[John Rogers]

I think welding is a craft that will disappear over time if not used. How often depends on the person as some need to practice weekly or daily or monthly. It is the same as using a lathe or milling machine and for some even riding a bicycle. I bought a 3 in 1 drill/lathe/mill this past spring and it suddenly hit me, I have done any machining since 1984! So I practiced on some scrap aluminum before I started cutting dove tails on my rifle barrels!

I did know a nuclear cleared welder at Newport News shipyard back in 1969 who had been welding for a shade over 20 years and NEVER had a weld fail an xray test! He practiced several times a day even if not doing a job.