dingbat
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2001
- Messages
- 16,313
Re: Welding Discussion
I started welding at age of 13. At age 16 I placed 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] in the State and 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] in a national competition the following year. I passed my first 3 and 4G combo plate certification to qualify to weld at the Bethlehem ship yard at the age of 17. At age 18, I took the job of welding foreman for American Tank Corp. building municipal water towers and oil and chemical storage tanks.There I passed my 6G Pipe certification for nuclear and power plant work before I was 19.
Several years later I went to work as a welder for a instrument manufacturer. There I welded everything from small instrument probes that you needed a magnifier in your helmet to see to large on-line stuff that weighed 10-15 tons.
Welded a lot of exotics on that job. Aluminum, Stainless, Inconel, monel, hastelloy, titanium, magnesium, nickel, silver, etc. Welded a lot of lead making radiation containment enclosures. I ran the shop for 7 years before moving into Engineering then on to Sales where I am today.
Welding is a hobby for me anymore. Mostly repairing equipment here around the farm or welding up stuff for the neighbors. I've done some repairs and restoration of iron artifacts for the historical society and I do some ornamental iron work for the local park service from time to time.
Only if 4 years of formal welding school and 41 years in the industry qualifies you as being EXPERIENCED?So in fact you qualify as an "Experienced welder" ...
I started welding at age of 13. At age 16 I placed 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] in the State and 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] in a national competition the following year. I passed my first 3 and 4G combo plate certification to qualify to weld at the Bethlehem ship yard at the age of 17. At age 18, I took the job of welding foreman for American Tank Corp. building municipal water towers and oil and chemical storage tanks.There I passed my 6G Pipe certification for nuclear and power plant work before I was 19.
Several years later I went to work as a welder for a instrument manufacturer. There I welded everything from small instrument probes that you needed a magnifier in your helmet to see to large on-line stuff that weighed 10-15 tons.
Welded a lot of exotics on that job. Aluminum, Stainless, Inconel, monel, hastelloy, titanium, magnesium, nickel, silver, etc. Welded a lot of lead making radiation containment enclosures. I ran the shop for 7 years before moving into Engineering then on to Sales where I am today.
Welding is a hobby for me anymore. Mostly repairing equipment here around the farm or welding up stuff for the neighbors. I've done some repairs and restoration of iron artifacts for the historical society and I do some ornamental iron work for the local park service from time to time.
