Introducing Kids To Welding
Whether it’s a musical instrument, baseball, welding or another activity that you’re passionate about, passing on your enthusiasm and knowledge of your hobbies can be one of the greatest joys in being a parent.
It’s tempting to begin introducing children to our interests from the moment they’re born — think jerseys from a favorite sports team or cribs shaped like miniature stock cars — but when it comes to welding, a little caution is probably well advised.
Melting metal with electricity is a little different than handing little Johnny a pair of drum sticks, and even if safety weren’t an issue, welding requires a degree of manual dexterity that doesn’t come easily to children.
But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t and won’t try.
If you have children, when did you begin introducing them to welding? If your parents welded, at what point did they introduce you to it? How did you know your kids were ready to try their hands at welding, and what was their initial reaction?
Please take a moment to share your experiences passing on the welding torch (pun intended) to your children by posting a comment below.
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July 8th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Well my Dad has never really introduced me to welding ever…
But when I was about 6 years old I found his old old welding helm from like the 1980s and would play spaceman in it.
When I got into Highschool I started welding and I learned very fast. (SMAW)
He told me that he had CWB tickets for everything and I was like wow….
So when I was about 18 he told me everything I needed to know about welding, different stick sizes, ect, how its important to keep your rods dry.
Now I have CWB for Flat and Horizontal (Cwb = Canadian Welding Bureau)
And going to Barrie Ontario for Private welding college.
Just remember its never too late to teach your kids anything about welding :).
July 9th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
i am the only tradesman in my family, but my friends father first handed me a stinger at the ripe old age of 7 and after being thrown out of school at 15 i picked up welding as a career now i am 20 i am a journeyman welder with a CWB stick all position and my “B” pressure
July 10th, 2008 at 6:55 am
I was about 7/8 when dad brought home a miller 180 ac/dc for the farm and his side business. Before he would let me use real welding rod…I had to burn a few coathangers first. Buy the time I was 9/10 I was a fare mild steel welder. I kept it up in my teens and when I went into the Navy they put me right into Steelworker class. I got to use these skills in Vietnam. Miller Electric and Miller welders have been part of my entire life. I belive welding is as much an art as it is a skill. A good welder will always try to make the next weld just that much better.
July 13th, 2008 at 6:43 am
I first introduced my son Doug to welding when he was 12. I would be working in the garage and he would want to help on a one person job, did not want to discourage him. I would give him the welder and some 6013’s and he could entertain himself for hours.
I had a floor to replace in a garbage truck and needed help. I asked him to go along and he agreed. I am proud of him and and his ambition, go out and find a 14 year old who will work inside a garbage truck on Sunday.
He was concerned his welds might not be the best looking, I told him all it had to do was hold, because there would not be any inspectors checking his work!
I figure if he will work inside a garbage truck, he will always be able to support himself somehow.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Well,
My Father introduced me to welding ( O/A ) when I was about 8 or so, I built up my own torch set while I was in middle school with my own set of small tanks and thats where it started. Worked mostly on aircraft type parts, bicycles, motorcyclesm and that kind of thing. Now I return the favor by teaching kids how to weld. Believe it or not I know an 8 year old girl that does the most beautiful, and technicaly perfect welds on steel sheet I have ever seen, with the torch of course. Ive known young people that weld for the sake of welding, and others that weld to accomplish a project. It seems today that everyone wants something instantly, but that mentality doesnt fit with something like say….restoring an antique motorcycle. Maybe as a society we need to slow down, not be so concerned with instant gratification, but take pride in all the little parts of a big project. Funny thing, that 8 year old girl…..hates video games…hmmmm.