Question for welding students

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When you were preparing to leave high school, when during the year did you begin to look for a school to learn welding? Your answers will help us plan next year's educational coverage in Welding Design & Fabrication magazine.Thanks.Bob RosenbaumFormer PublisherPenton's WELDING Magazine
Reply:i graduated in 1997 after so many years going from job to job.when i was 25  i decided i needed a career with job security and something i could be proud to do everyday . i tossed the idea around for three years prior thoughIt's good enough for the girls i run with
Reply:Back in the day (01) most ppl I know didnt start seriously looking until March, but I think up here in B.C. we have a different school schedule (summer break/ grad time)
Reply:Thanks for the info. Anyone else?Bob RosenbaumFormer PublisherPenton's WELDING Magazine
Reply:I don't know how much help it is, but Hobart Institute of Welding Technology often has a peak of enrollment during September probably because a lot of ppl get out of high school and want a summer break before starting another school.
Reply:I am 21 and graduated in '03, and I just started to consider welding this summer. I am enrolled for fall.
Reply:been welding for a long time now. but i am taking a maintenance supervisors course. so in need to graduate i gotta take all their welding classes. i hope all the tricks and short cuts don't get me into any trouble. the course covers welding, hydraulics, pneaumatics, machining, electrical, plumbing and a whole cluster of other things a maint. super will need."Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun  Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:Graduated in '82 (YIKES!) and there was really no info given to us as students that a career in welding was even available! Perhaps your educational coverage could include mention that most students aren't even aware of opportunities in welding fields. I would venture that most of us just stumble on it later when we find out that it's a great opputunity to make a good living. And you don't even need to ask anyone if they want fries with that!
Reply:i too im an 82 grad and at my school at that time welding was not any thing we were told about so i got a job doing tool&die with my uncleChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:A good high school football coach will help his players get into and choose a college...  so should a good high school welding teacher.  He should have the information available about area welding schools.  How can he propose this to the students as a career if he doesn't help them find a means to further their education after high school?
Reply:"good" and "should"....
Reply:Thank you all. Good insights.We're very interested in providing some of the things you suggested. The starting point is a good directory of welding schools, which we began producing in 2006. My original questions was to help us figure out when in the year to publish the second edition of that directory; it seems that anytime is a good time.Bob RosenbaumFormer PublisherPenton's WELDING Magazine
Reply:I graduated in 2001 I'm 23I first went to college to become a Computer Science majorI've got 80 college hoursI am just now getting into welding because my cousins do it and they recommended me to do it.  Its such a great fieldI dont think you should teach students because that leaves more opportunity for me
Reply:when I was getting ready to leave school many years ago welding was not my trade of choice but when the old man said get a job or pack up I had a welding apprenticeship the next day wasn't what I was after but glad i didCreative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:Bob i agree with the young man that stated after finishing school they want a break before starting school again in the fall.... think back when we were kids, it was the same thing.... nothing has changed really.... heck when i got out of school in 1972 i didn't want to go to college, so i joined the Navy, if i knew then what i know now i would had busted my butt to get into underwater welding.... now i am stuck with welding in free air... but at my age that is ok with me.... because the army is paying for my classes i am taking welding 1 now and in Jan we will start welding 2 and i appreciate everyone paying the taxes so i can have a career and also go to class.... to get another career after i get so old the military kicks me out.... in 7 more years.... i remember if you had asked me in 1972 what i wanted to do for a living, i wouldn't have been able to give you an answer, at that point in life you really don't have a good grasp on what is available to make the kind of money that you would hope would make retirement easy. But i sure didn't mind going to parties back in the day.... too old now.... so i just work.... and ride my Harley....MikeHH210Hobart Champ 10KLincoln Buzz BoxCampbell Hausfeld 115Victor JourneymanMilwaukee 14" Chop Saw7" Chop Saw4/12" horz band sawmetal benderother toys forthcoming.
