Noodleface
A Mod Real Quick
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Anyone work in engineering? How’s it going?
- Thread starter rectifryer
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Furry
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Lots of my family in the trades. Pipefitting is a field most people probably don't put much thought into, but I had a relative that was insanely successful as a pipefitter. Being a contractor for the navy with top secret clearance to work on nuclear tech, he retired very comfortably in his early 50s.
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Caeden
Golden Baronet of the Realm
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Welding is a super in-demand skill, particularly if you’re comfortable with tight quarters and some heights. I lack the agility I’ve seen some of these guys display in full gear. I got a guy I rely on. Total redneck. Tried to catch a skunk with his bare hands at our retaining pond. If it’s broke, and he can’t fix it, you need a new one. Probably our best pipe fitter. He’s worth every bit we pay him which is considerable.
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Welding seems to pay shit for the most part. My friends son is a welder and has a hard time finding work but he is new. I would love to hear of more opportunities to send his way.
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A lot of people who can lay a bead down call themselves welders....A welder can make good money if and pretty much only if they can weld in all posistions, in several processes (Mig, stick, Tig, Submerged arc etc...) on multiple alloys (low carbon steel, stainless, aluminum, high nickle content etc..), can set up the machine, follow a multi page procedure for the weld in questions, and being able to pass a drug test doesn't hurt. I don't think production welders make well, welding the same weld day after day on production line type deal.
A lot of guys can come in can pass a weld test if someone sets up the machine and tells them how they want it welded. The guys that make good money can set the machines and make the weld. In really good paying jobs on high dollar alloys there will be a high percentage of the welds tested (Xray, mag particle, dye pentrtion) and their pass/fall percentage will be tracked.
So anyway welder is a pretty big umbrella. There was a guy I worked with that after Vietnam he was trained as a pipe welder by the union. He went to AK to weld on the pipeline and then various other places and finished up on the local nuclear plant before transitioning into the office. The guys in the structural shops I deal with don't make all that well. All their stuff is welded with flux core so it's not like TiG. Now plate shops that do all TiG and submerged arc the guys who set it up (automated trolley that lays down the flux and welds behind it while moving along) and various alloys they do pretty well.
If you really want to make good money welding at this point you are going to be willing ot move around. If it's real high paying in one location nowdays it will be automated.
A lot of guys can come in can pass a weld test if someone sets up the machine and tells them how they want it welded. The guys that make good money can set the machines and make the weld. In really good paying jobs on high dollar alloys there will be a high percentage of the welds tested (Xray, mag particle, dye pentrtion) and their pass/fall percentage will be tracked.
So anyway welder is a pretty big umbrella. There was a guy I worked with that after Vietnam he was trained as a pipe welder by the union. He went to AK to weld on the pipeline and then various other places and finished up on the local nuclear plant before transitioning into the office. The guys in the structural shops I deal with don't make all that well. All their stuff is welded with flux core so it's not like TiG. Now plate shops that do all TiG and submerged arc the guys who set it up (automated trolley that lays down the flux and welds behind it while moving along) and various alloys they do pretty well.
If you really want to make good money welding at this point you are going to be willing ot move around. If it's real high paying in one location nowdays it will be automated.
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Caeden
Golden Baronet of the Realm
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In our case, this guy can weld all the way up to super stainless. He’s responsible for a wide array of skills and jobs that keep a 24-7 operation going. He’s completely self sufficient. But like said - everything we do has to pass dye pen or x-ray or hydro. It’s all custom work. A lot of retrofit.