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when can one realy be called a welder? is it after so many hours of welding time?is it wen thats what you get payed to do even if the only welding is pushing the start and stop on an automated machine? or should you have to know how to set up and run good welds with at least one type of manual run machine? or is there more?ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I think you should be able to run a manual machine proficiently to be a weldor.  Just my .02DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Good question but I don't think there is an answer.  Locally for years welding was not legally a trade.  It was a qualification only meaning that if you passed a welding test then you were a welder.  Another determination is to check your record of employment when you get laid off.  In one Canadian province they have a very formal apprenticeship program for welders and it shows in the skill displayed by these people.  We hired a guy last year.  As he was putting on his coveralls we asked if he was a welder and his response was " 'Fraid not!  I'm a fusion technician."
Reply:Well if not under the umbrella of regulation, you would be a welder at the point where you derive an income from welding. Under the umbrella of regulation I suppose some form of license is required. I built my own shop, and worked on several houses---------am I a carpenter  ??? I've done my own roof twice--------am I a roofer  ??? I do much of my own auto repair and maitenance and have since youth------am I a mechanic  ??
Reply:Being able to cut, fit, form, make square, plumb, to specification, and then weld together with sound strong and good looking welds.  That's a welder.
Reply:Originally Posted by riley mcmillanBeing able to cut, fit, form, make square, plumb, to specification, and then weld together with sound strong and good looking welds.  That's a welder.
Reply:master manipulator of molten metal... lolTennessee Squire Association
Reply:its all philosophy i guess.
Reply:I also agree w/ Riley. Most of time the actual welding is the easiest part.                             MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by riley mcmillanBeing able to cut, fit, form, make square, plumb, to specification, and then weld together with sound strong and good looking welds.  That's a welder.
Reply:Preparation is probably 90%, so if all a fellow does is lay the bead, who is going to do the other stuff?  That would sort of be like the  guy replacing the light bulb.  He holds the bulb and a couple of guys turn the ladder.
Reply:there are some jobs out there where there is no "other stuff".  Also some other places hire welders just to run the bead.  The welder has people that bevel the pipe and do all the other prep for him.
Reply:You are right.  I will also have to say that most people that need something welded together depend on the welderman to give them back something usable.  I also believe that most people that do production or pipe welding are pretty fair fabricators.
Reply:[QUOTE=weldrwomn]there are some jobs out there where there is no "other stuff".  Also some other places hire welders just to run the bead.  The welder has people that bevel the pipe and do all the other prep for him.[/QUOTEthat's the reason i asked i have seen shop's were the "welders" dont now how to change the wire in ther machines or the gas thay only know that thay wire weld so are thay still welders?ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Welding is just one of the things you learn in mastering metal work.  I was shop forman at Industry service co. in Dallas, Texas for about 12 years.  We did model shop work or custom work and also production work.  The guys that did most of the production work we called "welder operators" and they did fine work, but couldn't turn over to most of them blueprints for precision sheet metal.  They just welded.  That was over 30 years ago.  I went by there about a year ago and it's all gone.  Kinda sad.
Reply:I feel that if a person has his or her certification papers rather they can fit or not is classified a weldor. Welding is more than just melting two pieces of metal together. A weldor must know what they are looking at in that puddle. A weldor making a x-ray weld on a pipe is some what different that a person making ornamental iron furniture.Just my thoughts.
Reply:There is a wonderful range of skills reflected in this forum. Knowledge available for the asking.  I have respect and admiration for all of them.  Thank you.
Reply:we have guy in the shop and all he does, every day for 10 hours a day is hardface  buckets and rakes for our tractors. this fool can burn some rod too, i mean 75 lbs plus a day. he gets paid like a welder but can't weld together two pieces of plate much less some pipe work. but hey, i'd rather hime sit in that stool and weld while i'm out in the field repairing booms and such.. plus, i get paid for the drive time and get to eat at different places everyday. i guess my .02 is, if a person can make a decent weld and it pass q/c or x-ray then there a welder. but, i know some home hobbyist welders who do a jam-up jelly-tight job at welding. best welder i ever seen was an oriental woman i worked a job in Harleyville, SC with. she made less than us fella welders, but man could she weld. i couldn't ever tell wher her welds started or ended, everything looked like it was done with an orbital."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:Well i just agreed what Ric Havel had stated back there..and i'm gonna stick with that..A welder needs to know more than just how to run beads in my guesstimation..You need to "see" a "wrong way to do this" before you even start..and that comes from the fab shop..or the engineering dept..lets face it ..i've seen so many prints that are drawn just plain wrong when it comes to the welding part....champhers on the inside rather than the outside..and the weld symbol says.. " weld outside only please".. i once saw a print where they wanted these plugs that looked like a mushroom (big rivet) going into 1" holes in a 8"tube (with the ends welded shut after)inserted from the outside and welded inside..and then machine the "top" of the mushroom off??  and these were pressure vessels that needed to put up with 1600 psi all day??  you insert the mushroom from inside in this deal...and champher and weld the outside.. then turn the o.d. to size that way there if there was a problem?.. its like a saftey valve..how on earth are you going to push the top of the "mushroom" out of that hole??aint gonna happen..my point is that a welder should have some machine time in also..you will "know where your going" before you even start..and while its true the "if you follow the print you cant be wrong" phrase comes into play..in this case who would be wrong..?but if your smart enough to pick these things out before you start...that makes you a better welder in the first place...machine time and how its made is just as important as seat time with a mask on.....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:Originally Posted by riley mcmillanPreparation is probably 90%, so if all a fellow does is lay the bead, who is going to do the other stuff?  That would sort of be like the  guy replacing the light bulb.  He holds the bulb and a couple of guys turn the ladder.
Reply:well, i think you are a welder at 100 post's. once they put it in wrighting its got to be true.  summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:you cant always rely on a pice of papper to tell you anything, much less weather you are a welder or not. Originally Posted by riley mcmillanBeing able to cut, fit, form, make square, plumb, to specification, and then weld together with sound strong and good looking welds. That's a welder.i think this is about spot on. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.