Preheat in Welding and Similar Situations

I have written about this earlier but when I was in the engineering school, taking my first, I would call them technical courses, I was a bit terrified of the possible mistake I could do and mess up the whole production line mid-through the course. This fear later on went away. I don’t know how but maybe I didn't pay enough attention to the courses and failed a few! I really don’t remember and it doesn't matter now.

 Then starting work in the industry, I soon realized that most of the nonsense we studies in those years were only theory. No one, literally no one ever or barely utilizes them in the work and they were only good to pass hours in the classroom, pass the examinations and get the damn bachelor’s degree. Of course high-tech industry uses them but how many companies we have around the world and how many educated people we have in those companies who are really in to that.

 With that in mind I was reading the newly issued CSA Standard W59-13, that part about preheating of weld. This section has a big table (called Table 5.3) which tells you for what welding process and what thickness of base metal, what the pre-heat temperature should be.

For instance if you have between 20 and 40 mm of thickness using SMAW process and your consumables of Hydrogen Designation of less than H4, you need to apply 50° C heat prior to commence welding. This temperature should remain the same during the course welding, when the base metal is below the temperature listed the surface of the parts on which the weld metal is being deposited are at or above the minimum stated temperature for distance equal to the thickness of the thickness of the part being welded but not less than 75 mm, both laterally and in advance of welding.

 This more sounds like a stupid joke to me that if I told, no one would laugh at it. First of all who is going to check that temperature? The welder wouldn't do it because all he or rarely she wants to do is to finish the damn weld and get to his favorite bar for his beer. Welding inspector for sure wouldn’t do it. Welding inspectors are mostly a damn fool who wait until the welding is finished and then start their inspection! Unlike what is said that quality control should be proactive, not reactive, the majority of quality control actions are reactive in the industry. How about the welding supervisor? He is probably busy somewhere in a filthy office by the phone and even if he was not and really wanted to check the temperature, how would he do it? Does he have a thermometer on him?! Never!

 Even theoretically an inspection package available in the market for the inspectors does not contain a thermometer of any kind. So this is another reason as why most of the things we read in the standards, textbooks and specifications are all silly nonsense! I have a few photos of popular weld inspection sets for welding. None of them includes a thermometer of any kind. I guess I made my point. 

(Photo: A modern Welding Inspection Kit comprises of different tools but no thermometer of any kind. I have a gauge given to me by The Cheapskate, never used it so far unless for practice)

My Memories of Mr. Spock

It was many years ago I was in Grade 1 or preschool, perhaps. That's why I do not remember clearly. We used to play in the beautiful garden yards of Farhad School and I recall kids calling each other on their imaginary radio: Kirk, from Spoke! Kirk from Spoke! Can you here me? This was of course before the Islamic Diarrhea Revolution and I barely remember the series but clearly remember its lovely soundtrack and scenes with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelly as the doctor, the Black woman, Nichelle Nicols but don't remember any story as I was very little. 

Yes. Star Trek used to be shown in the old country under the title of The Pioneers of Space! Was it as popular as it was in North America? I have no idea. I might talk to Mom about that but I know they were not into TV very much. I remember though that there was a channel called International Channel where we used to see mostly American cartoons, series or movies but again I vaguely remember things because of my age at the time. 

Nimoy with his Vulcan salute that is said is originated from a Jewish salute or gesture, Nimoy's parents were Jewish Soviets who immigrated to the States.

Leonard Nimoy, one the two main characters of the original Star Trek died today at the age of 83. I read just the day before or yesterday that he had been transferred to a hospital due to health problems. I guess Nimoy and in general Star Trek came to the attention of public recently when Sheldon Cooper, the character in popular TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory and other fellas repeatedly refer to him and cherish them. I traveled to Town of Vulcan last April to see its Trek Center but it was closed due to early season arrival of mine. Nimoy who portrayed Mr. Spock in Star Trek presumably was half Vulcan and half human but that's as far as I know. For years I wanted to see both the original series and the main movies made based on the original including Wrath of Khan but never did. So much to do and so little time! Maybe I should start soon! 

A replica model of Enterprise spaceship installed in Town of Vulcan, Alberta supposedly the birthplace of Mr. Spock or his native planet.

