10 Skills You Need to Succeed as a Welder

There are many jobs available in the welding industry, but only welders who have honed their skills will win those job openings. Here is a list of 10 skills that a welder needs to succeed in the industry.

1) Problem Solving

Welders have to be really good at solving problems and pay attention to detail. They need to be able to find flaws in designs and materials, as well as worn down equipment or parts, and know how to fix those problems. Working in outer space or underwater means they need to solve problems even faster.

2) Dexterity

It’s obvious that welders need to have great dexterity skills. They need to able to keep their hands and arms steady as they move, as well as be able to hold their hands and arms in one position for long periods. Moving quickly to adjust equipment controls and making repetitive movements is a must as well.

3) Planning and Organization

Welders need to be able to organize their work and plan out their own schedules if they work for themselves. If they have a supervisor, they still need to be able to keep their work organized, as well as their work stations.

4) Physically Healthy

Welders have to be physically fit in order to work with different materials and in different positions. They will be bending, twisting, stretching and using a lot of their lower back and abdominal muscles during a normal workday, so they have to be fit enough to move without limits.

5) Endurance

Since there is so much moving involved in welding, welders need to have endurance to repeat it day in and day out. The constant attention to detail can also be tedious, so they have to be able to endure that for long periods.

6) Imagination

Believe it or not, a welder needs to have an imagination. They need to be able to picture how their work will look when they make their designs, as well as while the parts are being rearranged and put in place.

7) Know the Materials

Welders need to have a solid knowledge of the tools, methods and materials used in their line of work. This is a requirement to build or repair homes, buildings, roads and highways.

8) Science and Math

Using basic science and math skills at work is commonplace for welders. They have to make calculations, estimate costs, and determine which materials to use with which fuels and chemicals. Sometimes they need to track their own hours and use math to solve problems.

9) Know Technology

Welders need to have the technological skills to operate welding equipment that is computer-based. This includes using plasma cutting machines and entering data to complete tasks.

10) Interpersonal Skills

Although welders spend a lot of time by themselves, they do need to communicate with employers, clients and other people in the trade. This skill is really needed if they are working on a project with other welders or tradespeople, as it will help the project get done smoothly.

These are the skills needed for welders to obtain jobs across the custom welding, maintenance and repair, and construction fields. Now is the perfect time to develop and hone these skills, as the industry is expected to grow in the years to come.

Read more: http://www.howtobecomeawelder.com/10-Skills-You-Need-to-Succeed-as-a-Welder.html

Welding: From Trade to Career - Portraits of Success By Brad F. Kuvin

An aging work force combined with a growing economy means our nation will need 20 million additional workers over the next 25 years, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Where are all of these workers going to come from, particularly those needed within the skilled trades, where the labor shortage already plagues our nation¹s manufacturing plants? Already we see repeated calls for labor falling on deaf ears, as signs and advertisements for laborers hang for weeks or months before job openings are filled. Many manufacturers find themselves limited not by the traditional productivity constraints of shop size and capital equipment but by the severe shortages in the labor force. Possible solutions lie in productivity improvements such as automation or overtime ‹ any way to obtain more production out of the current labor pool. But this will not propel the U.S. manufacturing base much further for much longer. This country, specifically its teachers and counselors, must focus more energy on making sure more young men and women not particularly interested in working in traditional white-collar careers find a home and career in the skilled trades.

Traditional skilled-labor roles such as machining and welding suffer from an image problem ‹ dirty, dangerous, smoky, oily, hot, you name it. While this image might have been somewhat true at one time, for several years now, suppliers of welding and machining equipment have made significant strides in improving the working conditions for these skilled trades people. Today¹s manufacturing shops are a far cry from those of 10 or 20 years ago. Fume exhausters and air cleaners are now standard in every shop. Developments in ergonomics help ensure the long-term careers of welders and other trades people.
In short, well paying and rewarding jobs for skilled laborers abound. Working environments are clean and safe, and the tools available are ergonomically optimized, in some cases computerized. Further, skilled laborers need not be limited in their hopes and dreams; the practical knowledge base they develop, coupled with the drive to continue to learn and succeed, often leads to upward economic mobility. Many welders, for example, move on to become shop foremen, maintenance engineers, robot operators or programmers, degreed welding engineers and instructors or teachers.

Read more: http://www.aws.org/wj/amwelder/9-00/welding.html

Philippine Technical Vocational Education and Training System

The education system in the Philippines embraces formal and non-formal education. It is closely related to the American mode of education but differs in the number of school years as other countries have 12 years basic education. In the country however, elementary education is composed of 6 years and secondary education is 4 years which together with the tertiary education comprise the formal education system.

On the other hand, non-formal education includes education opportunities, even outside school premises, that facilitate achievement of specific learning objectives for particular clienteles, especially the out-of-school youths or adult illiterates who cannot avail of formal education. An example is functional literacy programs for non-literate and semi-literate adults which integrate basic literacy with livelihood skills training.

