path to becoming pipeline welder?

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Ok first off I'm not a total novice I've been going to community college for 5 semesters now in the welding program. I've got several structural certs and my 6g pipe 6010 root 7018 fill/cap and 6g tig root and hot pass, 7018 fill/cap. However I know this will not land me a pipe welding interview let alone a job while I'm still green as grass. My end goal is to be a welder on the pipeline with my own truck, rig, tools ect. I have a '88 250 diesel ford flat bed, needs some work but she's solid, and a decent amount of savings to buy a welder and some tools. What I don't have is any welding experience outside of school. so my question is this; how did you guys out there pipe welding get your first break? I know I can get a job at some fab shop but pulling the trigger on a mig gun all day isn't going to get me any closer to getting on with a pipeline. I've read several posts where people say to be a pipe welders helper first, but how does that work given the nature of pipe jobs? I mean am I suppose to just pack myself up and drive 500 miles in the hopes some welder will like me and give me a shot? I've had people say just get on the phone and B.S. your way into getting a interview/weld test. and still others claiming the best path is to apply at a union hall and pay a $1,200 membership fee to be put on a waiting list. Any info on how you recommend getting started, how you or your buddies got started, benefits of 798 pipe union vs. non union, or just general info on the life of a pipe welder would be greatly appreciated. If you take the time to write it myself and I'm sure others will take the time to read it.
Reply:If you want to be a pipeline welder your best bet is to start as a helper.I don't know what area your in but here in west Texas there are several pipeline company's and they each have a yard or office somewhere. You could bang on a contractors door or if you see a rigwelder at a gas station,etc. Talk to the guy. If you don't want to travel don't even bother. Because you WILL travel if you want to stay busy. Now back to the helper thing, the reason people have said start that way is simple. You need to know how the front end works, how the firing line works, and all the lil tricks and tips. Pipelining is about speed and if you don't know what's going on believe me they will run you off in a heartbeat. You can take the 6g test and throw it out the window. You will need to master the 12" branch and 12" bellhole. All in a downhill progression and with 6010,7010,8010 because that is used on most mainlines. Pipelines are not the only pipe welding jobs out there. I myself do plant/refineries type piping. Now that is another field in itself but if you learn as much as possible it is likely you can do either pipeline or station/plant work. But in my opinion if you don't at least start as a helper  than you will be behind the 8 - ball so to speak. I was a welder 's helper for 2 years with a seasoned welder. I also was attending welding school at the same time. The lessons I learned from the welder I was helping was just as, if not more valuable than the schooling. Nobody tells you bout all the lil tricks. Those must be learned from other welders.
Reply:A pipeline inspector can tell in the first half hour of the test if you know what your doing or not. What your weld looks like is far more important if you don't know what your doing and  don't know how to handle yourself with a welding test a good welder can do a 12" 6g and a 12" branch by noon. best way to learn is to be a helper. No pipeline contractors are going to take a resume so schooling doesn't matter. plus throw out your 7018 for most pipeline work grab some 8010 its top to bottom on the lines. Union vs non-union is a touchy subject but each needs each other. 798 you can plan on working anywhere you don't want to go. non-union you can work where you choose. 798 = higher wages/retirement/3months a year off non-union=lower wages work 6-12 months a year no retirement but work where you want (for the most part).
Reply:you guys say 12" huh? all we've ever done is 8" schedule 80. and never downhill. I understand being a helper will get you familiar with the way everything flows but will your boss let you use his welder to practice on coupons and such in your spare time or would it be better to just bite the bullet and invest in a decent Lincoln 300D or similar machine to practice on? sorry for all the questions guys just trying to soak up all the info I can!
Reply:also slim my area is central Missouri
Reply:If in boss you mean the welder you'd help it's tough to say. If you do what your told and are a good hand he'd probably be more than willing to help you out and let you burn rod with his machine. I wouldn't buy a machine unless I knew 100% I could pass a test and pipeline was what I truly wanted. Until you can downhill pipe in your sleep you are not ready. Trust me.
Reply:Originally Posted by robb starkalso slim my area is central Missouri
Reply:why is pipe welded downhill? I always heard downhill sucked and you get slag inclusions ect?
Reply:First of all whoever told you that is either misinformed or can't do it. Downhill welds are just as sound and strong as an uphill weld within their tensile strength. Downhill welding on pipe is faster and wind and other factors don't affect it as much as welding with  7018 and such. A weld is only as good as the person who put it there.
Reply:I've made 10000+ xray welds downhill and had 4-6 repairs in the last 5 years. Only 1 was called slag inclusion. It doesn't suck that bad when you know what your doing. Downhill is fast I can make welds twice as fast down compared to up. But a new 300d then your pretty much committed to learn or you'll go broke trying
Reply:thanks for all the info guys im gonna spend the rest of my semester with 8010 downhill fill and cap. one more thing lol do you commonly see tig root or 6010 on pipelines?
Reply:Originally Posted by robb starkthanks for all the info guys im gonna spend the rest of my semester with 8010 downhill fill and cap. one more thing lol do you commonly see tig root or 6010 on pipelines?
Reply:Typically 6010 5p+ bead and 7010 hyp+ or 8010 70+ Hotpass and cap