Day 4 was 90% a day for total work. Total work. Grinding, cutting, filing, cleaning metal, jigging, welding, and BREAKING. I got through my first full triangle first thing this morning. 2 of the 3 joints were solid, and actually looking alright. Not beautiful by any means, but the guideline my teacher said was that another 80 hours of solid welding on top of this 80 hour class was required to get fully flat and even welds. I have moments of brilliance, where I can't believe how easy everything is going, and how good things look, and then all of a sudden I'll miss the line, or lose my pacing, or get too hot and screw things up. But, overall, I'm lightyears away from my first "work" I did. Looking back on it today it was kind of funny to see.
I also got my practice bottom bracket and seat post welded up for the destruction test. I had to do some hole filling as well in one spot, so it was ugly, but I made sure that it was a solid weld. Into the jig with it, long bar connected to it, and then my whole body weight.....bouncing body weight....creak....BANG! It broke just where it should...just outside the weld pool, so, passing grade (and an ease on my nerves that Lori could never put as much torque on any of the joints that I was putting on that one...I think that was the point).
Also, started machining out the tubeset for the front triangle. Got to work the big lathe (after tons of math calculations on total and miter lengths) cutting the tubes, and now have them on my bench ready for construction tomorrow after some more practice welding....the final cut. Then everything is for real....stressful. But will be very cool to walk out tomorrow for the weekend with the front triangle done.
Did I mention that I love this class? Now, how the hell am I going to get a shop set up. I'm going to have the bug for sure.....won't be quenched until I knock out the next bike...and the next....I knew this would happen. ;)
Calle and I are going to head out to her local watering hole for a bit, and then come back where I'll post a few pictures I took today. Nothing too exciting, but will put a face to my descriptions.
Did I mention that I miss my girls? HI MARINA! HI ELENA! I'm glad that grandma and grandpa are hanging out with you!
More later.
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Feel the Love, Love the Pain
Mt Hood Scramble '06 - White River Canyon
Feel the Love, Love the Pain
Who Dat?
- zoner v3.4
- Portland / Rose City, Orygon, United States
3 comments:
Nice work Jace.
Given the title of the post I thought maybe you had caused an explosion with all those combustible gasses ;)
Do you get to wear one of those sweet welding helmets? Does it have an American Eagle on it? It should.
I wish, the guy next to me is a welder by trade and he has a sweet one with flames on it...and a visor shield that actually changes opaqueness in the presence of the welder!! Whoooo.. Find me one with Eddie on it.
Thanks for all your write backs Pat. I'll give you a ring this weekend to shoot the sheahT.
An Eddie Welder Helmet would be so freakin sweet.
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