Welding career

[willthejuggler]

Hello all I am new here!

I currently have been working in the same job for around 8 years running the workshop, just turned 30 I can weld TIG (well I am not great but would like to be, currently level 2 city guilds moving on to level 3 in September)

I have been thinking of a move but I am not sure what to go for or what to do! I am intrigued about rope access welding, any advice on what to do now? feel a bit stuck where I am a bit under confident as I am the "boss" so I don't have anyone giving me feedback on my work, also I would like to find somewhere to really push me up a level, somewhere I can learn a lot.

cheers
will

 

[Terrapin]

Glutton for punishment then ..............

 

[willthejuggler]

Hell yeah! that's what I am talking about! I have done a bit of looking into it, interested to know what's the reality of getting there, in fact I have got some plans to build a training facility in my workshop, build a rig in the welding room then harness up and have a go!

 

[octo0072000]

mountaineering skills needed as well as welding and no fear of heights
let alone the welding skills

 

[willthejuggler]

the fear of heights is fine! I have climbed a fair amount wall and outdoor, when you say mountaineering skills how much do I need to know and can I get this from the rope access courses available?

cheers for all you help!

 

[backpurge]

First thing I'd do is find out if there is any call for rope access TIG welding, personally would have thought any jobs that require rope access would probably be welded with MMA due to problems with draughts, not being able to keep 100% rock steady etc etc.

But you are doing the right thing by thinking a bit outside the box and trying to find a niche market, it may just mean that you need to get profficient at another process as well such as MMA or self shielded cored wire welding
Best of luck fella

 

[Terrapin]

most of it is stick work, some cutting etc. I had a phot of a guy here hanging 150ft in the air doing a job - no way

 

[Lewis Medlock]

Have a look here Will

http://www.rigg-access.com/

If you sign up for premium membership there's a Rope Access Career Pack you can download but the membership costs £35 and I can't remember it being worthwhile, I've got the old career pack somewhere I'll see if I can find it.

Jim

 

[willthejuggler]

Cheers Guys!

my welder does MMA as well as TIG so was going to get some rods and run some seams....

Jim thanks mate if you can find it that would be amazing!

realistically do these level 2 city and guilds mean much to the potential employer? at £300 a pop I am happy to stay at work practising and pay for them but only if its actually going to help?

 

[Robotstar5]

realistically do these level 2 city and guilds mean much to the potential employer? at £300 a pop I am happy to stay at work practising and pay for them but only if its actually going to help?

They will help support a job application, but most employers want practical experience and will give you a "trade test".

Where I work, prospective welders are given a weldset with all the controls zeroed, 2 or 3 practice runs to get set up then weld a curved bracket to a tube. This then goes through our macro lab for assessment, failure rate is about 50%