How old is too old to start welding?

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Hello everyone. I'm a soon to be 45 year old man looking at a mid-life career change and am seriously considering taking a seven month master welding course in Oklahoma. Of course after the expense and time my hope is too eventually land a good paying job pipe welding in the oil industry or working overseas as a welder. My question is how realistic is it for someone my age to get that kind of training and land a good paying job, or would I be looking at years of "paying dues" with low paying welding jobs to get work experience to land the better jobs? Before I invest thousands of dollars I just want to be sure I'm making the right decision. This is where they say you'll be at the end of the course:"This program prepares a graduate for entry-level positions in structural, pipe, thin alloy and/or pipeline welding. Key welding processes include SMAW, MIG, TIG, high frequency TIG, and Fluxcore."So I get introduced to all these styles and some training in each. I get certification. Will the sky eventually be the limit or would I be better off spending the next three years in college getting an IT degree? I gotta make a decision soon. Thanks for your time,V
Reply:A lot of the answers to your questions depend on you.  Some older people have trouble learning to weld because they can't see the stuff they need to see.  You mentioned that you don't want to be stuck in entry level positions for a long time.  That depends on the job market and you.  If you get into a job a demonstrate a willingness to learn from the more experienced hands, then you might be able to move up more quickly.
Reply:I just started and I am 50.I think if it was near my 90th birthday I might consider about not welding. Mainly because all the drool dribbling from my mouth landing on the hot welds would create steam and fog my glass' up !!
Reply:Hi Venzil:  Go for it my friend. I dids the majority of my welding between 1975 to 1980. After that I became a supervisor and did very little. But I always enjoyed it, and I could lay some awsome beads. After 25 or so years I am doing mostly as a hobby. One of the drawbacks I now have is I have to wear glasses. Eyes not quite as good as they use to be. But at your age you still have plenty of good years. I have done many different trades.But I think welding was always my first love. You may have to move to an area where welders are needed. Unless your the only welder in your town,and you open up a business then you may survive. I am now 63 and I just bought another welder. Go fot it and good luck to you.     PS: I got my training from the ARMY at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. In Maryland. I never had touched a welder before or a torch. I had no bad welding habits. I welded every day eight hours a day for three months. Every possible form of welding and cutting I had to learn. At graduation I even beat out two certified welders and made distinquish graduate. Some of the instructors later told me that these certified welders had bad habits they couldn't break. A person may be a welder, but when you go to ARMY welding school you have to learn to weld the Army way. Never having been a welder in the civilian world I couldn't tell you the difference.If you trully want to you can do it.Last edited by Maineiac; 06-02-2009 at 07:42 AM.Reason: Adding a PSIdealarc 250 AC/DC  Millermatic 211 Auto Spoolmate 100
Reply:Hi Venzil, go for it!!I started welding classes at 28 years old - old compared to the rest of the kids fresh out of high school! I walked away from an associate's in computer networking that was a few fluff classes away from being complete. I had to pay some bills and take time off school. While away I discovered I was burnt out on computers, and had no desire to be responsible for every little hiccup in someone's network for the rest of my life. I went back to school in 2006 and got my associate's in welding. I had only done electronics soldering before, never welded anything, so it was a bit outside anything resembling a "comfort zone" at first, but I love welding. It's a lot more satisfying to step back from a weld and know I did a good job laying it in then it ever was to stand up from a computer and say "ok, it should be fixed now." You didn't say where you are living - I'm in northeastern Nevada. Welding jobs out here aren't as easy to get as they had been, and I'm not working as a welder right now because before school I'd never welded, and there are a lot of more experienced welders looking for jobs at the moment. Demand in your area is a consideration, although I've been hearing since 2006 that several thousand welders are due to retire in the next few years, hopefully leaving a lot of opportunity.(How about it guys? Anyone else still hearing rumors of a mass retirement of senior welders?) RuthiePS. I think the IT degree would be a bigger waste of time and money!Last edited by iwannaweld; 06-02-2009 at 10:50 AM.Reason: knew I forgot something
Reply:If it is something you think (or know) you will like doing, then do it. I went to welding school at the age of 42. I have no regrets. It is something that I really enjoy doing. (On my own time, as well as being one of my favorite parts of my job.) "SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:One thing that you may want to consider if you are going into welding. How to you feel about heights ? With a lot of welding jobs you have to get off the ground. I once had an electrical engineer that worked for me at the paper mill. He was scared to death of heights. We had some 125 ft. high HD tanks and after about 3 months he could make it past the second stairway. I don't know how he ever made it through the Naval Academy. He knew his electrons though.Welding looks like a good skill to have with where the stimulus money might be going.Don't worry about your age. If you are in good physical shape go for it. Grecian formula can do wonders. You can always lie about your age if you need to - women have been doing it for years.
