definition of a skilled welder

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I want to know the definition of a skilled welder.  1. What are the on the job duties of a “skilled welder”?2. What are my duty expectations when hired as a GMAW, TIG etc welder?Skilled welders that I know have put in the time, money and practice to attain the GMAW, TIG, SMAW etc. certifications and skills, and have in my opinion earned the right to apply their craft without compromising technique by being forced to grind for days because the customer and/or workforce has not defined the “skill” for which, GMAW, TIG, etc welder was hired.  It is shock to go out as a skilled welder and spend the first 6 days of a 10 day job grinding. When seeking a skilled TIG welder, on the job requirements should be strictly defined.
Reply:That's a tough one I guess it depends on who your working for. Some places I've been all welders did was weld and then some other places they want to see you doing something all the time even if it's out of your craft.
Reply:so basically you're bitching because you think that Grinding is below your "skill level".Yes, you've taken the time and spent the money to become a certified welder. But no one likes working with someone who thinks "thats not my job" or " thats not in my job description". All the best people I've worked for and with have had no problem what so ever doing any job that was required. regardless of their job title, or skill set. You're getting paid as a welder weather you're welding or not. if the person paying you want's to pay you $25 an hour to pick up sticks or even their dogs leavings, thats on them. you're still the one getting paid to do it. people who were not willing to clean bathrooms, take out trash, or clean up spills have never been welcome in any work place I've ever worked. Including supervisors/Managers, and even Owners.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Welding something together that meets requirements and specs.MILLER 330 AB/PMILLER GOLD STAR 130KUBOTA BX24CASE MINI HAY PRESSBENCH MILLHYPERTHERM 45BABY HOSSFELD
Reply:I don't want to start an arguement but how does doing a buttload of grinding compromise technique? Are you saying fatigue compromises a welder's ability to weld and thus a "skilled welder" should not be subjected to such working conditions?Miller Syncrowave 250 w/ PC-300 pulserLincoln AC/DC 225/125Clarke TurboWeld 150ENJackson Halo w/ gold lensHuntsman w/ blue lensDoing sanitary stainless tig
Reply:definition of a skilled weldor..is an employee  definition of an employee..is to do what ever the fk your boss wants you yo do( unless its unsafe)  if you dont like it..start your own business and do as you like...Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:New guy gets the sh!t. It happens everyday, in every town, in every country 'round the world.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:prima donna.....
Reply:Defination of a skilled welder....One that knows what material he/she is dealing with...One that knows what to do and when to do it..One that knows what is going to happen to what you are about to do before doing it..One that knows how to PREP and PREPARE the pieces in question..One that just does what the BOSS wants to have done and has no issues with it...One that can take a so called "Demotion" without pissing and moaning about it...One that can take a grinder and do absoulte wonders with it..One that just don't trust what others prepare for them and has to go over it anyway..Because 90% of the time it's not what you asked for...One that gets the job done on time and CORRECT the first time..You asked....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:I like your answer Zap. I don't know if I would call myself "skilled" yet, but I sure hate having to re-do the prep work of others... I have guys who want to help me at work all the time, and I usually find something else for them to do, cause I won't be happy with the "help"...
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterDefination of a skilled welder....One that knows what material he/she is dealing with...One that knows what to do and when to do it..One that knows what is going to happen to what you are about to do before doing it..One that knows how to PREP and PREPARE the pieces in question..One that just does what the BOSS wants to have done and has no issues with it...One that can take a so called "Demotion" without pissing and moaning about it...One that can take a grinder and do absoulte wonders with it..One that just don't trust what others prepare for them and has to go over it anyway..Because 90% of the time it's not what you asked for...One that gets the job done on time and CORRECT the first time..You asked....zap!
Reply:If I'm getting paid as a weldor (and I do),the boss/owner would be wasting his $ and my skills if I'm doing ANYTHING but welding! And yes, where I work, there's always more welding than weldors!
Reply:Im working in a Iron work shop we are making railling, baluster and staircases, some other architectural metals, and we have a LOT a grinding to be done!Im a fitter and layout guy at this shop, never learned welding, but our welders do all the welds on our projects, and have to grind all the railling themself, i worked in 3 shops since the end of my school 2 years ago and those 3 shops worked as the same way, all the welder had to grind their jobs!older worker say thats because the miss of labor and young new worker don't want to do a 8hrs of grinding, so they do it, its longer but they are welder and they grind because its the job!About "thats not my job" thats some people here talked, i only want to say if you are good at what you do and why your company hired you, they won't play with you to and ask you to do odd boring jobs, im only 2 years experience and they don't ask to grind or paint, sometimes i have to do extra jobs (calculate material to order ect) but if you are a good fitter or a good welder you'll be the last one who have to do grinding without complaining!Calculator > Bevel Square
Reply:What Zapster said.
