On Jun 17, 7:39*am, wright1902glider wrote:
.... Once you get a good puddle
going in steel of this size, you can sort of zip the joint closed.
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Waytago, Harry!

It matters now what your particular 'secret' may be, once you have
mastered whatever it may be, the joint does indeed seem to 'zip..'
itself closed. In truth, the 'secret' differs for every one of us.
We practice and practice, each time mastering a new part of the
'secret' until the day comes when the Magic Zipper appears, leaving us
grateful and a bit cautious... could it REALLY be that easy?

The interesting thing here is that we keep insisting to ourselves that
the 'secret' is one of the many things you've mention... Torch angle,
torch motion, how the filler-rod is added and how often, the motion of
the torch... even the cooking of our n-th pair of welding gloves.

It all combines -- finally -- into a good weld that progresses
smoothly along the joint that is such a delight that we tend to
overlook the hours of PRACTICE that got us here. This is not to
denigrate your perception but to endorse it. For each of us have done
the same.

And that's the message I hope others will carry away: That each of us
have learned to weld. After mastering a few secrets, of course.
Which means YOU can learn to weld! And should. Once learned it is a
skill not easily forgotten.

-R.S.Hoover