Knowledge is king! MIG or TIG?

That's my take on it as well. I'd like a career at it, but I mainly want the knowledge for doing stuff at home. I have a ton of ideas, but I don't have the knowledge. So, I'm in school.

I have a job lined up and I've even gotten a tour of the facility. It looks like something I'd like to do for a nice paycheck. I've got great office skills, but I hated sitting on my ass all day. So, I've always sought out jobs where I got to move around and use my hands.

Good luck with your school. Sounds like you have some cool instructors.

 

Congrats on the progress. Print reading is essential for a good fab job. All of my foreman have standout print reading skills. I would suggest you get a construction calculator. It makes inch/foot calculating much easier and more accurate. One more tip from my shop guys is most of them wear particle masks when they are welding. It is pretty convincing when the mask is black at the end of the day.

 

Been there, doing it with a mask. No wonder the old guys are dying off. Sad that something so obvious isn't being done.

 

Man, I almost forgot I had this thread going. So, here's an update. This is my last semester. I finished the Spring semester with a 4.0 GPA. This semester, I'm taking all MIG and an intro to Pipe Welding. From what I've seen, most starter jobs are scooping up MIG welders. I'll let TIG come when it does or I'll just take it in the future, when I can.

Tonight was the end of the 3rd week and I'm doing very well. Now, I realize why we were made to learn stick. MIG seems so easy after being good with stick. Last week, we had to requal in stick, to make sure we had not forgotten anything during the summer. I finished 1F(flat), 3F(vertical) and 4F(overhead) in stick, in short order. So, at least my memory is still good. But actually, I just REALLY like welding. The noise, smoke and sparks are pleasing to me. Speaking of smoke, I QUIT smoking on Labor Day and have only cursed out 3 people, so far.

My MIG classes are going well, except for MIG welding in 3G (vertical). It's kicking my but, but I'll get it licked. Every class is better than before and tonight I think I figured out what I was doing wrong, but class time was just about over. So, I'll get another crack at it next week.

I've had a job offer and it was for a helper. I didn't take it, because I want to get better than I am. But it got me to thinking that going in as a helper, for a while, will let me see how things work in a job setting. It's all fun and games in classes, but I know that it'll be serious on the job floor.

Anyway, that's about it. A couple people had asked how things were going in Private Messages, so this is for everyone who gave me advise, when I was just starting out.

Thanks.

 

3G can be a difficult experience. Keep at it. Once you get it, you need to practice it, relentlessly, until you body just does it, without thinking, every time.

I still remember my 3G certification. I was sweating so much, my split-bib was damp, and then the wire feeder broke, about 1/8" into the bead.

You'll get it.

 

I'll let TIG come when it does or I'll just take it in the future, when I can.


You should take TIG now, you will like it. weld anything,clean, no sparks.



Ago

 

I agree. Its much easier to keep going, than it is to start over, when it comes to school. You limit yourself a LOT if you cant TIG and you call yourself a weldor. The nicer, cleaner , better paying jobs involve more TIG than not.Good Luck!

 

What I should have said is, "I'll take a more advanced course in TIG later". I've taken TIG and can do it in the first four positions. My welds just don't always come out like the "row of dimes" look that seems to be popular. They're good welds, just not pretty.

The advanced TIG won't be offered until the Spring 2014. I may or may not take it, depending on my work schedule. Hell, I may have an employer who'll pay for it.

 

My older brother took a welding course about 10 years back after doing computers all his life ( he loved welding when he was younger but computers made his moneyand the job market was there at the time ) got all his certs went to work for a pipeline company at 39 , well now he is back in computers and welding on the side , he said the money was great and being outdoors was great , but his body said its not going to happen after a few years and he is somewhat in good shape . but he said working pipeline was a work out as your climbing up or under or in and down in trenches . and he traveled he said he didn't mind the heat of the plains it was being stuck in Wyoming in the winter that did it to him, as the first few weeks he was there his body reminded him why he moved to Texas and OKlahoma in the first place , I seen some of his work , and its quality , he bought a TIG welder and does side work and it pays almost as much as his full time job. and he has head hunters that call him because hes certified and experienced , looking for people to work, hes almost gone back till they mention the "C" word Canada ... he says nice place to visit but to cold to live there for him ..

I learned to TIG from a guy who owned a supervee that I crewed on when I was a teen , learned if you can gas weld with a candlestick ( gas torch) you can basically tig weld as the torch, the fuel is the only differences and the tig is tighter on the heat control , my problem is I broke my foot /ankle a few years back and I have problems with the throttle( pedal ) , and do not like using a thumb control..

well good luck and hope you find a job that suits you as there are lots of them out there right now .

 

Fred,
The more you weld the better you get at it. You can't be a good welder reading a book, you have to do it. but you already know that.


Ago

 

My favorite instructor doesn't even mention the textbook. He's all about getting into the lab. But I miss reading blueprints and scan through that textbook, when I'm bored.

 

Sounds like you're doing fine. Practice! Good Luck

 

Good for you, Fred. Glad it worked out and I hope it leads to a great career for you.