A retired boilermaker in Flint told me he still checks his welds with a mirror, and it changed how I look at my own work

Elizabeth Murphy · 2026-09-13T12:15:05.264744+00:00

I was at a supply house in Flint picking up some 7018 rod when an older guy saw me loading my truck and struck up a chat. He said he spent 38 years in the trade and retired 6 years ago, but he still keeps a small inspection mirror in his coat pocket out of habit. He pulled it out and told me he used to check every root pass from the back side before he ever capped a joint, because the front can look perfect while the back is hiding a cold lap. I tried it on a vessel I was fitting up the next day and found two spots that only showed from behind. Nobody ever taught me that in my 11 years, and it made me realize how much I was just trusting what I could see from one angle. Has anyone else picked up a habit like that from a guy who learned the trade way before us?

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A retired boilermaker in Flint told me he still checks his welds with a mirror, and it changed how I look at my own work | Boilermakers - Talk Freely