CWI Business

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I have been thinking a bout starting a business to use my cwi and thinking about my certs in mt,pt, and ut. I was just wondering if any one has or has any adivice on getting started and what not. Any info would be great thanks
Reply:Investigate Liability Insurance.  Going into that line of work means YOU become a target for civil litigation if the weld joint fails.  I think having your Professional Engineering License would also be a strong selling point.I've been having similar thoughts, but decided that having about 10 years of actual welding experience would be a good place to start.  I'll come back to consulting and weld inspection when my joints complain too much about the labor and the heat/cold.
Reply:A-DAB, that is an excellent answer. If you can't pass the same test that the welders who are welding what you are inspecting do then you have no business inspecting the welds. Simply put: if you can't do the work you are not compent to inspect it no matter how many books you have read.I'll probably catch a lot of flack over this but I know a lot of welders will agree with me.
Reply:I have 7+ years in gmaw, fcaw, gtaw, smaw, ofw and the list goes on. I have done numerous qualification tests. I took my CWI exam because i wanted to get behind the scenes and start doing more than welding. A cwi does more than inspects! I am no newbie when it comes to welding, Just on this forum.
Reply:it depends on what aspect your wanting to get into contract work for another company? or just outright finding your own work?if you worked as a contractor under another big name like conam and some others that frequently asking for people to come do turn arounds and shutdown work you dont hold the responsibility or liability because the company that you are contracting for does that.in inspection for the most part if your staying on land CWI's are generally hirer paid then most of the more elaborate methods. my self i am in automated UT but i have been trained and schooled in all 5 methods. MT PT ET UT RT and leak testing.my first choice is UT because it doesn't carry the danger that RT could carry in the wrong hands. and its usually pretty clean work and a good UT hand with expirence can get 25+ an hour level II (employee) and ive seen contract work in the 35-65 an hr bracket.if you want any more specifics i have some good info i have a degree in NDT and QC ill point you in some good directions