Reply:funny im too old to work, but just the right age to party
Reply:Probably a very good source of welding classes are overlooked by many at a fraction of the cost. Most all of the Technical Centers in Oklahoma offer a welding class and quite a few specialize in the pipe trades. Most also offer a night program. At about $1.50 a hour its just a fraction of the cost of most welding schools. Most of the night students here were the day students from the local high schools that did'nt take the class serious enough at that time.
Reply:class of '76...basically grew up at my uncles garage and used to watch him weld..thought it was cool to have to wear a mask... did'nt go to school after high school..got a job in a machine shop..(same one i'm in now) in april '78was doing the stick welding thing in metal shop in high school and my buddy had a welder "airco stinger" (still has it) and we used to play around building stuff..but after the machine shop job i realised how much i like melting metal together..and stick led to mig and that led to tig..i love tig..so there you go..i did'nt think it would lead to a career doing it though... ...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:First of I studied Computer Science for 2 years, prior to studying welding.I took 1 year off, and at the last minute, looked for the program that would teach me the most about welding and mechanics.. well I ended up with welding degree since others were full.. (registered 2 days before it started)Best choice of my life, I LOVE welding and assembling.. manual work..
Reply:Taking a welding class was a last minute Idea for me... I wanted to take a night class to have something where there was adult interaction (I have 2 kids  ) so I was looking through the local colleges catalog and saw welding was offered and thought "my husband has 2 welders, and that would be a way I can help more with his business (other than  bookkeeping ), plus it'll be a tax write off!
Reply:well...i cant say im a welding student or professional, im 17 and im taking my year off now...im on a student exchange and when i get back to Canada i have to finish up highschool. I have been considering where i wanted to learn welding since about grade 10 when i decided i wanted to weld as a profession...the toughest part seems to be finding places that teach underwater welding...i think that would be the most interesting thing to do but i dont know where i could go to school for that where i live (vancouver island/west cost)...
Reply:Originally Posted by yotawheelerthe toughest part seems to be finding places that teach underwater welding...i think that would be the most interesting thing to do
Reply:really? what are they turning wrenches on? i dont mind pullen wrenches but....if i jump through all the hoops to be an underwater welder i would want to be doing some fricken welding!
Reply:The impression I got was that they don't do like most jobs and pair you up with a fitter.  The welder does everything....even if the job requires no welding.I called and talked to them, and when they said they wanted me to start at the beginning of all the courses (even the welding courses), I lost interest quickly.  I'm not about to start over again.  Even accredited colleges will give me college credit for the years of work I have done.
Reply:I started looking about 15 years after high school....It'll be fun with all the young bucks making wise cracks in the shop againGrantI welded all through highschool in automotive repair and refinishing...spent a year working dead end jobs and then recieved an opportunity to weld at a shop...been doing that for about 7 months and i will be heading off to school this sept to finish off my 1st year apprenticeship. Also i have heard that underwater welding is also very un-eventfull, but for the money they get paid i wouldn't mind turning a wrench, besides cant you only do it once a week for about 5  years? never really looked into it but thats what some of the guys at the shop say-->amazing what a 1.3L can do
Reply:im a sophmore in h/s and im just finidhing my first mont h of welding school.goin into the army 4 years after h/s/. i can get army certified to weld stuff makes job placement easier.i like having a plan for the next 8 years.KISS...KEEP IT SAFE STUPID
Reply:Originally Posted by TIGBOYim a sophmore in h/s and im just finidhing my first mont h of welding school.goin into the army 4 years after h/s/. i can get army certified to weld stuff makes job placement easier.i like having a plan for the next 8 years.
Reply:One piece of advice I can give to those who are younger and think they may not want to attend college, learn a trade in High School. My father told me when I was about to enter HS to think about if I wanted to go to college. He said if not, then I had better learn a trade(not necessarily his exact words! ). So I went to a Vocational HS. 1/2 day in the welding shop and 1/2 day of classes for 3 years. Sr year you can forgo the shop portion of the day if you get a job related to your elective. By the time I graduated (6/84) I had quite a jump on others in the trade. I applied for and was accepted to the Pipefitters local by Sept and started the following April at 19 yrs old. I now have 22 years under my belt. But the bottom line is you don't need to go AFTER HS. And I know that the school I went to also offers night adult classes too, so that is another option. Just my $.02.
