Hello all

[frainey]

My names daniel frain im 18, have been welding for approx 6 months as i have a 5 year apprenticeship in fabrication and welding for a company called D&J Fabrications in manchester.

I would say im an average welder, can put a range of welds down from 6-30mm, multi run etc.

Just a little frustrating for a job when a blocked tip or a wrong setting screws the weld up and everyone calls you a bad welder

Anyway thats a little about me.

 

[madkayaker]

Hello and welcome.

 

[paulmowers]

Hi Daniel

Welcome to the forum, when I worked in a fab shop there were a core of guys who took great pleasure in putting down the younger lads at any oppertunity, they were never heard when the lads did something good.
Guess its just the way it is in most places.
Try doing what we used to, if you work on slabs and one of them has the toecap of their boots exposed and they are otherwise engaged, weld a bit of scrap from the slab to their boot.
Then they will know you can weld!!!!!!!!!!

you have to do the slab bit first mind, otherwise they feel the heat.

Probably not allowed now, it was in the early 80's we did that kind of thing.

Paul..

 

[madkayaker]

That was done in the welding shop at work this week.

 

[frainey]

Id probably get sacked if i did that haha.
At the moment im welding side plate shields that go underground for mining / roof supports.

Its a hell of alot of weld to put down on both sides but theres me and 3 other welders on the same job. 180 shields to be welded.

The company is aiming for me to be welding pressure vessels in a couple of years time with the top welders in the shop.


Thats if im still there in a few years that is.

 

[madkayaker]

Stick at it. Your odvisly showing interest in what you do as your hear and not in the pub (unless your local has WIFI) I teach sparky apprentices and getting interest is half the battle.

 

[Omniata]

Any jobs going for an "older" apprentice???

 

[paulmowers]

Daniel

You sound really disillusioned? Sounds like its the people you work with not taking you seriously? yes. You will get that at any work place, mainly because you are young, and they are r soles. Try not to let them get you down, you know you are a very capable lad and so does your boss, otherwise they wouldn't be considering training you up to pressure vessel standards, x ray quality I guess?
So as I said stick with it if you can, or at least if you have to leave for your own sanity get yourself another job lined up first.

Best Wishes paul..

 

[Wozzaaah]

Welcome to the forum Daniel, we're a friendly bunch on here .

 

[Omniata]

If they're letting you do mining shields you must be working to a high standard

 

[Hitch]

If 'bad welder' is the worst they call you it sounds like a very polite civilised fab shop!

Everyone has their share, your time will come to laugh at them that i guarantee!

 

[Omniata]

Can you get any pics of your work up on here, would be good to see....

 

[rtbcomp]

If they're letting you do mining shields you must be working to a high standard

Too true, your boss is obviously happy to put the reputation of his company on your workmanship.

 

[madkayaker]

The older welders are probably a bit peeved that they started with farm gates and you get the good stuff

 

[Sparkey]

Haha! guess it's the same everywhere!
If everything goes right, you're the best SUPERWELDER that kinda stuff!
But oh dear when the **** hits the fan....suddenly it's the welder's fault!
Believe me, your time will come!

 

[frainey]

Cheers for the welcome all

Rather than post photos up ive got a link to the website theres quite a few pictures on there of the stuff we make.

http://dandjfabrications.co.uk/


Just got given a pay rise today so i must be doing something right,
they where talking about putting me in for a test soon?

And yes all vessel work is xrayed in shop.