WELDING Like a Pro Even with Shaky Hands

[@vorsprung2330]

Hello my dear Chris Hope you and your family are great all. Chris is have been learning from you a lot and i wanna thank for all. Christ would you mind if i sent my welding photos to you every now and then so you can rate my welding ? I would really appreciate that. If you can give me your email I would sent it.

[@TaylorWelding]

Hello👋 Yes. I’ll help you anyway I can. Send the photos to [e-mail] I will cover your pictures with some others in the next video

[@StephenFleming-b8j]

I've been a welder for 40 years and I still can take advice from a younger pro. You are a pro because you pay attention to what you're doing. At 73, I can say when I stopped and kind of alcoholic consumption, the overhead and vertical have been like spreading butter. Thanks for the instructions.

[@denniskalivoda]

Guy you hit the tips n the head. I was a welding instructor in a technical college and these are the things I instructed them to do ,then take them and customize them for their needs.

[@denniskalivoda]

Guy, you hit all the good points. I was a welding instructor in a technical college and I don’t know a lot of things, but you hit every point that I did for the students. That I tell them to use these tips , customize these tips for your style.

[@philreynolds7216]

I’m just a beginner hobbyist, but I took a couple of classes at my local community college to get started. I learned to not grip the stinger so hard. Just enough to control it. It’s not a gun - there’s no recoil to control. Gripping it hard will set up the shakes.

[@wadepatton2433]

gripping a gun "hard" compromises accuracy. Save hard gripping for tug-o-war and such.

[@paulhetchler1635]

Chris, Thank you for addressing this problem. I like your style of teaching. I am a retired H.S. teacher, now a farmer. As I am approaching age 80 I have developed "essential tremor". Although I can not make decent looking welds anymore, I have still been able to teach the basics of welding to 3 of my grandsons. One of the grandsons has participated in welding classes at the local Vo Tech College and he got a very good instructor. During his Jr year in HS (with welding classes at the Vo Tech), he earned welding certifications in both stick and MIG. Now he does my critical structural welding while I still do the less critical stuff. I do appreciate your tips and will pass on links to your videos to the 3 grandsons. Have a great Holiday season!

[@ericpoulin82]

Hey Chris, thank you for taking the time to explain these welding techniques to the newer welders and even the experienced at that. I wish that there were mentors like yourself in the beginning stages of my career. The teachings that you can pass onto others is a valuable asset that most other trades people out there won't easily pass onto others. I made it a solemn promise to do the same for anyone that came across my path that I saw struggling to freely teach them and not hide any information that would help them forward in there career because I know the feeling that when someone wants to protect their job, be the last man standing to feed their family people will do what they have to no matter what to do these things even not teach others to stay to the end. I met you a couple years back at the Vancouver resource conference ( I was the bigger guy/Welder who briefly talked to you before you headed to a meeting). To add to your comment my saying is that I may not be the Brightest Bulb on the Tree, But it's the Dimmest Ones That Last the Longest. Always staying Humble and Eating Humble Pie every morning. Thanks again for doing this for the younger generation or the starters in this trade. Eric the Welder

[@fastbusiness]

Tried two of your tips today: 1) Running 7018 vertical up, stopping and holding the toes of the bead for a full two seconds each made great improvement in undercut. 2) Holding the stinger with the lead between the pinky and ring finger does steady the rod some. Can't explain why, but it works. Thanks, my friend.

[@gregorygray9967]

I’ve been struggling with this myself. Definitely going to give this a try Thank you.

[@PlaneTeeth]

That pinky trick is good thanks

[@TaylorWelding]

No problem! Thank you for watching

[@RichardWiazardry]

I got a grant to build some art awhile back and had a car accident, not my fault. I was using a torch to cut out steel flowers, my shaky hands from a concussion made them better.

[@TaylorWelding]

That’s cool. I hate to hear that though.

[@BCole-bj4lv]

You nailed it, Chris. I think of you ever day when I grab my white out pen and draw my lines. That was a genius recommendation. I told my steel supplier that they need to have those.

[@TaylorWelding]

Thank you BCole.

[@THirstyCamel1023]

A tip when practicing take your lead and hang it up on something and leave enough lead to do your weld , it will make the the stinger/ welding lead a lot lighter and help with some shaking.

