Looking at my Old Welds

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Dream Weld Shop Giveaway! Giveaway Info - weldmetalsonline.com/pages/dream-weld-shop-giveaway Official Rules - weldmetalsonline.com/pages/dream-weld-shop-giveaway-official-rules Book a Class with a real life welding instructor - weldcoach.com/ Every TIG & MIG purchase from Primeweld.com includes an optional $50 Weld Coach Gift Card! DON'T GET SCAMMED!! Justin will be the ONLY person contacting potential winners. There will NEVER be a comment, email, social media message, or any other method used to contact a winner. DO NOT respond to messages or comments about potential winnings from anyone! ONLY Justin will contact you directly! No company representative from TFS, Weld Metals Online, Weld Coach, or Primeweld will contact potential winners. Justin does NOT have a personal assistant. We will NOT ask for ANY money or additional personal details. Please report potential scam comments and messages. DO NOT FALL FOR THEM.

[@penguiin12]

this whole "pay me so you can maybe win something" thing is not really a giveaway as much as it is a raffle... of course you make the only non-paid option mail-in only lmao

[@aoeuidhtnsnthdiueoa]

At the end of the day, for a custom one-off part to get out racing it's pretty good. Race cars don't go fast because they look good, they go fast because they're built well. If it doesn't leak and performs well? It's a win in my book.

[@jonbrawn4301]

Hi Justin I'm 53 and have been welding since I was in my twenties , not professionally , but on all types of vehicles. I was lucky enough to learn on gas, stick and mig. I now have a tig for home use. Your honesty in critiquing your own work like this is brave amongst the many "experts" around , its a credit to you. Both of your channels have given me and others a lot of information and guidance, you never stop learning !! regards from the UK

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

I appreciate that.

[@davidsawyer1599]

Echo.

[@Rodzilla-du3pp]

Thank you so much Justin for sharing this. Seeing where you started and how far you have come gives me great motivation to practice more and not give up!

[@treyrags]

Function over looks, especially in racing. It did its job. Sometimes we get better so slowly over time we don't realize it. I get the same reaction when I look at some of my old stuff.

[@hfh8243]

Performance car part, don´t rip yourself apart over it, if it still works after 12 years, no matter how it looks, its done its job for way longer than factory made/machine welded parts would. I would say be proud of yourself, but, since you already are, good job.-) If a part holds up and stands the test of time, it does not matter how it looks, if it does its job it may as well count as a masterpiece. edit: masterpiece wise, its a piece that works, as intended for longer than expected, not your peek, just another steppingstone.

[@TheBrokenLife]

I'd be more embarassed to say that I didn't improve or learn over the span of 12 years than I would to show the results of the past. 👍

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Valid point!

[@scottcarr3264]

Yeah, I'm hearing you !

[@echobravo5488]

Amen.

[@ypaulbrown]

Justin, it takes a very humble man to point his errors out..... and you are one of those rare people.....best wishes, Paul

[@1KnowWearMan]

I recently decided to re-acquaint myself with TIG welding when I found a reasonably priced Miller Syncrowave 250.., the exact same model I learned to TIG with some 35+ years ago. It may be ancient, but it's practically bomb-proof. Watching your videos really helped me quickly find my groove again by helping me remember things I'd long since forgotten. My welding still needs some refinement, but I'm about 80% there already with the help of your videos - Thank you. I'm sure there are many that have picked up the TIG torch after many years away. I wonder if others also feel TIG welding is kind of like riding a bicycle. First time in a couple decades back on a bicycle and you're gonna' be wobbly at first, but pick it back up pretty quickly.

[@dzitezracing]

12 years isn't bad. It's still together.

[@toolchuck]

I learned how to Stick and Gas weld in 1974 in High School and have welded as a hobbyist ever since. My welding skills are fair to middling. I'm just about to try TIG welding and I hope weld as good as he did 12 years ago on that manifold. 😎 All the Best, Chuck.

[@BoostedMonkey4g63]

But after 12 years still in one piece!! 💪🏽 💪🏽💪🏽

[@bokfuman]

I prefer to here from people who are honest about their prior experiences and give words of encouragement to those of us new to this craft. Your videos have inspired me to build or at least attempt to build to better my skillset. Thank you for all your contributions it is greatly appreciated.

[@elsantoracing]

I've been welding for most of my life and at 57, I make great welds and sometimes something happens and my weld goes to poop. What i like about this video is that you give a proper critique of the quality and appearance of the weld. I know a lot of people who weld like that for years and never improve because they think they're making good welds. It definitely helps to know what good actually looks like. Thanks

[@CRM.builds]

Welding is a function over form trade. You get function and form with time and practice. Much love.

