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The Mad Industrialist Part 7

Today, we have the welding test. It’s also our final day. It was a ten week course yes – but we missed one week, and did two double weeks, so there’s only 7 posts.

I shall allow the pictures of my completed test pieces speak for themselves.

Stick welding is great, and I’ll definitely have to revisit it. Possibly as a career.

Welding by Gaslight 2

It’s amazing what one can do with a little training. And this was just us practising before we got our assignment for the day.

To see that, click after the jump.
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Welding by Gaslight 1

And here, ladies and gentlemen, are my first (well the best of my first day) welds laid down using the process known as Gas Welding

The process is simple enough. The welder uses a high heat torch to melt the steel until it is molten on the surface, then a filler rod is dipped into the molten steel and it melts (with help from the blowtorch) and forms the weld.

More posts forthcoming.

The Mad Industrialist Part 6

Laying perfect weld is always awesome. However, today was a remarkably stressful day because next week is the test. Trying to get each and every weld perfect can really stress you out. And when you’re sitting or standing at the same table for hours in a boiler suit next to metal you’re purposefully heating up by running 108 amps through it… gets hard to concentrate sometimes.

Check out the results of the pressure after the jump.
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The Mad Industrialist Part 5

Today was a good day.

We kept on welding the three composite runs the same as we were doing last week: One foundation run, and two further runs for strength.

However there was a slight twist. We were welding a curved piece of metal, and I personally think it was easier than welding a straight piece. Though today – I welded some fantastic straight joints.

Best click after the jump for proof

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Devolution passed!

It’s over. Devolution passed. Now Stormont has control over all of it’s own affairs, and the terrorists can go home.

For those of you out there that don’t know, ever since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, they have been trying to transfer power from London to Belfast in a process know as devolution.

The main issues have been:

1. The dismantling of the paramilitary (terrorist) groups in Northern Ireland.
2. The removal of the British Army and it’s bases.
3. Establishment of Power Sharing between the main political parties.
4. The devolution of policing and other services.

There are more issues than that, but those are the main ones.

The paramilitaries have disarmed (mostly).

The army are gone.

Power sharing is here.

And as linked above, the police are devolving.

There’s no point fighting any more on the part of the terrorists. All you’ll be doing is killing other Northerners. You can plant bombs, shoot cops, whatever it is you want to do… but there’s no point.

You’re not fighting for Britain or Ireland any more.

All you’re doing is blowing up your own people. Which is fairness, is what you’ve been doing this whole time.

It’s over. There are years of healing to go yet. I give it two generations before no one gives a shit any more.

It’s over lads. It’s over.

The Mad Industrialist Part 4

Today was an awful day. It was long, hot, and difficult.
What’s worse, I could not get into the swing of welding at all. Laying down loose welds, full of holes, spatter everywhere…

Got many many sparks inside the helmet, got a spark right down my back. That hurt. Caught weld flare twice. That sucks more than anything.

Did I not enjoy today?
Don’t get me wrong, I love welding. But when you can’t get into a rhythm on it, it can be a punishing mistress.

Click through for more pictures.
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