Welding Schools

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I am a high school student and I am some what trying to plan my future. I love to weld and am looking in having a carrer in it. I was wondering if anyone on these fourms went to a welding trade school, which one it was, and if you would recomend it. So far I have heard about a Hobart School of welding, which is supposedly better than the Lincoln School, and I have also heard that Houston has a good school for underwater welding? I dont know if that is true, It's jsut something I heard.Anyways, Please tell me if you went to a school and if it was a good school. I don't mean good by easy work, but good as in taught you to be better and sharpened your ability to weld.Also, what are good jobs to have in the welding world?I have heard that Boiler Makers get paid fairly well, I'm not sure how much but I've heard around $50/Hr.I also think that underwater welding would be a good profession. Does anyone do it? Or have you done it before?Sorry for all the questions, but I don't know where else to ask them at.thanks.
Reply:Check this site to help you find a school.  http://www.aws.org/w/sense/  My vote is for Hobart but you may find something close to home to get you started.
Reply:The private welding schools are the most expensive but they might get you to a job faster than others.I would vote for a local community college though.  You are talking about hundreds instead of thousands of dollars, AND you get college credits that will transfer to a degree program.  At a community college, you would have the option to earn a certificate or an AS degree in welding technology, and the AS degree credits would even transfer to a BS in Welding Engineering or Technology.Tulsa Welding School is one of the big ones, but I heard it costs about $15,000.  Plus, you need and apartment and food while you are there.  We have hired people out of Tulsa Welding School here and they don't seem to be any better than those out of the community college.Tulsa Welding School is supposed to be good for pipe welding though.  Pipe weldors are at the top of the food chain, and many who own their own rig trucks and weld as independent contractors in the field earn over $100K a year. That is more than most degreed welding engineers.
Reply:You don't go to school to become an underwater welder. You go to school to become a comercial diver, and they teach welding as part of the program. It's a very small part. Generally due to costs and complexities, underwater welding is done when there are no other options. Most stuff is welded topside and then assembled with bolts underwater. Cutting is more common, but more and more of that can be done with hydraulic powered equipment rather than torches.There are several good comercial dive schools around the country, if thats the way you want to go. I've done several posts on this, is you do a search you can find out more and I'll be happay to answer any questions you may have about it. You can PM me if you'd like..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:Im at Penn College right now in the welding and fabrication engineering technology BA program.  Im happy with it so far, but it doesnt seem to cover as much as say OSU's program.  OSU is also geared more towards engineering from what ive heard, ours is more about hands on experience.Dont get me wrong, its a great programs with lots to offer.  If you want to be well suited as a foreman, CWI or technician then I would reccomend our program.  If you want to be a pipeliner, Tulsa is probably the place to go.  OSU if you want to be an engineer.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:I'm attending ATI ( Advanced technical institute ) in Virginia Beach on a 15 month program in structural and maritime welding with an associates in applied science.  Trade schools are more pricey but the pay off is that at least in my case the instructors are all real welders that have worked in shipyards, bike shops, fabrication shops, ect ect ect as compared to someone who may have studied and then went right to teaching without ever getting any real world experience.  ATI's program covers SMAW MIG and TIG with certifications in all three and 6G certification plus training in MIG flux core double shielded, copper nickle, brass, and using 8018 rod.  Job wise you can look at shipyards, fabrication shops for automotive or sign or residential or commercial designs as well as boiler makers and repair shops.  Theres also state transportation departments and high rise construction companies, deep sea dive welding repairs as well as airframe and aerospace to name a few.  Money wise it can range from $12 - $20hr starting out with no experience so pick a trade school that has contracts set up with some of the local industries where your time in the school translates into journeyman status and be sure to get your certs including 6G.  With my school a graduating student can start at Northrup Grumman as a 3rd year journeyman based on the amount of time spent in the welding lab at school which is 25 hours a week.  As long as you hire on with a good company you can raise your pay scale by passing company certs and doing good work.
Reply:My uncle is going to Hobart to learn mig. I think he said its costing around $1000 for a two week course w/out hotel and food fees.
