Switching careers on a bad note....

I'd look into CWI. All you need is five years welding to a national standard to qualify. The test is no joke though! Hobart has a really good CWI training program. I do live gas pipeline welding. Here's how I beat the smoke, 3M adflo helmet...

 

aaaand I just read your last page...Glad you found work!

 

I am glad you found work also. I know what you mean by life altering events. Since my battle with colon cancer 5 1/2 years ago I find it hard to move and physicly accomplish the things I once did with ease. Having a ceramic plate in your gut seems to have that affect. I scraped through until the place I worked at for nearly 17 years closed, now I am having one hell of a time finding a job that I can do. Other jobs seem to discriminate against cancer survivors ( hard to beleive with all of the attention they give to organizations to fight cancer, but very evident in their reluctance to hire). Tried for assistance with vocational rehab and they want me to document the undocumental things. Things are however looking up as I finally had a promising interview last Tuesday and a test to take for another place in the coming week. Both are decent jobs, but will test my memory and experience in some areas to the max. Rod

 

I was a tech at a Honda Mazda isuzu dealer to17 years really messed up my attitude and my hands etc .. best thing I ever did was go to work for the school district I now work on big yellow buses no rush decent pay good insurance .paid leave and sick day and personal days. just fix the buses take your tome and do it right.
Andy oh yea no stress

 

I'm really glad that your career change has worked out well for you. In my book, landing a job in a hotrod shop is the ultimate career. It may not pay the most but the fun factor has to be through the roof!
So many people stick with a job they hate because they are afraid to try something different. Sometimes a guy just has to jump in and see if he sinks or swims. In my meanderings through life I never dreamed I'd end up living and working in Hawaii but after 8+ years I'm loving it!

 

ive changed careers several times. from law enforcement to software to public relations for a govt agency to real estate and property management...and I'm 39...I'm glad you found something you enjoy!

 

Hell a little warmer climate would be good... But I'm content and picked me up a 63 f250. 4x4 to keep the gas pumping in my veins and the y block will be nice in a project later on. I'm all about finding a medium, I may do the grunt work but I love getting my hands on some fab tools and freshening up on old skills. I would love to teach but I also have a passion for learning so I better get that out of the way first.

 

What about using a supplied air system with your welding helmet? Positive pressure means nothing other than clean, breathable air reaches your lungs

 

I had one of the air packs but welding pipe on a frac pump trailer is very constrictive and I wasn't able to crawl around where I needed too. If not for that I would of love to stayed there because the money was good and the product was in demand so tons of overtime.