Advice you would give to one about to pursue welding career

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So, after plenty of thought, I've ultimately decided on becoming a welder. I've always had quite an interest in it and thought that it was fascinating, but the stigma with going to college prevented me from pursing it. I do have 4.0 in college, but nothing that I can study interests me too much and my financial situation is rough.I'm coming here to ask you all a few questions. First off, what route do you recommend that I take in regards to learning the trade? Should I go to a vocational/technical institute? Should I go to a school that solely teaches welding? Apprenticeship? I want to be as adept at welding as I can, knowing all that there is to know. I dont want to be one of those guys who aims for the bare minimum.2. What type of welding should I go for?3. Is pairing a degree with welding such a bad idea? The reason I ask is that I'm about halfway done with college although I haven't declared a major. If I begin welding and saving up a bit money, would it be pointless to finish up my education (say in business/finance) so that I could potentially start my own business?4. Last but not least, what mistakes have you made or what decisions have you made that you wish you could go back in change when it comes to your education/growth as a welder? I really want to be as successful as I can and be the best and most skillful welder that I can be. Any advice would be greatly greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance. - Tom
Reply:think long and hard. there's plenty easier ways to make a living. it's dirty, hot and usually involves heavy lifting. working out in the cold. and heat. after 40+ years welding/ironworking it chewed me up and spit me out. i did make a ton of dough welding and i thoroughly enjoyed doing it. stay away from assembly line mig squirting.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:You can combine welding and college if you want. Welding engineering would be one option. I know Penn State has a program in that. If you think you may want to own your own business welding at some point, I highly recommend at least some basic business courses. Most guys who have their own business don't fail because they can't do the welding, It's because they can't manage a business..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I graduated from high school on Friday, the next Tuesday I was at the union hall taking the entrance exam to get into the apprenticeship. The next day I was on the job. 3 1/2-years later I was a journeyman. Moved to the North West, at the very worst time. About 10,000 construction workers out of work. Went to work in a fab shop for 3-years. Learned more about welding and fabrication in that fab shop than I did in my apprenticeship. Went back into construction, worked my way up to project superintendent. If the powers to be every start rebuilding our infrastructure, construction will be where the money is. My best friend that I grew up with is a retired heavy equipment operator. Local 3. He was just at a union meeting, the business agent was begging the retired members to come back to work. They have more work on the books than they can man!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:Take your butt down to the closest DoD recruiter and say I want to be a welder.  Take the a ASBAB or what ever its called today and wait.  You will get lots of calls, if the AF call's that means you scored really high.  It's all your call from there.  No matter what service you go with, youll get paid while you learn and on great equipment.  No student loans, you might get shot at but you get to shoot back.  Just sayin...
Reply:Originally Posted by 1dsummTake your butt down to the closest DoD recruiter and say I want to be a welder.  Take the a ASBAB or what ever its called today and wait.  You will get lots of calls, if the AF call's that means you scored really high.  It's all your call from there.  No matter what service you go with, youll get paid while you learn and on great equipment.  No student loans, you might get shot at but you get to shoot back.  Just sayin...
Reply:Talk to the AF or Navy guys, depending on you ASVAB scores you might be a fit despite your medical issues.
Reply:Use your head not your body.(Hey, wait a minute!?)The trades are tough and at 45'ish I am feeling rather worn out. Yes, stay away from mig squirting the line but likely that is where you would start and probably stay.
Reply:As a retired AF type,  I got shot at plenty in a land I didint want to die in.  Looking back I wouldn't change a thing,
Reply:Originally Posted by 1dsummTake your butt down to the closest DoD recruiter and say I want to be a welder.  Take the a ASBAB or what ever its called today and wait.  You will get lots of calls, if the AF call's that means you scored really high.  It's all your call from there.  No matter what service you go with, youll get paid while you learn and on great equipment.  No student loans, you might get shot at but you get to shoot back.  Just sayin...
Reply:Alrighty, thank you very much for the replies everyone. I will heed to all the advice you've given me. I appreciate it.
Reply:Just curious as to why you guys say stay clear from mig assembly line? Because of the money? I just took a job, my first, as a mig welder on rail road cars.
Reply:Originally Posted by FlashedJust curious as to why you guys say stay clear from mig assembly line? Because of the money? I just took a job, my first, as a mig welder on rail road cars.
Reply:Originally Posted by FlashedJust curious as to why you guys say stay clear from mig assembly line? Because of the money? I just took a job, my first, as a mig welder on rail road cars.
Reply:I'd have to agree. The welding is super easy but money isn't that bad. It's definitely not the welding I wanna be doing but I gotta start somewhere. I'd love to be able to do some fab work and be the guy that reads prints, not just pull a trigger.
Reply:Originally Posted by FlashedI'd love to be able to do some fab work and be the guy that reads prints, not just pull a trigger.
Reply:Originally Posted by tbone550If the military isn't for you, my second piece of advice would be to FINISH YOUR DEGREE, whatever it takes.  Do not give up on college.  Take advantage of the business and econ classes specifically, and include accounting and marketing if you have any interest in owning your own business.  Statistics is another good subject -- most people do not understand probabilities or how to analyze information, and both of those things are important.  Any personal finance classes will also be worth the price.  I would pack as many of these subjects as possible into your electives and forget about Art History, etc -- you know, the classes packed by people whose Mommies and Daddies are paying for them and they just want to graduate with as little effort as possible.
Reply:I was particularly good at blueprint and welding symbols. I'm even tutoring some of the other guys in the subject. Metallurgy was another subject I picked up and ran with fairly well. I wanna use my mind just as much as my steady hand.
Reply:Is there a link between cancer and welding?
Reply:Originally Posted by teh603Only finish it if you can get it without college debt. If you can't pay for it out of pocket or with scholarships, then it's time to take a break and start working. Student loans are the second- nastiest kind of debt in the US right now, just behind the collective that is medical and credit card debt.As for those business classes- they're great if you really want to get all the Ayn Rand propaganda you can stomach, but you'll find even a business degree is no guarantee of getting a paycheck above $10/hour these days, or even of promotion. With welding you at least get paid higher based on experience.Still better than wasting ten years of your life teaching school because you didn't have the two to five years' minimum experience required to get an entry level desk job.Which, by the way, is how the rich kids get to stay rich. Mommy and daddy can pay for them to take that two to five year break from college so they can get that unpaid internship and get all the skills and experience they need, while anyone not making six figures a year is stuck trying to get their resume past the robo- screener.Specialization puts food on the table and pays the bills. Generalization is great, but you have to be specialized to get the job in the first place.
Reply:Originally Posted by TMiller556Is there a link between cancer and welding?
Reply:Let me give you the details on teaching: You have to be up at 6 every morning (at the latest), be at school by 7, and have kids in the room usually by 7:15 despite class not starting until 7:50. It doesn't really matter how good a teacher you are, because everything is graded based on how the kids perform on a standardized test. If one or more of your classes decides to flunk the tests to get you fired, they can and will do it. If you give a kid a grade they actually earned, you get called in before the principal and the kid's parents to explain why you didn't give the kid "the grade they deserve" instead of the one they earn. You also don't get any time off- when school lets out, you're still always under scrutiny because you're a teacher.All for a whopping $120 a day.Sorry, not worth it.Currently working as a Paralegal, but still interested in hobby welding.Miller Bobcat 225ntOne- Character Fractions: ¼ ½ ¾ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