Post: #26

(02-06-2014 05:38 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(02-06-2014 05:14 PM)Screwston Wrote:  What's so shitty about welding? What about the underwater welders?

You should make a Trade thread Ali

Go take a class and see if you like it! You're in the right state to make $ at it although Mexicans are notably bad welders and make sloppy beads.

Well that and being too cheap to buy proper gas or use the right rod.

Quote:Most welders aren't smart enough to pass the CWI, or all of them would have it. The inspectors I've worked with were unusually intelligent for their field and have some college under their belt, like a 2 year degree, and plenty of certs/experience.

Ha you want to get a welder hopping tell them how much you think the inspectors seem to know about welding and life. That should do it.

Post: #27

(02-05-2014 11:18 PM)Laner Wrote:  Full mask and respirator?

Fuck that you ninny the safety trailer is in the nursery.

Pictured:24 year old welder.

Post: #28

(02-06-2014 05:54 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Most welders aren't smart enough to pass the CWI, or all of them would have it.

How dare you.

Post: #29

To show off, we used to weld razor blades and beer cans together.





Aluminum TIG welding is the most difficult and gets the most abuse from the Rig welders.

"Does that TIG unit come with an evening dress and opera gloves?"

Post: #30

This can give you an idea of what's out there http://www.roadtechs.com/search/search.p...a01&corp9=

My dad is 76, retired, but still goes out to work, crazy old fucker wont stop working. His vision is no worse than his retired dentist friend, hearing is shot, but that is preventable.

I know several welders who have tried to get the AWS CWI cert, 2-3 times and failed, some who make it don't like the amount of paperwork, so they go back to welding, there isn't a big money difference between inspecting and welding on pipeline work.

Like someone said, take a course and see if you like it. The main thing to do is practice, someone can show you the basics then just burn rods practicing.

I don't advise going into big debt to set up a rig, 5-7k on a reliable 3/4 4x4 truck, 2500-3500 on an older Lincoln sa-200 machine, and a 1-2k on leads and tools. I've seen many kids get their journeyman certs and drop 50k on a brand new truck, 10k on a machine, and 5k on a custom bed, and then struggle to make it on the job site.

Another thing to look at is the inspection, if you don't have experience, some schools offer a 2yr degree in 'quality control engineering'. I might take a break in a couple of years and do it, plus it would open up a lot of opportunities in manufacturing, and might stop traveling so much.

Post: #31

I would think that vision loss would be less nowdays with that auto darkening masks. When I was a helper in my younger days I sometimes got the auto mask and sometimes the old school one with the flip or fixed visor. Those were a pain in the ass and were what lead to turning your head to the side while tacking something or forgetting to flip the visor down before starting a weld etc. The auto darkeners were some good dummy proofing.

Post: #32

I'm not clued up on pipeline work, etc. I'm a Brit. Over here being 'the man who can' and that includes welding, lathe work etc, can turn you some pretty good coin. Being able to fix things quickly for a quarter of the cost of a new unit makes you good money cause parts, etc are often twice the price here compared to what you would pay in the States.


I dabble in it, but I'm no pro. In England at least the money will increasingly be found in the old school shit, the stuff without computers where modern tech grads won't have a clue. Vintage tractors are collected over here too, and they spend serious money on the mechanicals just so they can paint them and show them off.

The old guys are retiring/dying- only last week our local engineer dropped dead. Hell of a shame, he taught me loads and that still wasn't 10% of what he knew.

Post: #33

(02-07-2014 12:50 PM)roberto Wrote:  The old guys are retiring/dying- only last week our local engineer dropped dead. Hell of a shame, he taught me loads and that still wasn't 10% of what he knew.

What's it looking like for skilled Americans to get over there? Last time I checked you had to be a 22 y.o. brain surgeon with a phd in physics and have already perfected the 1st cold fusion reactor, and that was only good enough for a 30 day work permit.

Post: #34

(02-07-2014 01:10 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  What's it looking like for skilled Americans to get over there? Last time I checked you had to be a 22 y.o. brain surgeon with a phd in physics and have already perfected the 1st cold fusion reactor, and that was only good enough for a 30 day work permit.

You're shitting me? We let in all and sundry from third world cesspools, and then we give them free houses and benefits! I would have thought you'd be desirable- they don't seem to realise they need guys like you and me to pay the taxes to keep all the spongers.

I'll sponsor your visa dude, we'll tell them I need full time security from all the gypos trying to nick my gear?

