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Mar. 24th, 2009
First classes after Spring Break... I worked on the weld I'd been working on for three classes already, the Vertical Open Butt weld in aluminum. I had no problem making a beautiful weld on the front, but the rear end would not fuse no matter what I did.
I finally asked advice of one of the instructor guys who usually gives me good advice, (who also isn't frequently around)... and he suggested fastening a piece of stainless to the back end as a shield.
So I fabricated a somewhat complicated jig to hold the weld in place, snug up against a piece of stainless steel.
After that, I got the weld pretty quickly. It's still a tough one, always on the verge of getting out of your control, but I got it.
Stupidly, it's only worth 10 points toward my score, and it's one of the hardest welds on our list.
In fact, I found out after I completed the weld that the class' instructor had told everyone but me that we don't actually have to do that weld, since it's too hard.
Fuck it, man. At least I have the skills now!
I got da skills to pay da bills.
I finally asked advice of one of the instructor guys who usually gives me good advice, (who also isn't frequently around)... and he suggested fastening a piece of stainless to the back end as a shield.
So I fabricated a somewhat complicated jig to hold the weld in place, snug up against a piece of stainless steel.
After that, I got the weld pretty quickly. It's still a tough one, always on the verge of getting out of your control, but I got it.
Stupidly, it's only worth 10 points toward my score, and it's one of the hardest welds on our list.
In fact, I found out after I completed the weld that the class' instructor had told everyone but me that we don't actually have to do that weld, since it's too hard.
Fuck it, man. At least I have the skills now!
I got da skills to pay da bills.