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Well said! I wish everyone understood that haha

[@juanignaciocaino]

It's good for showing those whom say you're mercyless to show you're asking your students no less than the standards you hold yourself up to. Way to go man. Don't tear yourself (your 12 years back self) a new one on these, it would be sad to see you were doing better way back than now. I always say Ima quit whenever my latest job looks worse than past ones.

[@Bosbulls]

Justin, this is really inspiring to see your roots in the welding world. It would be really nice to see you do a new video where you build this exact same intake manifold from scratch. Especially with the fit up and cleaning improvements you mentioned doing wrong. Also narrative of thin to thick parts. As always love watching your videos.

[@SVfighter1]

Great video. Thank you for sharing your progression over a twelvish span. It gives us a gander at what can someone can accomplish with time practice and devotion. Thanks again for sharing.

[@aaronbuildsa]

Man, thank you for posting this.. I sometimes get discouraged looking at other folks amazing work and then mine (which makes this intake look positively stellar ;)) on my own project car - I'm going to try and keep in mind that "as good as I can" is good for now, and in a decade with more practice under me.. I can always come back and do it again :)

[@warrenjones744]

Saying tig welding is and acquired skill is an understatement. I only tig weld two or three times a year when it's appropriate for the repair I am performing. And I can tell you my aluminum welds look very similar even with good fit up! After an hour or so I can usually get a rhythm, get my heat right etc... and things look better. You certainly do have to practice and keep your hand in it. Given time constraints of running a business, family and wearing many hats it's seldom possible to just sit down with some coupons and weld. Cheers

[@chrishorne7275]

Thanks for this. I've been trying to learn tig on aluminum for the past couple months, and it's been terribly frustrating. Seeing this helps to really understand that everyone has to progress over time.

[@timchristensen7922]

You making this video goes to show you how far you have come not only as a welder/fabricator, but as a person. Love the videos and progress.

[@stephen271]

A lot of respect to you mate not many people can be critical of their own work. It shows the high standards you have for yourself and to always want to improve. 👍

[@bennybfishn]

We've all gotta start somewhere.. it's lasted the test of time without cracking so that's a win..

[@MuellerNick]

This video is a great inspiration for beginners and not-so-much-of-a-beginner. I'm learning a lot from you. And ven from this insufficient (avoiding the word "bad") work. Thanks a lot from Germany.

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Vielen Dank!

[@adambergendorff2702]

Great Video! Everyone needs to remember it Worked! You get started with the skill set you have. All the prep work always leads to a better weld, but there is also a price point when it isn't worth it. I loved the Q tip comment, we call them Christmas ornaments because the tungsten looks like an old school screw in Christmas bulb.

[@davidshort7978]

Thanks for showing us what you could have easily kept hidden. Your 12 years ago is way better than my 12 years ago.

[@duncanmarks1590]

hi, My "take away" from your post is that practice will make your welding better but not to start or try "something different" means that there are no development in your skills. On a personal level we have a similar trait in under valuing our work i.e you produced a fairly complicated manifold in aluminum that performed it's function well for years and the only issue is that it is not as "technically" pretty as it could be. So practice makes better but you started at a very good level. Thank you for the effort in making this video. bye

[@walter2990]

No matter what, I've learned from your welding insights and instructions over the years, so today I've subscribed to your YT site. Thanks for the tips!

[@deanmoser5907]

Ive done a fair bit of welding over 40 years and some tig. Hey tig welding to a high level is not easy, i can tig to get me out of trouble but i agree that you have to do the time. I certainly haven't done enough.

[@Realryancurry]

I think taking a look back takes real character, good job

[@DarkArtz187]

What would be awesome is Recreating that same part with 12 years more experience.. maybe do one with the tools you had available 12 years ago and do it again with all the modern technology you have available to you.

[@benz-share9058]

General practice such as butt, lap, and T-joints is helpful, but I've had difficulty when converting that experience to real-world challenges such as the curves and thick-to-thin and oddball angle combinations that you faced with this manifold. Congratulations to Justin-from-the-past for something that did the job well and held up. I think you're being too hard on yourself!

[@AFKgarage7296]

i wouldn't be ashamed of those welds. but they are a great look back at how far you have come. "bad" welds eventually make a good welder if they want to be better.

[@bubbacade6787]

It looks to me like it all held through all the abuse it took over the years. There are plenty of "show" welds that fail consistently. It's a testament that you did the job well. It would be different if there were repairs but it is still solid.

[@optimisticpessimist484]

That manifold doesn't look too bad. I've seen stuff made by manufacturers that's much worse. A good welder is always critical of his welds.

[@stephenvale2624]

Anyone who does not revisit, question, and learn from his/her earlier work, is someone who just does not care.

