Stick welding only employment?

[ELL]

I have started MMA welding as a hobby and really enjoy it. I could see myself doing it as a career, once I get good enough of course, I will get training if I have to. Are there jobs out there doing just stick welding or do you nearly always need to know MIG or another type of welding as well?
Also, I have only been stick welding for a month, so, what should I be practicing to help me train for a job in stick welding? I know its a very broad question.
Thanks.

 

[Erie Fred]

Underground pipelines, steam fitters, pipe fitters, boiler makers, none
that I work with use MIG.

 

[chrismac]

I have started MMA welding as a hobby and really enjoy it. I could see myself doing it as a career, once I get good enough of course, I will get training if I have to. Are there jobs out there doing just stick welding or do you nearly always need to know MIG or another type of welding as well?
Also, I have only been stick welding for a month, so, what should I be practicing to help me train for a job in stick welding? I know its a very broad question.
Thanks.

I think you could be a generation too late, MIG and flux core have taken over many applications that MMA used to be used for and are far faster.

 

[Mark 2]

To give you a larger perspective, welding is only the joining of metal. Many would expect Fabrication skills as well.

 

[Brad93]

Get on as a welder helper first and see if 1.) you're capable and 2.) it isn't for everyone - most apprentices and youngsters can't hack it.

Also there's no such thing as just a welder anymore, not since the 80s/90s.

You're now expected to be proficient at everything.

If you like being covered in burning metal, stinking of burning metal, stabbed by shards of metal, rolling around on the floor in whatever grime your chosen industry has, be it bin juice, mud, excrement, or concrete dust, filling the shower tray up with black water and red specks of iron then it's the trade for you.

What we definitely don't need is more hobbyists calling themselves welders and going out doing work, bringing the market down and giving welders a bad name.

 

[ELL]

Get on as a welder helper first and see if 1.) you're capable and 2.) it isn't for everyone - most apprentices and youngsters can't hack it.

Also there's no such thing as just a welder anymore, not since the 80s/90s.

You're now expected to be proficient at everything.

If you like being covered in burning metal, stinking of burning metal, stabbed by shards of metal, rolling around on the floor in whatever grime your chosen industry has, be it bin juice, mud, excrement, or concrete dust, filling the shower tray up with black water and red specks of iron then it's the trade for you.

What we definitely don't need is more hobbyists calling themselves welders and going out doing work, bringing the market down and giving welders a bad name.

So, how would you get on as a welder helper then? Thanks.

 

[Brad93]

So, how would you get on as a welder helper then? Thanks.

Any college or training centre will have links to
the industry that can give placement.

Wages typically £11-13 an hour for welders mate

 

[Memmeddu]

stabbed by shards of metal, rolling around on the floor in whatever grime your chosen industry has, be it bin juice, mud, excrement, or concrete dust, filling the shower tray up with black water and red specks of iron then it's the trade for you.

That's my average day routine but I'm working as machinist.
Of course we do a lot of metal fabrication too

 

[RonMig]

This guy's videos give a very watchable perspective of life as a mobile welder...

https://www.youtube.com/@MeltinMetalAnthony/videos

Clearly he's self-employed, experienced and has a lot of kit, so it's not your scenario as a employee/trainee, but the videos do show the things he has to be good at, to earn a good living...

 

[Brad93]

This guy's videos give a very watchable perspective of life as a mobile welder...

https://www.youtube.com/@MeltinMetalAnthony/videos

Clearly he's self-employed, experienced and has a lot of kit, so it's not your scenario as a employee/trainee, but the videos do show the things he has to be good, at to earn a good living...

america is 1000 times different than the uk, you can't even begin to compare.

There's 10x more paperwork and red tape here.

Also attitudes to trades are completely different in the states. You've got guys charging $2000 dollars a day out there for work that you'd struggle to win for £500/day here.
And the standard of work in america is generally poor, like **** poor.

 

[addjunkie]

Get on as a welder helper first and see if 1.) you're capable and 2.) it isn't for everyone - most apprentices and youngsters can't hack it.

Also there's no such thing as just a welder anymore, not since the 80s/90s.

You're now expected to be proficient at everything.

If you like being covered in burning metal, stinking of burning metal, stabbed by shards of metal, rolling around on the floor in whatever grime your chosen industry has, be it bin juice, mud, excrement, or concrete dust, filling the shower tray up with black water and red specks of iron then it's the trade for you.

What we definitely don't need is more hobbyists calling themselves welders and going out doing work, bringing the market down and giving welders a bad name.

Your really selling it!

america is 1000 times different than the uk, you can't even begin to compare.

There's 10x more paperwork and red tape here.

Also attitudes to trades are completely different in the states. You've got guys charging $2000 dollars a day out there for work that you'd struggle to win for £500/day here.
And the standard of work in america is generally poor, like **** poor.

Thats the way they train over there….its different to what we are used too. When I was out in Angola, we had several of our American friends in various trades/ roles. None seemed to have followed what I would describe as a formal training process. Some high school then on the job, others some college. Couple ex military or merchant marine then on the job.

Some very good, some not so good, and some dam right dangerous……similar to everywhere else!

 

[northwest]

What we definitely don't need is more hobbyists calling themselves welders and going out doing work, bringing the market down and giving welders a bad name.

and getting them paid worse than they are now. I cannot believe just how little some companies offer for what is a highly skilled job which can only be achieved by years of practice. My pal jokes that the only qualified welder in the place is me and I am carp at it. He on the other hand makes even the most complex and complicated task look like a walk in the park, because for him after thirty odd years in the industry, it is. But I have made damned sure he is getting properly remunerated for his efforts.

 

[colnerov]

How's your positional welding?

 

[Brad93]

Here's a few of mine.

2x 12 hour shift spent needle gunning, wire wheeling and grinding kneeling/laying on hardfaced cement mill table.

16 hour shift welding on crane at immingham docks, 2000m x 800mm x 20mm plate butt weld MPI & UT, all overhead, whilst in scaffolding habitat suspended 40m+ over the sea.

2x 12 hour shift spend kneeling ontop of cement mill rolls, hardfacing with 1.6mm open arc wire.

Thats some of the fun ones.

Powerstation shutdowns and Scunthorpe shutdowns were beyond what you would think the human body can tolerate. Room temperatures above 50 degrees, so much dust you cannot see much beyond 10 ft, mammoth jobs you can't imagine getting to the finish line.

10,000 stud welded y cleats in two weeks, plus additional welding works on nights at British Steel.

But there's no plan b, no one else to come and finish the job, no point moaning about it, you have to get on with it.

Thats the life of site welders.

 

[Brad93]

I once done furnace flue repairs at british steel.
Massive fans and extractors running constantly for about three days before getting onsite.
The steel and fire brick floor was still so hot, the soles of your boots were sliding around as the rubber melted.
Ended up standing on leather welding jackets.
15 minutes and you had to step out, overalls and leather sleeves soaked in sweat.

Think that was £25 an hour.

 

[addjunkie]

Here's a few of mine.

2x 12 hour shift spent needle gunning, wire wheeling and grinding kneeling/laying on hardfaced cement mill table.

16 hour shift welding on crane at immingham docks, 2000m x 800mm x 20mm plate butt weld MPI & UT, all overhead, whilst in scaffolding habitat suspended 40m+ over the sea.

2x 12 hour shift spend kneeling ontop of cement mill rolls, hardfacing with 1.6mm open arc wire.

Thats some of the fun ones.

Powerstation shutdowns and Scunthorpe shutdowns were beyond what you would think the human body can tolerate. Room temperatures above 50 degrees, so much dust you cannot see much beyond 10 ft, mammoth jobs you can't imagine getting to the finish line.

But there's no plan b, no one else to come and finish the job, no point moaning about it, you have to get on with it.

Thats the life of site welders.

View attachment 464637 View attachment 464638

Living the dream……

Worst Ive seen was guys in a wet muddy hole stoveing a 36 pipe in snow and rain, ready to accept a repair clamp, December…..a leak in an oil pipe, oil still in it and pressure to fix it quick! My name uneasily on the permits!

Heat inside a ships exhaust for emergency repairs, to bellows shields, or Waste heat recovery unit tube emergency fixing.

 

[Brad93]

Living the dream……

Worst Ive seen was guys in a wet muddy hole stoveing a 36 pipe in snow and rain, ready to accept a repair clamp, December…..a leak in an oil pipe, oil still in it and pressure to fix it quick! My name uneasily on the permits!

Heat inside a ships exhaust for emergency repairs, to bellows shields, or Waste heat recovery unit tube emergency fixing.

Stuff of nightmares

 

[Dilkris]

Wages typically £11-13 an hour for welders mate

Wow !!! Seriously Brad? - I thought it would have been more - you can earn that working behind a bar.

 

[Memmeddu]

Wow !!! Seriously Brad? - I thought it would have been more - you can earn that working behind a bar.

Someone's worse
I get 5.5 euro per hour in the machine shop doing all sorts of @#* breaking stuff.
On last Friday and on Monday I've had to work all day long under the sun at about 40°C all covered up with denim jeans, welding jacket, apron and half mask.
Straightening a golf cart frame alone, using the torch to heat up, and few F clamps, a pry bar and an hammer.
Then I've cleaned all up and Tig welded the thing.
Thick aluminum+ high amps+ all covered up+ under the sun at 40°C and about 80% humidity= I was hoping to die there to end up my sufference

 

[addjunkie]

Wow !!! Seriously Brad? - I thought it would have been more - you can earn that working behind a bar.

More to be had in most industries now, unless your very skilled and prepared to knock your pan in.

Cleaners round here are wanting 20 quid an hour self employed.