We don't have nearly the engineering sector we used to have. Part of the reason we're screwed as a country, we don't make things anymore. Not sure on jobs, a couple of mates work for luxury car manufacturers and seem to do OK, about £30k a year with potential to increase. Another runs CNC machines for an engineering firm but the money can't be that great if he can barely keep a mid range sports car on the road whilst living at home.

A lot more money to be made with your own yard and tools I think. Shit's always gonna break and need fixing, whatever sector you're in.

Post: #35

Ahh, nice a thread I can really relate to.

Joined this forum cause of scotians thread on Alberta Oil Sands and now here's one with my area of expertise.

I'm a 28 years old now and have been welding since I was 18. Not really the path I thought I'd be on when I came out of High School but around here it's highly in demand so there is a lot of job security.

In Trade School (NAIT is the big one around Edmonton) they teach pretty much everything but they are HEAVY into teaching Stick/Arc welding cause that's what the Oil and Gas Industry needs.

Personally I haven't worked in that Industry YET, this year I'm going for it. Doing my B Pressure course (through NAIT) right now. I took the alternate route and have specialized in TIG Aluminum and Stainless Steel which has kept me well employed and highly respected.

Here are the health hazards:

Arc / Welders Flash - If your not careful this can ruin your eyes and usually hurts for at least a couple days. Causes cataracts and could make you blind. Avoid this by simply not looking at the light.

Loss of Hearing - Not so much from the welding but from the environment you are in. High Amperage AC Welding is pretty loud though. Avoid going deaf by wearing ear protection (duh).

Cancer of the Lungs - There are a lot of fumes when welding. TIG welding might seem cleaner but there are still invisible gases such as but not limited to: Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Aluminum Oxide (when welding aluminum will cause Alzheimer's), Ozone, Phosgene gas (when there is paint), as well as a list of others that you'd probably end up sucking in on your cigarette break. Avoid these by welding in a WELL ventilated area and wearing an appropriate respirator (those paper ones won't do anything for you).

Suffication - Usually cause by welding in an enclosed area. Caused by the welding in an enclosed area with lack of ventilation and air movement. Welding with TIG and MIG uses inert gases which can build up in the lungs and knock you out or worse kill you. Avoid this by putting a fan in with you to remove the bad air and have a watchman that isn't playing on his phone while he's supposed to be watching your ass.

Cuts, Scratches, Burns, Debris is the Eyes, Pulled Muscles, and other common Trade Injuries - These can usually be avoided by wearing the proper P.P.E. ie. Faceshields, Leather Clothing (not the shiny S&M kind), Safety Glases, Lifting heavy objects properly (or just use a Crane, Apprentice, or a bunch of TFW's). I've heard a bunch of horror stories to do with grinders taking off fingers and causing some pretty bad cuts, be smart, leave the guard on or get an Apprentice to do it.

These are just the more common hazards of being a Welder. Everything is pretty avoidable if you are willing to take the precautions and usually you are paid to do it.

Down to the Dollar Bills (cause thats what it's usually about). Good Journeyman rate is about $35/hr. B - Pressure - $45/hr. Welding Truck - I've heard up to $150/hr but more commonly at least $100/hr. in Alberta Apprentices make a certain % of a Journeyman based on the company rate.1st year 65%, 2nd year 75%, 3rd year 90%. These are only guidelines and every company is different and will never be fully open as to what the Journeyman rate is unless you are in a Union which posts their rates for all levels.

The thing about working as a welder around here is that some company's will let you weld as long as you can hold a stinger. The dedicated ones go to Trade School and learn more so they can advance in their career. I always saw it as "Go to School = Make More $$$" which is true and the investment pays for itself (Government Grants make sure of that too). It takes a lot of practice cause it's a lot of hand skills.

"The greats weren't great cause at birth they could paint, The greats were great because they paint a lot" - Macklemore - Ten Thousand Hours

This saying hold so true in everything people set their mind to. Not tooting my horn but I am a great example of this with welding. I stuck with it. Made mistakes over the years, but did my best not to let it discourage me. If you want it, go for it. If you want it bad enough, you will get it.

Post: #36

(02-06-2014 09:18 PM)Laner Wrote:  To show off, we used to weld razor blades and beer cans together.





Aluminum TIG welding is the most difficult and gets the most abuse from the Rig welders.

I thought cast iron was the most diffcult

Post: #37

(02-06-2014 05:38 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  Go take a class and see if you like it! You're in the right state to make $ at it although Mexicans are notably bad welders and make sloppy beads.

That looks better that the first (and last) welding I did.

Agree on the mexican thing. Cant weld for shit, but they do it for peanuts.

Post: #38

(02-06-2014 09:09 AM)christpuncher Wrote:  If I was 18 again I'd have skipped college and become a welder. Would be a welding inspector by 25 and retired by 30.

