ok guys im 18, currently enrolled at a state university here in texas. my major is ag engineering technology (i.e Ag Mech or Welding and Fab). I was really wanting to enroll at Tulsa or Missouri for welding school but my parents in a nutshell forced me to a 4yr college which i completely understand. I have been welding since I was 12 (dad was a welder, own biz) and yes slag peels on a 7018 regularly. I know how to weld in all positions. just built 2, 32' piperacks with 45 degree legs in 2 7/8. (similar to 6g) and a 40' hydraulic dovetail trailer (and drew the buleprints) haha. I have my own side welding biz while attending college have plenty of experience. Want to jump into pipelining maybe this summer or something two 36'' runs within my area. How would i go about getting in? and after my college degree would i still need welding school because i wont be officially "certified"? ps-i passed an x-ray flux core and 6g 6010/7018 for a shop interview but at the time was 17 and couldnt be added to insurance.
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on't be a fool stay in school.
Reply:i am dont get me wrong just wanna make some money in my off time you know?
Reply:Earn your degree, hopefully in something that can compliment the welding. Keep practicing. Save the money and take your tests or go to welding school afterward. Having that degree can/will be useful in the future. Believe me. I stopped going to college with less than a year's worth of courses remaining to be taken (if you ask nicely I'll tell you the major and you'll totally understand this scenario haha) to start my own business (bladesmithing), and that's all well and great, but I've just been offered a job that will--in time--lead to 60% ownership of a construction company. The current owner is an educated/licensed engineer and that education comes in handy quite a bit. So maybe not a deal-breaker, but certainly something that would be great to have.
Reply:my major is essentially welding. back before one of the professors left my major actually certified welders their senior year, but with that one professor leaving the new one and other couple didnt push for the certification process to continue but still teach all styles and kinds of welding which is mandatory for my major
Reply:I don't mean to rain on your parade, but both sides of your house are pretty slow. Sub $35 oil and sub $3.00 corn are putting both industries in a world of hurt.School is supposed to broaden your horizons. Don't limit yourself to stuff you already know. Look for summer internships. Your professors and school should be able to help. GET THAT DEGREE.
Reply:Get that degree in Ag Engineering. If you want to learn pipe welding find a pipeline welder to teach you the techniques or hire on as a helper on a pipeline job. If I understand it correctly you can have all the certifications in the world, but if you can't pass pipeline companies test they will not hire you as a welder.Go to American Welding Society forum and search 12" branch test.Last edited by guajilloweld03; 01-03-2016 at 08:45 AM.
Reply:the most you could be is a welders helper on a pipeline for a rig welder. You are not going to do ANY welding on the actual line. you'll fetch rod, roll leads, adjust the welder, grind and be the butt of all jokes. a few years ago this paid $20/hr + per diem. but get this, you work 12+ hour days, 7 days a week for months on end in very hot, remote locations. Couple things you have working against you now:#1 - there are plenty of experienced helpers on hand. Only when times are busy, a rig welder will "train" a newbie when there isnt another option#2 - you'll only be available the summer ... about the time the welder isnt training you and you are efficient, you'll have to leave. A rig welder isnt going to do this. #3 - oil prices are down. the middle east isnt curtailing production, driving prices down trying to break USA oil.#4 - you'll need your own 4x4 transportationPros:You can save money because you have no time to spend it. you are either working, sleeping or eating.
Reply:I just came from west Tx after 3 years. My helper is 26 years old, Mexican, and has been in the oil industry since he was 15. He was on a roustabout crew for a few years, at minimum wage. He became a foreman at your age then a couple years ago a welder helper. He said he likes being a welder helper because welders, to him, "always had the next job." He's got more experience than I do in the oil field. Last year, they were paying him $16/hr. and $100/day per diem. IMO, he was the best kind of helper because I knew he had no intention of leaving me. Him and his buddies traveled together -RV life. As mentioned, oil field is in a bust. If you still want to get into welding, if I was 18, id get myself an RV and move to Houston. Don't knock your girlfriend up, don't be a drunk or a meth head. Don't get a mortgage or buy a fancy, new lifted truck. If you want a chance in the economy that the morons in Washington DC have left us, you have to think outside the box. It takes financial and mental discipline to stay out of all the snares out there. I'll probably get sh*t for saying this but, you can do what your parents want as far as education, but if it don't involve a trade school, you're wasting your time. I went to a 4 year non-trade school years ago and it was a waste of time. This country is past the point of "just get a degree, that's what employers want to see." I do know Midland/Odessa area needs diesel mechanics really bad so if you go that route, you could be set. Good luck bud.
