Welder vs Fabricator, what's the difference?

[DeBangis]

Greetings,

What is the differences between a welder and a metal fabricator?

I surf the internet; but couldn't get it clear enough. I want to hear your insights, tech-savvy.

Thanks!

 

[Seadog]

A welder could be employed just to weld. E.g. in a shipyard, on a pipeline, or similar.
A fabricator starts with pieces of metal and produces that which is required.

That's my take.

 

[pressbrake1]

I ll change the name slightly
A plater is the person that manipulates and works the material to the right size , shape etc and tacks up
The welder then welds it in the sequence given by the drawing or plater .
When I was in heavy engineering a welder was called a plater with their brains kicked out.
The platers themselves would be coded but their skills were more valuable setting up

These days I think of a fabricator as a beam basher and a true welder is someone who really specialises in welding non ferrous and ferrous . Pipe welders are another breed

 

[pressbrake1]

A welder could be employed just to weld. E.g. in a shipyard, on a pipeline, or similar.
A fabricator starts with pieces of metal and produces that which is required.

That's my take.

I know a few very very good welders but totally incapable of cutting something the right size!

 

[8ob]

I know a few very very good welders but totally incapable of cutting something the right size!

And most suffer with ISD ( illusory superiority disorder) which has no known cure.

Bob

 

[MetalMonkey]

I think realistically, looking at the job market now, a fabricator might encompass a range of skills around fit-up including folding, shaping, drilling, cutting, setting up jigs etc - whereas a welder might typically be employed to just run beads on pre-cut material.
However, I suspect a lot will depend on what they can get out of somebody for the minimum amount of pay they can justify.

 

[Mark 2]

As above, they all used to be separate jobs but these days you would be expected to be reasonable at all disciplines.
My memory was 'plater' works with 3mm and above. Sheet metal for the thin stuff.

 

[Morrisman]

I spent several months of my machining apprenticeship in a large fabrication shop, huge complicated constructions, tacked together by the platers, then finished welded by a couple of small dirty guys, who would crawl in and around the fabrications without as much as a dust mask between them.

I do recall one huge construction being turned over by the gantry crane, and it slipped a foot or so..... and promptly fell apart, leaving a large pile of profile cut parts, obviously not tacked together well enough.

That was the point at which the plater wished he were a better welder.....

(I was only chipping and dressing, sweeping the floor and making tea)

 

[premmington]

I have heard it said "a welder is just another tool a pipe fitter uses"

 

[premmington]

And most suffer with ISD ( illusory superiority disorder) which has no known cure.

Bob

Paint sprayers in the motortrade also suffer with this as well....

 

[Brad93]

the travesty is platers being paid £12 an hour and welders the same.

The idea is your welders were bloody quick, piece work used to quickly weed out people who **Language**ed about because they made less money at the end of the week.

Platers just tacked up, their skill is in setting out and fabricating.
Traditionally on more money than just welders as the platers can weld as well but the unions made sure they stuck to their role, it stopped companies taking the ****.

Fabricator is a catch all for someone who fills a variety of rolls, and they can pay a minuscule wage.

I've seen adverts wanting fabricators to TIG/MIG & Stick weld, fabricate, run piece work on pressbrake to exacting tolerances, roll, shear, mill and turn. For £14 an hour.

I'm sorry but if you can do all those things to a good standard, you should be on multi skilled rate at £18+ an hour.
Like fitters, carrying out multiple roles.

 

[tom2207]

And most suffer with ISD ( illusory superiority disorder) which has no known cure.

Bob

100% X ray.

[ a good weld inspector can level the field quickly enough.]

 

[Easywelder]

I have a welder doing a couple of days a week just as happy welding a couple of bits of metal together in a jig as measuring, cutting, drilling and welding structural steel very accurately, he’s bang on, quick to learn new stuff, a great guy to work with, will stay an extra half an hour to avoid having to set up again the next morning etc. I would say he is in between being a welder and full on fabricator, but on way more than £18 and worth it.

 

[8ob]

100% X ray.

[ a good weld inspector can level the field quickly enough.]

Not sure how they work it these days, the ms contracts I was on they would xray 10% of the welds we did, if there were any flaws/cutouts that went up to 20% of welds, after that it was 100%. Not being paid for cutouts or repairs is a fair incentive to get it right first time.

Bob

 

[premmington]

100% X ray.

[ a good weld inspector can level the field quickly enough.]

I have had some MMA stuff I done - "burnt" and the slag inclusion on what I thought was a 100% weld was unreal (overlayed stuff).

 

[roofman]

I was a very good plater in my late teens and 20,s

 

[DeBangis]

I think realistically, looking at the job market now, a fabricator might encompass a range of skills around fit-up including folding, shaping, drilling, cutting, setting up jigs etc - whereas a welder might typically be employed to just run beads on pre-cut material.
However, I suspect a lot will depend on what they can get out of somebody for the minimum amount of pay they can justify.

Which trade uses press brake(?) to make sheet metal into corrugation and designs for doors and gates?

 

[premmington]

I was a very good plater in my late teens and 20,s

@mtt.tr

If this is similar to the "plasterers radio" thing...

Don't explain the meaning of the above - to me.... No blurting it out. Keep your mouth shut!

I was born a retard and have lived a sheltered life...

 

[Brad93]

Which trade uses press brake(?) to make sheet metal into corrugation and designs for doors and gates?

Sheet Metalworker

or the aerospace firm i used to work at used to call them Technicians actually.

 

[tom2207]

Sheet Metalworker

or the aerospace firm i used to work at used to call them Technicians actually.

production operatives I think they tend to get called in some parts .