A pal of mine, first-rate arc welder too- got a job on the Alaskan pipeline in the 1970's-- They worked 12 on/12 off shifts, had heated canopies around each joint in the 48" dia pipe- so the bitter wind was "tolerable"-- and the $34.00/hr. scale helped.
They never shut the diesels off- including the big Lincoln DC welding machines--One morning, at break, a big crane was about to lift a big piece of sheet steel- diamond tread style- for decking-- all 4 corners were secured with eye-ringed clamps, and the steel was up off the frozen ground on RR ties-- the crane rigger set the lift hooks at all 4 corners, and backed away, waved his hand in the "lift load" signal, and as the sheet cleared the ties- it shattered like a plate glass window"-- Mister- that is COLD weather....
