Seriously need advice...

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I'm in college right now studying Computer Science.  I'm already thinking that this job is not the right one for me. For me, I think that welding is a whole another culture and sense of adventure. I would love to travel all around the world and meet new people. That right there is so much better than being in an office 8 hours a day with guys you will have to be with for centuries. I'm 19 years old right now. Going on 20 in a couple of months. I feel like I should drop college right now and get right into a welding technical school. Maybe I should take some welding classes before I would think about dropping out of college. But other than that, I'd hope to get into an apprenticeship program in a couple of years if I think about dropping out in 2010.My gpa is fine btw.
Reply:If you want to travel I'd suggest the military. You can do almost any job you can imagine there. Weld, computers, electronics... You'd probably do better with them if you already have your college degree, even if it's just the basic piece of paper. ROTC is a better option as it will put you at a higher pay rate compared to enlistment even with a degree..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:Originally Posted by DSWIf you want to travel I'd suggest the military. You can do almost any job you can imagine there. Weld, computers, electronics... You'd probably do better with them if you already have your college degree, even if it's just the basic piece of paper. ROTC is a better option as it will put you at a higher pay rate compared to enlistment even with a degree.
Reply:I guess I somewhat misunderstood what you were asking. I thought you were looking for a job with world travel as opposed to a welding job specifically.As far as doing things repetitively in the military, all depends on what you do. We've got one guy here in the Navy who welds on board ship (can remember his name right now) sounds like he never does the same thing twice as far as repairs. Another posted up picts from his deployment in Iraq as a welder. My father worked as a naval officer inspecting welds and fab work in Newport News at the shipyard for 3 years after spending 2 tours doing shipyard work of different sorts in Hawaii.As far a pipelining, no real suggestions there. Never been an interest for me personally. Sorry.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:You don't show where your from, but a if a local community college exists there, enroll in a one semester basic welding course. If you actually like welding or think you want to continue pick up more advanced classes or enroll in a tech school. Many people find they don't like the burns, flashes and pops associated with the trade. Setting your shirt or pants legs on fire with your hood down doesn't appeal to the masses apparently! Cheapest way out short of hiring out as a weldors helper and with the economy the way it is right now, weldors helpers are sought after jobs. Good luck! BTW, the military ain't a bad start in the welding trade and you get to see the world...to a point.Last edited by gizzardgutz; 11-11-2009 at 01:04 AM.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWI guess I somewhat misunderstood what you were asking. I thought you were looking for a job with world travel as opposed to a welding job specifically.As far as doing things repetitively in the military, all depends on what you do. We've got one guy here in the Navy who welds on board ship (can remember his name right now) sounds like he never does the same thing twice as far as repairs. Another posted up picts from his deployment in Iraq as a welder. My father worked as a naval officer inspecting welds and fab work in Newport News at the shipyard for 3 years after spending 2 tours doing shipyard work of different sorts in Hawaii.As far a pipelining, no real suggestions there. Never been an interest for me personally. Sorry
Reply:Yep, good advice to try to get into a welding course and see if you like it before you do anything drastic.I imagine the army would be a good way to see the world. And if you're a welder you're less likely to get shot at.Yeah, I carry.House keys, wallet, some change, usually a newspaper, maybe a pen.
Reply:I found several of the posts I was thinking about last night. I can think of about 6 or 8 others that I can remember the picts from but can't remember a good enough key word for the search.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...&highlight=seahttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ighlight=hemmthttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...highlight=iraq.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:yes army would be good you might think about air force as wellthey both use weldors to do the weldingam with the others on taking a  sem. to check out the trade
Reply:Originally Posted by nflI'm in college right now studying Computer Science.  I'm already thinking that this job is not the right one for me. For me, I think that welding is a whole another culture and sense of adventure. I would love to travel all around the world and meet new people. That right there is so much better than being in an office 8 hours a day with guys you will have to be with for centuries. I'm 19 years old right now. Going on 20 in a couple of months. I feel like I should drop college right now and get right into a welding technical school. Maybe I should take some welding classes before I would think about dropping out of college. But other than that, I'd hope to get into an apprenticeship program in a couple of years if I think about dropping out in 2010.My gpa is fine btw.