[@stansbruv3169]

“Start out in a bind”. I hear you dude! That’s the best advice/tip/trick/etc!! I spend so much time trying to START OFF in a “perfect” position only to immediately transition to a much less useful position. Thank you! Subscribed!

[@randalllee2525]

Thanks for your video I started welding at my home when I was 65. sent then I have tremmers bad. Now 74 I love welding , and alot of times I will hold the rod.And your right it gets very hot sometimes. So Thanks Take care. Randy

[@TaylorWelding]

Hello Mr. Randal, first off that’s pretty cool. You’re welding at 74. Half of America can’t jump over their bed rails at 74. Could you use a sacrificial, welding glove, thick leather. Give me a little bit. I’ll think of something. I hate that for you. Getting old is not for pansies and The alternative is no good.

[@bobroberson9286]

Having been welding for bout 50-yrs I've tried damn near everything but my go to is to keep several 2 X 4's of drifferent lgth around and prop off of the board as it's leaning on what you're welding on and it gives you a variable hgth and positions 👍

[@TaylorWelding]

That’s a good idea! Thank you for sharing, Mr. Bob . can you elaborate a little bit? I’d like to mention this in a video

[@frederickshipp8013]

I've done that too, sometimes I use my hammer handle. What ever works.

[@bobroberson9286]

​@@TaylorWeldingThis idea works real well especially on pipe. Say your weld is 4-5' high then cut the 2x4 to 6' or better, one end on the ground & the other on the pipe. Then just prop on the 2x4 and you can slide up and down on the board as your position changes on the pipe. Some time I'll nail a 4" piece of 2x4 to the long one and prop on it which helps as well. This works well if you're in a man lift basket also .

[@albertocarbajal1776]

A lot of times I use a pipe or crescent wrench most.

[@raydewley9796]

Great tip about your pinky placement!

[@TaylorWelding]

Thank you

[@miken3260]

I was a truck driver for 30 years. Our head instructor told us on the last day, “if you think that you know it all, get off the road before you kill somebody. You will never know it all.” Good advice no matter what the profession. A bad weld could kill someone too.

[@ILikeFreedomYo]

Your teaching style is a masterpiece. The attitude of "do what you want, but this is how and why I do it" is a wise one. Not only do we not know everything. We dont know what different quirks will make an Einstein. Musk became something no one else was because he did something different.

[@TaylorWelding]

Thank you. And Well said.

[@Nomomrknifeguy]

We were talking about your videos at work recently. We agreed that the way you teach is easy to understand. You seem like a down to earth, hard worker that would be fun to have on the job, too. Thanks for the new content. Much appreciated!

[@TaylorWelding]

Thank you, Joshua I appreciate that more than you know. Thank you for sharing. I always had a lot of fun everywhere I went. If I didn’t, I didn’t go there anymore lol

[@TaylorWelding]

But I like to work. I’d get to work and set some goals. Sometimes other people didn’t have those same goals. That made the day a little bit longer if you know what I mean.

[@andrewbradstreet4218]

Amen on the truck driver comment! True story man.

[@PaulThomas-qo9vy]

Yes to the caffeine shakes! I discovered that in SS Tig welding school. I worked midnite shift, slept daytime, got up early to go to Tig class, practiced welding 2 hrs, took a break in the cafeteria & got a 20 oz. Mountain Dew & chugged it & went back to class for 2 more hrs. I noticed my hand was like a sewing machine after the break but not before! Tried it 2 more times, just to be sure! So I learned to lay off the caffeine until after class, but just before going on to work at midnight.

[@TaylorWelding]

That will do it

[@mcluvineer358]

Can you do a video on the different kinds of metal and what they are used for and how to weld them. I know there is hot rolled, cold roll, mild, etc. Noone ever goes over that stuff.

[@wadepatton2433]

Metals and How to Weld Them (1962) is a small textbook covering these things. Amazon has it, but it's way way cheaper to pick up a used copy on ebay. It's great for "filling in the holes" left by videos on welding.

[@TaylorWelding]

I would have to refer to the book. Usually use what ever the procedure says

[@austinhenry7626]

Thanks so much for the tips for shaky hands! I have been suffering from parkinson tremors and have troubles starting an arc.