Reply:The most important thing is; It doesn't matter where you learn, it's how you apply your knowledge.(Welding is a never ending learning experience.) And learn from not only your mistakes, but others as well. Another thing to consider is; Love what you do!  Best wishes for whatever you decide to do.Last edited by papabear; 11-06-2009 at 08:36 PM."SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:I agree with Obewan, check out local community colleges/tech schools. I got the bulk of my weld training in the Navy and after 25 years doing I am now teaching. Unless you are willing to go the military route, find a school with a good instructor to student ratio. I would also shy away from any program that makes alot of promises of certifications. Much of welding is a learned art, but when you run a certification weld it is a individual sport. Anyone can weld, but not everyone can be a welder. I never promise my students certification, they have to do the work and demonstrate the skill to lay a quality weld. You have to putin the time and practice to get good, no one can do that for you-we can make it alot easier for you, but you have to do the work.Personally, I would shy away from Tulsa Welding School-any school that even implies that after their 10 mod, 30 week program you are a "Master Welder", raises big red bull**** flags to me. We do alot of pipe in this part of the country and TWS is getting a declining reputation in the field. If you want to go the bigger more expensive route check out Missouri Welding Institute-www.m-w-i.com/, they have a pretty good reputation. There is only so much you can learn in any school, experence has to be earned. When you hit the job the real learning begins. Most companies will have someone deserving to be called a welder. If you are willing to listen, work hard and probably most importantly, be RELIABLE they will take you under their wing-then you will learn things most schools aren't equiped to or have the time to teach. Good luck and let us know how you are doing."Don't tell mom I'm a welder---She thinks I am a Piano Player in a Whore House!"
Reply:Actually my good man, here at TWS at orientation they tell you that "Master Welder" is just a name."If you finish this and you go out calling yourself a 'master welder', people are going to laugh at you."if I quoted it right.Anyway, TWS is an "accelerated program", so if you feel you're up to it, you can give it a shot, but it's definitely not for the lazy. Get in the booth, stay in the booth, and keep your hood down... is what I would say, but you also can't forget that you should be constantly picking your instructors' brains for information. Keeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Weber State University in Ogden Utah has a good program. Called BS manufacturing engineering technology, welding emphasis. Mark Baugh used to be at Utah State University in Logan, until they moved the program. I count him as a friend.    His e-mail, [email protected]   Tell him I said Hi.     Absolutely top notch program. They are a regional training site for Miller.     At USU they taught underwater welding, and did a lot of filler material qualification, procedure qualification  etc. It was considered one of the top 5 or  6 programs  in the nation just before it moved. the last class all went out at $62-67 thousand a year.     I just reviewed the weber class list, it is a good program it will be a combination of lab and class work. It will train you to work in the design end, sales, welding engineering, welding, or as the man between the engineers and the weld shop.     I worked as a Tech at USU from 1986, took over most of the space that Mark left at USU when he took the program to Weber, , kept what they would let me save and traded, sold or scrapped the rest, including the 23 foot deep weld tank and x-ray machines.. For the next 5 years I supervised the student welding and machining Sr project lab, and shared the welding, and welding instruction duties in the USU College of Engineering  with a couple of his graduates. Then I was scrapped. Oh well.past work toys; lathes,mills, drills, saws,  robots, lasers ironworker, shears, brake, press, grinders, tensile tester,  torches, tigs, migs, sticks, platten table, positioner,  plasmas , gleeble and spot. Retired June 30, 2009.
Reply:I see a lot of you saying community college. I was think of he community college here in wyoming (EWC) but I want to be good at what I love to do so I'm wondering what welding school is known for turning out top notch welders. I know that going to a top notch school doesn't Make ME top notch but I want to be so in my mind it makes sense to be around those who have been in he field and know what they're doing
Reply:The school doesnt make the welder, the welder makes himself if you can understand that.  The instructor can show you what your supposed to do but ultimately it comes down to you having a steady hand as well as patience and an eye for detail so that if your shoulder starts to drop you catch it in time or if your puddle gets to long you can adjust your travel speed.  Its up to you to be able to read your bead and set up your machines correctly and stay focused.  Research some schools that look promising, take a tour if you can and look at the costs involved and what the end result will be such as what types of welding is offered as well as certification tests and if any degree's are a part of the program.  Avoid any school that has recently formed within the last year or two as they will still be working out their curriculum, look for schools that have been around for a good while, look for new equipment and a decent amount of students but no more than 15 - 20 per instructor at the most, avoid schools that have a "pretty " look because that's where your more of your money is going as opposed into the program.
Reply:I am about an hour from Lincolns HQ and I am thinking of taking some classes there since I can commute.http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl...ng/weldschool/http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl...ol/courses.asp