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Grahame Collins
26th Feb 2008, 07:43 PM
Hi everybody
A recent private email enquiry about welding training materials got me thinking.
As a teacher of 33 years and a welder and fabricator of even longer standing, I am not very happy with some of the content and standards of how to welding videos.

I realize many DIYers are not close to or do not have the opportunity to attend a TAFE course, so for then to buy a book or a DVD or video is the next best thing.I am considering producing the solution in DVD and CD forms.

Many training videos are dated and presented by character dressed in and a dustcoat ,white shirt and tie.That alone immediately reduces my confidence on the ability or knowledge such a presenter who,to me, is then has a role, little better than a talking head.

For a a retirement activity my interests are gravitating towards producing some welding know how CD.s and DVD's with useful training materials.

While I have know I won't have problems with the content, I don't know enough about potential markets and what the customer need or wants.

I seek feed back from contributors as to :
• What you what to learn about – stick ,Mig, oxy,tig
• The form of media you would wish to see it in
• The purchase price you would be prepared to pay

I envision a series solely for the Diy person on DVD or CD, either videos or text and photos, on Theory and practical how to for Stick ,Mig and Oxy Welding , Oxy cutting and Safety for each process.

Here is an opportunity to have an input.
I am not offering to sell anything at the moment but merely seeking information as to whether its both possible and worthwhile to proceed.

Thanks
Grahame

phelum
26th Feb 2008, 08:42 PM
Here is an opportunity to have an input.
I am not offering to sell anything at the moment but merely seeking information as to whether its both possible and worthwhile to proceed.

I would definitely be interested in a stick welding DVD at the moment because I am trying to learn this skill. I borrowed a DVD from the local library recently and it was probably one that you refer to (an old BOC production if I remember correctly).

The DVD (I concentrated on episode 2 of 4) was brief but it was great to see an arc and also how easy it was for a skilled person to lay a bead and chip the slag. Seeing it done is a wonderful boost that keeps me going when I can't do it.

I suppose the point here is that a training DVD is great but maybe only for a short time. If the DVD I borrowed had more detail (the welding shots were very brief) it would have been much better.

Geoff Dean
26th Feb 2008, 08:53 PM
I seek feed back from contributors as to :
• What you what to learn about – stick, mig
• The form of media you would wish to see it in DVD, Nothing beats moving pictures.:D
• The purchase price you would be prepared to pay Hard to say, with a book you can pick it up and flick thru before committing. DVD you take pot luck that it will be what you want.
I would be prepared to pay around $30-40. Something on the scale that you are proposing I would expect to cost a little more than that. Whether I would pay that much without sighting it is debatable.
.

Grahame Collins
26th Feb 2008, 09:06 PM
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your feedback.

The actual video close up up of the arc deposition is probably the most technically difficult and costly aspect of the welding video production. I am planning some experiments with a digital camera through an auto darkening helmet to see what is actually possible.

As you can imagine welding arcs produce mega amounts of light and it follows that the light control is a major problem in photographing or videoing the process.

We had a fair amount of success in this very forum in guiding some forum contributors who initially had little faith in their own abilities to produce good welding.This was achieved through text and diagrams and using good techniques.I believe the specialised techniques are what the how to makers fail at as they are not immersed in the trade.

I believe if I can format the content and techniques properly, would be welders (weldors for Americans) watching a presentation a few times should be enabled to gain the confidence and successful practice needed to make them competent welders.

I am open to all points of view.

Grahame

Grahame Collins
26th Feb 2008, 09:21 PM
Thank you Geoff,

Excellent feedback. I would be hoping to keep it to something around that figure but offer the consumer something quite different to what the run of the mill stuff does.

They ones I have seen in the past don.t seen to have the "fire in belly" type committent and have all the appeal of a slap in the face with a dead fish.

Over the years as a tradesman and teacher I have learned the there are little audible,visual and other signals that indicate or guide the user (if they know what to look and listen for) that a process is -or isn't - working as intended.


I incorporate things like that into my instructional presentations.Students tend to remember simple connections for a long time.

An example, I told an apprentice years ago that the sound of the oxy cutter torch ,cutting properly was like " a frog farting in a jam jar " I ran into him one day and he told me he had never forgot that description and always linked the sound to this description.Its like a memory hook.

