Any welders out there?

• snyds113

  I took a semester of welding in the fall and I decided to sign up for welding school which I started last week.It's 8-4 Monday thru Friday.
  
  The teacher let me move ahead and start on Vertical Z weave with a 7018 1/8 inch electrode.I couldn't get the technique with that so I moved to a 7018 3/32.
  
  I am still having problems with it and in time I know I will be consistant.At times I do well and other times not so well.
  
  Any advice or tips would be greatly helpful.
• Hammerin'Hank

  My biggest problem in welding is being able to see. I have a hard time seeing what I'm doing. I have an old welder and helmet, so that is part of the problem. Plus, I don't weld all that often.
  Give yourself some time. Welding, like any skill takes patience and practice. Good luck.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Get a self darkening helmet. That will increase your vision.
  
  Practice, practice, practice.
• snyds113

  I have a auto helmet.I did a lot better today.I made some adjustments on the machine,so far it is working better.
• j_crazy

  

  my bro is a welder. learned in the Navy. he's been at it for 22 years now (jesus thats almost as long as I've been alive). Practice is the key according to him.
• Darkon

  

  I was pretty good 20 years ago but I got away from it.
  Last year I made some racks for my truck. Damn I suck now! Went through the grinding wheels to clean it up.
  Turned out pretty nice but turned into a bigger project than it should have been.
  Definitely a skill that takes practice.
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  My dad was. He taught me how to but I can pretty much just get the job done.. it looks like shit.
• GoChiefs

  

  I'm in welding school now myself. Finish up on the 18th of February. Have one more cert to go..Tig..working on that one now. I had problems with this as well. Just wasn't getting the penetration I need on the first pass. (insert your joke here.) Was great after the first 2 passes..but those first couple fucked me up b/c you didn't have a whole lot of room.
• Darkon

  

  I'm no expert but IMO welding is a skill but Tig welding is an art.
  Tried one time. With instruction but couldn't get it.
• TuscaniGT

  Im actually a Welding Engineer (OSU 2007)...I think the biggest key to success in anything is practice. I've been around guys that have been welding for years that can't seem to get it right either, so don't feel bad. Eventually, you'll learn your weave and stringer techniques. The biggest piece of advice is use your auto-glass, it'll really help!
• GoChiefs

  

  Tig sucks..I'm an impatient person..and that doesn't mix well.
• slide22

  Like others said, shell out the money and get a self-darkening mask. I can MIG and Stick weld pretty well but TIG welding is something I cannot do no matter how much I practice. I'm just way too impatient.
• snyds113

  I can't wait to start the learning process on Tig.All the good money is in Tig and stick.Mig is for sweatshops.Plus a monkey could learn to mig.Do you agree?
• snyds113

  My Dad just hired some 6G certified pipe welders and they are making $120 hr.I know this is a far cry from where on the money scale I will be starting but a man can dream.I want to at least come away with a 5g certification.That's flat pipe I think.A 6g is 45 degree pipe.Anyway even with a 3 g you can start out at $35hr.
• End of Line

  

  My dad is a welder for Honda of America in Marysville. He's damn good at mig and tig welding. I tried to do tig but I failed at it.
• snyds113

  The real money is in underwater welding.Of course everyone and their mother says they want to do that.Welding is technical enough.Underwater welding is an endeavor that is truly the top notch trade to get into.Unfortunatly it is like going into the Navy an wanting to be a Navy seal.
  I am looking into trying to be a welding inspector.Also a goal that takes about 7 years to reach.You have to work for a company for 5 years for starters then take a bunch of test.
  Anyone ever weld with a mirror.This is a skill only a handful can achieve.If youy can do that a company will cater your every need.
• GoChiefs

  

  I just received my 6G cert last week.
• snyds113

  Wow!!!Tell me how diffucult that was.Was it a 45?Did you get to use a second person?I heard you have no help.
  CONGRATS
• GoChiefs

  

  Wasn't hard at all..did it on 2" pipe..yes..it was at 45 degrees...no help at all.
• GoChiefs

  

  Finished school up last Thursday. Came away with 7 new certs. Anyone hiring any welders out there?
• thedynasty1998

  

  Any welders in Columbus looking for some work PM me!
• TuscaniGT

  I tell you what, if you are a welder, the 3 places to be in North America are Canada, Alaska, and the Gulf Coast (Houston, New Orleans, Pascagoula). Pipeline welders make bank. Not to shoot holes in your accomplishments, because you are doing well, but you have a long way to go. Don't expect big money as soon as you get out. Working those small fab shops is the key to developing your skills. Being able to dial in those procedures is tough. When you start talking Duplex/Super Duplex Stainless steels and even Inconel Clad piping, you really need to understand how those electrical characteristics are going to affect your welds and their chemistry. Take it from someone who deals with this daily (both my wife and I are Welding Engineers with companies here in Houston), build your skills and really take the time to understand every aspect of welding. Its not just slam two pieces of metal together and weld 'em up. There is so much more to it nowadays. Good luck to you! If you ever need any advice on developing your skills don't hesitate to PM me.