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What was your first welding machine? These welders share theirs.

Decades later, many welders still own and use their original TIG and MIG welding machines

Metal fabricators share stories about the first welding machines they ever owned

Rob Newcomer of Seattle used a Lincoln Electric Handy Core MIG welder to fabricate a decorative railing on his front porch.

Welders share a passion for metal fabrication unmatched by most others in the metalworking industry. For many, it’s viewed as a career and a hobby. And the trade often overlaps business with artistic expression.

Those who have a family background in welding usually are exposed to the craft at a young age. That was the case of Chase McCombs. The Collinsville, Ind., native struck his first arc at 12 years old when he bought his first gas tungsten arc (TIG) welding machine with the help of his father.

Unlike other kids who find a love of metal fabrication, McCombs took it one step further and started his own business before he was a teenager. But his young entrepreneurial spirit goes beyond a cute story of a boy taking on welding projects for family friends. Fourteen years later, his business, McCombs Fabrication, has grown into a successful operation.

McCombs’ story has inspired others in the metal fabrication and welding community to share their stories. A couple of weeks ago, I posed these questions in the June “Welding Wire” e-newsletter: What was the first piece of welding equipment that you ever owned? What did it mean for your career or hobby?

Here are some of your responses.

Rob Newcomer's First Welding Machine, Seattle

My first welding machine was a Lincoln Electric Handy Core MIG welder. I bought it off Craigslist for $150. It was in new condition; the gent I bought it from used it only once. It even had the hand-held face shield with it.

I was a new student in my local college's welding program and had only taken an oxyacetylene course up to that time. But I needed to do some sheet metal welding on my truck. Since I didn't know anyone with that skill, I figured I could do it myself. So, I bought the little flux-core MIG machine and taught myself how to use it and weld with it.

Since then I have completed the welding program I was enrolled in with an emphasis in TIG welding and have purchased an AC/DC TIG machine. However, I still use that little flux-core MIG for a lot of stuff. Just recently I used it to fabricate a decorative railing for my front porch. It only runs off 110 VAC, but it’s so handy. I've also repaired a quarter panel on my truck, a mower deck for a friend, etc.

It doesn't have to be the most expensive machine on the market to get good results. If you learn the machine's limits/capabilities and learns to manipulate the settings for each job, you can see very satisfactory results even on the most basic of machines.

Craig Srba's First Welding Machine, Stainless Design Inc., Westerville, Ohio

I took welding classes during high school at a trade program just to learn how to be able to weld, not to make it a career. I saw my father gas welding, brazing, and using lead to fill in dents in car panels as a kid. I thought it was neat that he could do those things while most people couldn’t. What also drove my interest in welding was that my older brother would always challenge me in building miniature model cars to race each other with. His joining skills included soldering, while my only joining skill was with tape! He always beat me. My cars just fell apart. That scenario had to change.

Metal fabricators share stories about the first welding machines they ever owned

Rich Papayanopulos of New Castle, Del., picked up welding six years ago at the age of 60 and has since fabricated many items with a Hobart MIG welder, including this light fixture.

So, during high school and after graduation, I had welding jobs. I was never without a job. Most were in GMAW (MIG) production, but I realized I liked GTAW (TIG) better and pursued a career in that welding process. After a few years of that, I desired more of a challenge and got the bug to start my own business focused on welding and brazing with GTAW specialization. So I purchased a TIG welder, a MIG welder, a plasma cutter, a spot welder, a bunch of grinders, clamps, and other hand tools for about $12K. Because of the multitude of material types, thicknesses, and joint geometries that came my way on a regular basis, the need to be able to change TIG torch sizes quickly became paramount to maintain successful business operations.

So out of that need, in 1989, I invented the first Versa-TIG™ System. It allows you to connect multiple GTAW torches to a single power source and then safely select the proper torch for each welding situation in one second – no tools required. I quickly learned that other welding facilities had the same need as mine. My research also found that in addition to the practical aspect of being able to change torches quickly, there were safety benefits as well. Those included shock, electrocution, and explosion hazard reductions. So, I patented the system and added that production line to the business portfolio of welding and consulting.

Now, 40 some years later, I’m looking forward to retirement and passing Versa-TIG System manufacturing on to another company that can recognize its value. I’m grateful for the career path I chose in welding and feel very satisfied to have been able to contribute new and useful equipment to the welding industry in the process. It is amazing now that I look back at it that welding school and 10 years later, a $12K investment in welding equipment would set me up for a great life long career in welding and spur a practical invention.

My passion has always been to take welding to the next level and continue to strive to be the best at everything I do. Welding can work for anyone that has a genuine interest in it. Explore it and enjoy it!

Oh, and by the way, since I learned how to weld, my brother, who later became an aeronautical engineer, has never challenged me to another miniature model race car again!

Rich Papayanopulos First Welding Machine, TA Instruments, New Castle, Del.

I spent my entire working life designing stuff for other people to build. About six years ago, at the age of 60, I decided I was tired of others having all the fun. In my book, there is nothing like melting metal. I started with a Hobart MIG welder, then added a TIG and a plasma cutter. Increasing the fun, I added a small machine and sheet metal shop. This may sound like an overstatement, but working with metal has renewed my enthusiasm for life.

Mike Finn's First Welding Machine, Floturn Inc., Fairfield, Ohio

I took welding courses in vocational school. My father was in the metal spinning and machining trades.

I was intrigued with welding and all the building you could do if you had this discipline mastered. My father knew nothing of welding, so I thought it would be a good addition to our family business. A family friend gave me a welder his father made from a transformer and directions from a Popular Mechanics magazine. This machine got me started, but it was extremely crude and probably even dangerous!

In 1980 my brother, Jack, had a fender bender on a car my father insured. The car was still drivable, so he had my brother take me to the farm store and buy a Lincoln AC/DC 115/125 arc welder. This was a great machine for the money and is still plugged in at home in my garage today. Any time my brother, now 60, visits me, he always asks how my welder is doing.

Joseph Civita's First Welding Machine, JTC Enterprises, Attleboro, Mass.

My first welder was a 1969 Lincoln Gas Drive A Lincwelder 225. The electric start didn't work. You haven't lived until you've rope-started an 18-HP Onan twin in the dead of winter on a job site. No recoil. You had to wrap the rope around a rope plate on the end of the motor each time.

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