Commercial presentations simply seem to follow what ever the text book says with out imparting genuine insights into the process.

Grahame

phelum
26th Feb 2008, 09:33 PM
The actual video close up up of the arc deposition is probably the most technically difficult and costly aspect of the welding video production.
I asked a friend who does video work about this and he said it wasn't easy and didn't know how to do it. But it really is the most valuable content for a beginner. I'm amazed how digital camcorders can alter contrast to make the entire picture viewable so if a filter could be used to stop the flare then it would be a better view of a weld operation than most people using a helmet would ever see.


I believe if I can format the content and techniques properly, would be welders (weldors for Americans) watching a presentation a few times should be enabled to gain the confidence and successful practice needed to make them competent welders.

I like the American term weldors because it solves the ambiguity we have here.

Thanks for all your threads here. I've learnt heaps from this forum.

Fossil
27th Feb 2008, 11:04 AM
Great idea Graham,

I think that you should produce the dvd in chapters covering:

Gas welding and brazing of different materials
Stick welding of different materials
Mig
Tig

I have an excellent article on the pros and cons of different TIG machines, and the whys and where falls of aluminium welding. I will scan and pass on if required.

At the beginning of each chapter the pros and cons of the method could be explained, as well as typical present day applications of the method.

After each of the processes has been dealt with, I think it would be useful to have some other chapters such as:

Material prep
Job prep
Setting out
assembly
Finishing.... yes.... grinding away all of that good work! :p
Shop and work practice Safety.

I also think that you should cover each welding processes individual safety issues at the process chapter stage, as well as the general safety chapter above.


I believe that a dvd set out in a similar fashion to how one would expect to read an informative book would be the way to go.

Perhaps you could copy the structure of a good welding book.
Is there a really good welding book available, that covers what you want to do?

Fossil
27th Feb 2008, 11:06 AM
Oh, I have another idea......

Mabey you include visuals of problems in welding, and then offer the solution.

ie: too low amperage on stick welder and the result with solution, or blowing through thin walled tube etc. Given that you will be making moving pictures, I think it would be a great opportunity to show the problems visually.

manoftalent
27th Feb 2008, 04:37 PM
yep I agree with Fossil, each method sold seperatly ...I am interested in stick ....I dont or probably wont own mig or tig, and I am led to believe the methods are similar ....what you could do on stick would probably come out a whole lot better on mig or tig work ...as for oxy ...few and far between ...I think most of the home handymen own stick ...perhaps we should start a poll on it ......see who has what ...it'll probably give you a better idea on the market and where to aim at with your tuts..good on ya anyway :2tsup:its a great idea

jmk89
27th Feb 2008, 05:19 PM
Grahame

In answer to your questions, I think that stick should be dealt with first, then mig, tig and gas.

As for format, I wonder whether it is best to start this off as a free download (perhaps using the video distribution of the WWF) of a series of videos which once they have been subject to refinement following feedback, might then be released commercially, along with written notes. To be frank, I doubt if your first few efforts would be saleable. So use them to make a saleable product, taking advantage of the ready audience you have here to give you helpful feedback.

I recently had the benefit of a friend (cousin of my FIL who had been an industrial arts teacher in SA for several years) show me how to do stick welding and then help me though the first few moments until he thought that all I needed to do was waste some steel and sticks to get my technique up to scratch).

I reckon that is what you should be aiming at - and it would be good to have a newbie being taught by a good teacher as the basis for the video. It's one thing to see someone experienced stike an arc and do a weld, but doing it yourself is another mater, and a video would be best to show both an expert and a newbie doing it, so that it becomes clear what needs to be done to get better!

I doubt that you will ever get rich doing this, but it would be a great service and might make you some pocket money!!

BobL
27th Feb 2008, 10:17 PM
Graham,

Bloody good idea!

I basically agree with the content issues forumites have already raised.

I'm probably stating the bleeding obvious here but most people will only pay hard $$ for professional level production products. The production should look invisible, ie it should not get in the way of the material VERSUS u-boob clips that really do look like a bunch of amateurs with a camcorder and one too many drinks under their belt.