(Photo, top of the post: A plaque welcomes visitor to Town of Vulcan in Southeastern Alberta where I visited last April and I will again when I get another chance to visit the Trek Center and take more photos)

Roll Up the Rim to Win

Tim Horton's has this Roll Up the Rim to Win contest every year for a few weeks. I have never taken it seriously because first of all I'm not a Tim Horton's fan and second of all I hate gambling. Nevertheless I have won a few doughnuts and such in the past and this year too. I have tried twice only this year and that because of the introduction of their new coffee, the Dark Roast. 

The amount of crushed paper cups normally increases during this contest's period. Apparently people buy the coffee with the hope of wining something big and get nothing and through the damn cup away! But Tim Horton's coffee shops are normally crowded so I don't know what the frustration is about. You normally pay for the breakfast and now you have a chance to win something and you're upset because you didn't win?! Grow up! 

(Photo: A garbage can in Crowchild Twin Arenas where we go normally on Sun., afternoons for skating. This is alway fun and it was today as well. I happen to see this bin and took the photo of lots of disappointment!)

Footprints in Snow

I had planned to go to Kananaskis for a short hike this weekend but when I woke up in the morning and checked the weather, I learnt there had been a snowfall warning for the region which warns of up to 15 cm of the snow. So I decided to cancel the trip. 

I went to Bowness Park instead and did a little walk towards the west side of the park where this Valley Ridge Gold Course is located. That was not a very impressive walk but at least I checked out a neighbourhood that I had not been to before. 

This look like a bear footprint to me but I could be wrong. Any idea? Maybe a wolf, fox or coyottee?! 

This is a set of four slightly impressions and you would find the next a meter ahead of this. Rabbit? 

Obviously a bird and a confused one! A magpie maybe as there are plenty of them in Calgary

Bow River Pathway in facts ends there and instead of the usual sign you see this Calgary Pathways sign and you hit the golf course. I crossed to the course and of course there was no one in there but I feared their cameras and being charged with trespassing! We'll see! 

On my way I saw a few footprints of different animals that you see them here. Then when I was going back to the parking lot, I walked on the river's bank and that was a bit tricky because I had to get very close and walk on the ice and there was the risk of breaking the ice and falling in the ice cold waters of Bow River. Luckily I managed to pass and get myself safely to the vehicle after almost 2 hours of walking and photography. 

(Photo, top: This is the edge of the ice which was partially broken. at the banks of Bow River. It is more than a foot thick)

Surfing in Calgary

Can you imagine you can practice surfing in Calgary, even in winter?! You don't have to travel to Caribbean or Australia. The fact is it has not been a serious winter so far. 

I was on Bow River Pathway last week for a walk and saw these two guys by 10th St. Bridge. In fact I had seen people at the same spot a few month ago but that was July or Aug. but the warm winter has encouraged people to do this activity in the ice cold waters of  Bow River. Some don't even dare touch the water!

(Photo: This is the moment that the surfer is able to stand on his feet on the board. You can see a giant slab of ice in front of the scene. This was just shortly after 16:00 hours)

Family Day at the Olympic Oval

We have started a new Skating course more than a months ago and although we both like our previous course's instructor, we are enjoying this course as well. This year the Oval is a bit busier which is both good and bad. It's good for the business but at times it get's very crowded but has not affected our practice and learning very much.

A huge crowed was at the Oval today but the majority of them were spectators, mostly family members who were there for Pizza and Pop by Papa John's and a big number of beginners who just wanted to post their photo in skating gear to their Facebook page! 

We realized that free skating would be held this Family Day at the Oval when we attended our class last week so we went there today. We were there at about 12:30 and that's the time we started and apart from a few breaks we were active until almost 15:00. There was a 15 minutes break for everyone to let the Zambonis ran on the tracks. It was a busy they there were lots of beginners and posers but that didn't bother us too much. I maneuver between the people and enjoyed the fastest ice in the world. It truly was amazing we had lots of fun. We even practice backward for a while and enjoyed ourselves. 

(Photo, top: posters of Canadian speed skaters, national, provincial, world and Olympic champions on Olympic Oval walls)