Re: FWIW first welding job, 2 years on

Richard Smith <null@void.com> writes:

"Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> writes:
>

"Richard Smith"  wrote in message news:m1froyjvq9.fsf@void.com...
>
Yes - I crossed the Tamar from Devon.  Very loaded issue.
>
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One Tamar bridge has a unique design:
https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/brunels-royal-albert-bridge-unveiled-in-all-its-splendour
>
The upper arch expands under load, the lower one contracts and cancels
the upper's end thrust, thus the supporting piers can be quite narrow
and the abutments curved to match the track right-of-way.

>
I pass that, the Saltash Bridge, travelling back to Devon of I go the
South-of-Dartmoor route through Plymouth.
From the road suspension bridge the 1850's Brunel railway Saltash bridge
is alongside.
>
It is a spectacular sight.
Many Brunel solutions are very special - there is a clean rationality to
the design, as best I can put it.
>
Regards,
Rich S

Done 7th week of weldign job.  It seems to be settling-down.  My
repertoire of customers is very limited, but I am refining my welding
technique and getting more efficient hence quicker.

I've had some "golden hints" - eg. for an outside-corner MIG / GMAW
joint in the horizontal-vertical position, a weave is needed bacause it
will not run stable otherwise (familiar other one is horizontal-vertical
T-fillet weld with 6010 cellulosic stick - sometimes will not run stable
"straight-run" and needs a "whipping" manipulation).  I only needed to
see it for one second for "the penny to drop".
Others similar-ish.  So, has been good.

I have contributed - this has started to happen.  I used "the bubble"
(spirit-level) on some fabrications, and found that what it cost in time
to set things off parallel at the first stage was more than made-up for
by the "ideal" time it took to fit-up and weld the rest.
Show the approach and the corrections, the owner and designer where on
the press-brake with dial-gauges, etc., and made adjustments.
ie. there is something positive going on.

Etc.

It is hard work getting back to it, for sure.

I have developed muscles to "float the torch" (GMAW "gun").
While having a guide can give the most "exhibition grade" welds,
practically for production "floating the torch" has you quickly moving
along the welds presented in-line on your trestles.
It is good keeping a consistent weld when the "harness" (tube for the
wire, gas, control-cables, etc.) has found something to drag on mid-run
and you continue to do an invariant run.  Etc.

Best wishes