Any structural/ pipe fitting welders here?

[mrinelfrlz]

hello all,
i was just wondering how work was going for these types of welders nowa days
i was training in industrial maintenance and going to college but since my job closed on all of us i going back to school again
ive read really good things about the money you can make from welding and i like to do it so im going in jan. for 18 weeks to get my certification for structural and pipe fitting welding i know the job is tough till you get some time in and i will work hard like i do at any job i get!
but what kind of job market is really out there for the ones that are already out in the field?
i know one thing i will have to travel out of state im sure unless there are some good jobs in M.O. for NewB's?
any advice, warnings or recomendations i can get will be greatly appreciated

 

[stdreb27]

I'm working at a fab yard in texas, and they're not hiring. They kind of have a lull between their projects. But last year they had their highest man hour year ever. And they have other major projects kicking off towards the middle of the year.

 

[geoj]

Originally Posted by MrineLfRlz
http:///forum/post/3183801
hello all,
i was just wondering how work was going for these types of welders nowa days
i was training in industrial maintenance and going to college but since my job closed on all of us i going back to school again
ive read really good things about the money you can make from welding and i like to do it so im going in jan. for 18 weeks to get my certification for structural and pipe fitting welding i know the job is tough till you get some time in and i will work hard like i do at any job i get!
but what kind of job market is really out there for the ones that are already out in the field?
i know one thing i will have to travel out of state im sure unless there are some good jobs in M.O. for NewB's?
any advice, warnings or recomendations i can get will be greatly appreciated

Find the company you want to work for first and find out what type of cert by what organization. Most companies will make you qualify by testing you. Become an apprentice at the company. Then work your way up to the job you want. They will many times pay for some if not all of your schooling. Get into a adult school welding class on the weekend and keep welding if you don’t use it you will loose it…

 

[mrinelfrlz]

thanks for the advice so far guys

i know i will have to work my way up the ladder always start on the bottom crap rolls down hill but im willing to climb it!

 

[t316]

Not sure what type of welding you have trained for so far, but I suggest learning aluminum. Around here, MIG welders who can do iron/steel are a dime a dozen (I even do it myself at the shop when my welder is out), but we don't do aluminum. We have to send the work out to a specialty shop, who ALWAYS seems to have more aluminum work than they can handle.

 

[nw2salt08]

I'm in Oklahoma and there really aren't jobs around here. The shop I worked for closed down and it hasn't been easy trying to find anything around here. Most places have kept their current staff on and aren't hiring anymore or they downsized.
But there are jobs out there. I've been offered jobs out of state but can't take them. You just have to look and definitely take a job that you'll be interested in. I prefer TIG personally. You can get into air craft, build motorcycle frames, car frames, etc. It's fun.

 

[mrinelfrlz]

Originally Posted by Nw2Salt08
http:///forum/post/3184026
I'm in Oklahoma and there really aren't jobs around here. The shop I worked for closed down and it hasn't been easy trying to find anything around here. Most places have kept their current staff on and aren't hiring anymore or they downsized.
But there are jobs out there. I've been offered jobs out of state but can't take them. You just have to look and definitely take a job that you'll be interested in. I prefer TIG personally. You can get into air craft, build motorcycle frames, car frames, etc. It's fun.
trhats what ive been told to
so for awhile if i want a good job i will have to travel out of state and just come home as much as i can it sucks i will miss my family but i need to provide for them to they will just have to understand
im willing to do what i have to do for me and my family until i can find something better or closer
what would be great is after this economy straightens up a couple more factories opened up i could get back into industrial maintenance i really liked that and with the welding under my belt would be that much batter on my resume
its not as much as you could make out in the welding field but its not really bad either
its probably wishful thinking but im keeping a possitive
attitude

 

[noah's nemo]

I've done flux core for years in a shop that built sky scrapers and bridges.If i could go back and do it again,I would have looked into some kind of underwater welding for the navy or something

 

[posiden]

IME as a welder, watch your back. Keep an eye on the open positions that are in your area and I would even say to go as far as to go test and talk with them even though you don't need the job. That gives you haggling ability. It also puts you in thier mind when or if you should ever need a job. Welding is an odd thing to me. You can find work anywhere, but how long will it last. That is the question.
I agree with Nw2Salt08. Get your hands on the TIG torch. I have spent a good bit of time in the fab shops and such. I am now an aerospace welder and I will never go back to a fab shop if I can help it. EVER. Life is just too good when you can weld the stuff that 95% of the other folks can't. I love my job now. It has its ups and downs just like anything else, but I am at a place now that.....the ones who ship parts and sweep the floors will be laid off first. A welder can do those things but, take a janitor and ask him to weld.
Good luck in your venture. I wish you the best.