I don't want to be an Influencer, I just want to weld aluminum.

[@Chromevulcan]

Can I just say "Thank you." The integrity of not selling out for a free welder that you don't need/want just because it was free and buying the one you wanted is really refreshing. One of the most important things you need to know about TIG welding is not to worry about "stacking dimes", it's stupid and anyone that tells you it's important doesn't understand welding. I've been in weld inspection since 1997 and I've failed plenty of welders whose welds looked perfect but couldn't hold up to nondestructive or destructive testing methods. The key is penetration, you can always sand down an ugly weld.

[@maddsmish]

My wife is an excellent seamstress and historical costumer and is entirely self-taught. Your thoughts on "being willing to be a beginner" are very near to what she tells people who express that they wish they had her skill at sewing. She tells them that sewing materials are relatively inexpensive and then you just have to be willing to suck at it for a while. I look forward to your infrequent but quality updates! One of my fave channels. Keep on keepin' on.

[@JeremyMakesThings]

I’ve sucked at sewing even longer than I’ve sucked at welding!

[@bborkzilla]

Thanks for avoiding the sponsored product review video pitfall.

[@chrisash7948]

Every now and then I consider starting my own KZbin channel "40 Jobs In 40 Years" or something like that. I spent most of my twenties and thirties bouncing between employers simply because I was curious how something worked or because I wanted to learn a skill that I thought would be helpful in life, such as welding. It wasn't until I had to do a personal history statement for one a few years back that it occurred to me that I've probably worked more jobs in more fields than most people have had a chance to experience. I've subscribed to this channel because of the beginner experimentation attitude, as well as my love for classic jeeps. Keep up the good work on both fronts.

[@The.Talent]

I also love your TicTok content. You definitely should take them up on their offer. I'd guess that at least 5% of your audience are currently in the market for a new nail supplier.

[@CraigAndera]

Please keep making good videos. If that's not on a regular, fine by me. I'd rather have Jeremy intermittently than not-Jeremy like clockwork.

[@alfredomorles-miralles684]

Continue being yourself. And keep making things

[@MatelotsousMarin]

Rock star! I've owned an acdc tig welder for four years and still want to learn to tig weld aluminium but haven't had the nerve to try yet. You just dive right in. Thanks man.

[@matthewwigley1613]

I would say that you absolutely are an influencer, but in a positive way. I watch you tube to be inspired and encouraged, not as a shop front for multi nationals "commodifying your gift!", as Ren would say. I am you, try it, use what you have, have a go and refine it as you do more. What pleases me most from this is that the comments are full of like minded people, all doing their thing, we are not alone, LOL. Might I suggest that you keep doing what you do and take what you want from the 'must have' profiteers on your terms, that way we all profit, but in a good way, in an inspirational way. I appreciate that you and many like you take the time and effort to film their shenanigans, it's not something I would do, but who knows, now that I've watched you, you influencer you!!!! Chuckle. Take it easy youth, best regards, Matt.

[@johnchinn9214]

I really like everything you said in this. Especially about making content vs projects that YOU want. Also just get out there and do something as well. Keep it up, build what you want and they will come. Or not.😊

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

I agree with everything you said Jeremy. Cheers mate, Stuart 🇦🇺

[@RotarySMP]

That was well done.

[@tonyray91]

Some really insightful stuff there Jeremy. Your TIG welding is coming along really well.

[@user-tg5wg6oe6o]

I have been wanting to learn to weld, 8th grade metal shop was many year’s ago! Thanks for the encouragement.

[@graemezimmer604]

Thanks Jeremy, your video is very helpful. I'm just starting out with Mig and TIg and am finding it harder than I expected. Your comment about needing at least a weeks practice really hit home.

[@ryebis]

Making mistakes with Greg and a few other channels have good tutorial videos on Tig welding, worth watching.

[@stuartstephens]

You have the right attitude about things. 👍

[@modelmaker007]

Great job, of course you are trying to weld the hardest aluminum, ie thin, and with cheap equipment. The best just keep trying, that's what learning is all about. Enjoy every video, especially your shop humor.

[@pazi88]

You seem to be strugling with same problems as I do 😅 My projects/videos or video schedules rarely please the YT algorithm. And same thing with the sponsors. I just usually end up annoying the company sponsoring me because the project/video takes way too long to make. But anyways, keep up the great content! It doesn't matter if the video schedule is random and sparse. It just makes it bigger joy to notice that you have posted new video 😁

[@nickhenscheid369]

4:44 you said you didn't want any filler in your videos!! Grumble grumble grumble 😛 Keep doing your thing on your terms, Jeremy - it's what YT used to be and we all loved it more.

[@iNerdier]

4:11 so many people I used to like became really tedious after it became their full time job. There's something far more interesting about the enthusiastic amateur vs the exhausted and uninspired pro.

[@JeremyMakesThings]

My goal is to become a professional amateur.