Reply:I started to learn how to weld while I was in college. Now wish I had payed more attention and gotten into welding full time. My brohter joined the navy to weld. He told me it is dead in the military now he works on computers and welds on his off duty time
Reply:i graduated high school and went right to work where ever would hire me.  i worked at a bank, gas station, and last job before i went to college was at a roofing company as a laborer and i took a night stick weldingclass at a BOCES after work just to make sure that i wanted to go to college for welding and that i would like it.  and now i am currently enrolled in SUNY Alfred State College.  This school in my opinion is that best in NY state. i have class from 745 till 245 five days a week. no english math science classes.  we do math that we are going to use in the feild.  2g 5g 6g pipe from 2in dia to 12in dia all processes.  stainless aluminum and carbon.  aws advanced welder cert.  and along with that u get a associates degree after the two year course is completed.  hopefully this will help your article.  jeremy
Reply:What is an AWS advanced welder cert? I've never heard of that, I don't think.
Reply:its the level 2 after the entry welder cert.  if i had the certificate here with me at school i would say exactly what it is but im pretty sure that it says advanced welder.
Reply:Originally Posted by infamousjerits the level 2 after the entry welder cert.  if i had the certificate here with me at school i would say exactly what it is but im pretty sure that it says advanced welder.
Reply:ill scan a copy it and show you. it is from the aws i had to pay and send in informantion
Reply:Originally Posted by infamousjerill scan a copy it and show you. it is from the aws i had to pay and send in informantion
Reply:I graduated HS in 97' , and looked at attending a technical college, or university.  I ended up not attending directly after I graduated, but as of this April, I will be graduating with an A/S Welding from TSTC-Waco. Only 10 years later, but the best choice I have made thus far.  I think that comming to Waco, from Houston, directly after graduating HS turned me off from comming sooner.....whish I would have, I would be making a heck of a lot of $$ sooner and have a good bit of experience by now.Owner - Certified Welding & Fabrication / 22yrs in businessSteamboat Springs, Co(970) 879-5491AWS structural shopHMI 70t iron worker2 field trucks specailizing in structural steel, aluminum and stainless steel
Reply:I served a Patternmaking/Foundry apprenticeship for 5 years in the UK.Started in 1979 and finished the apprenticeship in 1984.Still learn something every day.During my apprenticeship we had to learn Oxy/Acet welding before moving onto any other welding process.I have just bought an oxy/acet set up today again.....I am into vintage motorcycle racing and building "stuff".My Dad is a Math major....so I never had any tools in the shed to play with growing up in the UK.I am making up for that loss now Cheers,SD
Reply:I had never picked up a torch until after I had graduate high school.  No trade schools or welding classes at my high school, but always had an interest in engineering, so I attended The Ohio State University.  Decidedly not hands-on enough for me, so I transferred out, and enrolled in an alternative welding engineering program at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, which is two years of 4 hour days in the shop, in addition to the outside classes.  The bulk of the engineering courses are taken in the 3rd and 4th year.
Reply:I've done welding all through high school school, I'm a senior right now. I have 1 semester of welding at the local J.C. I'm taking advanced SMAW and GTAW right now. I love welding and I'd love to make a career out of it. I'd like to end up doing TIG.