Reply:Nfl, how much time do you have invested? Interested in welding, how about looking into Welding Engineering?That way you’ll have a sheep skin = $$$$ and a field you’re interested in. Win-win.Me; BSEE, MSEE, BS applied math and a half dozen patents.
Reply:Navy welding schools will teach you how to weld.  And might have the chance to learn how to weld around nuke plants.19yo, thinking of a career......... Military isn't a bad option.  Learn a trade, get paid for it, use it as a civilian, down side is deployments away from family & chance of combat duty.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:I'd like to offer my perspective from the other side. I am a former computer geek who retired at 43 years old. I did travel quite a bit for a period as a consultant and could have traveled a lot more than I did if I had wanted (including internationally). I now spend my time restoring and tinkering with muscle cars (hence the interest in welding). Work with computers are generally easier to find. I know of companies in my area that are actively hiring in this economy. My situation is not necessarily the norm. Your experience may differ.Please don't flame me here and my information certainly may not be completely accurate, but as I understand things welding is a bit of a dying art. I have a friend that works for Miller and he has told me that more and more industrial applications have turned to advanced adhesives and away from welding (automotive in particular). Automation has also changed things as well. I also often see people on this board who have been laid off or whose businesses are struggling (the economy sure doesn't help here).Obviously there is still the need for welding for very large applications such as ship building, pipe fitting and if that's really your desire, then make it happen. I strongly believe that if you really want something you can make it happen.Good luck with your future!!!
Reply:First off no, welding is not a dying art.  It is an art form all by itself though.Welding isn't all about gluing pieces of metal together.  There is a lot of math, metallugy, fabrication & cost containment issues involved.  Just because anyone can learn to MIG weld in a few minutes doesn't mean they are a weldor.Look at it this way, you are (or were) a computer geek as a career.  How did you teach someone to fix, repair, design, build a computer?  How did you teach someone to use that built computer?  When did you learn it?  Not all people can understand all the in's/out's of a computer.  Many are intimidated with just turning the machine on.  That said, what you do seems like a black art because many don't understand what is going on inside the machine or how instructions work.Yes the automotive industry is going to adhesives, but will those adhesives protect you in a crash?  Not always & the automotive industry still uses welding as part of the safety engineering of the vehicle.  Not only that, there is a whole repair industry dedicated to keeping vehicles on the road.  But it's not only the automotive industry, there is ornamental ironworks, repair work on farm vehicles, repairs of lawn mowers & a whole host of other common everyday items that need repaired.Welding is not a dying industry, it is used everyday in every city in every country.  It's probably more common that some think.  Sometimes not seeing the welding around (looking for arc lights) doesn't mean it's not around.  A simple way to look for this is look at the handrails leading into any building in the country.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:In my 12 years in the U.S.Navy, i chose the welding trade. The rateing is called Hull Tech (HT). I started out in the Shipfitter Shop, got a seat at the Navy Welding School in San Diego. You can get certified there to both Nuclear and Non-Nuclear welding codes. Upon my last re-enlistment I chose to go to Non Destructive Testing School, also in San Diego. While in the Navy I earned Journeyman NEC Codes through the Department of Labor in Shipfitting, NDT, along with Nuclear welding certifications in the 6GR positions. I was deployed the entire time that I was a welder and I have to say it was anything but boring! As a shipfitter in the Navy you will constantly be fabricating and welding up what you build. As a coded welder you weld mostly on piping systems-in some very akward positions, as a Nuclear welder you may be welding in a containment glove bag on reactor piping.The point I am trying to make is that it is what you make it. The armed services dosent make components (ie.seats), that goes to the lowest bidder, or the relative of a senator! Another good thing about the service is you will have the chance to practice, practice, practice to build your skills. There will be boring B.S. jobs but you have to take the good with the bad!"Don't tell mom I'm a welder---She thinks I am a Piano Player in a Whore House!"
