Noob has questions.. Sorry

[Machin3]

Hi all,
Just signed up, and have a few queations. And I apologise because i know you have probably answered these many times.

Bit of background, im a fully qualified arborist, but my father in law owns/runs a successful workshop, hes getting older and wants to hand over within next few years. Ive been welding for him for about 6 months now, repairing farm machinery, making security gates etc:

Im confident in my welds as he rarely does any now that ive taken to the skill pretty well, didnt mean that to sound mr big D* but its more through being forced to learn fast.

Questions are, which qualifications are needed for when i do take over? Ive been searhing through google and im gettinf very confused regarding nvqs and coding. If anyone asked me which Arborist quals needed i could rattle them off easy so im hoping you guys can do the same.
Im in london so if Anyone knows of a good training center please let me know,
Many thanks, an sorry for the essay.
Machin3

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum:

Why do you consider you require qualifications for what will be your own business?

Plenty of welders running a business (gates, railings etc) who were self taught or taught in previous occupations but were never actually put through the qualifications to prove competency.

I should imagine some customers may require evidence of proven skills level for liability but when I was on the go I was never asked for anything and I did work for the local councils and some major contracts in the area, perhaps it's all changed and because I am no longer doing the work I have not fully realised.

 

[Machin3]

Welcome to the forum:

Why do you consider you require qualifications for what will be your own business?

Plenty of welders running a business (gates, railings etc) who were self taught or taught in previous occupations but were never actually put through the qualifications to prove competency.

I should imagine some customers may require evidence of proven skills level for liability but when I was on the go I was never asked for anything and I did work for the local councils and some major contracts in the area, perhaps it's all changed and because I am no longer doing the work I have not fully realised.

Thanks for your reply, i just assumed for insurance purposes i would need to show some form of certification,
Like with my current trade i need a huge list of certs to be able to work for council and around public.

But as i will be in a private workshop all day i can see how i may be able to get away without them.

I may still go on a course to learn the things my father in law has not taught me yet. I just dont want to ruin his reputation, do a good job and secure my future really,

I appreciate your time fella, thanks

 

[cumbriasteve]

The only question I was asked for liability insurance was the number of years in the trade.

In the workshop is no problem if the public are not present, if you are making grills and the like that require fitting and used on the customers premises then you are probably aware insurance is a must, things can go wrong for even the best of us and a decent claim in todays 'no win no fee' culture could have a life changing impact.

 

[wilbur]

.. a decent claim in todays 'no win no fee' culture could have a life changing impact.

Of course, a 'no win, no fee' lawyer will not normally take a case against someone with no insurance... Not that I'm giving out legal or insurance advice, mind...

 

[the snooper]

Of course, a 'no win, no fee' lawyer will not normally take a case against someone with no insurance... Not that I'm giving out legal or insurance advice, mind...

They probably would if you are not a limited company and owned property even your house can be at risk

 

[cumbriasteve]

Of course, a 'no win, no fee' lawyer will not normally take a case against someone with no insurance... Not that I'm giving out legal or insurance advice, mind...

That is why I wrote this part:

could have a life changing impact

because if you don't have insurance and they do...basically you could be finished...wiped out or whatever you wish to call it.

 

[Kent]

You will need a skills card for some work
Insurance wise if your taking over a limited company that already exists there should not be an issue at all
If it's a sole trader basis at present then you will be asked about your Experiance. It will likely still be issued but just increased I. View of your more limited experience level
Of course if you have no personal assets nobody will bother suing you anyhow - if you do then make sure you have good cover
BTW it won't be cheap for a first timer with limited Experiance

 

[Machin3]

Thank you for all your replies,
Im hoping to have another 5 years at least before he retires completely, but i do want to start off on the right foot.
So, insurance would probably be a good idea anyway, for the sake of the cost, customers come to the workshop all the time so the chance of something bad happening is there all be it very small, but best be safe,

So, with that covered, if i was to go on a course to learn more the fundamentals and techinal things im not currently being shown.. Does anyone have a course or particular ticket which would be worth me looking into?

Again, many thanks for all your input

 

[Kent]

Security gates? Man op or powered? If they are power op you need to do the powered gates group course.
Very little but time on the job ( experience is what they ask you)
If it's a Ltd Company you just take over as boss it's an entity in itself

 

[Machin3]

Security gates? Man op or powered? If they are power op you need to do the powered gates group course.
Very little but time on the job ( experience is what they ask you)
If it's a Ltd Company you just take over as boss it's an entity in itself

Manual op gates, if the gates are to be made powered that is done by our customer, but good to know about that powered gates course thanks

 

[Machin3]

Also, could anyone tell me what these brown like deposits are on the top of my welds?? Like i said im pretty green at this and wanna know if im doing something wrong, or am i worrying over something that just happens in the process...
And would this stuff affect any paint which is sprayed over it, should it be cleaned up?

Many thanks all

 

[backpurge]

The brown puddles are just silicon islands, not a fault but they do need removing before you apply any coatings or paint

 

[Machin3]

The brown puddles are just silicon islands, not a fault but they do need removing before you apply any coatings or paint

Thanks for your time

Just to be ground off? Because i think they are solid.. How can i stop these??
Cheers

 

[backpurge]

Thanks for your time

Just to be ground off? Because i think they are solid.. How can i stop these??
Cheers

You can't avoid them. They are caused by things like rust, mill scale etc and alloying elements in the filler wire. You can reduce them but they are just about impossible to totally eliminate

 

[Monkey Harris]

Also, could anyone tell me what these brown like deposits are on the top of my welds?? Like i said im pretty green at this and wanna know if im doing something wrong, or am i worrying over something that just happens in the process...
And would this stuff affect any paint which is sprayed over it, should it be cleaned up?

Many thanks all

Neat and Tidy welds.

 

[Machin3]

Neat and Tidy welds.

Thank you,
Thats reassuring :-)

 

[Machin3]

Shouldn't need to go as far as grinding to shift the deposits, a wire brush should see them off.

They cleaned up lovely today, thanks fella!

 

[Richard.]

You've achieved a large cold lap on the above weld showing very little fusion on the bottom plate.
It's a typical cold Mig weld where you've weaved and slowed down on the travel to compensate for the lack of power.
I would not be surprised if that's very weak. Thickness like that needs 250 amps blasting down it in a straight line. Weld toes should smoothly flow at both sides of the fillet. Yours are prominent and act as stress risers. Sometimes we don't always get smooth toe transition as welded but we should at least be blending them up afterwards with a grinder.
Turn up the juice to start.

 

[Machin3]

Thanks for feedback, hopefully the root weld i did before was better, im back to the workshop next monday so will give more juice a try, and post another pic

Thanks again