BBQ Smoker

My new project in welding class is a double barrel smoker. The meat will go in the top barrel. While the fire and heat is in the lower barrel. Most smokers can be bought for hundreds og dollars. This home made smoker will cost less then  one hundred and fifty dollars. Most of the parts i will be able to find around the house or have donated.

Grandma!

Sometimes you lose very special people in your life. You can always rely on good memories to comfort you and you know that they will always be with you. In this case I lost my Grandma. Before she died we always talked about my welding and she always told me to follow my dreams. Well Grandma I am going to follow them and I'm so thankful for all your wonderful wisdom and advise. I love you Grandma.

Welding Competition

 On Febuary 26 I will be in Tulsa Oklahoma participating in a welding competition. This competition give me a chance to win a full ride to Tulsa Welding School. No matter what if I go and welding something and get dea last I will still get 500 dollars towards school. I need to start practicing. It's going to take alot of hard work and alot of patients but I know I can do well. Wish me luck!

Plasma torch

Many times signs are made from metal. I always wondered how they could cut such detailed pieces. The other day I learned exactly how to do that. At the courses I'm taking there is an automatic plasma torch, it will cut anything out. If you have a picture that you want on some metal this is the tool to use. I was so amazed by how easy it is. This tool is awesome.

College Choices

Man am I at a confusing point in my life. I'm sure it’s known that I want to be a welder but I can't figure out where I want to go to school. I'm currently taking classes at MCC, which have taught me a lot I should say. After talking to my Ag teacher I've decided I need to look into what MCC and other Schools have to offer. MCC is affordable and I can get all my welding certificates that I need, this will take three years to complete, keeping in mind I won't get the college experience. I've also checked into the Tulsa Welding School which focuses on welding and welding only. My cousin went there and came back an amazing welder. They have a seven month program that will give me all my certificates. They also have a fourteen month program which will give me all the welding certificates plus I will be certified in Non-destructive testing (weld inspector). The Tulsa Welding School sounds like a much better choice but its more expensive and a long ways from home. WHAT SHOULD I DO!!!

Different Electrodes

This blog is adding to my last post. A couple weeks ago I was having trouble with my T-welds and finally I got it figured out. My electrode angle was completely wrong and I was moving way to fast. So I got my welds looking great and all the sudden my instructor changed electrodes on me. This made my welds look bad again because the new electrodes were a cheaper brand and made poorly. What are some cheep electrodes that work well?

Undercut

I've been working on my T-welds at my college classes and I'm having a really hard time trying to not undercut my metal. The teacher has done many demonstrations and I still cannot get it right. After watching the teacher do it I try to reenact what he does but it still looks bad. I want to get a second opinion on how to fix this problem so if anyone has any advice please let me know.