Hello - I've been viewing forum posts for a while, so I thought it was about time I signed up and try to make (hopefully) some sort of useful contribution as payback for all that I've learned here.
I've been around welding for as long as I can remember. My dad would scratch-build almost everything he needed or wanted (buildings, race cars, farm equipment, trailers, loading shovels from army-surplus parts, fences, railings, gates, etc.) using his trusty Oxford stick welder or use oxy/acetylene for sheet metalwork. Many hours of my youth were spent holding a metal plate in place with the tip of a screwdriver while dad 'got a tack on it'. Or, being on fireman duty with a washing up liquid bottle filled with water - ready to douse any combustible material likely to ignite!
The paybacks were worth it though, he was always willing to weld up a rusty heap to get it through it's next MOT. Always beautifully seam welded using oxy/ac - no matter how worthless or hopeless the vehicle was. He helped me restore my first car and helped with countless other projects. Dad enjoyed welding - but he never taught any of us how to - seemed like he'd just rather do it himself. I've since taught myself how to use a mig welder (by trial and error - still mostly error!) Dad never ever tried a mig or tig welder, he appreciated what they could do, but never had a desire to use one.
Anyway - If anyone has kept reading this far you (and me) are probably wondering where I'm going with all this... Well, my dad passed away last year - he was a good age, hadn't wanted for anything in his later years and I saw him regularly until the end. Inevitable, yes, but I still miss him and never more than when I have a question about something, anything involving construction, fabricating, engineering etc. His depth and breadth of knowledge was exceptional.
This forum is packed full of folks who's creativity, passion and determination are not unlike my father's and that is why I decided to make this post here. I have many projects of my own on the go - rusty Land Rovers, driveway gates and other welding/fab jobs. I'm very far from being any sort of expert - I'm happy if I can keep on the right side of the competence/incompetence border. Hopefully I'll have the courage to share some of my projects, I'd certainly be grateful to this brilliant community for any advice or feedback.
Cheers
I've been around welding for as long as I can remember. My dad would scratch-build almost everything he needed or wanted (buildings, race cars, farm equipment, trailers, loading shovels from army-surplus parts, fences, railings, gates, etc.) using his trusty Oxford stick welder or use oxy/acetylene for sheet metalwork. Many hours of my youth were spent holding a metal plate in place with the tip of a screwdriver while dad 'got a tack on it'. Or, being on fireman duty with a washing up liquid bottle filled with water - ready to douse any combustible material likely to ignite!
The paybacks were worth it though, he was always willing to weld up a rusty heap to get it through it's next MOT. Always beautifully seam welded using oxy/ac - no matter how worthless or hopeless the vehicle was. He helped me restore my first car and helped with countless other projects. Dad enjoyed welding - but he never taught any of us how to - seemed like he'd just rather do it himself. I've since taught myself how to use a mig welder (by trial and error - still mostly error!) Dad never ever tried a mig or tig welder, he appreciated what they could do, but never had a desire to use one.
Anyway - If anyone has kept reading this far you (and me) are probably wondering where I'm going with all this... Well, my dad passed away last year - he was a good age, hadn't wanted for anything in his later years and I saw him regularly until the end. Inevitable, yes, but I still miss him and never more than when I have a question about something, anything involving construction, fabricating, engineering etc. His depth and breadth of knowledge was exceptional.
This forum is packed full of folks who's creativity, passion and determination are not unlike my father's and that is why I decided to make this post here. I have many projects of my own on the go - rusty Land Rovers, driveway gates and other welding/fab jobs. I'm very far from being any sort of expert - I'm happy if I can keep on the right side of the competence/incompetence border. Hopefully I'll have the courage to share some of my projects, I'd certainly be grateful to this brilliant community for any advice or feedback.
Cheers
