To degree or to not degree?

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To those of you working in the industry, how vital is having a DEGREE in welding? I plan to be certified in at least TIG and Stick (all positions). Is getting a degree worth the extra money, or will I be covered with certs? I don't see needing 6 more quarters to get certs, but do need it for a degree. And as it is right now, I have to take half credits due to money, but my teacher said he won't send me home if I want to stay. So it'd be cheaper all the way around.Thoughts/opinions?Weld on!EDIT: The only class that I know of that's welding related for degree is Metallurgy (unless you count math), and I plan on taking classes/learning from others a lot along the road of my career.Last edited by Weldakota; 01-04-2014 at 12:47 AM."I fully know my place in life, and it's behind a welding helmet...." - Jesse JamesIG: @weldakota
Reply:Your inability to see the future is awesome. Ask me how I know this? Because I am you. A much older version. A broken, crippled up, half wore out, but still extremely good looking, vintage version mind you. Some day your welding career is going to keep going while your body or attitude wont. This degree(that you will get!)will keep you employed in many areas, not just welding. There are several good 2 and 4 year programs in or related to welding. Trick is finding one that meets your dilemma. Take the hit now while you have the ambition. Hell no it aint easy. Took me 10yrs to get a 4 year degree. That was a lot of work that I could not fathom doing again.Arcon Workhorse 300MSPowcon 400SMTPowcon SM400 x 2Powcon SM3001968 SA200 Redface1978 SA250 DieselMiller Super 32P FeederPre 1927 American 14" High Duty LatheK&T Milwaukee 2H Horizontal MillBryan
Reply:Originally Posted by blawlessYour inability to see the future is awesome. Ask me how I know this? Because I am you. A much older version. A broken, crippled up, half wore out, but still extremely good looking, vintage version mind you. Some day your welding career is going to keep going while your body or attitude wont. This degree(that you will get!)will keep you employed in many areas, not just welding. There are several good 2 and 4 year programs in or related to welding. Trick is finding one that meets your dilemma. Take the hit now while you have the ambition. Hell no it aint easy. Took me 10yrs to get a 4 year degree. That was a lot of work that I could not fathom doing again.
Reply:Pre-requisites. You actually do need them. English, especially math/geometry/algebra. All consistent with using layout formulas and reading blueprints. Where are blueprints used in the industry? Who draws up the blueprints? You need to be able to communicate effectively with every swinging dickk involved in the process. Not always face to face. If you need to sell a customer a million dollar welding project you had better be able to explain it to the Nth degree in person and then on paper.  If you want to work as a farm type welder for the rest of your life(at $10hr) you need nothing but time to build experience and good skills.  Originally Posted by WeldakotaFunny, because everything that I do right now, I try and figure out how it will play it out in the future; which is why I'm on here asking instead of just deciding what's best without any input. The only degree that I have been informed of is a 2-year degree which consists of an English credit, math credit, communications class, and metallurgy. Am I missing something here?
Reply:What Bryan said X 1000. One of the tragedies of life is that you don't really realize what a degree gives you. It's not always about the Major but more about the fact that it teaches you how to think... to see how things relate. It gives you more of a perspective from which you can figure out problems that stump others. I thought I'd be a military pilot my whole life which, yes, required a degree but I couldn't see that then. I concentrated on all things whirly but somehow, math, science, English... it all stuck too which is a good thing because a medical put me out of my life's career and it was that degree that gave me the option to get back on my feet and the advantage others didn't have to succeed where others failed. There's more to a degree than your Major. It teaches you how to think; to see things others don't see. Now that doesn't mean a sheepskin gives you what you need to know to hit the streets. It means you now have the ability to hit the street better informed and better able to more quickly understand what the real world has to teach you. You can't learn your profession out of a book any more than you can learn what you need to know On The Job and from your buddies. You need both.  At least that's what 56 years has taught me. I hope you'll at least give it some consideration and not make the mistake of going to school to learn a trade. Go to school to learn about life and how school applies to that trade and so many others. So PM me and I'll send you 25-cents for a cup of coffee... or is it $2.25 now1
Reply:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...egree-Worth-It
