Welding - is it worth getting into?

During the Homecoming parade some stuff was handed out to folks like me. I got some pamphlet about a Welding class that goes on in November on the weekend and Fridays sound interesting since its from 7 pm to 9 pm which is fine but on a Saturday holy crap it takes all day to learn welding.

Me I'm not the type of person to learn welding. I might accidently burn myself on fire or something lol.

You miss 100 percent of the shots you dont take

- Michael Scott.

I've talked to some welders and my Dad was best friends with one. It seems to be ass-busting work. Often with long hours, heavy lifting, and the obvious hazards. But I'm also told the pay is generally good and I imagine it's a useful and interesting skill to have.

I've talked to some welders and my Dad was best friends with one. It seems to be ass-busting work. Often with long hours, heavy lifting, and the obvious hazards. But I'm also told the pay is generally good and I imagine it's a useful and interesting skill to have.

ScorpionTroll

This is what I've heard as well. From some interactions with the local tech schools, I've heard is very demanding, but extremely lucrative.

[QUOTE="Mike-uk"]

You miss 100 percent of the shots you dont take

- Michael Scott.

michael582

-Wayne Gretzky.

.

"'You miss 100 percent of the shots you dont take.-Wayne Gretzky.'-Michael Scott."

- Mike-uk

I'm not necessarily sure about it as a profession, my dad and I have both welded artistically for years though, and while you really do have to be incredibly careful and it takes a bit of work I'd say it's worth the payout in the end.

[QUOTE="michael582"]

[QUOTE="Mike-uk"]

You miss 100 percent of the shots you dont take

- Michael Scott.

Mike-uk

-Wayne Gretzky.

.

"You talking to me?" Raging Bull, Pacino.

I was thinking about looking into it because it's an in demand position and you can make a lot doing it, but then my dad was telling me how he was talking to some guy who said most of the welders he knew died soon after retirement... something he said was the result of spending time with certain gases. I really don't know much about it honestly, maybe he was just trying to talk me out of it for whatever reason.

So the bad hings/cons of taking of welding is the possible health issues from the welding sparks etc?

then there's the good which is learning how to weld and screw around witih a welding torch or whatever they call it these days....

Im not the type of person to be fooling around with welding equipment in the first place anyway lol but it wouldnt hurt to try it out at least once. The learning part that is. Not taking of welding work

If you're good at it you can make some nice money, but it's a stressful environment and can take a toll on health what with breathing in all the hazardous fumes and whatnot.

As someone who inspects welds on a regular basis (I just found a really long crack in a pressure vessel last week), I can tell you that welders are always in demand and journeyman welders can make 6 figures a year easily as well as own a house, car, truck, boat, camper and that is only working part of the year.

When welding with certain materials like Inconel, there are fumes, but you have to wear a fresh air hood with supplied air. Even I have to wear such hoods when in the area where it is being welded.

You would typically wear fire resistant clothing or leather/suede protection as well as gloves. You will not necessarily get burned.

During the Homecoming parade some stuff was handed out to folks like me. I got some pamphlet about a Welding class that goes on in November on the weekend and Fridays sound interesting since its from 7 pm to 9 pm which is fine but on a Saturday holy crap it takes all day to learn welding.

Me I'm not the type of person to learn welding. I might accidently burn myself on fire or something lol.

slamminjammin69

A whole day to learn a trade? That's outrageous!

Trades seem like the definite go-to if you do not plan to go through a four-year college as a means of furthering a career - and it seems that they are too overlooked. It beats the sh!t out of retail, food prep, warehouse labor, receptioning, etc. I'd do welding, machining, plumbing, HVAC or electricity in a heart beat.

It's hot, dirty work but it pays very well and is in high demand.

One of the things life has taught me is that it's important to find something you enjoy and are passionate about, and that there is no harm in trying new things (except for obvious dangerous one's like drugs etc...).

So give it a shot, how do you know you can't learn it? That is such a stupid excuse, you can learn anything if you try. Just try it out, if you like it great, if not oh well now you know, you know it's not something you enjoy and you can move on.

Don't worry about burning yourself, they will go over safety and you will have protection I'm sure. Just don't do anything stupid.