Welding course

[Supernube]

Hello all. I am considering doing a welding course at my local college...not sure what course just yet but certainly a beginners level and progress from there.
I was wondeing If there are jobs out there for newly qualified welders and if it is actually worth doing the course in the first place.
I see there is work abroad etc for Pipe welders ? Is this something I could aim at or is it ALL about having the experience ....that I obviously would not have.
Any advice will be very much appreciated
Thank you
Daniel
....Better just mention I am 38 !!

 

[Bede]

Pipe welding will require lots of experience before you're capable of coding standard. Walk before you can run.

 

[Supernube]

Pipe welding will require lots of experience before you're capable of coding standard. Walk before you can run.

Ok thank you...just a thought...didnt know about "coding standard" (still dont actually lol)
Only mentioned it as I heard it is good money...obviously with experience then.
Im interested in Welding thats all and would like more information on job routes and what you think of a weling course at my old age
Thank you
Daniel

 

[Bede]

You're never too old to branch off in a different direction.

Pipe welding is different from general fabrication welding in that it involves positional welding, which is more difficult than banging out half decent runs on a flat bench. By positional I mean upside down, uphill, downhill, all planes possible which all brings different techniques and skill sets thanks to gravity and science.

Coding is the testing procedure to prove your ability to undertake different positions by testing samples for quality of penetration and is divided generally into g codes, different g code numbers relating to passing testing in a number of positions.

There's some decent info on here on coded welding if you search.

If you want to get into chasing good money on pipe welding you have to gain the relevant experience and shell out a lot of money obtaining your coding qualification.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Your ASME 9 will be about a grand if you want to go that way...

 

[zardoz]

Your ASME 9 will be about a grand if you want to go that way...

You wanna do what i did for practice.

First put on the invisibility green bib. Then saw down a lamp post. take it away and chop into 25 pieces. Bevel the cuts at 37 ½ degrees with a 40% land. Then weld em all back together again. Put said lamp post back in place before dark. Bish, bash, bosh, bit of ASME9 practice for your CV. No problem

PS: Film it for extra Youtube fame

 

[Supernube]

Ok I think I am definitely getting ahead of myself here so Im going to get a welder first do a little bit of welding here, there, and everywhere and take it from there ...
Thank you very much for your advice.
Daniel

 

[zardoz]

A city & guilds level 1 fabrication and welding beginners evening class course in MIG welding would be an ideal starting place.

Its usually 12 evenings classes of 2 or 3 hours per week for the level 1 class. if i remember correctly.

 

[Supernube]

A city & guilds level 1 fabrication and welding beginners evening class course in MIG welding would be an ideal starting place.

Its usually 12 evenings classes of 2 or 3 hours per week for the level 1 class. if i remember correctly.

Hello. Exeter College runs this course...thats about a 20 min drive for me so I will look into this after the Bank holiday.
I understand it to be a beginners course but what sort of things will be covered do you think ?
Also...do you think It may be a good idea to get a welder first and try a bit of welding before going for the course ? I think so but maybe learning to do things right from the get go is best ?
Anyway...thank you for the info on the course.
Daniel

 

[zardoz]

When i did the course several years back. (city & guilds 3268 MIG) The first evenings class (each class was from 6pm - 9pm) was a half hour safety video. Then we were shown the machines. Then those that had a tad of welding experience were allowed to try some. The rest gathered around and watched the lecturer weld some pieces, then were told to do some them selves.

Then in the rest of the classes over the next few weeks, people just welded hundreds of bits of metal, getting used to the way it worked. All sorts of different types of weld (See bottom of this post) Then we were started of on our four or five test pieces we needed to pass the course.

Depending on whther or not the lecturer has an assistant, you may have to be a bit pushy about getting his time and opinions on your work. I always picked up my work piece (with tongs) and went and found him, even if it meant standing outside someone elses weld booth till he'd finished. Otherwise I would only see him twice every lesson. I suppose he assumes if you are not asking questions that you are either, not needeing help, or not too bothered.

I found our lecturer very ammeniable, once i got to know him. He's even let me take home great piles of metal pieces to practice on in my own time

This is the best thing about the course. Great piles of free metal to weld. All readily cut to size on a great big press brake. Take advantage of it. You wont get this anywhere else.

PS: Course is free if you are on benefits.

PPS: here is something from the C&G site about the level 1 course:

producing a tee fillet weld in the (PA) flat position
producing a corner weld in the (PA) flat position
conducting two root bend tests through 90°
conducting one macro section at 5x magnification
stopping and restarting the root run within the middle 50mm of the joint
conducting one nick-break fracture test from your 50mm section to include stop/start positions.
For the Level 1 and 2 Awards you'll do practical assignments and oral knowledge tests. At Level 3 you will also do practical assignments and an on-line knowledge test.

 

[Supernube]

Thank you Zardoz. I will definitely look into it after the bank holiday.
The information is great...gives me a good idea of not only the sort of things I will be doing but I can also see what sort of level I will be at once the course is over....so thank you for that.
I remember what it was like getting the tutors attention when I did an Air conditioning course a while ago....but...I will make sure I get what I want from the course dont worry.
Anyway...Ive been dry stone walling all day today so...time for bed.
Thanks again
Daniel

 

[octo0072000]

Thank you Zardoz. I will definitely look into it after the bank holiday.
The information is great...gives me a good idea of not only the sort of things I will be doing but I can also see what sort of level I will be at once the course is over....so thank you for that.
I remember what it was like getting the tutors attention when I did an Air conditioning course a while ago....but...I will make sure I get what I want from the course dont worry.
Anyway...Ive been dry stone walling all day today so...time for bed.
Thanks again
Daniel

Dry stone walling now that's a lot harder than it looks and a art form in it's own right if done without cement as it should be

 

[Supernube]

Dry stone walling now that's a lot harder than it looks and a art form in it's own right if done without cement as it should be

Yes indeed...only a small job today for a very demanding employer....the wife
But Ive done many meters of dry stone walling....very pleasing job too...drive by a wall youve done a few months earlier and something you recently did looks like its been there forever.... Its a good feeling.
Daniel

 

[rob1234]

hi i did my asme 9 6g many years ago when i was made redundant from british steel, who paid for me me to retrain, it took me a year with Loyds British testing, it was suppose to get me a job in the oil rigs ,but company's that i wrote to were not interested unless i done a proper apprenticeship, with experience ,,least i got the certificate and a years wages it was hard ,,but i enjoyed it ,,good luck

 

[pastymate]

Hello Supernube.

I just completed a 9 day level 1 Mig welding course at Willesden college a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it. Speaking as someone who had never picked up a Mig welder or any other welder for that matter, may I suggest that you do not buy one until you have had the course. The only reason I say this is because I was going to buy a welder before doing the course but circumstances got in the way and I just started the course anyway. What I was completely unaware of was the dangers involved in welding which you have to be mindful of constantly e.g the fumes, the heat, intense light, fire etc and the list goes on. The instructors will hammer home the safety side of things because it is necessary. Forewarned is forearmed and as newbies we are more likely to fall foul of them.

May I also suggest that you get yourself an autodarkening helmet. Willesden college only supplied the non-auto helmets which is what I assume Exeter will have. They work fine but when you have set up your gun position ready to start welding by the time you drop the face mask down your hand will probably have moved slightly meaning you will start welding in the wrong place. An auto darkening helmet helps overcome the problem.

I had 5 horizontal tests to do 3 parallel beads of the same length, size, height etc, 2 corner joints, a lap joint and a T joint. No butt joint though which I was surprised about.

PS. I am knocking on 50.

Best of luck.