Reply:I've been able to make a very good living for my family welding for a living without a degree. That being said. I try to take care of myself, don't put myself in harms way, don't try over lifting and think 100% safety at all costs. Entirely up to you.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I feel exactly like blawless. We've work hard and had to because we didn't have that degree that would allow us to make different decisions when our bodies weren't performing anymore. We still had to hit it, up 4:00 in the morning and working 14-16 hour days. Now at 63 my hands and lower back and legs are gone. Be smart and finish that degree. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:It never hurts to have an education. But in my line of work there was a huge gap between the worker bees, and the office staff. To be in the office without an education you had to have years of experience in the field. To be in the office with an education, you had to have an engineering degree, (PE) top of the list. Or at the minimum a construction management degree. All depends on the work you'll follow. I worked with a guy for years who had a 4-year degree in zoology, never made it past foreman.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:It hit me later when I was out in the shop. For 3-years I worked around a guy who had a law degree, but never took the bar exam. I was the rigging foreman for the general contractor, he was the rod buster foreman for the placing sub-contractor. It was in the contract to provide them crane service when they needed it. This is normal in my line of work. Even though this guy was a very nice person, he just killed me with documentation when ever I didn't give him the crane when he wanted it!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:Thank you to all that have responded. Please excuse any ignorance that may seem to come from me, I'm just trying to figure things out. Maybe I'm just a stupid young kid, but I'd like to think otherwise.  Maybe I need to rephrase my question, because the answers seem to be off-point from what I'm asking. I don't see how getting an Associate's Degree of Welding Technology will get me into upper management (which, by the way, I DO NOT want). Ultimately, I will be running my own fabrication business. In the meantime, I plan to go pipeline or nuclear to make some cushioning money. I hope I never see myself having to go anywhere besides being a welder. Welding isn't just a job to me, it's a passion. And there are other careers I can use as backups if needed. Originally Posted by CEPIt hit me later when I was out in the shop. For 3-years I worked around a guy who had a law degree, but never took the bar exam. I was the rigging foreman for the general contractor, he was the rod buster foreman for the placing sub-contractor. It was in the contract to provide them crane service when they needed it. This is normal in my line of work. Even though this guy was a very nice person, he just killed me with documentation when ever I didn't give him the crane when he wanted it!
Reply:I never worked with anybody who had an Associates Degree of Welding Technology. Well maybe some welding inspector. If you plan on going into business for your self, I'd say any business related classes will be a big help! And get all the blue print reading classes you can take. With a little Auto-Cad as well. It really depends on what path you plan on taking in this trade. Like I said earlier, in my line of work only two degrees counted. Engineering, or construction management. But any education can help in some small ways. 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:Originally Posted by CEPI never worked with anybody who had an Associates Degree of Welding Technology. Well maybe some welding inspector. If you plan on going into business for your self, I'd say any business related classes will be a big help! And get all the blue print reading classes you can take. With a little Auto-Cad as well. It really depends on what path you plan on taking in this trade. Like I said earlier, in my line of work only two degrees counted. Engineering, or construction management. But any education can help in some small ways.
Reply:cert's should be good enough aswell as experience, id get the one's you want to do, thats what you like so id stick with that.If the conversation isn’t money, then I’ll see you later.
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaJust don't see how the extra money for an AA in welding is worth the moola.
Reply:if I could go back and do it again. . . I would take something!im not familiar with a welding degree but can see it helping in getting into inspector maybe. good, easy doughand be careful with that going nuclear/ pipelining stuff. at a young age, it is hard to convince ANYBODY that you are worth a damn, and welding seems to get more competitive every day. most sub-contract welders I know have had their rates go down in recent years while inflation has gone up!get educated and try and get on as an inspector or something. start higher to end higherbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:Get the degree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  All thing equal, I'm hiring the guy with an associates and certs over a guy with just certs. Like the other guys said you will be worn out before you realize it. I'm 43 facing a second go around with carpel tunnel in both hands and 6 trigger fingers. Tendinitis everywhere and a new ache everyday. Not to mention how much heavier **** is now then it was even 5 years ago.  I'm not even a welder full time.  It's only a part of my job.Last edited by kald; 01-04-2014 at 03:00 PM.Idealarc 250AC 225SVictor OA-older made in USA stuff.And a crap ton of other stuff.