[@scottcarr3264]

Oh, That's for sure.

[@VictorMPR]

Those Mirages were very popular in Puerto Rico, where I grew up. I always wanted to find one here in the U.S., but it seems they weren’t very popular and are now impossible to find.

[@jorgedej6028]

Love all your content! If you were to go back to this part to tidy it up (with a limited budget), how would you do it or would you just start from scratch?

[@cesarortega6615]

Are you going to make another one. To see the difference now

[@Bosbulls]

My question as well.

[@ericgarrett7875]

Nice job ... Good advice! Critiquing your old work may help someone.

[@timothywhieldon1971]

IMO if i made that, i would be VERY Happy that it held up and worked... welds are 5/10 NOT CRAP, they are ok and bottom line... thats all that it needs.

[@JackHudler]

Very interesting to see your evolution as a welder.

[@roadkillwi]

I know it would take a good amount of work but i think it would be cool to make the intake again to show of your improvement in welding, layout, and general skills that you could display next to each other

[@ifell3]

There are proberly 100 people who would love to be able to weld like that aha

[@inspireonex]

Proberly so

[@robke12]

When i look back 12 years to now my skill level went up

[@theimpatientbrewer]

Ha, to me it looks good. I wish I was able to figure out my settings to make a weld even half as good.

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Sheet Metal Intake Manifold Built By Hand Part 1 thefabricatorseries.com/build-blogs//sheet-metal-intake-manifold-entirely-by-hand-p1 Part 2 thefabricatorseries.com/build-blogs//sheet-metal-intake-manifold-entirely-by-hand-p2

[@sumduma55]

Thanks for these links. And thanks for reviewing this project from the past. It's encouraging.

[@joell439]

It worked - and I’m always inspired with what you do 👍👍😎👍👍

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

I welded. It helded. But it looked like shit 😅

[@milesb4231]

Stupid question - couldn't you just grind down the outside welds? How much strength would you really use to flatten out the overlap weld that is filled with so much filler?

[@ypaulbrown]

Outstanding Justin........

[@mrvector257]

Lobbing arcs of ropes is a big problem of mine too. Except just the opposite...

[@AATopFuel]

Did your intake work? What I don't see is welding material that is sitting on top to the left and to the right of the seam with little to no penetration. That is the crap that I see in my neighborhood.

[@builtbyme]

Im just gonna be the car/truck guy who notices the plate on the car behind him that says WELDY😅 I know you build and have built some badass stuff in the automotive world that nobody knows about. If I wasn't across the country in NJ id for sure have to come to your class and learn. Its skill to have for sure. I myself have a primeweld 225 and a mig 180 and a plasma cut 50. Ive used them not knowing a thing about anything other then watching your content and just trying. I suck for sure, but, im not scared to try, and am always willing to learn. Time gets in the way tho owning a business myself. But i do appreciate when you upload.

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Weldy is the Mascotte for Weld Metals. I dedicated the car to him 🙂. You can always book a class with me at WeldCoach.com. I'll be glad to teach you

[@onmywayout]

You should make another one now. Compare and contrast.

[@sintondugan6014]

all fair and well but it didn't brake do you want it to look good or work and it worked so why worry

[@ascension6142]

Looks fine

[@metalbill]

I’m picking up a theme here. Practice maybe?

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Not at all. Zero practice ever. Nobody gets good with wasting time trying to get more betterer. ALWAYS give up before you try to avoid disappointment. Additionally, always lift heavy parts in a twisting and grinding motion using only your back.

[@RK-kn1ud]

It almost looks like nearly every prototype racing part ever built. For racing, it's perfectly fine. It didn't fail. Most real racecars are FAR from pretty under the hood. I guarantee the wiring on that car was probably more horrendous than your welds were!

[@superbarnie]

I dont recognize the car in the back. What is it?

[@jasoncampbell4723]

Viper

[@superbarnie]

@@jasoncampbell4723 Thanks

[@killjoysxe]

Interested is what you would’ve charged for something like this 12 years ago vs now

[@danielsplayhouse3804]

It doesn't matter what the weld's look like. The question is did it work and is it still solid. There is never a wrong way for a strong weld. Just because it's not welding porn doesn't mean it's bad.

[@lungsup]

This is like calling yourself fat around people who are bigger than you. Now I’m hiding all my welds. Ha ha.

[@CLNracing]

Most top notch race cars don't have show car pretty parts. Its all about functionality with regards to the application, everything else is merely an added bonus. People pay Ferrari money because they are hand built right? Have you ever seen the welds on a Ferrari? haha

[@Nick-zq4sk]

You welded and 12 years later it still helded

[@jamesfino7962]

Where would you be if refused the challenge because you thought you weren't yet good enough?