Next I think a burst on meaningful OHS is sadly missing in a lot of DIY type media . I don't want to be told just to do something but why I should do it - this sticks much better with most people than - do this - WHY? - just trust me.

Something else that would be useful especially for newbies is "what do I do when I this stuff up". Basically folks want to know "can this be recovered and if so how, or should I start again"

A welding handbook or compendiun that goes with the video and with basic facts would be easier to have on hand in a shed than a DVD.

I have been watching a 10 DVD set on how to make an acoustical guitar by Chris Wynne of Thomas Lloyd Guitars. This really shows the level of professional production, OHS detail, how to fix mistakes and handbook compendium I'm talking about.

Good luck and feel free to use us a guinea pigs/beta testers. Post a few clips and we'll critique them if you like.

Groggy
27th Feb 2008, 10:37 PM
Grahame,

I'd like to see:


Welding 101 - basic theory
Welding safety;
hazards,
health risks,
protective equipment.
Introduction to various metals and which welding types are best suited to them.
Tools related to welding, their purpose and usage;
cutters
torches
grinders
etc
Stick Welding
For the home handyman
Advanced stick welding (whatever that may be!)
Mig
Oxy
Tig
Advanced techniquesFormat of DVD or .avi file would be suitable.

Cost - up to $20 per disc.

wheelinround
28th Feb 2008, 09:58 AM
:2tsup: Great concept for me its more into outside the norm.

Brazing and welding Cast Iron
types of rods etc
Allyo welding various types
Stainless Steel welding

Riley
28th Feb 2008, 12:02 PM
Grahame ,
The older course 3445 did have a fairly well thought out sequence to it.

What market? A hobbyist should start with OH&S.... measuring....soldering ...brazing...oxy...stick... tig.... mig.
With the advent of the Chinese AC/DC Tig/Sticks the progression may blurr.

I would most definitely approach Lincoln , Miller etc they are quite into education and brand recognition.

As for content , it takes 5 seconds to learn and remember torch angle etc the rest is seat time ,Its machine set up, tuning etc and visual assessment of weld faults and the diagnosis of why those faults are occurring that require a mentor .
I will think about this and give you a proper answer Grahame.

Brett

Chris Parks
28th Feb 2008, 07:19 PM
There are some very short, basic videos here...

http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/562_welding-basics.htm

Chris Parks
28th Feb 2008, 07:25 PM
TIG

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/7657_welding-tig.htm

Grahame Collins
28th Feb 2008, 08:37 PM
Chris ,

The content of many of the video / videos is precisely what I have a problem with. Take the one you gave the link for.Check out the unit on tacking.

The expert missed what I consider basic tacking procedure. That is to tack at the corners or ends of the plate or section.

Any shop I have worked in would kick my bum if I set up my tacked work in that fashion he outlined.
The error illustrates the point I made very well.

This type of thing is what these experts miss. The initial tack is set upon the central axis of the plate NEVER on the long side.On long work you can place additional tacks there but never on the sides first up.
You can control the movement across the central axis with a strong, well placed tack each end.

Here in this example, the public are duped by a label that has expert written in it.

In the same clip did you notice the Tee joint had a dog leg pressed into it. This is a really significant factor in avoiding weld pull distortion because of the direction change.

What did our expert say about it? Not a word.

Read the link to Lincoln Electric in the post I wrote on tacking .The info on weld distortion is good today as it was 70 years ago has great video that was originally the training video for the liberty ship welders.

Lots of boilermakers will remember the little cartoon figure bloke wearing his welding helmet as used in the film/video. That was a really fine piece of training material.Blokes like me can REMEMBER it 40 years later and recall that info.It is very essence of the memory hook that I refer to earlier on.

The other clips may be OK, I can't say, as I don't have time ,just at the moment to,look at them.

The point is I want to provide a unique and usefull training system for weldors. As both a industry weldor and a teacher I think I have a unique perspective into this area of interest. With me ,its a passion, not a job or just a means to make money. Of course I would not be disappointed if I were to make some money along the way.

I realize I have a bit to learn on the photography and video photography sides and that another hurdle to jump.it won't happen today or next week but I will get there by determination.