Reply:I have a great niece who is $70,000.00 in student loan debt. She has a masters in sociology, working in a clothing store. Christmas eve the kid living with my oldest granddaughter was telling me. His sister, and brother-n-law just got a divorce. He has a masters degree in something. Making $16.00 an hour.Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI have a great niece who is $70,000.00 in student loan debt. She has a masters in sociology, working in a clothing store. Christmas eve the kid living with my oldest granddaughter was telling me. His sister, and brother-n-law just got a divorce. He has a masters degree in something. Making $16.00 an hour.
Reply:Seems to me doc; nobody wants to get their hands dirty anymore. I got 4-grandsons, I cannot get them to put down the video games. The oldest grandson is 17-years old. My daughter has to mow the lawn. My dad worked my a$$ off when I was 17!Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPSeems to me doc; nobody wants to get their hands dirty anymore. I got 4-grandsons, I cannot get them to put down the video games. The oldest grandson is 17-years old. My daughter has to mow the lawn. My dad worked my a$$ off when I was 17!
Reply:That's why you're supposed to get a degree in a high-demand field, or simply a degree that has many options. Not all college graduates earn $16.00/hr.Last edited by Oscar; 01-03-2016 at 12:47 PM. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Sure seems to be a lot of competition out there with people who have degrees. Ive read where there are people working at Burger King who have a PHD.Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPSure seems to be a lot of competition out there with people who have degrees. I’ve read where there are people working at Burger King who have a PHD.
Reply:There is always a new place for the person who can up with new ways to say "do you want fries with that".
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI have a great niece who is $70,000.00 in student loan debt. She has a masters in sociology, working in a clothing store. Christmas eve the kid living with my oldest granddaughter was telling me. His sister, and brother-n-law just got a divorce. He has a masters degree in something. Making $16.00 an hour.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oscarand I'm willing to bet that is the exception, not the norm.
Reply:Originally Posted by AFFENDEi dropped out after 3 years (and $85k in student debt) from engineering at VaTech (Go Hokies!) ... and went to welding school. that was 2007 and i have 4 grand left to pay off.Of all my friends from (a very expensive private) high school and Va Tech .... one of them makes more than I do ... and im not making what i should be.Unfortunately ... i agree with your parents. The debt sentence that is a 4 year degree will pay for itself. A lot of foreman and supervisory jobs are requiring at least a 2 year degree if not a 4 year degree. You will be in debt up to your eye balls with 600-1400 a month student payments ... but you will be first in line for promotions in the welding field and you will be trusted more than the other guys without degrees (until you prove you cant be trusted).I disagree with the way the country is workign right now, but it isnt going to change. Stay in school .... if you need summer work, make a name for yourself with CODE work ... not piddly farmer **** that wont get you recognition. pay your student debt, live off half your check for 10 years, then laught at us when you are making twice what we are making.
Reply:I'm not in oil country, but I hear of a lot of good people who are wondering how they are going to feed their families. You have more choices if you are willing to move away from home.The last recession was (caused?, made worse?) by predatory lending on houses that people couldn't afford just to strip them of their downpayment and whatever money they had available. There are some schools out there that exhibit the same level of ethics. And you can't walk from an education loan if things go sour like you can a house loan. Education loans generally aren't dischargeable in bankruptcy court.So make sure you can finish whatever degree you start, and make sure your increase in income from the degree will allow you to make the payments to pay off the degree. Ask the school tough questions about graduation rates, graduates placed in their field, and income levels received by those graduates. And verify their answers independently. Internships and Coop programs through the school can go a long ways to helping you understand the economics of the degree you desire. Engineering majors get paid internships, liberal arts majors often have to accept unpaid internships.Last edited by bent; 01-03-2016 at 05:34 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI really don’t know. Several of my friends who worked in the trades all their lives, have kids who went to college, and got a degree. Not a one of them is working in the field they went to school for. When I went from the field to the office, I worked around a lot of highly educated people. All engineers! 99% of them knew their place, they handled the office work, and I handled the field work. Once in a great while there would be one, who thought he knew more about field work than I did. Not to sure they teach a class in college on how to work a 1,000-ton derrick on a bridge job?
Reply:I've got several certifications, a two year degree from my local college, and a great work history. I'm finding it extremely difficult to find a job that doesn't require multiple years of experience and/or other trades. I'm thinking of moving to the coast and trying the shipyards. Goodluck to ya.
Reply:Originally Posted by lincweldI just came from west Tx after 3 years. My helper is 26 years old, Mexican, and has been in the oil industry since he was 15. He was on a roustabout crew for a few years, at minimum wage. He became a foreman at your age then a couple years ago a welder helper. He said he likes being a welder helper because welders, to him, "always had the next job." He's got more experience than I do in the oil field. Last year, they were paying him $16/hr. and $100/day per diem. IMO, he was the best kind of helper because I knew he had no intention of leaving me. Him and his buddies traveled together -RV life. As mentioned, oil field is in a bust. If you still want to get into welding, if I was 18, id get myself an RV and move to Houston. Don't knock your girlfriend up, don't be a drunk or a meth head. Don't get a mortgage or buy a fancy, new lifted truck. If you want a chance in the economy that the morons in Washington DC have left us, you have to think outside the box. It takes financial and mental discipline to stay out of all the snares out there. I'll probably get sh*t for saying this but, you can do what your parents want as far as education, but if it don't involve a trade school, you're wasting your time. I went to a 4 year non-trade school years ago and it was a waste of time. This country is past the point of "just get a degree, that's what employers want to see." I do know Midland/Odessa area needs diesel mechanics really bad so if you go that route, you could be set. Good luck bud.
Reply:The first thing you need to know is that no one gives a hoot about your weld certification, who your dad is or what you have for experience. You are going to take a weld test and pass it the first time or pack your kit and hit the road, and that's at every job you start on. Many pipe tests you will be fitting your own coupon so be ready for that also. Getting rigged up should be fairly easy as there are a lot of good used trucks and welders about to come on the market. That would be from all the folks that are going broke after the last boom. While chasing a pipeline sounds like fun to a young person I will tell you that it has killed or helped kill a lot of relationships. In other words if you want a family this may not be for you. Also don't get caught up in all the talk about the big money. Big money at boom + no money at bust = average money over all, and don't forget that you lived your life on the road for that. If you think I'm kidding just talk to a few pipe liners about there marriages and look at where they live. Best of luck to you.Originally Posted by gundog77The first thing you need to know is that no one gives a hoot about your weld certification, who your dad is or what you have for experience.
Reply:Originally Posted by FlashedI've got several certifications, a two year degree from my local college, and a great work history. I'm finding it extremely difficult to find a job that doesn't require multiple years of experience and/or other trades. I'm thinking of moving to the coast and trying the shipyards. Goodluck to ya.
Reply:I know the relationship thing and i dont plan on doing this forever hence the college degree. Its just something i want to be in the mix when this next boom hits in a few years. They are talking about a shale that is in my area of texas that could produce over 300+ billion at this moment in a bust. That means its gonna be crazy huge when the boom hits again. Its all a cycle and that i undertand. But chasing the pipeline is just something i want to do to pad my wallet when the next boom hits then fall back on my ag engieering (which includes ag mech teaching which in texas right now pays about 70k/yr to first year teachers). Just something I want to take advantage of since im good at it anyways. not the best, but damn good. family friend who is an inspector looked at some of my stuff yesterday and told me that if he had x-ray he could tel for sure but he was 99% sure at least 98% of my welds would pass inspection. Just looking on how to get into it.
Reply:Where you at in Texas ?? You got connections in Wash DC ? Tell me, where's the next boom at, cuz that's what I do- chase the oil. Seriously, you wanna chase rigs, ill hook you up. Ill charge out 85 and you can get 55. If you want to do the contractor big boy games, come play. I've seen guys show up on site and work 100+ hours a week half way across the country and they don't leave till theyre done. Sh*t in a hole and sleep in your truck. You say your daddy is a welder. Why don't you get on a pipeline right now? I m thinking your bullsh'tn bro. Any blood ive seen, their daddy gets them on so, not sure what's going on here. I think your bullsh'ting everyone on this forum. Stay in college, you don't belong out here with the men.Last edited by lincweld; 01-04-2016 at 08:41 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by lincweldWhere you at in Texas ?? You got connections in Wash DC ? Tell me, where's the next boom at, cuz that's what I do- chase the oil. Seriously, you wanna chase rigs, ill hook you up. Ill charge out 85 and you can get 55. If you want to do the contractor big boy games, come play. I've seen guys show up on site and work 100+ hours a week half way across the country and they don't leave till theyre done. Sh*t in a hole and sleep in your truck. You say your daddy is a welder. Why don't you get on a pipeline right now? I m thinking your bullsh'tn bro. Any blood ive seen, their daddy gets them on so, not sure what's going on here. I think your bullsh'ting everyone on this forum. Stay in college, you don't belong out here with the men.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPlincweld you’re really doing this kid a disservice, by sugar coating it like that! What happens when he gets out in the real world, and runs into a cranky welder?
