i guess that is very true lol.
thinking about going into welding..what do you think?
- Thread starter ragincajun
- Start date
I guess if your dads a welder you probably know a lot but if you want to last as a welder you better have thick skin. No offence to any welders, but they seem to be aerogant and have the attitude that they are the best and that's it. I know other trades are like that, but they seem to be the worst. I know three of them, two who have been doing it for over 40 years and one who just became a journeymen, all the same attitude. But it is good to see the differences, both of the older guys who have made a TON of money are using 15+ year old rigs and Lincoln's that are older then them. My friend who just got journeymen wants to buy pretty much a brand new truck and welder which a lot of people will brand you right off the bat for. But you see it all the time guys with skids in their box, in a brand new fancy truck, only a year later it's all beat up 
There is a lot of money to be made right now, but you couldn't pay me enough to do it, and funny how the guys who have been doing it forever say stay away from it, like you said your dad didn't want to do get into it. Yes you can pull down $110+ a hour if you've got your own rig, but no new welder is going to get that, that is for someone who can weld with their eyes closed. A journymen here makes about $34 or so in a shop in the city, but a experienced ticketed over $50.
If you do decide to do it, DO NOT stick to a shop that is only mig. Because you will NEVER make any money if all you can do is mig, and most places will not even bother with someone like that.
There is a lot of money to be made right now, but you couldn't pay me enough to do it, and funny how the guys who have been doing it forever say stay away from it, like you said your dad didn't want to do get into it. Yes you can pull down $110+ a hour if you've got your own rig, but no new welder is going to get that, that is for someone who can weld with their eyes closed. A journymen here makes about $34 or so in a shop in the city, but a experienced ticketed over $50.
If you do decide to do it, DO NOT stick to a shop that is only mig. Because you will NEVER make any money if all you can do is mig, and most places will not even bother with someone like that.
If you do decide to do it, DO NOT stick to a shop that is only mig. Because you will NEVER make any money if all you can do is mig, and most places will not even bother with someone like that.[/QUOTE]
i really want to learn how to tig weld and work with alum. from the first time i i watched my dad weld up a sprint car frame with a tig welder i have always wanted to try it. unfortunatly no one that i know has one (not even the school) so i have never got to take a wak at it. i am willing to learn as much as i can and UM tech has alot to offer so i think this will be good for me.
i really want to learn how to tig weld and work with alum. from the first time i i watched my dad weld up a sprint car frame with a tig welder i have always wanted to try it. unfortunatly no one that i know has one (not even the school) so i have never got to take a wak at it. i am willing to learn as much as i can and UM tech has alot to offer so i think this will be good for me.
ragin, if you want a head start at tig, get some oxy-acet expierience. very similar.
I would 100% agree to be diverse. I have made it through pretty easily by not getting caught up in the BS......ironworkers.......pipe welders/fitters.....machinists, they all have a "we are the greatest" attitude, which is awesome........till they throw in the "better then everyone else" stuff. I was very lucky, I learned from some of the best in my area. they taught me tricks that some guys that have been at it for 20 years have never seen. I would advise you to find the guy who is doing the best work in the worst positions and try to fit for him, clean up for him.....whatever, but try to become his wing man and it will save you years.
no matter what, do not get yourself in a position that makes your skill very specific and forget all the composite stuff. the day will come when chit happens and you grab a different gig. you are gonna want to be diverse.
other things to keep in mind.
accidents.
I have seen my connecting pard have a crane boom set on his leg while straddling a girder (graphic.......it was terrible)
burns, got a few 3rd's from not gearing up properly. been flashed from tapping nat gas lines.
it is heck on your eyes, and worse on your lungs.
you will spend your career in ear plugs or deaf......your choice.
safety glasses are mandatory....all the time. seen a guy have a piece of slag from a big DS weld pop off and land across his eyelid. he had a vertical split in his eyelid......it was nasty.
if you work outside you will get shocked......a lot.
your hands will prolly never be butter soft again.
you are gonna go through more boots then anyone you know.
the idea of tig work is cool, but around here we have a bunch of shops that have a fleet of $15.00 guys doing it all day. if you do any assembly type work you will not make good $$......you get to go home every night, but you only make a meager wage.
practice till you can't stand it with 6010 and 7018. those two rods are what will make you the $$ in the field. learn to look at where the puddle is freezing and not so much at what is going on right under the arc....the frozen puddle is what your finish looks like, and what people will talk about.