Grahame

Chris Parks
28th Feb 2008, 09:31 PM
Chris ,
The point is I want to provide a unique and usefull training system for weldors. As both a industry weldor and a teacher I think I have a unique perspective into this area of interest. With me ,its a passion, not a job or just a means to make money. Of course I would not be disappointed if I were to make some money along the way.

I realize I have a bit to learn on the photography and video photography sides and that another hurdle to jump.it won't happen today or next week but I will get there by determination.

Grahame

Be prepared to spend a lot of money doing it. Also understand that we all have different views on what is correct or not and there is always someone who will criticise what we do and as sure as god made little apples you will be criticised. I had what I reckon was the best teacher of welding I have ever had the pleasure to associate with and he acknowledged he did not have the monoploy on knowledge and that was what made him good, his attitude that even he could learn as good as he was. BTW I didn't bother watching as I stumbled across them accidently looking for a video on TIG I had previously downloaded as it was that video I originally intended to link. Unfortunately I can't find it any longer. I am still doubtful welding can be taught at arms length over the net, to me it just does not seem possible. As you know it is technically one of the most difficult crafts to learn and without hands on coaching I do not think it is possible to achieve good, mechanically strong results. Most people think as long as it looks good then the weld is good and as you know that is certainly not the case. Best of luck with your endeavours though and I will watch with interest.

Rossluck
29th Feb 2008, 04:53 PM
Well Grahame, I think that you're just the one to do it and I hope you do. The only suggestion I would make is that any videos of welding processes needs to have good vision of the welding process itself. I've looked at heaps of these videos and I've yet to come across one that shows you the welding from the strike to the end. Usually they just show a flash and then hide the actual weld with the torch or whatever. Then they show you the perfect weld that they have just finished and that we can't achieve.

People like me need to see the rate of progress of the weld and what to look for (molten pool and so on) before moving on. If we could gain a clear idea of how the welding process looks to welders, then we might improve our skills.

Good luck with it. I hope you do it. :2tsup:

Metal Head
1st Mar 2008, 11:54 AM
Hi Grahame,

I don't know if you have yet considered the actor(ress) for the part yet but I would like to throw my hat into the ring for consideration. I am a member of the actors guild and union. I'm not as good looking as Brad Pitt, Mel Gibson etc but then you don't need to be if you are wearing a welding helmet:wink:. I have burn marks on the back of my hands but they won't be seen as I will have the appropriate gloves on:wink:. My legs are my best feature but I cannot display them here as I would have to wear a welding apron:wink:. But my biggest asset is I can weld - I have been told by some admirers that my welds look so good they call it pigeon s?'t. Don't worry about my appearance and ongoing fee(s) as I will do it for nothing given you are a good mate. Maybe once we have sold over a 1000, you can give me a royalaty fee?.

You may have seen me at the recent Oscar bash in Hollywood - I was the guy cleaning the stage stairs:o.

Wishing you all the best on your progect:U.

Cheers
MH

NewLou
1st Mar 2008, 01:15 PM
Gidday Grahame!

Am keeping tabs on this project with interest! Would love too see u follow this one through ....................... Am hoping u do some stuff for the more advanced welders too!

Regards Lou :2tsup:

Grahame Collins
1st Mar 2008, 02:39 PM
Hi Grahame,

I don't know if you have yet considered the actor(ress) for the part yet but I would like to throw my hat into the ring for consideration. I am a member of the actors guild and union. I'm not as good looking as Brad Pitt, Mel Gibson etc but then you don't need to be if you are wearing a welding helmet:wink:. I have burn marks on the back of my hands but they won't be seen as I will have the appropriate gloves on:wink:. My legs are my best feature but I cannot display them here as I would have to wear a welding apron:wink:. But my biggest asset is I can weld - I have been told by some admirers that my welds look so good they call it pigeon s?'t. Don't worry about my appearance and ongoing fee(s) as I will do it for nothing given you are a good mate. Maybe once we have sold over a 1000, you can give me a royalaty fee?.

You may have seen me at the recent Oscar bash in Hollywood - I was the guy cleaning the stage stairs:o.

Wishing you all the best on your progect:U.

Cheers
MH

Sorry Metalhead
Didn't hear that!

Had my earmuffs on.

Ross
The videoing of the arc is what I think will be the most technically challenging for me.

