boostedcivicsir

some may know i am a 3rd year student for pipe fitting. i have gotten all the stick down finally nailing 6g 6" sch 40 6010 root 7018 fill and cap.

started gtaw last week, only go to school 2 nights a week, this is my first task tonight. got through it 3 and 4 f, starting open v wed night.

i dont get to weld during the day yet, i work in an auto shop. so when i find a place willing to take a chance on a 33 y/o welding n00b, im golden.

1/4" plate 2f with 3/32 wire.

boostedcivicsir

i know i marked it 1f, but it is actually 2f.

random_tuner

Not bad. Is it mild steel?

Try and keep your torch hand steadied on something to keep your bead straight. You can also run the cup tilted enough with the electrode in enough that the cup can rest on the bead you just laid. In this case you can run it touching both sides of the fillet and it will be straight every time. Also remember with TIG, youre not running a 6" bead all at once. Practice your stops and starts and run 2" or so at a time.

Not bad at all though! What school do you go to? What kind of pipe fiting program is it?

boostedcivicsir

thanks for the input.
it is a night school class at a local high school, oddly enough the one i graduated from 15 years ago, for welding and pipefitting here in delaware.
i originally got into the class to learn what i need to fab the parts on the race car, and one day said the hell with cars, and now in this economy, my career hasnt been good to me and i think it is now or never for a career change.

i am slowly learning the tricks, and am always looking for input, i actually was a little scared that it was going to argue with me, but i actually think i am picking this up faster than i picked up stick, but welding the open groove will tell the tale, and when i start welding in circles.

boostedcivicsir

and yes it is carbon steel.

random_tuner

Thats ironic. Im 24 now, been to WyoTech for Chassis Fab and completed a semester at the Boise State welding and metals program with Jaun Martinez. I was looking into gettin into the auto chassis industry but after seeing how the economy is, Ive thought about moving over to structural steel. I guess we think alike.

FCAW and SMAW is where its at right now. Even with AWS certifications though, its still rough to land that entry level job.

Anyways, good luck with the TIG. With practice comes perfect.

boostedcivicsir

thanks man.

my instructor was saying that in the next 2 years somethinglike 10,000 welders will be leaving the field and there arent many quality people to replace them.

we shall see.

i can onlyh keep practicing. have a good one bro, im out for the night.

boostedcivicsir

first attempt at an open groove. 1g. 3/32 wire.

comeon guys good bad or indifferent.....

root pass, at most i had 1/16 over reinforcement



cap pass. i probably could have done 1 pass, as i dont know walking the cup yet, teacher asked me to do 3 stringers:

boostedcivicsir

sorry my camera phone sucks.

96supercharged

quoted for truth....

Engloid

The AWS reported back in 2006 (if my memory is right) that the US would be 100,000 welders short by 2008. The demand is starting to be a bit more evident where I live. Union scale is going up almost $4 in January. Also, I'm hearing more and more about some jobs paying welders as much as $10/hr more than a fitter, due to the demand. Welders out of the local union hall are finding it much easier to get jobs than fitters.

boostedcivicsir

well i have 2 apps out right now, and when i get tig pip nailed down a little better, hopefully more doors will open up. i just need the preverbial boot to take the plunge. still a little gunshy of changing career at 33.

Toysrme

It's no biggie, I started welding classes at 23/24 finished this past spring.

Learn:
How to do tig root passes on pipe CORRECTLY
Big cap/weave passes
6010 stick root passes
General stainless/aluminum welding
The how's and why's
Have a refference book or few for indepth materials/gasses,etc

Work hard and always try to improve what you're doing and youll find welding work easy. Hell I just random back into good paying jobs. Don't even worry about it.





You know... Realize the differences between joe-blow making $9-10/h untrained guys making $14-16/h and skilled labor making $18+. Work hard & learn and be in the latter group LoL!

boostedcivicsir

thanks.

HamiltonRex

Being in the Union is where its at if you can stay busy. Im not much for unionized company's, but if you can get in as an employee and your GOOD, you will stay busy. They will lay off all the guys who dog it, at least that is what we do. Most of the guys we hire are complete idiots, its RARE to find anyone whos any good. They are all working steady.

Goodluck.

boostedcivicsir

i have already been shot down by the steam fitters, but that doesnt mean i wont try again in february.
thanks for all the kind words fellas.

96 GSR-T

Looks good Mikey, I know my friend is always looking for some help on the side right down the street from your work, might be a good place for you to get some more welding time in. Ill talk to him if you want.

E-Rok

not bad, Im on my SMAW 1G plate in class, been working on 1f and 2f laps and tees with GTAW at home. I have found that the thicker the metal, the easier. My work on 1/8 plate comes out really nice, but on 16g, my laps are good but my T joints are so-so. trying to get enough to certify in 6g instead of going thru the whole tig section in class as it is the last thing we do.

I dont know if anyone else has this problem, but I have trouble welding T joints with a gas lens as the base of the cub is so much bigger. I switched back to the standard setup and my welds came out much better

OT question but I was thinking about looking for a sructural job once I finish my 4G plate in SMAW, good idea or should I continue on?

boostedcivicsir

may be worth it ben, hook me up.