Reply:Originally Posted by MarkBall2First off no, welding is not a dying art.  It is an art form all by itself though.Welding isn't all about gluing pieces of metal together.  There is a lot of math, metallugy, fabrication & cost containment issues involved.  Just because anyone can learn to MIG weld in a few minutes doesn't mean they are a weldor.Look at it this way, you are (or were) a computer geek as a career.  How did you teach someone to fix, repair, design, build a computer?  How did you teach someone to use that built computer?  When did you learn it?  Not all people can understand all the in's/out's of a computer.  Many are intimidated with just turning the machine on.  That said, what you do seems like a black art because many don't understand what is going on inside the machine or how instructions work.Yes the automotive industry is going to adhesives, but will those adhesives protect you in a crash?  Not always & the automotive industry still uses welding as part of the safety engineering of the vehicle.  Not only that, there is a whole repair industry dedicated to keeping vehicles on the road.  But it's not only the automotive industry, there is ornamental ironworks, repair work on farm vehicles, repairs of lawn mowers & a whole host of other common everyday items that need repaired.Welding is not a dying industry, it is used everyday in every city in every country.  It's probably more common that some think.  Sometimes not seeing the welding around (looking for arc lights) doesn't mean it's not around.  A simple way to look for this is look at the handrails leading into any building in the country.
Reply:Dave, I wasn't meaning to sound mean or discount your life experiences.Myself, I'm a Registered Nurse.  I also weld.  I am not nor do I have any certifications in welding, but I'm improving.  I've been a nurse for the past 20 years & since enjoying my hobby of gluing metal together with metallic bird poo, I searched out a place where I could learn.  I found it here & followed some of the advice given, took some heat when I've posted erroneous information (push/pull) but also offered up information for other subjects that I have a lot of knowledge on.At the same time the generality you made about "welding is a dying art" was information not quite accurate.  I meant no disrespect, only tried to point out how or where the inaccurate information could have been concluded.  I am still learning, looking to create my own business in the welding/fabrication/manufacturing area of business.  I've done the market research & there is a wide open field in these areas.Hopefully (and forecasts indicate) welding will always be around.  Processes may change, but welding will always be around.  Robotic welding is one area things are changing, as is CNC machining.  As a computer engineer & be interested in welding, this might be something you would excel at.  BTW Dave, Welcome to the forum.  We learn from everyone that is a member, even nurses.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:HTCSW...............Thank you for your service.  As today is Veteran's Day, it is appropriate to say thanks to the members who have served.Now back to our regularly scheduled question about "Should I go to Welding School, or stay in Computer School?"MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:I need to apologize again for my previous posts. They only showed my ignorance about things I don't know and did nothing to help offer information about the question. I can't apologize strongly enough. If you knew me, you would know that this is not typical for me.I would like now to offer things that I do know about computers. I would guess that many of the roles found in software development are also present in welding and fabrication the latter dealing more in the physical than a piece of software.For me, I found the jobs in software to be both challenging and rewarding. No matter how you are involved, the job surrounds problem solving. A need arises and a solution is determined.There are many different types of jobs available in software from those who gather requirements for a desired change in a piece of software (or a new piece of software) to those who determine the best way to change the software to those who actually make the changes and those who teach the end user how to use the new feature.For a job where you are actually in the trenches writing code, the reality of the job involves continuous learning. Technology never slows down. There is always a new programming language, process or piece of software to learn. Its important that you can be OK with this much continuous learning for this type of job since the business will run over you if you don't keep up. Many of you guys will remember when CAD software didn't exist and forums such as this one wasn't available.That isn't quite as true for other aspects of software engineering such as requirements gathering, project planning or training in the use of software, but its still there. Most people that excel at these jobs thrive in the change and learning. Thats where the challenge comes in. The