When I trained as a Tech Teacher at the Community University of the Northern Territory we had the services of a video tech.Actually he was much more than that and had done every job in the tv station,so he understood all facets of production.

The thing I learn't from him was about trying to video the arc. Without expensive specialized equipment you can't video the arc. The camera lens alone even a CCD one, can't manage to cope with the huge amount of energy emitted as light waves from the arc.

The big welding companies (that make their own videos) may have that aspect locked up as very specialized equipment for the smaller general video producer would not be viable.

Lou,
I haven't forgotten the advanced blokes but I will have crawl before i walk.

cheers
Grahame

Pulpo
17th Mar 2008, 01:50 PM
Great idea Grahame.

I wish there were DVD's on just about any trade topic.

When I have used a MIG I find setting it up the key.

Most points have been mentioned.

Stick MIG, TIG and Oxy would all be interesting.

A review of the various machines, especially as there are so many offered on ebay these days.

Also demonstrations on different metals.

Good luck

And I of course would be interested if you did produce the DVD's.

Cheers

Pulpo

Ratch
18th Mar 2008, 10:26 PM
Hi Grahame,

My first post :2tsup:
I am planing on doing a GMAW course at TAFE and while happily lurking I saw this post.

Anyhows back to your idea. I think the key would be to clearly show the weld being done :doh:. I know it's obvious and you pointed it out but I don't think you will ever get a good enough vid with any camera or filter. I know all the videos I have seen are smoke sparks and bright light with a glowing blob thingy in the middle.

I think CGI (computer generated images) would be the go. You would probably have to hire a graphic artist and demonstrate the welds in real life to them so they can program it but the advantage would be a perfect image of what you are trying to show something sadly lacking in welding videos. You could also exaggerate to highlight what you are trying to explain. It doesn't even have to look that real (keeping the cost down) so long as the images can be identified by someone who watched the clip and then saw a weld for the first time for example an abstract image of a car or tree does not have to be complex to get the idea across. Best part of using CGI is you can then teleport stuff across the shop and cut sheets up with a phaser :D

Grahame Collins
19th Mar 2008, 07:59 PM
Hi Ratch,
Thank you for you comments.
I am so backward in the technology arenas I was thinking in terms of cartoons. If CGI is available and cost effective to me I won't hesitate to go that way and mix it with standard video for the low tech stuff..

I saw some of that in a Solid Edge graphics course completed recently.

The success in gaining proficiency in the welding processes hinges around recognizing keys and signals the the process often provides when conditions are met.

To turn that around for the would be welder I will point out the keys and signals so the operator knows that when the signals are present ie visible ,audibile etc, he knows he is on the right track.

Many videos are just monkey see monkey do without any reference to give feed back to the learner.

Grahame

Ratch
20th Mar 2008, 08:37 PM
I don't know anything about it myself but I know there is heaps of amateur stuff floating around.

Here is a youtube vid that someone made for a 5 week Blender course (blender is a free 3d software). YouTube - My first blender animation
Do a youtube search on cgi, crazy frog, blender and you will see stuff kids have done that would have made a movie studio proud 10 years ago.

Maybe you can find a student locally that would make it as part of their course project?

blouis79
31st Mar 2008, 01:09 PM
Chris ,

[...]
I realize I have a bit to learn on the photography and video photography sides and that another hurdle to jump.it won't happen today or next week but I will get there by determination.

Grahame

If you have determination, you can do it for not a lot of money. I have a Canon TX1 currently selling for <$350 (rrp was $700) that will shoot HD video (limited by size of memory card - good/fast 4GB card for $100 will do 10-15mins - then you have to put it on the computer). As a camera, it will shoot super macro to touching the lens mount. For the money, you can buy one and have a play

Obviously, you need a computer to do the editing. I did wedding videos for 2 siblings of mine years ago with a $3000 video camera. The $350 camera will do the same/better now. A Mac comes free with iMovie and iDVD - perfectly good for editing HD video and burning a DVD, and for a fraction of the cost of a Fronius welder. (You can do it on a PC if you want life to be harder.)

Shooting good images is almost all in the lighting. Train the eyes for what well lit looks like (not like Neighbours) and you an produce that too.

