Got a welding job! Woohoo!!

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(long story follows, but there is a bit of stick welding advice I got that is in bold if anyone wants to skip the story.)A friend of mine got me an application to Jeffboat, where he works, they are the US's largest inland shipyard building barges mainly.  I applied for welder first class.He told me to practice stick welding, and late Friday, I borrowed a Lincoln Tombstone and bought some E6010 rod (his recommendation).  All the scrapyards had closed, so the only thing I had was some 1/8" angle and a 5 lb. box of 1/8" rods.  I've never stick welded before, and only got to burn about 2 lbs. of the rod this weekend (My band had 2 gigs, I got sick, and I had other obligations, too).I went in for an interview this morning, and had my welding evaluation test.  It's mainly to see how long they think you would need to train, my friend trained for 6 weeks, and it can be as long as 10 weeks.  Everybody who works there gets training, even if it's only a few days for the very experienced people.The first one was a horizontal fillet weld, the instructor said "do you want me to show you?"  I obviously said yes, he did a small weld while I watched, and let me have a go.  I copied his motion, it actually looked pretty decent.Then he says "Okay, do a vertical up on this piece."  Unfortunately, I've never vertical welded anything, even with a Mig.  I tried it twice, the first another person there pointed out that I had the electrode at 90 degrees instead of 45 in the holder.  My main problem is I couldn't see what I was doing, since I have only used autodarkening helmets, and they had fixed.  The instructor came back over and asked if I was OK, I told him my problem seeing weld, and he showed me how to do the vertical up correctly, start with the rod at the top of the piece, and scratch/drag it down to where you want to start, with the scratch creating the arc, you can see where the stick is going.  After that I was able to do a decent looking (from the little that I know) vertical up.That was the test.  He started writing 4-6 weeks on the evaluation, then scratched it out and put 3-5 weeks of training needed.  So I actually did pretty good!  I just have to take a strength test and drug test (no problem passing both) and I've got a new career.  The best part is that they pay you during training, not much ($10/hour), but they certify you (I don't remember which) and it beats paying for it (which I was considering doing).  After that it's $17.50/hr for 90 days, then $19.50 and there is tons of overtime (they're running 3 shifts, 7 days a week right now).PatrickPatrickLincoln 175HD
Reply:Congrats to you. Was that an AC/DC tombstone welder? 6010 is a DC only rod. Any type of paid training is a good deal.
Reply:Tons of voluntary overtime is one thing...mandatory OT sucks.WeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!
Reply:congrats on the job!63' Lincoln SA200 2008 miller trailblazer 302fibre-metal pipelinermiller camo BWEand all the guns and ammo a growin boy needs
Reply:EeeeeHHhaaaa!!David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Congrats, how bout some pics?DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Congrats on the job and doing well on the evaluation!!Latest Toys Miller 180 Mig and Elite Mask!!Wright Welder 225ACShop OutFitters 20/20 Bending SystemHypertherm 380 Plasma30 Years of Sparking (Electrical & Welding)
Reply:Being honest is a good quality and they saw that to, not just a person willing to take advice and use that advise. good job. have fun.In College for welding.Learning 6010 first.passed butt weld, lap, lap multipass, t-weld I have a Campbell Hausfeld Farmhand 125 (only used fluxcore sofar).
Reply:Congrats.  Another shipbuilder.  Welcome to the world of welding!
Reply:It was an AC/DC Tombstone that I practiced on, I used DCEP 105 amps while practicing.  Nothing I practiced on looked anywhere near as good at the test weld, but it was probably because I tested on thicker metal.  I didn't have to worry about burning through, so I could concentrate on the puddle.  I have no clue what the machine was set at, it was a big Lincoln (I think it had "600" on it.)I didn't get any pics, I thought I would be tested on MIG as well, so when we left I thought that's where we were going, I didn't realize the test was over.  Before the test, I told him that I've MIG welded before but just started stick welding a few days before.OT is mandatory, but I need to save up some money for what I really want to do 5-10 years down the road, and this is the kind of experience I need.PatrickLincoln 175HD
Reply:It sounds like you're in the right place. Hang in there, now! Good Luck!DannyCity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:OT doesn't suck if you want to make a lot of money in a short time.
Reply:Good on you.I'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:Congratulations and great job.The guy testing you was likely looking for some natural ability along with a good attitude to learn quickly, ask about the questions/problems you were having, and listen to what he had to teach you.  Keep up that attitude and you will go far.  Some day, probably not too far off, you will be the guy the new guys ask for help on how to do things.Favorite right now is a Miller Syncro 200.Tons of tools and I blame at least one of them when things don't go right.
Reply:You rock! Way to go. Those are the best stories.I wish my full time job was welding for a large company. So I am envious!Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Good luck on the job..Even after training..Don't assume anything..Got a question?ASK!!!It could save your job...If you see something that to you "Is Not Right"..ask..Find out why..It only makes you look better......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.