[@TaylorWelding]

That’s a tough one, I hope the tips help you out.

[@SFS13-01]

Loved your analogy about, “The only person that knows more than a weldor is a truck driver”. I’ve been both 😂! Definitely two professions where one spends entirely too much time alone.

[@TaylorWelding]

10/4! lol . I’m glad we can laugh about it. Because it’s true.

[@thisfool90]

Dude.. super solid advice. Thank you 🙏

[@TaylorWelding]

Happy to help!

[@neilheriot2361]

Solid advice , will defenetaly keep that on file. Have an awesome day.✌

[@rmwolfe6938]

Thank man. Love your videos. Keep on doing what you do.

[@SouthernGround]

All fantastic tips👍....... something about grip angle, our body's are kind of like a spring and has a natural position, something I learned after many years of NRA competition "Bullseye" offhand shooting, you close your eyes, point at your target and see where your sights land, shift your body till your sights land where you want them each time you close eye's then open them, your grip angle will also naturally fall into place, this is a good starting point then bend your rod accordingly (with your arm/arms closer to your body, we are welding not shooting the pipe /plate ect. .) it's all about being relaxed and not fighting yourself. after many decades in the welding field it all just became muscle memory, I just struck an arc and got it done, , The tip about grip is super important, as you stated a death grip is a shake and bake result. Ty again for knowledge you share that makes better weldors of us all.

[@TaylorWelding]

Great tips, I’m going to try that for sure.thank you

[@JohnBelk-c2k]

Yup... all good advice. I agree with all this.

[@TaylorWelding]

Thank you JOHN.

[@zjtr10since80]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@scottboykin9487]

Thanks, Chris. Your video was super helpful, I tried the pinky trick, and oh, what a difference. My stinger stays steady and my hand feels so much better. I did notice that my rod does shake in my stinger, something that I never even though about. Do you have any recommendations on what type or brand of stinger to run? I've always had a clamp style stinger, but I'm definitely open to trying something different.

[@TaylorWelding]

Stubbyrodsaver.com is the best stinger I’ve ever used .

[@TaylorWelding]

You’re welcome it was a great question

[@acs66562]

First and most important thing is get rid of gator clamp stingers. Get the twist type so you can lock that rod down tight. Then you can bend the rod in any angle easily and that allows you to put your hand in the most comfortable and natural position

[@Blackopsmechanic338]

Excellent advice! 👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@TaylorWelding]

Thanks!

[@WelderViking]

Curl the rod end that your stinger grips just a half trun with your stinger. Then bite the curl with your stinger. There is no excess exposed rod to arc on and the shake will be drastically diminished.

[@trentlk]

I think thats about the same as I used to do. Used a 300 amp tweco and no mater what the rod diameter grab it in the bottom slot and bend 90 degrees. As you're welding you can change the angle and position of the stinger and rod on the fly.

[@TaylorWelding]

That’s a good one. Thank you for sharing

[@Truth2Truth777]

Great video Bud!

[@TaylorWelding]

Thank you!

[@TaylorWelding]

I’m glad you liked it. If you have any ideas for any more videos. I’m trying to get back in the groove.

[@attilasanver5409]

Thanks for your good advice.

[@TaylorWelding]

My pleasure! Thank you for the comment

[@marveltric1773]

I'm learning now and I just started on open root pipe and these are some great tips. Any tips for getting a good root consistently?

[@TaylorWelding]

Burn rods and then burn more rods

[@paulbisceglia6824]

Hi Chris where can I get that stinger? What is your link to your store?

[@drewscarcare4998]

THanks Chris, say hi to Stacy and the dogs!!!!

[@TaylorWelding]

Your welcome. Will do . Thanks for watching

[@ypaulbrown]

Always great Chris…Paulie in Orlando

[@TaylorWelding]

Thanks, Paulie

[@strakill]

You touched on something and maybe you've already made a video about but I am confused on rod angle going uphill. Straight in, slightly angled up, or what? I'm still green but up hill is one area I am struggling with.

[@TaylorWelding]

Yes that’s it.

[@gonzalolopez7199]

excelente video saludos

[@TaylorWelding]

Gracias!