Reply:I was dead set against ever going to college....until I got injured a few times and a few doctors told me it was all over.Had to go to college in my 30's with no hope of working for anyone but myself until I finished school.  It took 50 job applications before I finally gave up and went to school.One company told me they wouldn't let me do anything on the property because of my prior health issues!Some places told me they would have hired me if I had an associates degree. The people who got hired had them and I didn't.Do you need one? Only time will tell. If I had it to do over, I'd have gone somewhere for some schooling.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaThank you to all that have responded. Please excuse any ignorance that may seem to come from me, I'm just trying to figure things out. Maybe I'm just a stupid young kid, but I'd like to think otherwise.  Maybe I need to rephrase my question, because the answers seem to be off-point from what I'm asking. I don't see how getting an Associate's Degree of Welding Technology will get me into upper management (which, by the way, I DO NOT want). Ultimately, I will be running my own fabrication business. In the meantime, I plan to go pipeline or nuclear to make some cushioning money. I hope I never see myself having to go anywhere besides being a welder. Welding isn't just a job to me, it's a passion. And there are other careers I can use as backups if needed.
Reply:I am a Union SteamfitterI went through a 5 year apprenticeship. And a bunch of MEP engineering classes. What I have learned is that experience (real world experience) goes a lot farther than a "degree". Or certs from a welding college. Welding pipe that is fit like ****, in the mud, 5 inches from the ground is a lot different than in a booth with A/C. When a guy comes to our hall with a carbon tig and stick cert they usually can only weld 6-8" sch 40-80 pipe. No certs or training on super coupons. So they go to college and pay for this training then get lumped into the 3rd year apprentice class for $21.64 an hour full benefits. If you want to be an instant journeyman you need to have real experience and skill. So that's $33.72But I also have close personal friends who are out on the ROW making more than most lawyers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,no Highschool diploma or even a GED. But he has connections to constantly get good work, not everyone does.Last edited by RodBender; 01-04-2014 at 08:18 PM.Local 83
Reply:[ATTA[ATTACH]577211[/ATTACH[/ATTACH]I will get my Masters of Science in Engineering this spring and I have several job offers starting at 70,000.00 all holiday's and weekends off full benefits. I would get a degree. Attached ImagesLast edited by runningjalapeno; 01-04-2014 at 11:11 PM.Reason: added pictures
Reply:From a master hvac contractor, retired, who worked his .ss of 80 and 90 hours a week, my average in those 40 years is 75 hpw, a high school diploma says to get that degree. I've got a daughter with a masters that's pulling in 100,000 a year, great benefits, mileage, off all nights, weekends, and all holidays, full insurance paid, and huge bonuses. Yea, we will always need blue collar workers and any job done right and the person is trustworthy is an honorable job. But those blue collar guys are going to feel like I do with a busted up body and taking the prescriptions just to make it through the day. Good luck to you.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:My suggestion is to get your degree and if you want to dig ditches when you graduate then go have a good time. But that sheepskin gives you options that most people don't have. Got my degree going part time and it took me 10 years to finish while juggling 50-60 hrs of work a week and family responsibilities, not easy but do able.  My sons saw first hand that I did it the hard way and both got their degrees before getting married and kids and time demanding jobs. Worked 40+ years as a welder with a bachelors degree which my former company could care less that i had. But now that I am retired my degree is getting me some side jobs along with some nice little welding work so it all pays off in the end.
