HELP welding a stub shaft

Sodo · May 13, 2014

Baby Grand said:
You're really getting your money's worth out of that Dewalt!
It's too bad this thread isn't over on the welding forum - there are some very, very experienced welders lurking there.
Maybe you could start a thread over there, asking for some advice, and have a link to this thread?

Not sure why I posted here instead of the welding forum. I've been there before. One thing I noticed on forums is the more experienced a guy is the more "you can't do that" advice you get. There's a lot of fellas out there with less experience but enough smarts and far more enthusiasm to get it done, thats who I wanted help from. Experience is important but I think some of those old guys who could tackle anything in their younger days have become too pessimistic to make things happen anymore if ya know what I mean. You have to have a positive goal in mind, if you don't have that you are going to fail from the getgo. Not a surprise, thats pretty much how the world works actually, you think negative you will fail and you're doing that to yourself.

Anyway thanks for all the kudos, I've patted myself on the back a few times too. I walk over and look at that shaft as if it's the first time I saw it, its sure beautiful thing! Still a little surprised something didn't go wrong. In fact I held off buying any further parts waiting for the "success" of this step. (the reluctant optimist). I didn't win out "in time", it took me all day, if billed out at $95/hour it would be an $800 repair. But with my new "experience" I could do it again much faster.

pmsmechanic · May 13, 2014

I'm impressed! Well done and who cares how much time you spent on the job. You are that much wiser now for the next job and sometimes there's no point in putting a price on gaining wisdom.

"Not sure why I posted here instead of the welding forum. I've been there before. One thing I noticed on forums is the more experienced a guy is the more "you can't do that" advice you get. There's a lot of fellas out there with less experience but enough smarts and far more enthusiasm to get it done, thats who I wanted help from. Experience is important but I think some of those old guys who could tackle anything in their younger days have become too pessimistic to make things happen anymore if ya know what I mean. You have to have a positive goal in mind, if you don't have that you are going to fail from the getgo. Not a surprise, thats pretty much how the world works actually, you think negative you will fail and you're doing that to yourself."

In regards to the above quote I often say that it's amazing what you can do when you don't know that you can't do it.

Sodo · Jun 1, 2014

Started mowing yesterday, the mower is quiet & smooth. I like it! Have a little pulley wobble, will try to measure it after the mowing is done. I'm about 3 weeks late, the grass is thick. I'll say there's quite a lot to learn for a first-time mower.