Editing is very time consuming, but easy enough to learn. May be easier to edit video clips together and add a voiceover track later. Editing is what you pay a load of dough for to do professionally. In my experience, a few minutes of raw footage turns into a few hours of editing. (Movies take a year to make and 2 hours to watch.)

I think if you have the passion to make the product, you can set a reasonable price considering the smallish market and what options users have. (Perhaps a multi-disc set with titles available separately.)

Go for it....

Grahame Collins
31st Mar 2008, 08:06 PM
Thank you very much blouis79

I shall go and take a look at the Canon TXI. I like Canon equipment , as far as the pc I had not had a Apple since since my teacher training days when I owned an Apple 2E.

Does that tell anything about my vintage?

I am due to use some salary sacrifice money on my 3rd laptop. Do apple make laptops?

From my experience I have observed that about 10 minutes is around the limit of most peoples concentration span,so I would limit the information and split it all up into single CD,s.

Thank you gain for the help
Grahame

blouis79
31st Mar 2008, 10:35 PM
Thank you very much blouis79
[...]I am due to use some salary sacrifice money on my 3rd laptop. Do apple make laptops?
[...]
Grahame

FYI more on TX1 is here: (cheap price at JB HiFi)
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canontx1/
http://powershot-tx1.blogspot.com/

My first computer as a kid was an AppleII+. Apple Mac laptops feature prominently in the media. The aluminium colored ones are MacBook Pros (which I have now). MacBooks are cheaper and small and have smaller screens. Until a year ago I used one of that class connected to a bigger external monitor. My daughter has a shiny new Acer PC laptop for school worth more than mine (school specified) and would happily throw it in the bin in favour of a Mac. I waste lots of time keeping her computer behaving itself when school IT support are clueless. My brother has helped several people at his work switch to Mac - he says they have never looked back. These days you can still run Windows too if you want on Apple computers.

Rather than CDs, I'd suggest a DVD per major topic split up into the smaller chunks users can cope with, navigable by DVD menus.

Cheers.

Waldo
31st Mar 2008, 10:55 PM
Do apple make laptops?

Heck :yes:, and with oodles of grunt which make them perfect for editing, from the novice to serious TVC editing with the likes of Final Cut Pro.

http://store.apple.com/133-622/WebObjects/australiastore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=7B72367C&node=home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro

MacBook Pro 17" would be my choice when I make my 3 yearly upgrade next year from my current 17" PowerBook

I'd expect to pay around $35 for a DVD. I'd be interested in arc and mig welding. Maybe I'm saying the obvious, but also include stick selection based on material being welded and appropriate amperage.

Same applies to MIG. :2tsup:

Grahame Collins
31st Mar 2008, 11:45 PM
I did some googling and the first hits that came up were the Zdnet reviews on issues about warping from the overheated batteries.
Has this problem been resolved.I did not see how old the issue was but titles like this

"Is Apple's MacBook Pro rotten to the core"

tend to worry me a bit, if Im spending $3000 plus of my dollars.The amount of money does not concern me, but value for the money does!.
I already have an Acer 5614 with 17" and a gig of ram and similar a Dell Inspiron 9300 so I don't favor wimpy machines. Its the virus attack issues that I wish to escape from.
Grahame

Waldo
1st Apr 2008, 12:01 AM
"Is Apple's MacBook Pro rotten to the core"
Grahame

No, been fixed long ago. That article is more scare mongering than factual.

Grahame, :no: they're rock solid machines. :2tsup:

My 17" Titanium G4 PowerBook, hasn't had a cold in 3 years. It'd loaded to the hilt, the new ones - are blistering in their capabilities. They're faster and gruntier than my G5 Quad (2 double core processors) - until I get my Mac pro 8 Core.

blouis79
22nd Apr 2008, 05:07 PM
[...]Its the virus attack issues that I wish to escape from.
Grahame

A. uninstall Internet Explorer, since it is responsible for numerous security issues.

B. avoid windows which has a near monopoly on malware infestations. Linux keeps a lot of tinkerers happy.

A couple of weeks ago, I wasted the best part of a whole day getting rid of trojans and spyware and repairing the damage left on my daughter's school issue Windows XP laptop, which was shiny new 2 months previously. I can think of better ways to spend a lazy Sunday.

