretical aspects too, and the whole thing will 'click'. All the better if you can combine the work at school with some really good experience at the coal face.

Keep 'er lit
M

 

[IrishDave]

Will do guys more pics through the week hopefully if I get a chance

Take care

 

[Kent]

I'm starting to realize the training is with the firms and not the school I'm more or less being bluffed through it at the moment which isn't a good sign for the future of the industry

Its always been that way. These days a lot of training is a tick box exercise, I think what you seek is that in work place mentor? you know the sort right, if there isn't one present at your firm then keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities were one might exist in future years.
It can still be done without that mentor but its a darn site harder and requires a great deal of self input over and above the course you might be on
Don't get it into your head your wasting your time were you are now. if your getting paid and have access to some training it is a step on the ladder, just remember there are a lot of steps and taking three at a time can lead to a fall

Ok I am not impressed by your average college or fe trainer today but there was more than a fair share of rubbish when I was training also in the eighties. My wife was a director of a large training company specialising in engineering for a number of years and is now a vp of a large technical college so I know a little of the challenges these orgs themselves face and they are vast as regards what they can afford to pay and how difficult it is to access funding or find half way decent guys. They actually have a guy teaching welding (just a night school city and guilds thing) he has never worked as a welder and was just the best student from a previous cohort. Meanwhile they had an agency guy in who was doing janitorial type work who genuinely was an ex-welder, tests expired and too long in the tooth but red tape prevented him being take

I am 47 years old and the training was complete and utter pants when I started but I was lucky that I caught the tail end of some proper guys who mentored me in work. Some of the older ones did a 7 year apprenticeship and had to pay the employer for their first year! the two most knowledgeable were brothers in their 80s, don't think they had a certificate to their names

stick at it

 

[WorkshopChris]

Without generalising i think most training now is based on teaching only the minimum required to pass. Rather than a broad background to the subject.

 

[IrishDave]

So I arrived to work earlier this morning and thought to myself what better time to do some practice pieces so I prepped some 40x8 and tacked it in an x shape...

The first pic is a result to good steel prep also a result of bad ppe prep ie a dirty filter screen :/

So I accepted my mistake replaced the screen and took to the other side. I also watched a few of chucke2009's videos last night on vertical up and overhead and I am more than happy with the results I got combining his tips with the tips you guys gave also

1st pic bad v up stringer
2nd good v up stringer
3rd decent v up weave
4th fair overhead due to awkward position
5th better overhead due to making it more easy for myself

 

[Richard.]

The second is the best IMO given she's a vertical it's not bad at all. But you've spoilt it with the big weave. A 3 run filet would of been nicer to see.

 

[Kent]

As above and quit weaving
You say " after I made it easier " that's mostly the trick
Finding a Good way to prop, a dry run a few changes ofpositioning etc. Even hanging you're arm from a loop of welding cable or getting a bit higher up with your body on a v up loads of tricks

 

[IrishDave]

The second is the best IMO given she's a vertical it's not bad at all. But you've spoilt it with the big weave. A 3 run filet would of been nicer to see.

Like that?

 

[wheresmejumper]

There is nothing wrong with a weave.its how vertical up mma is taught for a long time.it might increase the heat input,but nuclear plants apart,there aren't too many jobs where you will be requested to stringer it.
Especially when most people will struggle with undercut on the edges of a vertical stringer.that in my mind is a hell of a lot worse than a little more heat input on a weave done well.

The bottom third to almost half is excellent.not good,excellent.keep it up

 

[Richard.]

Like that?

Some practice needed but you have the gist of it.
You still weave when you split off into runs just the weave width is decreased so that you can multiple run it.

undercut on the edges of a vertical stringer.that in my mind is a hell of a lot worse than a little more heat input

Depends on the degree of either and the allowances.
If high value MP is required on charpy results Id say Either one can be as bad but your right undercut is a No no with very little allowances Usually.
I prefer to split off at the first chance I get usually with any process requiring fill. Done properly (no undercut/slag traps) it's always going to be a superior joint over a wide weave. I know weaving across wide joints is acceptable and in your line of things it's widely accepted, tested etc. my side of things is more around the wps, test results etc for which better results are generated by keeping heat input down so I tend to advise on that

 

[wheresmejumper]

Some practice needed but you have the gist of it.
You still weave when you split off into runs just the weave width is decreased so that you can multiple run it.

Depends on the degree of either and the allowances.
If high value MP is required on charpy results Id say Either one can be as bad but your right undercut is a No no with very little allowances Usually.
I prefer to split off at the first chance I get usually with any process requiring fill. Done properly (no undercut/slag traps) it's always going to be a superior joint over a wide weave. I know weaving across wide joints is acceptable and in your line of things it's widely accepted, tested etc. my side of things is more around the wps, test results etc for which better results are generated by keeping heat input down so I tend to advise on that

You mainly tig richard
i can count on my fingers the amount of times ive had to stringer cap a vertical weld
weaving is the way its done in almost all sectors of the industry with stick.
Its the way it is

 

[Richard.]

You mainly tig richard
i can count on my fingers the amount of times ive had to stringer cap a vertical weld
weaving is the way its done in almost all sectors of the industry with stick.
Its the way it is

Not stringers John just multiple runs. Capping off with 1 slow wide weave isn't going to be as sounder joint as capping off with 2 smaller weaves. I do this sort of stuff day in day out and have lots of results to show for it. I'm not saying run 3 or 4 thin stringers up it to cap off but reduce the weave size. Rod diameter is plenty wide enough. I don't just tig weld in my job (wish I did) it's just my strongest suit and favourite method to adopt for my private jobs.

 

[wheresmejumper]

You better get onto the colleges and training institutions and tell them theyre doing it wrong