[@bobbeamis1]

You should build an exact replica part and compare them step by step.

[@overbuiltautomotive1299]

if my aluminum weld look like that ill be ok with it and if it not with in my liking grind sand and powder coat lol

[@GuitarDad5150]

Thanks for the video. I wish my welds look half as good as those welds. In the words of the Weld Monger, my TIG welds look like Fido’s butt. Thanks for giving us areas to improve. The prep kills me. I just want to weld. But have learned that the prep and fitting is most important.

[@scottcarr3264]

Hi from Australia, I spent 2 full days at work Deburring, wire brushing and sanding "Shiny" oxide finish off a lot of Aluminium and late Yesterday I finally started to actually weld the parts together, (all Tig) 7 done so far out of 36. I also before that, had to build a large Jig to set up all the parts TO weld, exactly to the Drawing, that took me 2 1/2 days. But that is what it takes as a Fitter & Machinist / Fabricator. 45 years in the Trade, most of the last 25 years as a Fabricator. I still "Kick myself" for some of the "not so nice" welds I have done. Even now I still try to get better.

[@OldDirtGuy]

Don't be so hard on yourself. 12 years ago you hand made a race part that won races and looks to have needed not a single repair. All race parts look good coming over the line first. I happen to like it. Gritty but effective and reliable. Isn't that the entire automotive market in a nutshell? Hang it on the wall. It will forever be cool.

[@jimhowell4937]

I’m sure not going to send you my work for a Live weld review.

[@Low760]

Being so critical is hilarious, if it works and doesn't break, ugly isn't a big deal for personal use. Life isn't an Instagram page.

[@douglasmcwhirter9572]

How about a redemption video of the manifold. We see what it was 12 years ago, let's see how much you have improved since then. (The end result can be a random giveaway for a lucky viewer that hang up in his/her garage)

[@KeeperXerath]

Practice, Practice, Practice lol thanks😊

[@stinkycheese804]

At the end of the day, if it doesn't leak and didn't break, then your OCD for perfection is wasted (in this particular case).

[@RoguePhantom0001]

Remake this part and then do a side by side comparison. ;-)

[@Mkby88]

Lets GO AVALANCHE !

[@davevick1775]

Everybody starts somewhere. Hell, it could've been a lot worse...

[@chuaroosevelt]

Can you replicate that same part today for comparison?

[@Thelemorf]

I would be glad for my weld on alu to look that good :P

[@jerrybigrig9475]

👍😎👍

[@titomartinez5783]

.....what ever the case may be🤦🏻‍♂️🤣🤣🤣

[@noscadefpv4954]

But it worker.

[@peterfowler8044]

With the hood closed , would anybody notice :) ? Peter

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Just like building a motorcycle... you only see one side at a time.

[@alnasercr7]

انت تصلح مذيع صوت رائع

[@PilotMcbride]

We were all young, silly & headstrong once, 😂. The welding is fine it’s just your beautician skills suck, 😂😂😂. At that time of course. My mentors 50 years ago taught me to be an efficient grinder before they taught me to weld. How did that turn out? We’ll, I can grind like a champion, but my welding sucks big time. Stick & mig are sort of ok, oxy is just passable for a part time skill, but my tig sucks big time 😂😂. King of dip, baron of blowouts….. Yeah, really sucks, tig has got me bluffed out of the game. Thanks for posting.

[@BackFire10mm]

Take if from me, you don't know what you don't know.

[@thomasmartin1443]

Your really hard on your young self Your critiquing a less experienced self You were more than likely more focused on making the equipment. Better than I could do

[@franktaylor7617]

😎👍🇺🇲

[@Fizzure3000]

Seriously, are those phone calls you make staged? (not the winner, just the call itself) Like I said on the last video as well, what the hell is with people not sounding even remotely happy when you say that they have won a brand new item worth hundreds of dollars? lmao It's just "okay, thanks" , not even a little "oh fuck, that's awesome" or anything, just "thanks." lmao

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

This is hard to explain... Based on my experience of meeting thousands of people in person (signing autographs, taking pics, and making appearances over the years). Most people are just people. Some people get all giggly and weird or get lost for words when they meet or talk to me, but the majority are just themselves - people.

[@wingnut2893]

Opinions are like a##holes. Most people have one.

[@matthewmattholew7905]

So eventually you will become a robot. So lets just get robots to weld everything and just call it a day. Come on man. Shit worked just fine.

[@colbymason8054]

Why age yourself?😂

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Fun Fact: I'm actually a half year older today.

[@jasoncampbell4723]

Wow that is a fun fact.

[@zexah3536]

first

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

Sixty-second-th

[@davidresmini51]

stop