Stability of welding/fabricating careers in today's economy and TIG certs.

[Hollowpoint]

When I learned how to weld at the local college not long after the millennium, I never paid any attention to the certifications because I thought I was "never going to be welding pipe" for a living.

I got into desert racing fab, and out of it. With the economy how it is, I looked into other careers, but I realize I cannot shake the welding/fabrication bug. Now, I'm just checking one last time before I dive further into my education in a non-fabrication (aka boring) field.

1) Is there still some "reasonable" chance for people to get a job in the industry doing GTAW/TIG welding? Or is what I had thought true: Cut my losses and get a more stable job.
After learning how much I hate computer programming, I'd consider almost ANYTHING GTAW/TIG welding based. Aerospace, medical, stainless food prep industry, etc.


2) I know there are nation certifications for stick welding, construction, etc, but what exists for TIG? What does Boeing or other high precision welding employers look for?

Thanks for any input.

[151fab]

AWS (American Welding Society) "qualifies" and "certifies" all styles of welding including TIG. What most don't realize is that the book of possible metals, thicknesses, joint types, orientations, etc are endless, and then you also have the level of abilities. In other words you could be certified in 318ss, flat, butt joint, 1/16 inch, blah, blah, blah... It is very specific. Also, you are certified through an employer, so unless you are a private contractor your gonna have to get re-certified with each new employer. When a company is asking for only certified welders that is an easy way for them to cut through the BS and limit the responses to truly qualified individuals, they would then have to have you get re-certified and/or re-qualified with them as your employer.

As far as Aerospace employment it's gonna be either SS or Aluminum most likely. There are certain metals that are more preferrable to be cert/qual. for because they prove your ability for that perticular metal and a few similar, less finicky metals as well. You should visit the AWS website and find a testing center near you. Contact them to find out the most desirable metals to be cert/qualified for. To get cert-ed in Cali your gonna have to travel to the bay area because the only other places are a High School or two and SC Edison and, assuming you don't work for Edison and your out of High School, your out of luck. There are plenty of places that can AWS qualify you as a welder and many people, including potential employers don't know the difference or don't care. I can recommend a place in Ontario, Ca for qualification testing and also lessons if you like.

As far as work goes, you better be really good or really cheap. THe shops that are hiring have there pick of the best right now because everyone's cutting back and theres some really good fabbers available for hire but true talent is always in demand. Many of the really good desert race welders are moonlighting and weld for petro, nuclear, aerospace as well. AN education will keep you above teh fray when times like these happen. You really should stay in school and find an interesting career to study for. Look into mechanical engineering if you like this stuff, robotics might be a good fit for someone with a programming background that likes to fab too. Make desert race fab a second job/hobby.

[Chase 2]

151 pretty much hit the nail right on the head. Certs are specific so its a waist of time and money getting certified in something you aren't going to do. But you could get a cert or two in stainless to add bling to your resume. Its been along time, but I seem to remember that it was like $85 per coupon.

Sorry, but its been over 30 years since I've had anything to do with or really known anyone in Aerospace. Years ago LA had tons of small job shops that worked as subcontractors for the big aerospace guys. The big guys like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grummon are more spread out than they use to be but they still have facilities in So Calif. Boeing is still in Chatsworth building Rocket engines. Aerospace is real "boom or bust", but with all of the war effort the should be going gung ho right now. Remember some of that work is production and you may have to weld 50 to 100 of the same parts at a time, which ain't that glorious.

[DEZERTBOUND]

Energy is going to be big in the states. You may have to be willing to travel.....good luck a boring job can be a real bummer.

[nordictom]

I took my welding certs at Riverside Community College, I believe they still have the Welding program with a testing facility. I also understand LA Trade Tech does testing. My curent employer, regardless of what certs you have, still sends our welders to a private lab for testing after they are hired. you might wan to try to get in an apprenticship program with a Trade Union i.e. Operating Engineers, Boiler Makers Good money & steady work IF you are good.

[HardCharger81]

I know right now they're dying for welders in New Mex. My dad keeps trying to get me down there.
I'm told the price is right too.
After I got my certs I traveled alot...And it was cool for a while. If your up to it, its a good exp.

Good luck:)

[151fab]

I took my welding certs at Riverside Community College, I believe they still have the Welding program with a testing facility. I also understand LA Trade Tech does testing. My curent employer, regardless of what certs you have, still sends our welders to a private lab for testing after they are hired. you might wan to try to get in an apprenticship program with a Trade Union i.e. Operating Engineers, Boiler Makers Good money & steady work IF you are good.

Those are county certs not AWS, I believe.

[151fab]

I know right now they're dying for welders in New Mex. My dad keeps trying to get me down there.
I'm told the price is right too.
After I got my certs I traveled alot...And it was cool for a while. If your up to it, its a good exp.

Good luck:)

Pipeline welding?

[Hollowpoint]

Thanks for the time and input, everybody. That's exactly what I wanted to hear as far as a realistic look at the industry. It'll definitely help when it comes to decision making in the upcoming months.

[nordictom]

Those are county certs not AWS, I believe.

I guess you can consider them county cert's, they are based on the AWS code, with a LA City earth quake spin. Most counties, & employers will accept the LA City test.

Sorry about the thread hi-jack.....

[amr126]

Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa does AWS testing too.

[HardCharger81]

yes 151fab, they're looking for pipeline and structural welders in New Mex.
I guess they're expanding a refinery right outside of Roswell. And they've increased drilling all around the Artesia/Roswell area, so they need mobile welders too.

I might go, I haven't decided yet.
I spoke with a couple guys with their own trucks, they said they where making 125 per hr, and 80 per hr to be on standby.
Food for thought :)

[151fab]

I guess you can consider them county cert's, they are based on the AWS code, with a LA City earth quake spin. Most counties, & employers will accept the LA City test.

Sorry about the thread hi-jack.....

I agree, I wasn't trying to belittle the certs you have, just trying to clarify. The LA county test is a b--ch. Way harder than anything the AWS asks for.

[TUBETECK]

One thing that I learned in my thirty plus years of welding is this: The more feathers in your hat that you have, the more bargaining power you have. I've got jobs just because I have certain certs that the other guy did'nt. When you you have certs that the guy fresh over the border doesn't and works for cheaper, you now have a bargaining chip that he doesn't. Keep getting those pieces of paper that say you know how to do what you say you can do and the jobs seem to find you instead of you looking for them. Dont lose interest, I went through the same thing thing when I first started out, thinking that I made a mistake and wasted my time in school, but hind-sight now tells me that I made the right choice in life, and if you stick with it you can refuse jobs just because it doesn't fit in with your schedule or what ever. If you're good and you know it you'll go far in the welding industry, and never be unwilling to learn something new, I've learned many new things from guys that were taught differently than me.

Don't quit.

[HardCharger81]

Excellent post tubeteck......

I learned so much from the old timers on jobs, and alot of times, I was made to look dumb ;)
But now I'm a way better welder because of it.