On 19 Aug 2005 06:13:21 -0700, "mhorowit" wrote:

A friend lent me an OA rig so I could learn to weld. Lots of good
material in the library and on the NGs. But all that welding is done on
a welding bench, at a comfortable height. Apparently one does not have
to get near an airframe to get a certificate to weld 4130 with OA.

How does a welder learn how to weld on a built and covered fuselage
(say on fabric/steel)? How does he know how much fabric has to be
removed to insure his heating doesn't screw up glue adhesion? How does
he learn how to protect the nitrate from going up in flames from
sparks? How does he learn the tricks to weld all around a splice
without standing on his head or laying on his back?
-
Mike

Mike
I think you're approaching this the wrong way.
welding requires some practise, quite some practise, to develop the
fluency and quality of weld.
like you I was repairing a vintage fuselage.
I did all the preparation work myself and then enlisted the services
of a certified and experienced aircraft welder.
he did a truely stirling job of the welding ...but only after telling
me to **** off out of the hangar because my watching him was making
him nervous :-)

best decision I made actually was getting that welder in. he bought
with him 30 years of practical hands on experience, something that I
could have achieved myself of course, but in another 26 years.

focus on finishing a truely quality restoration, not on doing it all
yourself. use other peoples expertise as well.

ymmv
Stealth Pilot