I've been a commercial diver (tender till I break out) for the past year and 3 months now. Since work is on and off in this industry I was looking into getting into something that's more steady. I've been doing some research and pipe is where to go. Looking on here to see if anyone on here is a welder as there actually career and not a hobby. Also I was looking at the lincoln welding school for training and any thoughts on this?
Anyone a professional welder? Thinking about career move
- Thread starter joemayo
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The guys we use (Plumbing) are all older, so I feel that if you're younger it could be a good way to go. It's a very skilled trade, and not many go into it anymore.
I know and have known many many welders everything from pipe welders to structural and heavy machinery as well. It seems to me like everyone loves it at first but then gets bored with it but It is a great paying and very rewarding job and if you are good you will always have work.
You couldn't pay me enough to sit in shit hole places all day, breathing the nasty gasses and staring at a spark..... Just my 2 cents.
Do you know what is long and hard on a welder???????
Third Grade... :beer:
You couldn't pay me enough to sit in shit hole places all day, breathing the nasty gasses and staring at a spark..... Just my 2 cents.
Do you know what is long and hard on a welder???????
Third Grade... :beer:
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Being that you are a diver, you could possibly train to do underwater welding for oil companies. I believe you can get upwards of 100k doing that, but don't quote me on that.
Welding offshore is very small right now. Maybe welding a anode on a rig leg or pier but it's not what it used to be. Unless we have another big storm diving out here will be seasonal with few months of work at most. Also I'm used to shitty work places where it's freezing and spend 4 hours in the water pitch black. I live on the MS gulf coast so many ship builders over here always hiring daily for all types of welders rather it be structural or pipe. I'm only 25 and still at home so won't be nothing going to school for 3 months.
I am.. Underwater welding is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.. If you want to live more than a few more years from now, i suggest staying away from that..
I'm currently building a powerplant in southern Illinois. We work 6/12's but make a little under $150k a year. I wear a respirator most of the time I'm welding but still breathe alot of bad fumes and get burned alot.. Its great money for the time being, but not something I want to do my whole life
I'm currently building a powerplant in southern Illinois. We work 6/12's but make a little under $150k a year. I wear a respirator most of the time I'm welding but still breathe alot of bad fumes and get burned alot.. Its great money for the time being, but not something I want to do my whole life
My father in-law is a life long welder. He's 68, still has to work. He looks 88 from the wear and tear of the job and basically lives in poverty because the work has been so sporadic for so long.
Just bumping the thread up for more info
Welding is not something I would pursue. Depending on your willingness and ability to move around it can be very sporadic work. Yes, the money is good. But by the time you buy a truck, welder, go to school and get started you may be $100k in debt. Add to that the cost of living out of a motel, eating out most of the time and replacing stolen equipment you will barely be scraping by. None of the bills will go away when you aren't working either. If you end up in a union you'll be waiting in line for work even when it's available.
I agree with the non-union side of it about learning it and buying a truck ect. As for the union comment, if you are a skilled welder with a stick/tig combo cert you will work. You may have to travel but you will work all the time. The problem with getting union is you have to be a very skilled welder. People who think they are good will run a coupon for their cert and when it gets x-rayed it will fail or laughed out by a CWI(certificated welding inspector). If you are a younger guy I would suggest trying to get into the apprenticeship for a union and they will teach you the skills you need.
Have you ever done any welding for an extended period of time? It's a ton of fun to do, and a great skill to have, but not something I'd want to spend 40+ hours a week doing.
Yeah I dunno about doing it as a career.
Plus I dont see many openings for welders. Maybe one a week on craigslist ill see a shop or such looking for a welder with 3-5yrs exp, and pay is $20/hr. Thats pretty eh pay around here for having a skillset.
Like someone else said, if you are a Diver and want to get into welding, id look into underwater welding. I have a buddy from HS that went into the navy and does underwater welding in Kuwait or some other middle eastern cesspool country and loves it, and hell be making stupid amounts bank once he gets out. Says its alot like underwater basket-weaving, but the baskets are made out of metal.
Plus I dont see many openings for welders. Maybe one a week on craigslist ill see a shop or such looking for a welder with 3-5yrs exp, and pay is $20/hr. Thats pretty eh pay around here for having a skillset.
Like someone else said, if you are a Diver and want to get into welding, id look into underwater welding. I have a buddy from HS that went into the navy and does underwater welding in Kuwait or some other middle eastern cesspool country and loves it, and hell be making stupid amounts bank once he gets out. Says its alot like underwater basket-weaving, but the baskets are made out of metal.
I'm a union pipefitter. Been doing it for ten years now. As said above if your a good stick and tig welder you will work. I've never been laid off. I have a company truck and gas card so that's a real plus. I did have a advantage when I first got into the trade. I had about 8 years experience. I started out in vocational school, welded in the marines, a sheet metal shop, the a aerospace shop doing jet engines. Like anything else it has its dangers. You just have to be safe about it. Pays good also. I make 31 something a hour plus benefits. Overtime is anything past a normal working day "3:30", Saturday is 1.5, Sunday is double time, and anything over 12 hours is double time. If you need more info just pm me.
I'm already a certified underwater welder/burner.. Thing about that is nobody welds underwater that much anymore.More burning oil rigs down but even that is getting slow. I think only one company oceaneering does welding underwater and it's not easy getting hired by them. I can always come back to commercial diving since my certs don't expire. I probably make more than a welder does a week now that's not union at $1800/week but I don't work every week. It's on call and seasonal. I figured since I'm young go to school for welding for basic sheet metal and especially pipe. I live on the MS gulfcoast. We have over a handful of ship yards that are hiring often and many companies in LA.. I have a few contacts with some offshore companys but they will want you to know how to pipefit also. I can do this while diving is slow and switch back to it when a hurricane comes.
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