First Welding Job

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Hey Guys,I just got hired for my first welding job at a small plant that makes racks. I'm as happy as a pig in you know what. I walked in off the street and asked if they could use a welder, they gave me a test and told me that they seen a "rookie with potential" so we talked some more and they hired me. I start august 7th but I was told I'm allowed to come in and they'll find me some scrap steel and let me practice some more. Part of the problem that I found was that I only had mig experience in high school and the teacher had the machine set up with a lower wire speed and the heat around 110-125. I'm not sure what the exact settings that this plant uses but the wire speed is around 8-9 and the heat is almost 3/4 of the way open and it's thin steel. I just have to get used to moving quicker to prevent burning through.Anyways, I just wanted to brag a bit. Also any tips/advice/things to watch out for would be appreciated.
Reply:Great news for you!!!!!!!!!! Like in any other new settings be pleasant and approachable, open to critisicism.  Good luck.Laura MM 180Chop SawDewalt grinderhelpful husband
Reply:congrats! "Ask not for whom the bone bones, it bones for thee" - Bender
Reply:Good for you!  Way to go.Let us know the wire type and diameter, gas mix, and the material thickness.  I assume you're welding mild steel?
Reply:Advise???Listen to the supervisor..And when you think he's full of crap..Keep your lip zipped..No questions... And when he goes away just do it the way you want...Works for me.. ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Some advice.  You can bitch about your boss all you want....AT HOME.There are people that will want you gone for job security and will be little whiney bitches and tell the bosses what you say about them.  Or they may be friends with the boss on their time off.  Get my drift?And what zap said, keep your mouth closed, ask for help if you need it, but be confident as you can without getting yourself into trouble.
Reply:Originally Posted by idontknow28Also any tips/advice/things to watch out for would be appreciated.
Reply:"Nice going kid! Don't get cocky!", that's a direct quote. My dad always said, "There are three ways to do a job, the company way, the foreman's way, and your way."Under the heading of "Constructive Criticism", I would offer this.Describing typical parameters for mig welding is normally done in electrical terms (voltage or amperes) and in mechanical terms (wire speed-inches per minute) or in terms of gas flow rate (cubic feet per hour). On any given machine where parameters are given arbitrary numbers (1-10), only a similar model welding machine will be set up to nearly the same actual parameters. "I have my welder set on 5 low for heat and 4.5 wire speed.", means very little to anyone with a different model welder. I was spoiled after using the schools Lincoln V350 inverter, which gave numerical values of voltage, amperage and at least a dial guage for close approximation of wire speed in inches per minute! It's different at work with our Millermatic 200 somethin', (the machine which uses the 1-6 High and Low and wire speed 1-6!)  It becomes very hard to tell in this case, so...good luck with that!Last edited by tanglediver; 07-24-2007 at 08:43 PM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Congrats to you.
Reply:Congrats, on the new job!I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediver"Nice going kid! Don't get cocky!", that's a direct quote.
Reply:All good advice and remember this one if you and the co. part company for any reason."I was lookin' for a job when I found this one".                                MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Hey guys thanks for the quick replies! The plant that hired me is on shut down for the next two weeks and I start right at the end of it. I went down there because they told me I could come in and weld scrap all I wanted. When I was down there I was really surprised at how nice everyone was. There wasn't many people in the place because of the shut down but everyone would come over to say "hi" or just to shoot the breeze and quite a few came over to offer advice on getting better welds.
Reply:Yeah, nobody was "on the clock!" Wait till you start with a full crew goin'.    I'm kiddin' with ya, relax, that's like the number one rule for welding.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Originally Posted by idontknow28Hey guys thanks for the quick replies! The plant that hired me is on shut down for the next two weeks and I start right at the end of it. I went down there because they told me I could come in and weld scrap all I wanted. When I was down there I was really surprised at how nice everyone was. There wasn't many people in the place because of the shut down but everyone would come over to say "hi" or just to shoot the breeze and quite a few came over to offer advice on getting better welds.
Reply:Congrats on the job!! I have to take the other tack on the keeping quiet part though. I always figured a closed mouth is a dull mind that wasnt quick enough to want to learn. You talk to 'em and they just nod their head and you can almost see it going in one and out the other. Ask questions!! Be curious!! If you show some interest in the way things are done, by asking about them, then folks are gonna help you more. If you dont, they are gonna figure you for a brain-dead or a know-it-all and then your done---
Reply:Keeping quiet is referring to showing respect and discussing work related things only.  At least that is what I meant.  No chit chat about how much you drank last weekend, no backtalking to your boss (or peers).  Just strictly work.
Reply:Originally Posted by TEKCongrats on the job!! I have to take the other tack on the keeping quiet part though. I always figured a closed mouth is a dull mind that wasnt quick enough to want to learn. You talk to 'em and they just nod their head and you can almost see it going in one and out the other. Ask questions!! Be curious!! If you show some interest in the way things are done, by asking about them, then folks are gonna help you more. If you dont, they are gonna figure you for a brain-dead or a know-it-all and then your done---
Reply:There was a 19 year old kid to started work with me a while ago.  All he wanted to do was talk.  I didn't mind a bit of chat when we were working together but I never skipped a beat with work.  I would talk with my hood down while welding getting to know the guy as he was real nice.  This kid on the other hand would take his hood off, sit down and move his arms around telling the story of his life.  Needless to say he was terminated for that very reason.Oh, and the obvious which applies to any job, show up on time every day is very important as well.  If you have a cold, show up anyways.  If it gets worse and you start puking, tell the boss you aren't feeling well, but it will look better that you at least tried to work that day and when they start reviewing your attendance you may have left early a couple times but it will show up as 100% attendance.  I've had to do it a few times.  Had to drag myself into work sick as a dog, or in pain from an injury, gave it my best, but had to leave halfway through the day.Although I had a foreman on one job that got mad if we showed up sick.  He didn't want the whole crew or himself sick.  He'd send us home.  So it depends on the job.  :P