Reply:the way things are going with alot of guys retiring in the next 5 years us young guys are going to be in demand hopefully anyway
Reply:I graduated in '89 and ended up working for a tire plant in Oklahoma for years....then it closes and moves to Mexico. It was a true blessing in disguise, even though having to start over at the age of 36 was terrifing.  Now I get to be retrained and learn a very highly paid, in demand, trade that can not be taking away. I could not wait to get started into welding school and now that I have started I cant wait til I can earn my living welding daily. I see the pics posted on here and the things that are fabricated and built....great work and very nice welds....right now I am still on stick so I have a long way to go. My instructor tells me about the hourly wages paid to the guys that own their own rigs......AMAZING ! Thank you all for all the help with the "newbies".....I look forward to being where you are and being able to influence and help others.
Reply:High schools now-a-days are losing their grip on reality. The whole course from when you enter in your freshman year is college prep. (at least in my area) They think that if everyone goes through college prep, everyone will go to college, and the vocational programs are losing funding and shutting down very fast. While i was in high school(graduated 2 years ago, so it wasn't that long ago) My high school moved to a larger building. During that move, the autos program was removed from the building. We have an option to take vocational training our junior year, but it is hard to qualify. So most people take it their senior year. The worst part is most people don't even know about any of the programs offered. I took welding and our program was the least funded. At times we had oxygen supply and scrap steel issues. I think the biggest thing a magazine can do is to inform schools of the opportunities for students in careers that don't require a 4-year education. I took welding m senior year, and some in my first year in college (junior college), and due to scheduling conflicts, i couldn;t take any course my second year. I am a manufacturing student, but i know i can fall back on welding if i need to(when all the manufacturing jobs go to mexico and china). Even my manufacturing program is in trouble due to lack of enrollment. This is good news for me since I will be in high demand when the people currently in the field retire, but if there is no training centers then the future of manufacturing/welding in the United States in danger.but to answer your questions posted 6 months ago, i started looking about a week before classes started and welding and manufacturing classes were the only classes available. I more or less fell into them in college and havent looked back.
Reply:Originally Posted by yotawheelerreally? what are they turning wrenches on? i dont mind pullen wrenches but....if i jump through all the hoops to be an underwater welder i would want to be doing some fricken welding!
Reply:Class of '90Went into computer repair. done that for 16years and market is flooded now.  now going back to college to take a welding course(2 semesters). Teacher says they don't have job placement but all seem to have a job when they leave(with his help).In College for welding.Learning 6010 first.passed butt weld, lap, lap multipass, t-weld I have a Campbell Hausfeld Farmhand 125 (only used fluxcore sofar).
Reply:I always wanted to learn welding and finally, 34 years after high school, I enrolled in the BOCES welding program.  I'm very fortunate in having an awesome instructor who recognizes how serious I am about learning welding and goes the extra mile to accomodate me.....All Good Medicine,Crow
Reply:i took welding my senior year in high school.  my first job was welding flexible metal hoses, and exhaust bellows.  my best friend went to tulsa pipe welding school after high school and he talked me into going a year after he had been working for brown and root building a paper mill.  when i completed my 6 months at tulsa pipe welding school we went to work together for brown and root, pipe welding at chevron refinery in pasacagula(sp) mississippi.  i don't weld as a profession now, but my friend stayed with it and has welded for nuclear power plants and is now a superintendent for some company that does automated tig welding around the world.
Reply:Originally Posted by tortis when i completed my 6 months at tulsa pipe welding school we went to work together for brown and root, pipe welding at chevron refinery in pasacagula(sp) mississippi.
Reply:Bob I would like to see a "welding school" such as those mentioned earlier...Lincoln and Hobart.   I'm self taught and was not impressed with what Nashville had to offer at the time.  (90)   I believe now Miller-Monte institute is the place around here now.  I just study or go for help from a great  weld test facility here locally for any certs I might need.  Demos are great too.  I like the literature packages from Miller and others.  They have been great tools aswell.Nothing beats OJT    like the time my granddad handed me a rod from an old buzz box to cut a 3/8 cable on the farm weld it like you own it
Reply:Bob, I know it is late for this but you might want to work with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), they work with High schools and promote college to their students.  I am a long time member of ABC and am an SME for NCCER, in the welding section.  They will help  !!!       JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :