underwater welding

[cornishnutter]

hi does anyone know of any underwater welding companies in the uk that do apprencticeships thanks

 

[Weldingartisan]

No, but I believe it's nowhere near as much fun as it sounds! W/A

 

[cornishnutter]

thanks

thanks
do you know any underwater welding companies in the uk??

 

[Baz-Cem]

Try asking the companies that do the training, I would think they would have an idea.

 

[English Steve]

I seem to remember that my brother did some underwater welding during his training for his commercial divers ticket. He trained at Plymouth so I assume that won't be too far for you to travel. He is working overseas at the moment so I can't easily ask him for any details, but if we are in contact soon I will try to remember to ask.

Steve

 

[fingers99]

I'd imagine that you need all the diving qualifications first, so places to ask would be commercial diving schools and, I guess marine salvage contractors.

Perhaps there's a submersion diver's forum somewhere?

 

[jugs]

thanks
do you know any underwater welding companies in the uk??

Try these http://www.specialwelds.com/

 

[matt1978]

A lot of people have asked this question on UK Welder and they all seem to get told the same thing, no one offers apprenticeships in this field of welding, you have to pay for yourself to get the training and then there is no guarantee's of any employment at the end of it.

Can you weld to a high standard anyway? How much conventional diving and welding experience do you have? Unless you have 8-10 years in both then your wasting your time even paying for the course, which costs £1000's anyway.

 

[matt1978]

Actually, I am going to take some of that back, I just read the details of Specialwelds website and its seems that they do offer a course for people wanting to get into it.

 

[fingers99]

Of course, the alternative would be to join the Navy!

 

[snowcat]

Its a mystery to me why anyone would wish to do that job, except for money of course....

Alright Matt, where you been hideing?

 

[matt1978]

Hi Snowy,

I think lots of young people hear stories of welders earning a grand a week, welding on site, that's possible but they don't realise that you gotta be doing 7 x 12 hour shifts and including your digs allowance in with it, then they hear stories of underwater welders are on a million pound an hour and they fancy a bit, I know I heard the same stories when I was doing my apprenticeship. I know of one story which was true though, all the underwater welders who worked for a company called comec, got given a Rolex Submariner, with Comec on the dial, there like rocking horse cack now, worth lots!

I have been in Germany for work then I was on hols till Saturday.

 

[dutchman]

I think lots of young people hear stories of welders earning a grand a week, welding on site, that's possible but they don't realise that you gotta be doing 7 x 12 hour shifts and including your digs allowance in with it......

Even I heard those stories at the other side of the North Sea. When working for a company that employed welders during my last year in University, one of the welders told me I could work for him. He said that after completing some special courses (in Texas and Norway mind you!) I would make VERY good money.
That welder now works in an area that makes Siberia look like a picknick ground and yes... 7 x 12 hours (or more) is no exception.

 

[brendan h]

That welder now works in an area that makes Siberia look like a picknick ground and yes... 7 x 12 hours (or more) is no exception.

i dont quiet get what your saying. you saying he earning alot?

 

[dutchman]

I do not know the bloke's exact salary, but I think it is OK. Probably not a 1000 a week, but still OK. But he has to work his @rse off for more than 12 hours a day, hardly ever sees his missus and working in the toughest places of the world is not as much fun as it may seem. Under such circumstances, any job that takes 70+hrs would earn well.
My guess is that welding can earn you a decent living, but the stories of lots of money are highly exaggerated.

 

[matt1978]

hardly ever sees his missus

Not all bad then

A lot of the stories came from the 70's and 80's when there were a lot of boom times in manufacturing, it was and still is possible to earn a lot of money at welding, but the easier working condition jobs where thats possible are gettin harder and harder to find. Run of the mill welders in factories, don't earn all that much, its not a bad wage but not big money like we were talking about.

To earn the big money you either need to be self employed (but certainly still no garantees as i'm sure some of the guys on here would agree!) or become a contractor and be prepared to work any where in the world at the drop of a hat usually on short contracts.

The stories of the easy money jobs usually come from the fact you get paid 7x12 hour shifts (37 hours at a reasonable hourly rate, then some at time + half and the rest a double time) plus a couple of hundred quid living expenses, in days past, you used to be able to get paid for working 12 hour shifts but you only actually worked 8 or 10 hours, or you would work late in the week to get the job done by the Friday and still get paid the weekend on double time even though your not working, thats where the stories came from IMHO, but usually nowadays perks and job and nock jobs like that are like rocking horse poo.

I had a few mates who did get some big money at a fairly easy job, about 6 of them got subbing for a firm who had a big job in Nairobi, Kenya. They got sent out there as foremen to assist/monitor the local kenyan labour, they got put up in Nairobi hilton all expenses paid and had about a grand a week take home for the pleasure, they hardly spent f all as the cost of living at the time was next to nothing and they got return business class flights home once a month included. That lasted about 6-8 months, but all good things come to an end, there's certainly not dozens of jobs like that about. That was in the mid 90's so I imagine there are even fewer about now!

 

[snowcat]

Not all bad then


To earn the big money you either need to be self employed (but certainly still no garantees as i'm sure some of the guys on here would agree!) or become a contractor and be prepared to work any where in the world at the drop of a hat usually on short contracts.

!

Huhhh, Il just go off and a count me money then, spot on with the short term work tho, you can indeed earn lots of money in a short space of time, BUT contracts can run dry, so you need to save for this, OK when your young free and single, but I like me own bed Im afraid.

 

[jugs]

(1) To earn the big money you either need to be self employed (but certainly still no garantees as i'm sure some of the guys on here would agree!) or (2)become a contractor and be prepared to work any where in the world at the drop of a hat usually on short contracts.

!

(1) Urban myth

Done that & know lots of others doing it, Loads of money available BUT if you can collect whats due to you, you then have to give most away to suppliers, banks, staff, taxman. IF you show a profit taxman comes back for more. If you show a loss - no help.

You can make a modist living but you wont be a Bill Gates.

If you are young (2) is a good option.

 

[matt1978]

(1) Urban myth

Done that & know lots of others doing it, Loads of money available BUT if you can collect whats due to you, you then have to give most away to suppliers, banks, staff, taxman. IF you show a profit taxman comes back for more. If you show a loss - no help.

You can make a modist living but you wont be a Bill Gates.

If you are young (2) is a good option.

Option 2 is a good option but only if you are disciplined enough to save the money your earning, as I found out , there's no point earning £1000 a week living away from home for weeks at a time, if your spending each night on the **** and wasting £300 a week going out, because your board of sitting in some crumby bed & breakfast, may aswell as took a "normal" paid job at home and been about the same left in your account each month. I was only young and had some great laughs during my time as a contractor, but I am so glad I am out of it now.

 

[weldingslag]

Hi there are now UK training providers that can take you from start to finish as far as I know. A couple of apprentices asked me the same question when they were about 27 or so and I directed them to the USA, $20K later they were all done. They as all the apps were trained and experienced in MMA/TIG and some Flux Core on pipes etc for power station type work.
Why this option anyway, I have met a few under water welders during my time and not many look back with fond memories!!
What do you do now is it the big money you chase?