go tack a piece of tube steel or pipe so that it points straight up. heat it on one side till it cherries up. notice what happens to the top......now quench it with water or air.....see what happens. no mater what, get good on a torch. I wish every rod hand could run a torch half as good as they could weld. IMO top torch hands are farther between then welders. a good torch hand can take a 3/8" bolt out of a nut and leave the threads......there is no room for error there.
learn to be efficient. I used to carry a plug in box I built. it was simply a short tweco plug and a small ground clamp. I could ground the clamp and grab the lug with my rod holder and run my grinders and drills anywhere w/o a cord. my welder was only doing about 85v so it was a bit slow, but when it hit the fan I always got the call just because of ingenuity. you can cut w/ your welding rods as well. pack some 60series or better yet 602X rod. it cuts very well.....and saves you a trip. watch the guys work a wedge/dolly and heat/beat techniques they do things that don't seem possible.
here is a tip that you must not forget. if you take a d1.5 test, this is the top dog for structural 7018. ONLY TACK YOU TEST PIECE ON ONE END. work away from your tack. for some reason a magnetic force gets applied to the plate if it is tacked on both ends and it becomes all but impossible to make a passing weld in it. infact any plate test......this will save you some day. the same phenomenon can happen when welding into one corner of a building. guys try to wrap their leads around the work, move grounds......all kinds of stuff. I myself just hop from dc over to ac and it all goes bye bye.
good luck.
I would 100% agree to be diverse. I have made it through pretty easily by not getting caught up in the BS......ironworkers.......pipe welders/fitters.....machinists, they all have a "we are the greatest" attitude, which is awesome........till they throw in the "better then everyone else" stuff. I was very lucky, I learned from some of the best in my area. they taught me tricks that some guys that have been at it for 20 years have never seen. I would advise you to find the guy who is doing the best work in the worst positions and try to fit for him, clean up for him.....whatever, but try to become his wing man and it will save you years.
no matter what, do not get yourself in a position that makes your skill very specific and forget all the composite stuff. the day will come when chit happens and you grab a different gig. you are gonna want to be diverse.
other things to keep in mind.
accidents.
I have seen my connecting pard have a crane boom set on his leg while straddling a girder (graphic.......it was terrible)
burns, got a few 3rd's from not gearing up properly. been flashed from tapping nat gas lines.
it is heck on your eyes, and worse on your lungs.
you will spend your career in ear plugs or deaf......your choice.
safety glasses are mandatory....all the time. seen a guy have a piece of slag from a big DS weld pop off and land across his eyelid. he had a vertical split in his eyelid......it was nasty.
if you work outside you will get shocked......a lot.
your hands will prolly never be butter soft again.
you are gonna go through more boots then anyone you know.
the idea of tig work is cool, but around here we have a bunch of shops that have a fleet of $15.00 guys doing it all day. if you do any assembly type work you will not make good $$......you get to go home every night, but you only make a meager wage.
practice till you can't stand it with 6010 and 7018. those two rods are what will make you the $$ in the field. learn to look at where the puddle is freezing and not so much at what is going on right under the arc....the frozen puddle is what your finish looks like, and what people will talk about.
go tack a piece of tube steel or pipe so that it points straight up. heat it on one side till it cherries up. notice what happens to the top......now quench it with water or air.....see what happens. no mater what, get good on a torch. I wish every rod hand could run a torch half as good as they could weld. IMO top torch hands are farther between then welders. a good torch hand can take a 3/8" bolt out of a nut and leave the threads......there is no room for error there.
learn to be efficient. I used to carry a plug in box I built. it was simply a short tweco plug and a small ground clamp. I could ground the clamp and grab the lug with my rod holder and run my grinders and drills anywhere w/o a cord. my welder was only doing about 85v so it was a bit slow, but when it hit the fan I always got the call just because of ingenuity. you can cut w/ your welding rods as well. pack some 60series or better yet 602X rod. it cuts very well.....and saves you a trip. watch the guys work a wedge/dolly and heat/beat techniques they do things that don't seem possible.
here is a tip that you must not forget. if you take a d1.5 test, this is the top dog for structural 7018. ONLY TACK YOU TEST PIECE ON ONE END. work away from your tack. for some reason a magnetic force gets applied to the plate if it is tacked on both ends and it becomes all but impossible to make a passing weld in it. infact any plate test......this will save you some day. the same phenomenon can happen when welding into one corner of a building. guys try to wrap their leads around the work, move grounds......all kinds of stuff. I myself just hop from dc over to ac and it all goes bye bye.
good luck.
spring snow,
thanks alot for the help! cheers man!
thanks alot for the help! cheers man!
S
Sako7STW
Well-known member
That is absolutly true. Same thing here in SW WY. Serious bank being made right now and welders are in dire need everywhere around here.
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