This question is specificly for those folks who are making a living as a pipewelder. I'm wondering specificly about welders who're making a living with their own rig.What's a typical day/week at work like? I'm looking at my options for when I finish school, and I want to find out more about pipewelding as a career option.I've read a few previous posts that made vague references to pipewelding as being a very different kind of job. I'm hoping that some folks with actual experience can fill in with more details.Thanks for all the help,Dave
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ave I will try to put some more on here tommorrow about your question. Hopefully one of the pipeliners will tell you firsthand.I have worked with pipe contractors alot over the years. I work for the gas co. In our area they work 4 10's during the warm months and are paid for their fuel and an hourly wage I believe for them and their truck. They are union and that is under contract.Many of the guys might drive 50 to 100 miles to the job site.Lots of travel. Cold weather hot weather, mud snow, all the elements.I've known some of them for years and you won't find a better group of guys.They all say it was fun when they were young but as we get older it's tuffer.If you have the learning attitude they will teach you anything but know it all smart alecks don't get very far.It's hard work but hopefully some young people will learn their trade.pro-level dumpster diver Hobart 125EZ
Reply:Give a shout to pipefitter or ElvisW..They can shed much light on this subject......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Zapster, thanks. I'll see if I can reach out to the two people you mentioned.Stevinator, I'm looking forward to hearing what else you can tell me. I'm aware of the boilermakers union, but haven't been in touch with the local chapter. The welding school I'm in usually gets a visit 2x a year from a rep for the union, so I know I'll get to talk to somebody before I'm done with school.
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ipefitter is on now.......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
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ave, ask the boilermakers, pipefitters ,ironworkers any person you see questions and they will help steer you the right place for info.I don't know all the local unions for that around here but one should be able to steer you to the other.Some of the welders weld pipe for gas distribution for awhile and if they want a change they go to trades.Such as welding in new construction .Ironworkers also have welders.Alot of time in the trades the guys say the welders are supplied. They will have them on a company truck or small trailer. If you are in an area where there are big stores like home depot and wal-mart going up find the welders and you'll get info.We see them when we have to put up the big meter sets.Some of the welders for the pipeline companies have started as a fitter for the welder first.99% of the pipe welded for us is stick.Wire is used some for shop fabbing but most on the job welding is stick.The welders run through a shop of ours to be tested so they can weld on our system and the qualification is for the sizes and procedure they test in.pro-level dumpster diver Hobart 125EZ
Reply:It depends on what type of pipe work you are doing. Pipelining is pretty much the same weld over and over and over all day long while gettin' it as hard as you can. Construction pipe work is usually done in place (unless you are in the onsite fab shop) and you better be able to TIG pipe if you want into that. Fitters normally set everything up and then you go to town. Running a rig in the oilfield entails being your own fitter (means you figure everything yourself) and many times your own grinder hand as well. For me it is the most interesting because most every day is something new, and it requires significant brain work. A good calculator also helps. I try to avoid pipe work as much as possible nowadays (the years take their toll - I'm not that old just started really young). These are just my experiences and others may be different.
Reply:Thanks Jolly Roger,Those are exactly the type of insights I'm looking for.Dave
Reply:Oh, and if you have a problem with getting dirty or laying in the mud ya better find another line of work, lol.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Nope, no problems with getting dirty.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerOh, and if you have a problem with getting dirty or laying in the mud ya better find another line of work, lol.
Reply:Jolly Roger and Denrep pretty much summed it all up. Construction small dia. pipe is pretty good as you are inside most of the time, out of the cold and rain. Usually you are paired up with plumbers / pipefitters and they do all the fitting for you. All you have to do is check their work to make sure land and root opening is good. Here is a pic of the fitter working on the bevel and land A 2G Elbow, there was a total of 30 joints in this area A piping run 6" piping run, the red flags indicate waiting for x-ray. 100% xrayed. The guy in red is doing hole watch, he stood there all day, 8hrs. In this case its all stick 6010 root, hotpass and 7018 fill and cap. Sometimes they want tig root and hotpass, 7018 fill and cap or all tig if they want real high quality welds. The fitters will fit as much as they can on the ground but most is done in position. Big inch pipe is another ball game... Attached Images
Reply:Big inch is where weather comes in, its great on nice sunny days, hell when its raining. You have guys digging and pumping out water ahead of you and heavy equipment lifting the pipe so you can get under. Rain has never been a problem for me, I just wear rain gear and latex gloves under my welding gloves, and rubber boots. Its not too bad if you have enough room to lay on a pallet. Depending on who you are working for, and type of joint depends on how it is welded. It could be open root or a butt where you have to do your root from inside the come out and GTSM then do the hotpass, fill and cap. root is done inside on this one. GTSM on the outside in preparation for hotpass fill and cap welding the fill pass. Notice the fill and cap in this case is done with fluxcore uphill and this is the cap. Most of the time the root and hotpass is done with 6010 downhill and the fill and cap is done 7010 downhill. This is a special procedure the requires the pipes to be welded 6010 hot and root downhill and fluxcore fill and cap uphill. This was done in the shop, but almost all of it is done in the trench.
Reply:Awesome pictures Westcoast. Thanks for taking the time to post and comment on them.Since Denrep mentioned it, what is the learning curve for a new welder who just finished the program at a school like Lincoln's or Hobart's?What's competition for work like? I hear that work is plentiful now and likely to remain so for several years. I also hear about some great compensation offers, but I wonder if those only go to the welders who have a lot of experience?
