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Hello, i have alot of questions on makeing a career of welding, i know this comes up alot and iv read other forms, but not all of my questions have been met. Im currently in the military,  they have a wellding program i can take before i get out to get my cirts, just got my cirts or go to collage? Then that program sets you ahead on the apprentice in to the union? Hows the union, i live in so cali, just woundering about home life and job security,  but i understand you have a better chance staying busy if you bust your a $$, entry pay to th union vs non union so on and so on, facts and opinions welcome, about me, i love welding grew up doing it, worked in a shop for 2 years before i joined ( was still in high school) mostly tig welding aluminum,  then stick welding in rafters,  i loved welding every day, i still love when i get the chance to weld here witch is just alum spool, i have a passion for it, all awnsers will help, thank you!
Reply:In a lot of cases, welding is only part of the trade. Some trades welding is a huge part of it. Have you thought about what trade you would like to get into? Or are you thinking about working in a fab shop, ship yard, etc?Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I went to work right out of high school for sheetmetal shop building specialty equipment for two years. I got bored with it because we built the same stuff over and over again.  I left that shop and got into the Operating Engineers Local 3 union (local 12 where your at) and have been in construction the last 18 years. I started out as a diesel mechanic but once my boss had seen my fabrication skills I was soon the go to guy for all the welding repair and fab work and thats all i do now. Its been a great career for me. The welding work is always different and there is a wide range of stuff I do. Sometimes I weld on buckets, i have fixed broken excavator booms, built hydraulic cylinders, and somtimes I weld pipe. We also own line boring equipment, milling machine, and a lathe so I get to be a machinist from time to time as well. Over the last 18 years I have lost track of all the welding repairs I have done and the stuff we have built. I just like the fact that there always different.  Sometimes its done in the shop and other times its done out in the field.The Operator's also has a straight welding classification.  But that means you will be doing just plant work welding on rock crushers and conveyor repair and that kind of stuff at a quarry or a cement plant. I am dispatched as a "Heavy duty repairman/welder" which means I can weld and turn a wrench. Anyways like I said its been a great career for me. If i remember I will look for some pictures of some of the stuff we have built and post them later. Anyways,  Hope this helps!
Reply:Take advantage of anything the military will help you with (I think certs are $300 each on your own).LA's pretty strong union wise, but like CEP said, welding is involved with many different trades, and you gotta figure out which on suits you. Carpenters/Pilebucks, Ironworkers, Rodbusters, Machinists, Plumbers, Pipefitters, HVAC, Tinbenders, and a few others all include welding.Some of your decision will come down to what you like to do, but some will be decided by your personality.  Some folks just shouldn't be in certain trades. Best of luck and stick around, let us know what you decide and how it goes.Regarding your ?? on pay, union vs non, I can only answer from my own experience:In my region (NW OR), union trades start between $15 and $20/hr, whereas non union starts around $10.  That's generally speaking, all trades.  As a union Mason, I make about double what my non-union counterpart makes. In a right to work state, my experience is in CO and WY, sometimes the union paid less than non-union. This info is given as an example only, not to start a pro/con debate. To each their own.Last edited by dubl_t; 10-16-2014 at 11:42 AM.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:The more skills you have the more valuable you are to a future employer. I have known welder who could only lay down beautiful beads , but couldn't build a lunch box unless some cut and fit the parts .  Other guys, like more than a few on this site, can design ,lay. out and construct ANY THING. It's not just going to college it's about learning the skills and the trade . That's what it Takes to make America great.gxbxcLast edited by gxbxc; 10-16-2014 at 11:52 AM.
Reply:Thank you gentlemen so much, i have done construction most of my life along with alot of other things, im pretty mechanicaly inclined, if its broke i can alway figger something out and make it work. i love working with my hands, for the usmc im a amphibious assault vehicle mechanic i love my job, this place isent for me, i thought about pipefitters but i dont always want to travel,  that what i looked in to so far besibes boiler makers,  i guess im like a jack of all master of none, trying to figger it out so far i could see myself welding every day but not in a factory, i dont want to be at the same place all day every day, but i also want a home life. Thank you again, your information is greatly appreciated.  Im going to have to look in to the operating engineers union burnt glove, my brother's non union doing that stuff now and he loves it!
Reply:Operating engineers is a fantastic union to belong to. My best friend I grew up with retired 2-years ago from Local 3, $6,500.00 a month. Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Is it possible to open your own company union ran in the operating engineers?  Dose any one know how work is in Michigan?
Reply:6500 sounds good one day cep!
Reply:You could definitely do your own thing and be union. Guys do it all the time. You just need to figure out what it is you want to do and that will determine what union applies to you.
Reply:Thanks for serving !   Your location has a impact on work and type of work in your area . Where you at ? Michigan ? Sadly, depending on what field you go into travel may have a large impact on the job. It is non uncommon to drive 50 miles one way or further today.  As stated above, whatever you do you need to self yourself. The more you know and can do the better the job security. The old days were different. You could quit a job working 40 hours and drive a mile away and go on overtime. You need to do more on your own and be aggressive today. Good luck
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Thanks for serving !   Your location has a impact on work and type of work in your area . Where you at ? Michigan ? Sadly, depending on what field you go into travel may have a large impact on the job. It is non uncommon to drive 50 miles one way or further today.  As stated above, whatever you do you need to self yourself. The more you know and can do the better the job security. The old days were different. You could quit a job working 40 hours and drive a mile away and go on overtime. You need to do more on your own and be aggressive today. Good luck