So you think you know how to weld? Think again...

...Yeah, I think that outta hold Scotty, Thanks.

I know a few welders, my brother being one and they take pride in their ability, however this guy's a legit master...

There are plenty of artists out there who use welding as a part of their creative process, but none that I can think of actually make the welds their artworks. That’s what makes Scott Raabe so special. The Texas-based industrial welder is so good at what he does that his welding works are pieces of art in their own right. I’m not an expert, but I’m pretty sure pipe welding isn’t supposed to be this visually appealing. However, there’s something about the seemingly perfect way Scott weaves the welding beads between two pieces of metal that makes you want to stare at his works for hours on end.

Scott Raade

a reply to: rexsblues

That's pretty bitch'in OP!
Have you seen or heard about this?

a reply to: randyvs

no I haven't, That's unreal!

a reply to: rexsblues

I'm amazed at how many people know about it.

a reply to: rexsblues
years ago,about 1989,I went to work at the general motors proving ground in mesa az as a machine shop supervisor.My first week there,I was in awe of all the hi tech car stuff they had to play with! A mechanic called me out to the shop,and a head engineer was standing under a new generation corvette,not even seen by the public yet.He told me to weld a piece of tubing from the rear differential to the frame to try to reduce a vibration problem.I looked at it for a minute,then told him I'd have to get my supervisor to do it.He went nuts,asked me if I even knew how to weld....I said sure,but I've never welded aluminum to steel before......He turned beet red and stormed off! The mechanic was in hysterics! I figured with all the toys they had,maybe they had an atomic welder or something I'd never heard of!

originally posted by: blkcwbyhat
a reply to: rexsblues
years ago,about 1989,I went to work at the general motors proving ground in mesa az as a machine shop supervisor.My first week there,I was in awe of all the hi tech car stuff they had to play with! A mechanic called me out to the shop,and a head engineer was standing under a new generation corvette,not even seen by the public yet.He told me to weld a piece of tubing from the rear differential to the frame to try to reduce a vibration problem.I looked at it for a minute,then told him I'd have to get my supervisor to do it.He went nuts,asked me if I even knew how to weld....I said sure,but I've never welded aluminum to steel before......He turned beet red and stormed off! The mechanic was in hysterics! I figured with all the toys they had,maybe they had an atomic welder or something I'd never heard of!

The Hawker de Havilland metalurgical lab that I used to work at had an electron beam welder and we could weld just about any metal to any other, including aluminum to steel.

The whole factory is gone now.

a reply to: rexsblues

Very clean weld!

Has to be an inert gas (MIG or TIG) arc weld to be so clean.

a reply to: blkcwbyhat

Did you see that guy do one. Welding aluminum to steel from
what I know is a talent few possess. I bet he was pissed
because you couldn't do it and they were asking him to do it too.
I've known one person my whole life that can weld aluminum
to steel heads. And his boss kissed his ass constantly.
They had the guy out there try'n to do something no one could do.

Must have hands of a surgeon to weld that nicely.

originally posted by: chr0naut
a reply to: rexsblues

Very clean weld!

Has to be an inert gas (MIG or TIG) arc weld to be so clean.

Welding on something like that isn't that hard, it's a technique known as walking the cup that is used to form the weave. Takes some skill, but not the highest of skill.
Believe it or not but the highest skilled welders are usually those who build railings and such.
I am a production welder, I weld up rail cars, I run Flux core mostly, and when I need to do vertical up hand welding I can make a weave similar to this.

a reply to: glend

Not discounting the technique but he is using the pipe as a pivot point. You can see the scratching above and below the weld.
Strongfp is right about the "walking the cup"
Still light years better than my welds.

originally posted by: strongfp

originally posted by: chr0naut
a reply to: rexsblues

Very clean weld!

Has to be an inert gas (MIG or TIG) arc weld to be so clean.

Welding on something like that isn't that hard, it's a technique known as walking the cup that is used to form the weave. Takes some skill, but not the highest of skill.
Believe it or not but the highest skilled welders are usually those who build railings and such.
I am a production welder, I weld up rail cars, I run Flux core mostly, and when I need to do vertical up hand welding I can make a weave similar to this.

Yeah, I used to weld years ago. Used to be good at up-welds but it was never really my job (I was an Aircraft Fitter-Machinist), only really when building up broken gears & stuff prior to re-machining them.I probably wouldn't be any good at it now.

I admire the skills of those who just do this sort of thing with incredible ease and repeatability.

a reply to: rexsblues

i use to repair welders for a living, seen some damn fine welders and some that couldn't stick anything together.
that there is one fine weld.

a reply to: randyvs


how about thermite welding,

a reply to: hounddoghowlie

I had only heard of it so thanks howlie.

It is a nice weld but really not that uncommon in the skilled trades.

And don't get me wrong, it is way better than I can do but we have a saying for those guys...."anybody can weld sitting at a bench"

I usually find myself hanging upside down from the steel and welding overhead lol....

a reply to: strongfp

I could weld your a$$hole shut if you can stand the pain.
No one has taken me up on this...yet...

I've got to admit with a few others that's a pretty easy weave to do.
I was doing that in my first year of apprenticeship as a welder.
Glad I got out of that game.

The gearhead in me think's that is a thing of beauty, sorta like looking at Miss May only different.