Reply:Hi Vensil did you serve in the military? If so you can apply for GI Bill and have the Gov pay for your training. If your disable on on social security disability  the social security folks will pay for your training. Also if you are low income some states will provide for your training. Some states also will provide assistance to pay for the training. If none if those fit your situation then check with local community  colleges as they have incentive programs for residents versus non residents. Your best bet is to check out all your options.But your never to late to start a new job.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Go get your eye's checked.  If there good then your good to go, if there not it will make it a lot harder to learn the pipe so then I would maybe think again.I'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:Training of any type will be useful in any career-not just that trade you learned.  You sound like the main temptation right now is the big dollars and not the intrest in the specific welding skills.  There are some welders making tremendous dollars as well as some very skilled welders just barely surviving financially (just like all skills and trades.)  If the dollars or if the travel are the greatest temptations then there are many skills with less intense and shorter training.  If you want the welding skills because they are complex and chalenging then go for it, but don't learn a trade for only the finances- you might develop some disability along the way and waste that effort.By the way-I am 69, have a cheap welder and plan on taking a welding course at the local JC in a year or two-but have no intrest in making any money at it.
Reply:I started at 35 but I agree as long as your eyes are working then you should be fine.
Reply:When I retired, I started taking welding classes (early 2007); for fun. I just finished TIG II. I still can't walk into a weld shop and say "I can weld TIG (or anything else)." I've always been fascinated with welding and bought my O/A in 1977. Then I bought my Syncrowave 250 in 1993. Welding in position (flat on the table) is pretty easy. But when you're welding on a trailer, vertical and overhead are mandatory. Things aren't as easy in that environment.It's summer break, and in August, I'll be going back for 'Stick 101'. I don't really give a 'flip' about stick; it's a dirty, vulgar process. However, it did build the world as we know it. And my Sync will weld stick; I'd have to buy a MIG to be able to use wire feed.FWIW: I'm 61 and have never made a dime welding.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by Craig in DenverIt's summer break, and in August, I'll be going back for 'Stick 101'. I don't really give a 'flip' about stick; it's a dirty, vulgar process. However, it did build the world as we know it. And my Sync will weld stick; I'd have to buy a MIG to be able to use wire feed.FWIW: I'm 61 and have never made a dime welding.
Reply:As of last year, before the bust, A article in the Wall street journal, Title said, Where have all the welders gone, It explained how John Deere had head hunters looking for welders and how much they paid. I believe that same article related a story about a guy that was paid by JD to relocate and work for JD at a rate of around 60 k a year. Alot would depend on where you live and how good you can get. Quality is the key. I know and have hired certified welders that couldn't do squat in the field, and uncertified guys that were awsome. IMHO. How good do you think you could be?  Welding is such a personal skill. Alls you have is your self to sellLincoln Ranger 8                        Lincoln 175                          Drill pressLincoln 225 mig                            Plasma                              8 ft brake        52" jump shear
Reply:You don't say if you are very fit physically, or a couch potato doughboy.  Being a pipeliner, you will have to expect lots of really rugged situations in almost sub-human environments.  If your body is not up to hard physical work, you should reconsider...it ain't all about laying beads!!"Good Enough Never Is"MIller AC/DC  ThunderboltHobart HH180, 125EZRiland Cut 40 Plasma oxy/act  outfitTons of "stuff", all treasures to me!
Reply:Originally Posted by hillcoYou don't say if you are very fit physically, or a couch potato doughboy.  Being a pipeliner, you will have to expect lots of really rugged situations in almost sub-human environments.  If your body is not up to hard physical work, you should reconsider...it ain't all about laying beads!!
Reply:Thanks everyone for the well rounded replies. Lots to consider. Relocation isn't an issue as I can relocate practically anywhere (I'm in the southern US). The eyes are ok. I'm not physically what I was at 30 but I'm ok with no major health issues. I'm a little sketchy about heights but not an insurmountable fear with me. Working out in extreme weather conditions never been a problem. Thanks for the encouraging words as well as the reality checks. V
Reply:you won't be the only guy that old at tulsa welding school. when i went back in 03 i had sevral older guys in my class. my guess is that you will have at least one instructor that is younger than you. as long as you can see straight you should be fine.
Reply:Do what you love, the money will follow.
Reply:The second ole guy (40 something) in class called me "the ole man in class". I said "Yep and dam proud of it."  However, at 61, this is my retirement hobby; I don't have to make any money. Edit: The problem is: Welding is hard. It will take a long time to get proficient at any ONE process.Last edited by Craig in Denver; 06-08-2009 at 11:36 PM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:How old is too old to start welding?When you've been pushing up daisies for a while, or...When Obama starts taxing us for Trying to Make Money or even Thinking about it!
Reply:I'm 68 and just bought a new MM211.I don't have to do it for a living, though, just for my convenience and to keep me alive.