Masochists can run Windows on Apple hardware if they wish.

phelum
22nd Apr 2008, 05:24 PM
A. uninstall Internet Explorer, since it is responsible for numerous security issues.
I'm not sure that you can uninstall IE so maybe it is safer just to not use it. Also, Outlook (or Outlook Express) can be risky.

I would suggest Firefox for a browser and Thunderbird for e-mail. I use Opera and Eudora but these are probably a bit geeky for folks that are used to standard Windows. Also, VLC is a good video player for people who don't like Media Player's auto downloading of codecs (anybody want a nice virus?).

blouis79
22nd Apr 2008, 08:42 PM
I'm not sure that you can uninstall IE so maybe it is safer just to not use it. Also, Outlook (or Outlook Express) can be risky.

I would suggest Firefox for a browser and Thunderbird for e-mail. I use Opera and Eudora but these are probably a bit geeky for folks that are used to standard Windows. Also, VLC is a good video player for people who don't like Media Player's auto downloading of codecs (anybody want a nice virus?).

Outlook has been great for spam - as its address book could be hijacked.

You can uninstall IE via "Add/Remove Windows components" control panel. (Until you need to run a mean and nasty web applications that won't run on anything else.) Firefox comes highly recommended and has some nifty add-ins. Also agree with VLC, though has some compatibility issues trying to play DVDs.

I've been using Eudora mail for about 13 years. I find it functional - moreso than Thunderbird we use at work.

On a slightly different issue, PC Mags reliability survey is worth a read (haven't read this one yet, so not predicting the outcome!).
http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1738,1626131,00.asp

blouis79
3rd May 2008, 08:10 PM
Found some welding instructional here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/S0JB8K3F3R7AOJI/

Seems a bit machine-dependent. And the person doing the demonstrating appears to be making lots of mistakes. (Grahame would be having a fit laughing.)

Here's a TIG welding video for $60:
http://www.pitstop.net.au/view/products/page/query/plu/19009/

Grahame Collins
3rd May 2008, 08:47 PM
Hi blouis79
It just another try by a wannabee.

He concentrated too much on the machine settings-which any beginner should understand are pertinent to the specific situation,material type,filler and individual machine.

A glaring omission was the lack of mention of the the surface oxide or how to treat it. The particular machine illustrated had an arc balance on it among other bells and whistles.It cleans oxides away ,set correctly, but no mention from our expert. Essential in cases where oxide build up causes difficulties.If you fail to effectively deal with it,you can get into more strife than Flash Gordon.

Not a word about the correct stainless aluminium only wire brush or wire brush cleaning the surface before welding either- basic stuff if your welding ali.
One needs to have had experience on a few different type machines and a range of different jobs and materials to know what traps the beginner can run into.

Another contributor kindly made me aware by PM of a glaring deficiency in a mig video offered by a national auto spares retailer. It had the presenter mixing up the voltage control with the wire feed function, grinding with an unguarded angle grinder and not wearing safety glasses under the welding helmet.

I am not trying to sound like I have a big head or anything, but the competing welding instructional videos being of that ilk ,I am confident of the quality and user response to my offerings when I market them.

Cheers
Grahame

They are probably a few years away yet.

Optimark
3rd May 2008, 09:30 PM
To get a picture of something exceptionally bright, either still or cinematic, you really need to have a camera with a manual aperture setting capability.

Basically you need to set the correct aperture on the camera for the amount of light and run it before you start welding. The picture you get at this stage will be almost black. Once the arc starts you should be able to record exactly what you require, which is the welding.

You will have to enclose the camera, possibly in a wooden box with a piece of thickish glass for it to look through. Timber doesn't transmit heat so it will insulate your camera, glass will not melt like plastics when pieces of hot metal touch it.

The best idea is to put thin sheet metal on the outside of the box so the timber doesn't burn.

You may need neutral density filters to reduce the amount of light. Possibly a welding filter could do the job. If you use a welding filter I don't think an automatic one would be the easiest to work with. You need a filter which is constant so your image density on either film or a CCD stays the same.

I have done still photographs of welders over the years and there are two main possibilities. One, you get a recording where the overall scene shows all things, the welding arc is blown out to sheer white. The other possibility is where most of the scene is extremely dark, but the work piece is recorded successfully.