This have a friend that is well on his way to this. Skipped college. Took of the welding trade and makes great money. No college debt to dig himself out of. Saved money by living at home.

That's the real smart guy

Post: #39

Does anyone know if you have to be a permanent resident of Canada to start a welding apprenticeship?

edit: question answered - yes

http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/learn-on-...n-a-trade/

Post: #40

Hey mate in alberta all apprenticeships require you to be a pr before you can get signed up. I no this as I wanted to do an add on to my trade to get a dual ticket but I can't till I get pr.

Post: #41

atlantic you can do a pre employment welding course if your interested I welding,most Canadian college do them,its a four week course which does not require pr,and it will be good starter to see if you will like welding or not,am In the same boat as you

Post: #42

Any idea if they also train you to use plasma cutters as part of these courses or if you could push to learn them on site.

Seems like a pretty versatile and badass skill to have.

Post: #43

I've posted about it already on the Oil Sands thread but I am going to look at doing a course early summer.

If things go well I might start getting the annual 1500 training hours needed between working as an MWD. Then make the switch.

Welding in the fields of architecture and design looks really interesting.

Post: #44

http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/SOURCES/P...utline.pdf

Looks like you would have some proficiency in 'oxy-fuel cutting' which I presume means plasma cutting.

Can anyone expand on this?

Post: #45

(02-23-2014 10:27 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/SOURCES/P...utline.pdf

Looks like you would have some proficiency in 'oxy-fuel cutting' which I presume means plasma cutting.

Can anyone expand on this?

From my days of auto mechanics, 'oxy-fuel cutting' is oxy /acetylene. A before O or up you go. I've always remembered that. It's the most basic of torches.

In auto mechanics, it is primarily used to cut off bolts. The torch is lit first with to A (it's a big yellow flame) Then you tien on the O and tighten up the flame to a blue.

You use this to heat up the bolt and then when ready to cut, you squeeze for more O and it just cuts right through the metal. Lot's of liquid metal finds its way everywhere.

Post: #46

(02-23-2014 11:29 PM)Zeus Wrote:  

(02-23-2014 10:27 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/SOURCES/P...utline.pdf

Looks like you would have some proficiency in 'oxy-fuel cutting' which I presume means plasma cutting.

Can anyone expand on this?

From my days of auto mechanics, 'oxy-fuel cutting' is oxy /acetylene. A before O or up you go. I've always remembered that. It's the most basic of torches.

In auto mechanics, it is primarily used to cut off bolts. The torch is lit first with to A (it's a big yellow flame) Then you tien on the O and tighten up the flame to a blue.

You use this to heat up the bolt and then when ready to cut, you squeeze for more O and it just cuts right through the metal. Lot's of liquid metal finds its way everywhere.

^^^^ This is correct. Its a cutting torch.

Plasma is common in the fabrication industry when building with sheet metal. Free handing plasma cutters are all over the place and use air to help blast away the molten steel. Good for cutting rough patterns, you can slap down a thick cardstock pattern and trace around it. Better yet a CNC plasma is fairly cheap these days with the growing use of laser cutting.

Even bigger is what we called a "gouger". Its like a fat welding rod that would gouge through metal like boat hulls and 5" plate. It was crazy, messy and felt manly as fuck.

Post: #47

any info on offshore welding?

Post: #48

Good thread. inclined to link it to my brother who is 18, & just got a job assembling/making driveshafts in a metal shop.
I must admit the RVF community is more versatile then I thought. Surprised by the number of manual/trade guys, in an online community.

Post: #49

(02-25-2014 08:24 AM)FrenchCanadian Wrote:  Good thread. inclined to link it to my brother who is 18, & just got a job assembling/making driveshafts in a metal shop.
I must admit the RVF community is more versatile then I thought. Surprised by the number of manual/trade guys, in an online community.

Tell your brother to get on the lathe and milling machine as much as possible. Those are two tools that not a lot of fabricators and welders run often but are important for high quality work.

In fabrication, 80% of the job is taking the time to get a good fit. This is also another reason welders are considered monkeys. All the hard stuff is done by the fabricator and passed off to the daycare.

Post: #50

According to Scott Linden, the 100k welder guy, pipe welding is where the money's at. I'm going to buy his book/course on how to train yourself to be a proficient pipe welder in 60 days.

Sounds too good to be true, but the book is only 29.67 so whatever. Apparently the book also teaches you how to score high paying jobs in the States and overseas.

A member already linked to his site on the previous page, but here it is again in case any of you are interested:http://www.100kwelder.com/.

Peace