Wednesday Wanderings with ARR authors

Fiona Palmer talks us through her new love
- welding
(and her love of the land is obvious!)

~

~

I am a mother (we already know how many jobs that entails) plus an author and now I get to add novice welder to my CV. When I’m free (not at appointments, doing kid stuff, holidays, writing) I work at a farm, Gunguri, 15 mins from my house, which is pretty much all week. I work for two lads, brothers, who are very clever and build a lot of their own stuff.

They have a big shed full of heaps of fun power tools (which would make any bloke jealous). I do whatever jobs they need doing, driving the header at harvest, tractor at seeding time, I help burn the paddocks, cart water, sheep work and whatever other farm jobs pop up. (There are many!! It makes for a great diverse job)

Anyway, they asked if I wanted to learn to weld, of course I said YES!

My dad showed me how to weld when I was a teenager with a stick welder, it was only a few times and I can’t remember much except being scared when it stuck to a weld. But with the new mig welders its heaps better and I was keen as mustard to give it a crack. Plus the lads had heaps of welding to do before seeding.

If you haven’t guessed already I’m a bit of a tomboy. I was my dads shadow growing up and loved being in the shed with him. The smell of fuel, oil and grease is somehow comforting and familiar, and probably because of those great memories makes me feel very at home in a workshop. Mind you, I used to run from the shed when dad started up the drop saw when he cut metal because of the noise and I also used to think cars would explode when he rev’ed them. (Strange from someone who grew up around cars and used to race speedway, I know.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But back to welding…I’m lucky to have great teachers and an environment that allows me to practise welding as the points and coulters that we are building we need lots of for the seeder bar. 50 points and 25 coulters.

Points are bits of metal that cut/dig through the earth and behind them the seed drops into the hole. I had to go and buy some girl sized welding gloves which are great. (My new favourite accessory.)

Coulters are a set up with big blades that are used to cut up the melons (soooooo many melons grow over the paddocks, horrible weeds with long tentacle arms that wrap around the points and cause all sorts of problems) and it also cuts into the dirt stopping the points from throwing the dirt too far. It’s a science getting the hole depth, the dirt throw and the packing of the dirt right. I never realised just how tricky it all is! It’s not just a case of planting the seed, so many things have to be factored in.

Coulters are a set up with big blades that are used to cut up the melons (soooooo many melons grow over the paddocks, horrible weeds with long tentacle arms that wrap around the points and cause all sorts of problems) and it also cuts into the dirt stopping the points from throwing the dirt too far. It’s a science getting the hole depth, the dirt throw and the packing of the dirt right. I never realised just how tricky it all is! It’s not just a case of planting the seed, so many things have to be factored in.

And this coulter (below) was designed and made by the lads (clever they are) and we are in the process of making another 25 like it.

So now I have the worry that at seeding time when I lift the seeding bar up I’ll have no points or coulters because my welds didn’t hold. I picture a seeding bar like a man with missing teeth!! But I’m sure they wouldn’t let me loose with a welder if they thought that would be the case….right? Right? Hmmm. I’ll get back to you after seeding….see if I still have a job. 🙂

Read more about Fiona and her books on Meet Fiona Palmer, here on ARR
Or visit Fiona on her webpage FionaPalmer.com
And find Fiona on Facebook Fiona Palmer on Facebook

 

Return to HOME page
Return to BLOG