By the way I do arc and oxy welding.

Mick.

blouis79
4th May 2008, 11:45 PM
Miller has some very useful resources, including videos (animations sadly) and downloadable handbooks....
http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/improving-your-skills/

StartedwithaTIG
6th May 2008, 07:26 PM
Hi Graham,


For the last couple of months i have gone from not knowing a thing about Welding to knowing..... a little bit more :-. I would represent one section of the demographic that i think you would be interested in. I am starting from scratch trying to get into welding.

At tafe they have a collection of the Mig,Tig, Arc, Oxy, and handtools video's where the teacher puts them on and leaves the room. They are just as you described them, dated very dated. (oh yes and boring)
Safety is always important as i learnt using the Grinders at school :doh:, but i just didnt know until someone told me, "hey, you do it this way". Helmets and safty clothing do's and donts. Telling people about the reset button on some of the autodarkening helmets so they dont get flashed on the first weld (:o me).

I think telling people why they need to weld a metal, and what the actual welding process does, also showing (indentifying)the different type of steels alloys ext. and how they react when welded.(i say this because i went from learning to weld steel which I was ok at, then to welding Stainless and now im back to frustrated).

Alot of videos theres a guy in a workshop in some factory welding a piece of metal and doing it perfect, would be nice to reproduce some bad welds or common mistakes and then show what needs to be improved or changed to get perfect continues welds.

Mind you I am only talking in relation to TIG as thats as far as my experience goes for now.

I hope this helps a tiny bit, I have been looking for some instructional videos to buy, but never found anything good. The miller website helped alittle, utube also, but never something solid that fills gaps which sometimes your teacher at TAFE doesnt help you with, mind you the teachers at my TAFE (chisholm Tafe VIC) are very good, they say that theres not enough teachers , theres just no insentive, so what you get are 1 or 2 teachers walking around with a line of students constantly calling them over to there booths. They run around like chooks with there heads cut off.

So to end my 2 cents worth, im really excited about someone creating something to teach the welding art and I would be one of the first people to purchase it as I need all the help i can get. :2tsup:

Good luck and please keep me informed, and if you need any help with computers or anything computer related please ask as my "real job" is IT and has been for the last 8 years.

Regards,

Paulo

Grahame Collins
6th May 2008, 08:20 PM
Hi Paulo
Many thanks for your kind offer.I will take you up on it at some stage as computers are a mystery once I venture beyond some set programs.

As an ex Tafe instructor I have probably seen the majority of the video offerings. Yes I have some strong views on them and how they should be made.
The problem is that the current ones are just the production companies ideas of what welders should be ,told,instructed ,directed ,educated etc.

The way to engage a student is not insult his intelligence and thats what some of these videos do.I used to laugh when some talking head in a white shirt ,tie and dust coat started spruiking about welding process.Sitting there in my work clothes I could feel absolutely no empathy with the presenter at all.

I used to sit there and wait to pick holes in his delivery. A bit negative ,I know but if your there to teach welding you have to look like one as far as I am concerned.


The basics of welding, I have learned on the job but the theory refinements have come from books,videos, dvd's,and websites. No one can learn welding with just practical or theory alone .there must be a balance of both.

What I would wish to do is offer a process at a time and incorporate as much as possible in each dvd broken down into sub topics that the viewer could digest easily.

Segments that would run for no more that 10 to 12 minutes at a time.


As far as understanding the metals I would approach that from a physics basis. Stainless steel is another metal altogether after one has welded mild steel as the heat conduction is completely different.Once you begin to understand the differences in the co efficient of heat conduction between the different metals ,the pennies begin to drop a little faster. Learning the little tricks in identification of similar metals helps too.

Rest assured you blokes on the forum will be the first to see the finished dvds.

Cheers
Grahame

blouis79
23rd May 2008, 07:28 PM
Found some interesting welding source material:
http://www.twi.co.uk/j32k/protected/band_3/prof_jobknow.html

Articles have a few historical photos of major welding stuff ups.

Downloadable multimedia file on disortion:
http://www.twisoftware.com/products/home.jsp#multi

Full multimedia award winning course for GBP499 (and small downloadable free demo):
http://www.twisoftware.com/products/products.jsp?product_id=8