Reply:Originally Posted by gundog77Probably thinks they are all electric start.
Reply:Originally Posted by Cowboy97when this next boom hits in a few years.
Reply:Originally Posted by FlashedI've got several certifications, a two year degree from my local college, and a great work history. I'm finding it extremely difficult to find a job that doesn't require multiple years of experience and/or other trades. I'm thinking of moving to the coast and trying the shipyards. Goodluck to ya.
Reply:to linclnweld --haha i aint bull****ting nobody. didnt say my damn daddy was a pipeliner or oil rig welder **** **** hahaha me and him been building pipe pens, barns, all the **** you boys dont realize gets done cuz yall dont see it. you think youre talking big **** about all these long *** hours well thats fine my man cuz them long hours dont bother me hahaha but i can tell you i know plenty of people it would worry. you ever run a 7018 capping welds 30ft in the air in a space 3ft by 5ft enclosed for over 10 hours straight till welding smoke inhilation finally got to your nervous system and couldnt do anything but throw up and shake for the next 5 hours? bud you think you talk big **** and to most people you do and thats fine. but that aint big **** to me. To me that sounds like one hell of a ride. ive been rocking the 12-14 hr days since i was 12. aint no thing to me. used to walk out of a 3 1/2 hour football practice and go climb up and sit on a rafter frame on a new barn and cap welds. son if youre gonna talk big thats fine, but i aint some kid you think youre **** talking to hahaha
Reply:and about the "cranky" welder...i did get a good laugh outta that one
Reply:Hey CEP, guess he knows it all. Obama's common-core generation is here . . .
Reply:Originally Posted by Cowboy97see thats what im going for, i just need info on where to get in on the CODE work.
Reply:Originally Posted by Cowboy97to linclnweld --haha i aint bull****ting nobody. didnt say my damn daddy was a pipeliner or oil rig welder **** **** hahaha me and him been building pipe pens, barns, all the **** you boys dont realize gets done cuz yall dont see it. you think youre talking big **** about all these long *** hours well thats fine my man cuz them long hours dont bother me hahaha but i can tell you i know plenty of people it would worry. you ever run a 7018 capping welds 30ft in the air in a space 3ft by 5ft enclosed for over 10 hours straight till welding smoke inhilation finally got to your nervous system and couldnt do anything but throw up and shake for the next 5 hours? bud you think you talk big **** and to most people you do and thats fine. but that aint big **** to me. To me that sounds like one hell of a ride. ive been rocking the 12-14 hr days since i was 12. aint no thing to me. used to walk out of a 3 1/2 hour football practice and go climb up and sit on a rafter frame on a new barn and cap welds. son if youre gonna talk big thats fine, but i aint some kid you think youre **** talking to hahaha
Reply:I said this on your other post but it bears repeating. Don't get tunnel vision on pipeline. There are similar paying jobs out there if you can weld as well as you bull****. lol
Reply:Boomers eh? The finest generation said the same thing about you. Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? If you had all believed your parents, we'd really be f-ed.
Reply:Originally Posted by SmurphBoomers eh? The finest generation said the same thing about you. Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? If you had all believed your parents, we'd really be f-ed.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPSeems to me doc; nobody wants to get their hands dirty anymore. I got 4-grandsons, I cannot get them to put down the video games. The oldest grandson is 17-years old. My daughter has to mow the lawn. My dad worked my a$$ off when I was 17!
Reply:Originally Posted by teh603I'm not a Boomer. I'm one of the Millennials that the Boomers keep characterizing as "lazy and entitled" because the only ones getting jobs are the ones whose parents can afford to let them live at home for four or five years so they can do an unpaid internship. Course they're lazy and entitled- they're rich kids. The ones who actually want jobs are the ones least able to get them.
Reply:Originally Posted by SmurphLOL. Gotcha, then we agree? You cant condemn your own generation and expect anyone else to raise it up.
Reply:Originally Posted by Burnt GloveWe face the same problem in the construction industry. I never went to college, but I am smart enough to know that youngsters these days don't want to get up at 4 in the morning to go work outdoors when they can have a jod that starts at 9 in a climate controlled office. Just saying.