[@joedowling5452]

I’ve unsubbed from several channels that went down hill after YT became their only job. Some the content took a hit while others got caught in an endless loop of shilling for whatever company sent them something for free. I do still have a bunch that I suspect are living off YT but they seem to be able to continue providing interesting content. On the off chance they do a review of something they were given they make it known and at times have panned said product. Just keep on doing your own thing. There are many that enjoy what you are doing.

[@fgpriceinc]

You're smart so a fast learner. I did what you did way back in 1980 with an old Linde C 300. It weighed about 1,000 lbs and lasted me into this century when I replaced it with a 300 amp thermal- arc. The thermal-arc has treated me well but is certainly not a bargain welder. With any luck the thermal-arc will last as long as I do. I'm almost 70 and the welder is around 20 now I think. I recommend it highly as I've worked it hard for a lot of hours and never had one issue.

[@Bobs-Wrigles5555]

I don't know if you're looking for TIG welding mentors but if you are 6061 is a fine craftsman who shares lots of pearls of wisdom. Also like a lot of other channels, it looks like you've come up against the "My hobby turned into a job wall", and you needed to get away from that, which is fine, I'll watch whatever you make at your own pace. Love the channel.👍

[@kennethstaszak9990]

Like you I have the skills I do because it never occurs to me that I can't do something. I start and get better the more projects I do. It's also amazing how many KZbinrs are out there that have the skills I may need for a project I'm considering. Unfortunately I had already taught myself so many things before the advent of KZbin. People these days have such a wealth of information readily available there isn't much of an excuse to not learn something. The projects that take the longest are the ones that never get started.

[@jeffanderson4979]

Tig is hard. Hang in there

[@TWilliam-ft8xi]

I appreciate and watch your videos and will continue to do so. Whenever you post I will watch and it doesn’t matter if it’s weekly or not. Love your thoughts and attitude. Watched Doug at SV Seeker build a steel boat in Tulsa Oklahoma and sail it into the Gulf of Mexico then around Florida. He was an IT guy who taught himself the skills of boat building. Just saying you gotta try things new or you will never know. Thanks for all you’re doing!

[@martinsmith251]

Why I subscribed to your channel was I like what you do and how you do it. I didn’t subscribe thinking “hey I’ll just wait for him to get sponsored”. Totally use the “leave it alone for a while and solutions will pop up.”

[@TheChillieboo]

"willing to be a beginner" oh hell yeah!

[@tigxxl]

AC TIG 😁😁😁Welcome my new colleague to the molten valley of aluminum, tears and electrodes! 🤣 Gretings from Poland 😆

[@daveanderson2316]

You do you Jeremy. I'll be here to watch your content. If it's just you and me, so be it:)

[@twotone3070]

Well said, all of it.

[@kerryklopfstein4260]

I agree, I bought a wood lathe to turn bowls. I thought the only way to learn is to have at it. I’m not a master turner by any means, but they are nice enough to give to friends and family.

[@RyanAUS]

For your first few beads they pretty bloody good, Jeremy.

[@gregsochor]

My two top tips from being (essentially a self-taught) TIG-welder: Always also slightly sharpen the other end of the tungsten as well, because then you don't have to take the torch apart and can just pull it out and re-insert from the front front, which makes swapping tungsten a lot faster and especially in the beginning always have 3-4 spare pieces of tungsten ready to go, so you can continue welding and get that time in. The second tip: make sure you grind your tungsten-tip in line with the tungsten. Any swirly bit will make the arc unstable, wander and somewhat erratic where it starts.

[@MishterDale]

I am here because I enjoy your videos. I am glad you are doing it your way and not just putting out videos! I can relate to what you do and take on projects in a similar manner. Thank you!

[@65cj55]

When i first started i struggled, i was following a well known brand chart on filler rod size, eventually i was told to ignore it and use 1.2mm aluminium Mig Wire....so much better, no lumps, less heat etc.

[@andrebelliveau7857]

Keep up the great content and you do what you want to do that’s the best way. 😊

[@RicksterX-92fs]

I hear you loud and clear. I’m an artist. I draw what I like when I want to. If others like it, fine. If not, that’s fine too. It’s the Bob Dylan style. He could care less if you like his music and only idiots ask him what his lyrics mean. Keep true to yourself.

[@peterwadham9788]

I love the way that you are real about what you are doing. You tell the truth! I am not an expert is what I hear all the time from you. I am just learning and if you are watching I am dragging you along with me. I love that. I tried to keep a Facebook page of my work. It gets boring showing photos of what looks like the same thing day in day out. It is because I am involved in the minutia of what I am doing that it is interesting and that is very hard to show. Which is what you use commentary for. I love what you do, please keep doing and try not to become a sales channel.

[@rckeith]

You are the best influencer on KZbin by far.