[@kniteslayer]

I’m going to school right now and I think the pinky on the the lead might help me out cuz I know I’d never think about something like that 😂 I’m also wondering what kind of stinger you’re using? First time I’ve seen something like that

[@TaylorWelding]

It’s called a stubby rod saver. stubby rodsaver.com is coming next week. It’s military grade stinger they were bringing back.

[@kniteslayer]

@ awesome, thank you very much! I’ll keep an eye out for it

[@AdamBender-ss1ci]

Now I'm a DIYer on welding and an older guy .. But I think you may have missed what I do is break a welding in half and then take off a little flux on the one that needs it,and weld with two shorter ones..The down fall is burning out rods faster and then you have to grab another one..Which may not be good for professional welding and time constraints.. But it helps when I have alot more time to do a project and I don't care that much about time.

[@TaylorWelding]

I think you’re a pretty smart DIYer.

[@bartfart2123]

my hands shake. fact of life. but one thing i found was always saving my broken tig torch leads. they'll get a hole in them or a piece of equipment will drive over them and now thy leak. but they make light lead for stick welding. also i always kept a couple different electrode holders on hand up to 400 amp rated if i was welding a dancefloor at a refinery. but take a light duty electrode holder,mount it to the old tig torch lead and it's feather light. even had some 250 amp tig leads off larger jobs for GE (huge thick inconel or hastoloy piping) that worked well for medium duty stick jobs. once you have found a comfortable position to weld from,wrap that lead around your arm so the weight doesn't hang off your hand but off more your elbow thus tiring your shoulder less. and the other tip was exercise three times a week (calisthenics ,weightlifting or something to strengthen your body,and it don't take much your body will respond and feel better immediately) and your day will be much easier than if you just sit around slamming beers all night turning into a marshmellow

[@TaylorWelding]

That’s a lot of great advice!

[@bartfart2123]

@@TaylorWelding you know welders always think we have all the answers

[@jayc4562]

I developed an essential tremor which made tig welding thin wall 4130 and welding with a stinger impossible. Doctors have developed a cure for some types of tremors. It involves ultrasound wave to your brain. This is cutting edge stuff. After the first of the year I am getting a cat scan and a mri to see if I am a candidate. Insurance will cover it.

[@markgoode8838]

I’ve got a problem seeing my work. I can see my weld but can’t see in front and sometimes I will weld off the line I’m trying to weld. Any suggestions?

[@TaylorWelding]

That’s a good question. it happens all of us. There’s a few things you can do. I’ll try to make you a video.

[@markgoode8838]

@ thanks

[@johnbyram5391]

i shake pretty bad these days but i sometimes will hold it by the insulator and let the rod stick out between two fingers.

[@louiebre3886]

Do you have anymore stubby rode holders?

[@TaylorWelding]

stubbyrodsaver.com will be up and running next week

[@louiebre3886]

@@TaylorWelding am i able to buy one from you?

[@fztfabs65]

Too bad you can’t get the patent to make these stingers. Cause I’d buy a few for sure.

[@TaylorWelding]

Stubbyrodsaver.com

[@TaylorWelding]

It’s in the works should be ready this week

[@fztfabs65]

@ Oh nice that’s awesome, would you be able to ship to Canada?

[@richardlee2740]

Gyroscopic wrist-band harmonic hand stabilizers....

[@richardlambert1544]

You could be Billy Bob Thornton twin

[@P46345]

I worked for a guy that said Argon caused brain damage, maybe he was right??? ;-)

[@TaylorWelding]

Lol

[@tapioca7115]

you're like a Mr.Miyagi for welders

[@TaylorWelding]

LOL weld on weld off

[@JohnHaynes-k5w]

Same for the USA we should openly carry our rifles there would be lot less crime and we would all be safer

[@someguy4476]

You would be surprised how much ONE less coffee will make.

[@TaylorWelding]

I’m down to one cup in the morning. Any more is too much

[@WV591]

Shoot when you reach the shaking age, hands jumping left right up down, just have to make sure that your work will not get inspected. and you weld only as a hobby.

[@billpimentel-vm6cu]

Usually I just crack a beer and the shaking stops

[@reuckcustoms4391]

I use two hands and when I tack I hold the rod like a pencil.

[@JR48Welding]

Definitely DON'T want the chicharone fingered gloves!

[@TaylorWelding]

lol fo sho.