Reply:I don't know Addendum9, burning rods or pulling a trigger all day is about the most boring job I could think of anyway.  It takes a "special" person to be able to strictly weld for a living and do no other parts of the fabrication process.  My business is built around welding, but I find the variety of other work that comes along with the actual welding to be necessary for my sanity's sake.  Insert comment by Stick-Man here....
Reply:I like what Zapster said, but its still hard to define...the line is really thin between the guy who he's really good in he's job, professional, and have a lot experiences, and can take a lot of decision by himself because of he's own experience, and the guy who he's the totaly ''yes men'' or ''brown nose'' and do even too much that the boss ask but make some mistake in he's project, and miss some experience on the table during fitting or reading drawings, or work too slow!i think its a hard question due to the difference of each one and the difference of all the shops!i worked with a guys who they were able to say to the boss ''i'll go home if you push me again'' and the boss just almost obey because he like this worker because he's good at what he do!Calculator > Bevel Square
Reply:[QUOTE=tbone550;1103011  It takes a "special" person to be able to strictly weld for a living and do no other parts of the fabrication process.  .[/QUOTE]thats who this joke was written for....q:  what do you say to a guy with a 75 IQ ?a:  real nice beadsorry.
Reply:I would say it some what depends on the shop, what that terms means,My son is a professional welder, and done most ever thing from production welding to Rail car rebuilds, but in a lot of the shops he has been in some of the welders can only effetely do what they do ever day, and that may be just a straight seam on a tank, if they have to do a different position or some thing else they have no idea how to set the machine or what rod size to choose,  and then there were shops that the guys could do any job that come into them, (mostly smaller repair and fabrication shops),
Reply:I thought that welding is like painting; there is more prep work (grinding/masking) than actual painting/welding.
Reply:I pretty much have a revolving door, welders coming and going constantly.  I actually have a very comprehensive data base of qualified welders ALL over the world, and am constantly updating it, which, by the way comes with tons and tons of networking around the world.  One thing I never deviate from is hiring people under a 90 day "probation" period.  During this period they can be fired for any reason at all and I usually throw ALOT of "undesireable" work at them during this time, if a guy has the desire, He will do whatever it takes to get the job, and keep it..  One other thing I do is give them the 90 days to pass whatever test we are using at the time--currently d 14.3 earth moving equipment, 3G and 4G.  I have found that there are lots of guys that can pass a test, but mighty few who will stick it out when the conditions are less than favorable, you can teach a guy a skill, but you can't teach him how to work.  The good ones, we keep around, the not so good ones, out the door.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:I learned from old welder {he was welding with his first welder 1944 Westinghouse gave me his first cutting torch LC Smith I still have} The better you cut and weld the less you grind and if you grind for someone else you see their mistakes and learn from them!
Reply:Imagine you worked for yourself as a welder, had a little shop and a mobile truck, everything in between is what a welder should be expected to do.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by [email protected] The better you cut and weld the less you grind and if you grind for someone else you see their mistakes and learn from them!
Reply:When you qualify in the 5G and 6G positions with mild steel, your on the right track. Then upgrade in the alloy's (stainless, inconel,aluminum,ect.) and your doing good. You know you have arrived when the Inspecter loves working with you (quality) and the supervision loves having you there (production).Always look for way's to learn.You can learn something from anyone if you look hard enough.
Reply:That's a tough one I guess it depends on who your working forI have a feeling that the employee handbook and contract if there is one pertains to a lot of the stuff discussed here.  Posts from guys welding at shops that refurbish the insides of jet engines, or at shipyards building submarines seem missing, more general fabrication.  I kind of feel that there is an eyesight requirement to be a skilled welder.
Reply:You put it out there so you deserve what you get here, I don't know you but from your question I know one thing, You have what I call the premadonna syndrome and think you are above certain things. Welding is a multi facet type occupation. And who do you think you are to tell your employer what your job parameters are. You are getting paid, do what your assigned. If you weld, weld to the best of your ability, if you grind, grind to the best of your ability. And here is the beauty of living in America, don't like what you are doing, WALK! But do that enough times and you will find no where to walk too. In any event and no matter what your trade employers like can do, will do. If they are in need of your welding abilities you will have a job even if you only weld. But when work gets slow, you will be among the first to go. I'm not telling you to lick anybody's boots I'm telling you to go long term you have to be willing to bend a little, And working next to you, with the I don't do that attitude, and I have seen plenty like that, I'm really gonna be resenting you as a co worker. So if your co workers and your employer don't care for you, how good are you really. Dry your eyes and either suck it up, or move on.  I will offer you one further suggestion, the next time you interview for a job ask the owner or foreman clearly what your job duties will be, then explain to the person what you will and will not do. Now I guarantee you that you will not find yourself in a situation that you do not like what you are doing. So collectively you and the employer will probably not arrive at or agree on the definition of a "Skilled Welder" The thing I won't guarantee you is that you will find employment often. LOL at you.Last edited by kolot; 05-02-2012 at 08:57 AM."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:When I got my 6g pipe cert. about 15 years ago I chose to go and start working at a shop building cement mixers from scratch vs lookin for a pipe welding job. Did I weld... Nope. I worked at the shear and break area... for about six months before they even let me near a welder. I complained. It got me no where mind you. In the end.. I learned quite a bit from starting at the bottom and diggin the sh*! out of my nails through the years. I now operate my own shop. I grind every day. I weld every day. And some days I don't like either... But thats my job.