[@lukasvondaheim]

You in fact inspired me to go ahead and buy a KTM Hobby 1 and get it running. So far I learned to clean a carburator adjust it cut threads and about three dozen new swear words :D You wouldn't believe how much joy it brings me to ride around the neighborhood with that piece of junk

[@CarnivoreCurin]

John also said: certainly not too bad Jeremy for first time TIG welding.

[@kendingsor]

I like the part where you made your ugly welds better. Yes, you welded aluminum!

[@jollyrodgers777]

With a YesWelder!

[@henrikhv5084]

I watch your videos, because you tell your story in a great way, I like your approche to your project, the way you solve problems, the way you use your opions. You begin at the beginnig, or at the end of the beginnig, when you get new metall from old scrap. take your time, the metall spent a long time waitning for you to make it into something new ;-) Cheers from Denmark

[@CarnivoreCurin]

John said: We want to see you make something, Jeremy

[@Rustinox]

Several times a week I receive this kind of emails too. In the beginning I politely replied explaining that I wasn't interested, with as a result that I received even more emails. Now they go straight to the bin.

[@everydayrenaissanceman2246]

Thank you

[@lumotroph]

Man’s an angel. Keep it up

[@barthanes1]

I am also the king of yak shaving. I think I've been 5 tangents deep before and still finished the project ... eventually.

[@sjoerdschaafsma9523]

Best advice ever 😀 👍

[@williemickbillie]

just picked up a new miller syncrowave for work and I wish I would have spent 1k more to get the smaller maxstar. Regardless I'm glad we got the TIG in, so much better

[@alexcrouse]

Keep the torch in place for post flow! Other than that, the main thing with aluminum is it happens REALLY fast.

[@JeremyMakesThings]

I always remember to keep the torch in place after I’ve moved it.

[@tonyc.4528]

I regularly weld with an oxy/acetylene torch, because it's all I have. It's a cheap HF outfit, but it works just dandy for me. Oh...I've noticed that your nails have been looking spectacular, don't discount the opportunity so fast! And "howdy" from northwestern VT!

[@tamberp]

Side note for if that cheap pedal is anything like the cheap pedal that came with mine (different brand but probably out of the same factory anyway): There's only a potentiometer and a microswitch inside. The microswitch is what tells the welder to start welding, regardless of what value the pot is at, and may be actuated only by a very thin wobbly strip of metal poking out from the bottom of the pedal mechanism, and that thin wobbly strip can sometimes slip off the roller of the microswitch and cause the welder to cut out at certain positions. Depending on how it's built, you may not have that problem, but *just in case*...

[@aresolhaug959]

True words!!!

[@jeremylastname873]

Perfection is the enemy of good enough. A journey always begins with the first step. If you don’t make any mistakes, you’ll never learn.

[@kennethelwell8574]

Black sweatshirt, welding bench, hand model? I think you received TOT's junk mail.

[@robertlong9029]

Put a piece of brass or steel behind a thin aluminum weld and it will not burn through. If welding steel use aluminum or brass to back it

[@VagabondJim65]

Bravo for prioritizing living before influencing. Seems perfectly rational to me.

[@MickOhrberg]

As I've heard other youtuber AvE put it - "embrace the suck".

[@wizrom3046]

"Don't be scared, go make some ugly welds" YES you definitely succeeded 😎 Just kidding dude, I'm a terrible welder so it's all in fun

[@edelweiss800]

Just watch 6061 damn talented

[@Tishers]

Can you TIG weld nail art? Now that would be creative! Thanks for your earnest explanation about how makers who just want to get things done can end up being influencers who can't get the things that they really want to do, done. It seems that being a KZbin influencer can end up being a very shallow and unrewarding experience; Unless the only thing you are trying to build is your own ego. Love your content for exactly what it is, someone trying to do things.

[@broncota2210]

The ugly welds are always the most visible it seems. You'll definitely get better, then stainless 😂.

[@Dagrond]

My Chineesium welder came with a broken wire spool. They never responded from any inquires. Should have probably returned it. Still sitting under the kitchen table three months later.

[@buildingsalvage]

I keep looking at this machine specifically cause I picked up a truck with an aluminum bed. Seems like a decently cheap starter machine…

[@slartimus]

So, ultimately, be a YESWELDER, not a NOWELDER or even a MAYBEWELDER. Also, A+ on "make videos for projects, not projects for videos, screw the algorithm's relentless drumbeat."

[@lowelllogerwell5146]

It's my belief, having even less experience with TIG welding than you, that one is NOT supposed to push TIG weld - only pull away from the pond. But because I lack any sort of practice to back this up, please feel free to take this advice and run with it or ignore it completely!

[@doktorscottdiabolical]

AMEN, Brother! Thou shalt not ChuckE. And also, thou shalt not make stupid projects for content. Thou shalt maybe make content about the projects you care about. When you have time. KZbin doesn't offer health insurance or retirement plans.

[@gvente87]

ooo im first for once :D

[@brainsironically]

snarky comment here from a dissatisfied customer. waiting for my refund! lol

[@jdmccorful]

Great points and good directions. Thanks!