Reply:To the Op:I wasn't going to comment as I am not "qualified" to give you any sane advice so take everything I say with a grain of salt.Some people will say yes some people will say no some will say . One of the many things I have seemed to like about life is the inconsistency behind it there are various factors at play in life and what works for others may not always work for you. I find it a tad bit harsh that people are getting pushed through an educational system and are being "encouraged" (more along the lines of forced) to go to college only to find out when they arrive.... they're not fit for college. (Rude unnecessary comment was going to go here but I rather keep my mouth shut)..... adding fractions is something everyone should have learned at the elementary school level. If you've forgotten or need a little refresher Google is an amazing friend just type in something like how to add fractions or what not. I find it rather odd people have forgotten about the primary education everyone should undergo k-12..... k-12 is the basis of your education reading, writing, spelling, mathematical skills, history lessons they are all learned here or at least should be. If you are wondering why colleges include "primary mathematical skills-refresher" refer to my above statement regarding people being pushed through a system. You know the only thing we as a society are going to get by pushing kids through college is an overflowing amount of degrees in vast amounts of fields.... problem is no one is going to know how to accomplish the practicality of their degree. Speaking theoretic, hell yes you should learn the theory behind what you do but don't forget about actually knowing how to do what you've learned. Life is a supply and demand, if you start running out of welders all of a sudden they're worth more. Hence the reason pipe-welders, Nuclear power plant welders, etc. are worth more than your average welder because their is less supply than there is demand. Business it's all business... which by the way a degree in "Business" is one of the most acquired degrees odd. Everyone wants money I guess money is nice  Only reason money is worth anything is because there is demand for it  Think about it... look around you and think of the prices and why they cost that much or that little. Supply and DemandSo I guess what I'm trying to tell you there is no definitive answer to life. Trust me... I've stopped trying to find answers to everything sometimes It's just best to roll with the punches. There ain't no "magical theory" that will answer all your questions. I think what's most important in this thread is what the OP thinks. What do you want to do? I have no idea what other skill sets you have or what other ambitions you have... I know not how much your body can take in this or that only you know the answer to that. What's your financial situation like? Where do you see yourself in life 20 years from now? What are your ambitions? Most importantly... why are you welding? Out of all the fields there is too choose from, why welding? 1 thing in life that is certain would be death... taxes come close behind but you can avoid taxes... ain't no avoiding death. While having a degree in whatever field is great I think what most of us seem to miss is the fact that one day we won't be able to function much other than walk around eat and sleep... doesn't matter if you have a degree in nano-technology even those guys retire. The world will always need "blue-collared workers". Some people can handle more stress than others my dad is 65 a couple months ago he took quite a fall (age doesn't help) and he's back at it again.... makes me proud of him.Essentially what I'm trying to tell you is what are your thoughts upon the subject? Everyone experiences life differently and we're all unique which is were the beauty in life lies. Degrees are helpful but they aren't the answer to all your problems. Degrees allow you to get more money (great) but with more money comes more problems. Did you know? The average US household credit card debt stands at $15,279... The decision lies within your hands. I might have offended some folks in here... probably thinking to themselves what's this damn kid know about life. My intentions weren't to offend they were to help. Sometimes the answer your looking for doesn't lie outside, it lies within.Read below good linkshttp://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credi...ebt-household/http://www.princetonreview.com/colle...en-majors.aspxhttp://www.justfourguys.com/are-degrees-overrated/http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin...tinely-reveal/http://content.time.com/time/nation/...967580,00.htmlLast edited by aav1996; 01-05-2014 at 12:45 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by jlamesWhat Bryan said X 1000. One of the tragedies of life is that you don't really realize what a degree gives you. It's not always about the Major but more about the fact that it teaches you how to think... to see how things relate. It gives you more of a perspective from which you can figure out problems that stump others. I thought I'd be a military pilot my whole life which, yes, required a degree but I couldn't see that then. I concentrated on all things whirly but somehow, math, science, English... it all stuck too which is a good thing because a medical put me out of my life's career and it was that degree that gave me the option to get back on my feet and the advantage others didn't have to succeed where others failed. There's more to a degree than your Major. It teaches you how to think; to see things others don't see. Now that doesn't mean a sheepskin gives you what you need to know to hit the streets. It means you now have the ability to hit the street better informed and better able to more quickly understand what the real world has to teach you. You can't learn your profession out of a book any more than you can learn what you need to know On The Job and from your buddies. You need both.  At least that's what 56 years has taught me. I hope you'll at least give it some consideration and not make the mistake of going to school to learn a trade. Go to school to learn about life and how school applies to that trade and so many others. So PM me and I'll send you 25-cents for a cup of coffee... or is it $2.25 now1My daughter, who I've explained earlier doing pretty well for herself, explained it all very accurately: she stated that with a degree you are able to think and look more globally versus a lesser education where your thinking is mor local. It wasn't meant as a put down, but just a well educated observation. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:I suggest an engineering degree, 4 or 5 years of your life will be miserable. but it only takes a few years and you forget how bad it was.
Reply:Is this the same course outline you're thinking of taking? http://education-portal.com/articles...formation.htmlDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPMe either. But I only know one very small part of this trade, and it's a very big trade, with lots of ways of doing it.
Reply:Originally Posted by rockcrawler97Have you ever heard anything about Missouri welding institute?
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPNo, not a word.
Reply:Originally Posted by rockcrawler97Do you think anybody on this forum would know?
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPIs this the same course outline you're thinking of taking? http://education-portal.com/articles...formation.html
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPStart a thread and see. I know a few years ago there was a big blow out on the AWS forum about Tulsa Welding Schools.
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaI don't see a course outline there? Looked through and couldn't find anything specific Weld on!
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPAbout the middle of the page. “Program Coursework”. Hope your school offers more than this, I'm not impressed with this at all!
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaWhere it covers the processes? Yup, that's all. Stick, MIG, FLUX/DUAL and TIG if you wantWeld on!
Reply:When I was younger and arrogant as heck, all I wanted to do was fly for the Marines and to do that, I needed a 4-year degree for OCS. I did the first 2 at a community college and Chemistry was a core course that I had to have . I sucked at it with no aptitude for science whatsoever and my grades prove that. I went to my professor for help but with an attitude of, "what do I need this for; I'm going to be a pilot." (arrogant little snot I was!) He was the first one to tell me college wasn't about your specific goal but to teach you how to think, reason and figure things out; to logically get from A to B, solve problems. So I stuck to it learning what was then called dimensional analysis which basically enables you to turn an amount of one thing to an amount of another with the two seemingly having no relationship to each other like gallons to the space of a container in cubic centimeters. After graduation, I never once used what I learned in Chemistry BUT, learning to convert the seemingly abstract enabled me to solve problems in other aspects that others couldn't and it paid dividends later in life because it gave me the ability to see things others couldn't and THAT was invaluable in flying and my eventual career. Point being, there are, as others here have said, more than the obvious reason to get a degree. And, it's helped me immensely in learning to weld. Understanding puddle manipulation and speed and arc distance and how they all relate. Believe me, later on in life, people in a position to hire you will recognize that ability in you and you'll get hired over people who just see things that everyone else does but can't find the solution because they're unable to logically solve a problem. You'll be a real asset to that company even if you want to stay on the line burning rods. I know this is a long post and it seems like I'm preaching to you but passing on experience to a younger generation is what I think this forum is all about. So again, my advice is to put in the work now that will set you up to be hired faster and for more money because they will see what a valuable asset you'll be to the company.
Reply:Young man you are to be complimented.  Yes   The reason being you are wise to ask for and seek the wisdom  and experience form other people.  You are smart to be able to use your resource people.  Remember I was told over 50 years ago that the only dumb question is the one you don't ask!   I've been laughed at a lot over the years for asking questions on things I didn't know.   The more knowledge you can acquire(school of hard knocks). Formal education, on the Job training,personal research,contacts with people from all levels and various Job backgrounds the more aware you will become of what's available out there .  Remember the only thing that is constant in life is change. What's important this year may be obsolete in 10 year.   There's a lot of folks on this forum that can share a lot of  information with you.  Lot of very smart folks from all walks of life.  Remember.  Enjoy the moment of your youth for it shall pass.  I wish you the best and don't ever give up.  Richey.  Sweet Home Alabama
Reply:I think that what AAV1996 said was really pertinent to things as they stand today.  I would put my own spin on it and say don't begin to feel that what you can do is limited by the degree that you have, and also don't expect that because you DO have a degree, you are entitled to make lots of money, which is the impression that people sometimes give.  I'll throw out this out there - I was a sharp kid all through school.  I was not the valedictorian of my high school, but I wasn't far off.  I had a good grade point through my B.S. and M.S. degrees (Biology).  I spent half a year after I graduated with my Master's degree desperate for work.  I applied all over the PNW, and got rejection after rejection, after rejection.  I finally found work, but it was sporadic, with lots of commuting (160+ miles/day, not paid while traveling).  I was never able to find work in the city that I live in, and gave up after trying to find a halfway decent job in my field.  I was not prepared to leave, as my wife had a decent job working in an office at the university, and we had bought a house (albeit a tiny one).  I became a fabricator for a local company, and have been doing fabrication work since.  My degree has not come into play hiring wise since then.  Both fabrication shops I've been in hire largely untrained people, without degrees.    Having a degree, even an advanced one, does not mean you will be making $100,000 as is the experience with some people.  I have acquaintances with PhD's who have had a very difficult time finding work, and when they do, it's not much.  There are good paying jobs for people with certain degrees, but it's not even close to a guarantee that you'll do well with even advanced college degrees these days.   Location, degree, willingness to become a certain kind of person, and luck come into play as well as hard work and smarts, when it comes to landing a big paycheck.  Finding work today is different than it was 30 years ago.  Universities are churning out graduates, competition for existing work is increasing with increased globalism, people's everyday wants are more costly (not necessarily needs), and wages for the vast majority are down, down, down.  My brother, at 42, has just now found a decent job as an architect.  He has a tremendous uphill battle, as he still has massive amounts of student loan debt, having to be paid back at a ridiculously high interest rate, and is just now going to start being able to save for retirement.  This is really the first time he has been able to find a job that is sustainable in the long term as something like a career.  That's with a graduate degree, in his field.  All that said, if it's a few thousand bucks, and an extra year of your life to get some kind of degree for something that you LOVE doing anyway, I'd say go for it unless you know in your heart it isn't right.  Be extra careful about the cost of education though.  More and more, a degree is a product that consumers are paying big bucks for, and they aren't always a good value, just like buying a new pipeline welding power supply isn't really a good value for every Joe on the corner.  Some people are going to use what they payed for, and make it pay dividends.  Others aren't.Last edited by pbungum; 01-06-2014 at 01:05 AM.Miller Dynasty 200 DXMiller CP-300 with 30A feederHypertherm Powermax 900Oxy-fuel w/Harris torchesScotchman Glide-in bandsawMonarch 10EE latheEmi-Mec Autoturn latheDeckel FP2NC milling machinePro-Tools 105 Bender
Reply:Hard to beat that logic. Well said.
Reply:Not vital if you are a good welder/ worker.
Reply:Depending on the instructors and their knowledge, schooling is money well spent: you see lots of questions on this forum about choice of filler metal when welding stainless steels, and lots of replies "when you don't know, use 309" and similar. When given some very basic metallurgy, you'll understand why that is not correct and what you do need to know in order to be able to make an informed decision.But hey, that's only my $0.02. Coming from the guy who gets payed to clean up after welders mess up (mostly following incorrect procedures/orders!).Whatever you choose to do, muchos succes!
Reply:Originally Posted by kingneroDepending on the instructors and their knowledge, schooling is money well spent: you see lots of questions on this forum about choice of filler metal when welding stainless steels, and lots of replies "when you don't know, use 309" and similar. When given some very basic metallurgy, you'll understand why that is not correct and what you do need to know in order to be able to make an informed decision.But hey, that's only my $0.02. Coming from the guy who gets payed to clean up after welders mess up (mostly following incorrect procedures/orders!).Whatever you choose to do, muchos succes!
Reply:How many of you that weld for a living, as freelancer, from a truck, receive a WPS prior to beginning?I get many calls, where they begin with "their/our/his/... sales rep said that this would work" .I wholehartedly agree though, that a weldor should start with learning how to weld, beginning with the basics (stick/MIG/TIG), and then elaborating to other materials.But I also assume that a decent welding school explains as well when and why one needs to choose a 7018 over a 6013, in what instances a 4047 is better than a 4043, what the disadvantages are when using Nickel alloys as filler, ...
Reply:Originally Posted by kingneroHow many of you that weld for a living, as freelancer, from a truck, receive a WPS prior to beginning?
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPIn my line of work, generally we would write up the WPS
Reply:Originally Posted by kingneroWho is "we" in your case? I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with "your line of work".
Reply:In my line of work (chemical and petroleum refining) Without exception, NO welding may commence without approved WPS/ PQR. Our welding consumables are selected long before an arc is struck.
Reply:Get the degree.  I've been welding a little over 8 years, started as a boilermaker, then to aerospace, now nuclear.  I have associates degrees in both liberal arts and electrical engineering technologies, as well as a bachelors in business, and currently finishing MBA with focus in supply chain management.  Why I hope to move up, may get cwi as well, but having a degree sure does make finding work easier.  If nothing else it shows you are trainable and can think on your own.  If the end hope is to start a business, get the AA and take some business classes.  Also check the aws site they have other certs for managers etc that will teach you about estimating jobs, hiring employees etc.  I'm 32 btw, it takes time but being in the craft provides a good living while learning, which to me is invaluable.  Also who knows what the future may hold, maybe you want to teach welding at some point.  Or decide to be an adjunct faculty member teaching welding, the AA will be better than just certs.Last edited by Wes917; 01-06-2014 at 07:38 PM.