Reply:Well, my definition of someone skilled in any trade is the person who will get the job done right the first time and get it done efficiently. Why pay 2 people to do the job if 1 skilled person can do it all by themselves in the same amount of time, yes they get paid more but they are working harder and being more productive. I have skilled carpenters under my payroll that will not hesitate to do apprentice laborer (sweeping/cleanup) work if it means they can either keep working or work more efficiently even though it does not fall under their scope of work, they do it because it needs to be done and is inefficient to stop working just to go find the broom pusher and they know it.
Reply:OK..i'll bite..................The ONLY time i'd see "maybe" just welding ONLY is if you are in a production line....otherwise..if you have no expereince/knowledge of grinding,prep..fitting..the nature of the beast you are welding on,then you are useless to me.........If you are in the feild or fab shop welding and standing there waiting for someone to grind and prep your work to your taste of what you want..or standing waiting on a "grinder" to grind that screwed up weld you just put on there to fix it,then you are useless in my book.In my opinion to become a "skilled" crafstman in welding you need to know how to "work" with your work,including grinding,cutting,fitting,know how the material is going to react to your welding,cleaning YOUR mess up in the shop/feild......etc etc.You might "specialize" in welding,but if you can't do anything else BUT weld,i'll send you back to the hall very shortly because i really have nothing for you to do...now..if you tell me you are a good weldor but i see your willing to much more,you'll be the first one i'll keep around.I'v had a few guys sent to me on jobs who always say"i was sent here to weld ONLY"..i always just smile at them and say"OK buddy,well go over there and weld that up"..and when it's done,i send them to the jobsite trailer and hand them a layoff,when they ask why?..i tell them it'll be a day or 2 before anymore serious welding is needed,so since you can't grind or fit or help rig things to be put in place,i'm not paying you to stand there and watch everyone else bust tail and sweat there arse off waiting to run a weld .........i already have a few that can weld and do everything else,so when more welding is needed ONLY..i'll call the hall and get the next in line on the book as a "welder only".Bottom line..if you are a "skilled weldor",,you know alot more than just" hangin out behind the hood"Lincoln Ranger 8 225Lincoln 180 ProMigMiller Maxstar 200DXInternational Ironworkers Local 70930+ years and counting
Reply:From an employers POV I like to have all my guys cross trained in each others "job" description..that means all my guys can run the mill, lathe, press brake, weld etc etc. If someone is sick or leaves we don't have to train anyone from scratch, however that also means that everyone gets to do crap work if necessary. Two comments that I hear that make my blood boil are "thats not in my job description" and when asked if they can work OT or a weekend " Sorry, I work to live, not live to work"  Those are the guys who if we get slow are the first out the door. With the current economy all of us are lucky to have jobs and if it's slow I will take money out of my personal savings to pay my guys and make sure they have work...whether its cleaning the shop or working at my house etc.  I figure if I can weld, grind clean the bathroom etc and I own the place then whatever needs done there shouldn't be any bitching.  Anyone who feels like grunt work is beneath them if its necessary will quicly find my boot in their hind end. Obviously you want your best guys to do what they are paid for, thats common sense, but the entitlement that some guys feel is due them is BS. "Anybody can talk $h!t behind a monitor, I let the quality of my work speak for itself"Lincoln Square Wave 255 and 355 Tig Lincoln 255 Power-Mig w/ spool gun Koike 5 x 10 CNC plasma Hyd-Mech DM-10 bandsaw Ineco QB-76 NC tube bender
Reply:Originally Posted by CoupebuilderFrom an employers POV I like to have all my guys cross trained in each others "job" description..that means all my guys can run the mill, lathe, press brake, weld etc etc. If someone is sick or leaves we don't have to train anyone from scratch, however that also means that everyone gets to do crap work if necessary. Two comments that I hear that make my blood boil are "thats not in my job description" and when asked if they can work OT or a weekend " Sorry, I work to live, not live to work"  Those are the guys who if we get slow are the first out the door. With the current economy all of us are lucky to have jobs and if it's slow I will take money out of my personal savings to pay my guys and make sure they have work...whether its cleaning the shop or working at my house etc.  I figure if I can weld, grind clean the bathroom etc and I own the place then whatever needs done there shouldn't be any bitching.  Anyone who feels like grunt work is beneath them if its necessary will quicly find my boot in their hind end. Obviously you want your best guys to do what they are paid for, thats common sense, but the entitlement that some guys feel is due them is BS.
