Have you heard of the Make it in America Plan?  How do you think this will affect you?

From the Huffington Post:

For the Strength of Rosie the Riveter: Make It in America
by Leo W. GerardInternational President, United Steelworkers

Rosie the Riveter defiantly rolls up her blue work shirt to show off a brawny bicep. She’s a symbol of American strength.

She worked in a manufacturing job, one of millions that constructed the defense machine that won World War II for the Allies. She said, “We can do it.” And America did.

Now, however, shuttered U.S. factories and off-shored manufacturing are sapping American strength. The nation has lost more than 40,000 manufacturing plants and one-third of its manufacturing jobs, nearly six million, over the past dozen years. China is on the verge of overtaking the U.S. in manufacturing output. And Americans know it. Late in April, 58 percent of 1,000 likely voters told pollsters they believed America’s economy no longer led the world.

They also told pollsters they supported enacting a national manufacturing policy to promote resurgence of domestic production — a return to the days of a robust Rosie the Riveter and a country that could secure its independence with dynamic manufacturing capability.

Democrats in Congress heard that message. They’ve created a program called “Make It in America.” They plan to pass a series of bills to create an environment in which both Americans and American manufacturers make it.
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I recently ran across this awesome summer day camp for girls (too bad there isn’t one for adult women!) ROSIE’S GIRLS is a three week day camp for girls (6th-8th grade).  It a place to learn skills (carpentry, welding, etc) that build confidence.  PLUS they get to use power tools!  This is an awesome way to introduce girls to career options that even today don’t seem accessible to women (did you know that as of 2006 the Department of Labor counts only 6% of professional welders as women?! ***)

FACT: women can weld just as good (and sometimes better) than men. Brains, not brawn makes for an excellent welder… and check out these girls WELDING!

***HOLY SH&%$# ***  I just looked up more recent statistics (from 2008) and the percent of women employed in the welding/ metal industries has GONE DOWN!  WTF?  check it out:

Welding, soldering and brazing…  4.7% women (5.9% in 2006)

Sheet metal workers….  4.8% women (3.1% in 2006)

Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters….  1.5%  (1.9% in 2006)

Tool and die….  1%

Structural Iron / Steel…  0.9%

You can check out these reports and many others about women in nontraditional occupations from the Department of Labor online.

And lets brainstorm!  what can WE do to make these “nontraditional” occupations “traditional?”

One of the things I enjoy most about this series of the New Rosies is seeing exactly what kind of women weld…  and Jennifer Hayes is no exception.  She tells me she models part time for fun.

And even though she  supported herself as a housekeeper for a few years while going to school to become a welder…   it looks like this Canadian doesn’t mind getting dirty!

Here’s what she has  to say about her welding career so far:

What is your job?

I’ve been remiss in keeping this blog up to date on Arc-Zone.com news… LOTS going on to share.

First, we’ve added a ton of Welding Safety Gear from Miller, including welding  helmets, Respiratory Safety equipment, Heat Stress Gear, and Welding Gloves and Arc Armor Welding Apparel–  and this is in addition to all the Welding Safety Apparel we already had ready to ship!

As you’ll notice from the ad display on the left, Arc-Zone can also hook you up with a great deal:  $25 cash back if you buy a Miller Elite Series Helmet and gloves.  So if you’re in the market for a new helmet, consider doing your shopping before the September 30 deadline.

And in case you missed it, our June Newsletter has been posted online….  you’ll find tons of safety information there to help you celebrate (welding)  Safety Month!

OK, I really have nothing to do with the Indy 500, although Arc-Zone.com does count some teams and their suppliers as customers.  And my boss Jim (aka Joe Welder) has some real deal connections and is a huge fan of racing….  so this year, we’ve started a tradition, an Indy Pool of sorts (without gambling).  It was fun!  It made the outcome of the Indy 500 meaningful to me– I won $25!

What I would not have known if Jim were not such an expert (I don’t follow sports news at. all.)  is that this year there were 4 women drivers!  How awesome is that!

Do you follow racing?  who are  your favorite women drivers?

I don’t usually post racing stuff here, but check this out from Miller… and note that the driver is Elaine Larsen:

Elaine Larsen has over a decade of drag racing experience and is the driver of Miller’s Jet Dragster and the Embry-Riddle Jet Dragster. She has always had a love of racing and a need for speed. Twenty years after seeing her first Jet Funny Car, she was in the driver’s seat on the track…..CHECK OUT HER  BIO–>

AND check out the BUILD of this super slick dragster–>

Rosies Workwear is sponsoring a contest….

Dirtiest Rosies Contest
Not that Rosies need any excuse to get a little dirt under our finger nails, but we thought it would be fun to have a contest to see who is the dirtiest Rosie. Just have someone snap a quick photo with your phone or if you want to get fancy, get yourself video tapped. You can post your pictures here or on our Facebook page. The dirtiest Rosie will win a spanking new pair of overalls (of course!). The contest ends June 1. Spread the dirt….

Details online–>

And if you don’t win a pair of overalls, and you need some work wear, don’t forget Arc-Zone carries the Angelfire line of welding wear for women.

Sized for women…  you’ll find jackets, and gloves.

Excited for the new Iron Man 2 movie coming out this summer?  Well, while you’re waiting, why don’t you check out this new IronMan 230 All-in-One MIG Welder from Hobart Welders?  It has everything you could want in a MIG machine — we only wish it had a bit more in common with its namesake (flying while welding anyone??)

Hobart Introduces IronMan 230 All-in-One MIG Welder with Superior Arc Quality and Greater Precision
Jon Crowley | Jan 14, 2010

Hobart Ironman 230

The IronMan™ 230 is a total redesign of the full-size MIG platform, outperforming the competition on arc quality, voltage control, duty cycle and value. It delivers 30-250 amps of pure power in a heavy duty cabinet. The arc of the new IronMan™ 230 is optimized to deliver a flawless weld, making spatter and post-weld cleanup almost non-existent. The IronMan™ 230 easily runs aluminum – just add the optional Hobart DP-3545-20 spool gun and you’re ready to weld aluminum from 18 gauge to 1/2″.

For improved feedability with aluminum wires or for extended reach with other wires add the Hobart 3545-20 spool gun with its 20 ft. cable length.

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I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard at work before!  This guy has a gift – if not for welding, then definitely for writing!

Attempting to weld in the age of duct tape

Al Batt, Tales from Exit 22
Published Wednesday, March 10, 2010

I don’t like to wear socks.

I wear them but I don’t like it.

I consider socks to be a fire hazard.

I took a welding class at a college that once thrived in Waseca.

It wasn’t my idea. It was my employer’s idea. He felt that the duct tape I used wasn’t as strong as a weld. He was annoyingly conscientious. Welding started during the Bronze Age, and it survives into the Duct Tape Age. I went to college during the day and worked nights. The welding class gave me something to fill those hours that I had been wasting on sleep.

My father had taught me how to weld with a derelict welder he had rescued from a junkyard. It was a serious stapler that performed basic farm welding with little attention paid to aesthetics.

On the farm, I welded broken wagon tongues and tractor hitches. I gave up welding once I quit breaking wagon tongues and tractor hitches.

I would have been happy not knowing anything more about welding. Welding isn’t even an Olympic event. It could be in the Winter Olympics. Replacing the brooms with welders would make curling a little more exciting.

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