Well, I quit!

[SiPMerlin150]

Today I signed off and left a job only having got the job 2 week ago. I was employed by an agency as a 'semi - skilled MIG welder'. Passed a welding test and was given a start date. I was told I'd be helping the other welders by tacking things up etc, Well, I was thrown into the deep end, given a torch and set to work welding up 5 mm box down on the grimey floor, upside down over head etc. Using a MIG on dirty, even sometimes rusty millscaled steel to build truck chassis is not my idea or proper welding. Safety at the place is paramount, they take it seriously, but even with all the safety gear I've acquired a number of deep burns in the crook of my arm and just above my knees and a huge blister on my right index finger, all septic now because dressings and plasters cannot be kept clean in this environment. 9 hours a day bumping my head on the jigs, climbing in and out of the chassis with 30 mins dinner and a 15 minute break all day. Fast paced production line repetitive work... sorry not for me! I would rather do fabrication. How about this? 20 odd men in a warehouse as big as a football stadium, all welding...only TWO angle grinders?! Theres always a queue!

Never again in that place. Rant over!

 

[madkayaker]

That's production welding for you

 

[chunkolini]

You make it sound so glamorous.
Well done for walking.

 

[Hitch]

Bottom rung of the ol' ladder and all that.....
Any experience is a good one though, you'll know what to look for next time.

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Bottom rung of the ol' ladder and all that.....
Any experience is a good one though, you'll know what to look for next time.

The thing is, I was really supposed to be fabricating parts, but for some reason, they put in in with the 'freight' side which is the putting together of the chassis beams on the jig , position the box sections into position, bracing it, squaring it up etc. Tolerances being no more than +/- 2mm etc. Too much responsibility for someone of the likes of me (too much too soon)

 

[Pete.]

Sounds great, I'm not surprised you turned your tail. Now the others can talk about how you couldn't cut it in-between hacking coughs and picking black croutons out of their noses.

A 2mm tolerance shouldn't really strain anyone though.

 

[Badger1bear]

I dunno these young whipper snappers of ta' day

I do roughly 12 hours a day with a 45 minutes break halfway thru the day, most of it is hgv driving and the rest is overtime welding and repairing trucks and containers

Hard work never hurt anyone I enjoy being thrown in at the deep end in a job, it sorts the wheat from the chaff

If that sort of thing aint fa you then its best you step aside and find summat new


good luck with ya search

 

[outofthefire]

Welcome to truck building, I start at 7 first 15 min break at 10, 30 min dinner at 1 finish 4.30 or 5.30 if I work over. If you play with molten metal your going to get burnt every now and again it goes with the job, I use sudocrem covered with micropore then insulating tape on bad burns till they've healed over. I love my job, this firms a lot better than the last one I worked for the health and safety is good here it was virtually non existent and at the last one and we had to buy our own tools including grinders.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

hope you looted the joint on the way out

 

[SiPMerlin150]

You can't loot here, not that I want to but they do spot checks randomly, I had to sign a consent form upon arrival at my induction. The only things found in my pocket wouold be a couple of spare contact tips and spare ear plugs

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Better off out off it mate

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

You get used to touching hot stuff, deliberate or not, its all part of the job. In fact if you get caught out as many times as I do, you eventually build up a tolerance for heat, especially when your hairs are burning but...dont....want...to.....stop...only...have....2 inches.....to....go.....

I bet some guys here who have welded for 20+ years still get the occasional burn.

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Welcome to truck building, I start at 7 first 15 min break at 10, 30 min dinner at 1 finish 4.30 or 5.30 if I work over. If you play with molten metal your going to get burnt every now and again it goes with the job, I use sudocrem covered with micropore then insulating tape on bad burns till they've healed over. I love my job, this firms a lot better than the last one I worked for the health and safety is good here it was virtually non existent and at the last one and we had to buy our own tools including grinders.

Sudocrem & insulation tape eh? Will have to give that a go!

Your times are exactly to the tune of mine..

 

[SiPMerlin150]

You get used to touching hot stuff, deliberate or not, its all part of the job. In fact if you get caught out as many times as I do, you eventually build up a tolerance for heat, especially when your hairs are burning but...dont....want...to.....stop...only...have....2 inches.....to....go.....

I bet some guys here who have welded for 20+ years still get the occasional burn.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the odd burn, The other day I looked down and my Hi Vis jacket was actually on fire (promptly put it out haha) and welding sparks down my ears & arms and neck, but the state of my arms after two weeks these burns are leaving big round holes in my arms and legs, making me look like an addict I guess another problem is like you say, when you're comfy and towards the end of a good run, you just try to endure the pain of the burns.

 

[pedrobedro]

Don't ever think of going to work in a foundry if welding burnt you too much. You find with burns from hot metal that they always go the wrong way, especially on your feet and take months to heal up if you can't keep them covered and dry.

 

[the snooper]

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the odd burn

should have stopped at 1,3,5,7,9, and so on

 

[Mode1]

Sounds like welding isnt the career for you lol

 

[SiPMerlin150]

I'm stuck doing mainly overheads, whilst the rest get theirs done standing over it lol Guess its the new guy thing, 'let him do the overheads'

 

[brightspark]

I'm stuck doing mainly overheads, whilst the rest get theirs done standing over it lol Guess its the new guy thing, 'let him do the overheads'

well u dont keep a dog and bark yourself join the real world . its character building stuff . u have to take the sh ,.,.,./t before it gets better

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

You are the new boy you will get all the apprentice-esque jobs.