Reply:Originally Posted by DeanneWhitelyThat's a tough one I guess it depends on who your working for
Reply:Originally Posted by FabCrazyGuyI agree with "most" of your thinking...but the part about "i work to live,not live to work"..i totaly agree with...my family and personal life comes FIRST..numero UNO.I like alot of OT too,hell that extra money is what makes life a lil more comfy!......BUT....if my employer doesn't understand i can't work that weekend or late night because my son has his first baseball game,or graduation..or a family or close freind's wedding..or a vacation that the wife n I planned long before..etc etc and he doesn't "like it"..then i'm workin for the WRONG guy...if it's THAT important to need me to be there..then let HIM take my place or work around it somehow...what really ticks me off is an employer wanting to fire someone for taking family matters over OT while that employer is out on the golf range that day calling from there to see if the "needed" extra work is being done and PO'd when someone didn't show up because of family matters......yea..i've seen it personaly...no matter WHO you are ,how much money you have..or the position you are in..you are STILL just as human as the rest..the trick is to NEVER forget where you came from and let your emolyees see that and you'll have one heck of a loyal team........I'll never divorce my family over OT..and THAT happens way too often.............
Reply:Also, I'll look into my crystal ball here, sometimes a Welder will leave a job such as a specialty metals or Aerospace type shop where a lot of the parts come from and out source and arrive already to be Tigged together nice and neat/ Clean.  Then say you part/loose that job and in need of work you answer a job shop add, interview and take the job. You now find out the Job shop that involves just about everything that can come through the door is a very different world, not as sterile and definately not what your used to. I have seen " Welders" not ready for the whole welding experience."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Just wondering how many of us who are actually employed as welders would want to weld all day?  I love my time under the hood, but doing long production runs or just pounding bead after bead for hardfacing etc would drive me nuts if I had to do it on a regular basis. I enjoy the whole "experience" of putting together a project, from design to layout to mock up and final assembly. Maybe it's a pride or ego thing but I like saying ..."oh yeah, I built that from scratch"  rather than I was one of 10 guys who put time in on it. Obviously many fabrication jobs that isn't possible due to the size or amount of different processes, but on smaller projects I would much rather do all the layout, fitting, welding, assembly and even the grinding myself so as to break up the day.  I would suspect that many here would feel the same way, but I would like to know...who wants to just weld all day and who would rather do all the steps involved? "Anybody can talk $h!t behind a monitor, I let the quality of my work speak for itself"Lincoln Square Wave 255 and 355 Tig Lincoln 255 Power-Mig w/ spool gun Koike 5 x 10 CNC plasma Hyd-Mech DM-10 bandsaw Ineco QB-76 NC tube bender
Reply:I don't have MY computer yet so no pics...But they will be here when I get it back...Let's talk demoting grinding.HmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmHow does this sound?I have 350 channels that are 70" long..A "T" shaped piece 1/2" thick with 2 holes in the top of the "T" get welded flat inside the channels on both sides and are held in place with a jig that holds everything together...So that makes 700 "T" pieces..Then there are 2X2" angle pieces that are welded to the tops of the channels...one on each end with another jig to place them where they go..So that is 700 more parts..I have to grind the insides of each channel where the "T" goes and the channel tops where the angles go.Then the "T" itself has to be ground on the sides and the bottom where they meet the channels because the welds go all thye way around inside and out..Then there are the angles that need cleaning where they meet the top of the channels...The customer DEMANDS that these parts are all Tigged because in the past from other vendors the assy's were stick welded and Mig welded  failed miserably...So get off your high horse and just do what needs to be done.And quit your WHINING!!Tozzi saw this job first hand yesterday when he paid me a visit...He saw the amount of work and stated I "Need a monkey" to do the prep work..I do all this myself because I just KNOW if someone else did all this..I would just have to go over all of it once again to get what I want..And for the record it takes me about 14 hours to do 50 assy's from start to finish.I call that "FLYING!" thru the parts.50 channels both ends..100 grinds.100 "T" parts all around..100 angles per part.If you came to me for a job this is exactly what I would have you do NO MATTER how much "Experience" you may possess..So GET TO WORK and I don't want to hear it anymore....zap!Last edited by zapster; 05-04-2012 at 08:29 PM.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:Good stuff Zap...Millermatic 251Miller Bobcat 225Lincoln 135Victor Oxy/FuelOlder Thermal Dynamics 50 amp (paid $700 with 10 sets of consumables)
Reply:Originally Posted by MoroneysWeldingGood stuff Zap...