rewarding part is when you can make a computer do something you set out to make it do and provide a solution to a problem.The process is very layered. An simplification of the process would probably be useful. A business owner thinks it would save time and money if they had a piece of software to manage their finances.The guy who does the books said I'll write down everything I do in great detail.The software designer (architect) drew some pictures and flow charts to outline how this new software would store and process this information.The coder takes those pictures and specifiations and writes the code to actually do it.A tester checks to make sure that the software does what the accountant actually asked it to do.A trainer takes the software and teaches the accountant how to use the new software.The accountant says "neat", can you make it do this too?? And the process starts all over.Sound familiar to you fabricators???I hope that I have provided some useful information and have redeemed myself a bit.Any questions??Dave
Reply:A business owner thinks it would save time and money if they had a piece of software to manage their finances.The guy who does the books said I'll write down everything I do in great detail.The software designer (architect) drew some pictures and flow charts to outline how this new software would store and process this information.The coder takes those pictures and specifiations and writes the code to actually do it.A tester checks to make sure that the software does what the accountant actually asked it to do.A trainer takes the software and teaches the accountant how to use the new software.The accountant says "neat", can you make it do this too?? And the process starts all over.
Reply:Nedhed, I work three steps back from you, that wire in the wall you plug your pc into just didn’t fall into place. I design and install the infrastructure, PBX and Data Links, OS3, Sonnet, DS3, T-3, fiber links. It all starts with problem solving. When I started out there was no such thing as Computer Engineers, we were all EE’s. IC’s were just developing, a 512K main frame was a big deal. Now a USB drive has more storage than anything I worked on in the 80’s. Remember punch cards?Now I have BIG toys. Everything is wired up the kzzo! Attached ImagesLast edited by transit; 11-11-2009 at 07:30 PM.
Reply:The computer business has been a part of my life for more than 25 years or so. Its always amazed me at all the different pieces to make everything work. A little more elaboration can't hurt can it?? I worked directly or indirectly with just about anything you can think of related to computers.You have people that create computer chips like CPUs, memory, networking and video. There are people write operating systems like the various versions Windows, Mac OS, Unix and other specialized ones. Each of these is a layer that builds on top of the next. Each of these jobs has its own set of tools, some as common as a word processor or more specialized such as network routers or database management software. Even the forum software that we're using right now.For 'nfl' that started this thread, your involvement with computers does mean you couldn't combine this with your interest with welding. There are opportunities available with robotic welding, CNC stuff, water jet or CAD and probably a million others I'm not thinking of. Or maybe even better, you could come up with a new idea!!!As I stated earlier, I've always felt working with computer is very rewarding. I think there are a lot of parallels with fabrication. Starting with an idea or plans and producing a product whether it be software of a piece of machinery is a very creative process. Each uses a set of tools which require some experience and training to learn to use. I guess this is true for just about anything you do in life.'nfl' you mentioned that you were concerned about being trapped in an office with the same people for a lifetime. There is some truth to this, but don't think that its monotonous. Its actually very stimulating. Alot going on all the time. It is however primarily an indoor job which I totally understand isn't for everyone. Midway through college I also had my doubts, but I'm very happy that I stuck with it.As for travel, you can pretty much have as much or little as you might desire. I traveled quite a bit for a while (couple weeks a month) and I eventually burned out on that. If I had liked it, there are jobs where you do it as much as you want including international travel.Dave
Reply:As a newbee to this board may I throw in my buck three eighty.  Why not do both??  There would be nothing wrong, joining the Military, and being exposed to welding which they would be more than happy to teach you.  If you fall in love with it, stay within the Military Family, and continue to grow and learn.If however Military life is not for you or your expectations of what a welding future may bring you, the Military will assist you going back to college helping with your tuition, and you can then make a decision, on what your future holds.Good Luck in whatever road you decide to take.Biker