General Questions about Pipeline Welding

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Hey folks. I've got a few questions. My curiosity has gotten the best of me once again! I'm thinking of a job change. My trade is welding and fabrication but my current job is warehouse management. I'm sick of it! I need to get back out there. I've thought about a side business welding but I really need to get out of my current profession. It's driving me mad! So this leads me to you guys and your infinite amounts of knowledge and experience. I've got all my welding papers from 3/8ths mig plate 1g bend to 1 inch 3g stick plate x-ray. And all in between. I've worked in structural steel for 8 years welding and fabrication. As welding goes...I got this. Lol. I think. What's the rundown on Pipeline Welding?What's the standard pay?How does the normal thing work? As in travel, expenses, and tools?Who does the hiring? Do they hire just you or pay the expense too? What kind of test is required for a job?What kind of advice could you offer someone looking into break into this field? This could actually be pretty beneficial to newbs who are looking into this type of welding. I appreciate all replies and advice. Remember... Anything you think might be helpful advice certainly is. It's a huge decision I'm making with my life and I wanna be sure I know everything possible about before stepping on the ledge. Thanks for reading!
Reply:AWS forum? You mean there's another welding forum? Hahaha. This is the only one I pay attention to. It's so diverse I can typically find out anything. Thanks for the info! Thanks for reading!
Reply:I just found a thread posted earlier today close to this same topic. I feel like a real jacka$$ for not searching a little better before asking. Sorry for the double post. Thanks for reading!
Reply:Thanks again buddy. I'm new to this whole forum deal. HahahahaThanks for reading!
Reply:First thing I guess is tools. You just about always need a working rig. That's a rig setup to for pipeline king of work,  Now days that means a 4x4 rig pretty much.Next you need a machine. This hast to be a machine that you can make many many passing welds with while usually being pushed a little to hurry up. Haha.  And it keeps running.....Then you got to be on call 24-7 so whenever a job comes up, no matter when or where, you can be there and also be ready to preform.  And able to stay it out to the bitter end if needs be. (Without personal problems that nobody else wants to deal wIth anyway).Pass every test given then do as you''re supposed to do after that....  In other words,  without any drama coming down around you.. LolThe pay isn't enough and the hours are too long. And the work is hard.   What else can I say. LolGood luckSlowhand
Reply:Well, first off to be a pipeline hand, you need to be pretty proficient in downhill pipe welding, most specifically welding with 5P type rods, 60,70 and 8010.Then you need to have your own welding truck geared toward pipelining, you can find pics and videos of pipeline rigs on the net. Best to have an old Lincoln SA-200 if you want to be able to keep up, and if you can't keep up you won't be there long. Those guys weld real fast and they do it all day long.I did some pipeline pre fab and some compressor station work in Wyoming when I had my truck rigged out. I had a Lincoln Classic 3D and those guys were making me look silly with their 1950's vintage Lincolns.On the pay, it can go anywhere from $25 for the hand and $15 for the rig on up to $100+ an hour for both. The lower pay ones will usually furnish the rods, you furnish the fuel for the machine and the oxygen and acetylene. The higher ones will want you to furnish everything.Plus you may get per diem, up to $100 a day or so.Most jobs will want you to take a butt weld test and also a branch test, where you have to lay out, cut and prep and weld a saddle. The test has to be perfect, they won't allow you any kind of flaws in your root. I got busted out one test for a stretch of undercut about  1/16th long in the root.You get all that down, then you have to get in the clique, that's the hard part, they are real cliquey.Last edited by TimmyTIG; 01-10-2013 at 08:40 PM.
Reply:Thanks fellas. I'm incredibly interested. I'm going to research some more but I guess its time to start shaking off the rust. I can't wait to burn rods. Even if its for absolutely nothing at all! Thanks for reading!
Reply:I know Flint was using a lot of rig non-union welders this year up here in the northeast. I don't know what they paid. You would need to be rigged up and ready to make a 12" on a 45 & a tee downhill 5p+ & 8010g 1/8" & 5/32" prob .375wt x65.  Then weld without having any drama fall down around you. LolMost of their work was station work I think. I don't know where their office is located but when your ready to go you can find out.But I will give you the best advice I can and that is to help a welder for at least one job. You would learn so much.... just keep quiet and watch and listen. You'll learn most of what you need doing that. Then breakout wideopen man. LolLast edited by slowhand; 01-11-2013 at 05:42 PM.
Reply:Could you explain the welding test a little further? Maybe put a picture of it up. I'm headed to my lws in the next few days to grab a can of 5p rods and small can of 7018. Do 80-10010 5p's weld any different than the standard 6010 5p?I learned stick welding with 6010 rods. It was probably 6 months before I struck a 7018 arc. The old fella that I was helping made me use them instead because it helped with rod control and allowed me get used to the fire burning the Hell outta me. So he says. Haha. I would always catch him giggling off to the side and never could understand why. With experience...I finally found out. Another old timer running the new fella thru his paces. Thanks for reading!
Reply:Like it was already mentioned, go out as a welders helper first. It's not everybody's cup of tea for sure. Working as a helper will tell you if or not.Plus it's not just another welding job it's a trade to itself with a language that's not spoken anywhere else and work practices of it's own.People who love it love it, lot's of people don't or won't.You have to be prepared to work in very cold/very hot weather, high winds and steep mountains.Inspection is always harsh and no freebies are available.It's a great life for the few people who are geared that way but misery for those that aren't.JT
Reply:I found one bad pic of a welder taking the branch test and also a thread on here about the testhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/akordynplyr/2874452166http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=31515Last edited by TimmyTIG; 01-12-2013 at 03:52 PM.
Reply:Thanks for all the responses so far. I worked as an union ironworker until I got tired of being laid off and dealing with politics. I've seen some pretty hard work. 12 hours pulling a chainfall to hang iron in an existing building. Tying rebar on a bridge deck in July. Or chipping ice off the iron so we could bolt up. I'm still researching and learning as much as possible. I've been reading every experience or little tid bit I can find on the net. It's a huge step and I want to know as much about it before liquidating my savings on a rig. Thanks for reading!