Read more: http://www.tesda.gov.ph/program.aspx?page_id=52

Top 4 Benefits of Becoming a Certified Welder

As you probably already know, with a fairly small amount of classroom based training, or even with some practical on the job training as helper or welding assistant, you can acquire the basic skills you need to call yourself a welder.  The next step beyond this kind of basic welding training is earning your welding certification.

If you don’t already know, a certified welder holds a certification (an official document) certifying the welder has the ability to produce welds in accordance with accepted written procedures. A welder becomes certified by passing a series of test administered by the American Welding Society. It takes a certain amount of practice to pass a certification test, and a fee is required to take the test.

Why, if you can work as a welder without a certification (as you may already be doing), would you want to go through the extra hassle and expense to become a certified welder? Obtaining a certification actually has big impact on your ability to secure more and better work as a welder, and plays a big part in turning a job as a welder into a career in welding.

The following list outlines the top four benefits of becoming a certified welder.

Top 4 Benefits of Becoming a Certified Welder

1. More and better job opportunities – Most companies seeking welders are more inclined to hire certified welders because of the implied training, experience and credentials that accompany a certification. Statistics demonstrate certified welders have a lower rate of on the job incidents and injuries in comparison to uncertified welders, making certified welders more attractive employment prospects.
2. Higher rate of pay – As certified welder, you’re in a position to command a significantly higher wage. 2010 Bureau of Labor statistics indicate a certified welder can earn anywhere from 10% to 60% more than uncertified welders.
3. Greater job security – When companies reduce their welding staff, they’re more likely to retain a certified welder because their certification makes them a more proven commodity in the welding trade, and therefore harder to replace.
4. Career opportunities –Certified welders are in demand in a variety of industries, including construction, manufacturing, automotive and more. Additionally, becoming a certified welder can be a springboard to becoming an underwater welder, a certified welding inspector, working as a freelancer, or even opening your own business.

Read more: http://www.weldmyworld.com/quick_welding_tips/2011/07/top-4-benefits-of-becoming-a-certified-welder.html

Different Types of Welders

Welders use many types of welding equipment set up in a variety of positions, such as flat, vertical, horizontal, and overhead. They may perform manual welding, in which the work is entirely controlled by the welder, or semiautomatic welding, in which the welder uses machinery, such as a wire feeder, to perform welding tasks.

There are about 100 different types of welding. Arc welding is the most common type. Standard arc welding involves two large metal alligator clips that carry a strong electrical current. One clip is attached to any part of the workpiece being welded. The second clip is connected to a thin welding rod. When the rod touches the workpiece, a powerful electrical circuit is created. The massive heat created by the electrical current causes both the workpiece and the steel core of the rod to melt together, cooling quickly to form a solid bond. During welding, the flux that surrounds the rod’s core vaporizes, forming an inert gas that serves to protect the weld from atmospheric elements that might weaken it. Welding speed is important. Variations in speed can change the amount of flux applied, weakening the weld, or weakening the surrounding metal by increasing heat exposure.

Two common but advanced types of arc welding are Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) and Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding.TIG welding often is used with stainless steel or aluminum. While TIG uses welding rods, MIG uses a spool of continuously fed wire, which allows the welder to join longer stretches of metal without stopping to replace the rod. In TIG welding, the welder holds the welding rod in one hand and an electric torch in the other hand. The torch is used to simultaneously melt the rod and the workpiece. In MIG welding, the welder holds the wire feeder, which functions like the alligator clip in arc welding. Instead of using gas flux surrounding the rod, TIG and MIG protect the initial weld from the environment by blowing inert gas onto the weld.

Like arc welding, soldering and brazing use molten metal to join two pieces of metal. However, the metal added during the process has a melting point lower than that of the workpiece, so only the added metal is melted, not the workpiece. Soldering uses metals with a melting point below 800 degrees Fahrenheit; brazing uses metals with a higher melting point. Because soldering and brazing do not melt the workpiece, these processes normally do not create the distortions or weaknesses in the workpiece that can occur with welding. Soldering commonly is used to join electrical, electronic, and other small metal parts. Brazing produces a stronger joint than does soldering, and often is used to join metals other than steel, such as brass. Brazing can also be used to apply coatings to parts to reduce wear and protect against corrosion.

Skilled welding, soldering, and brazing workers generally plan work from drawings or specifications or use their knowledge of fluxes and base metals to analyze the parts to be joined. These workers then select and set up welding equipment, execute the planned welds, and examine welds to ensure that they meet standards or specifications. They are even examining the weld while they’re welding. By observing problems with the weld, they compensate by adjusting the speed, voltage, amperage, or feed of the rod. Highly skilled welders often are trained to work with a wide variety of materials in addition to steel, such as titanium, aluminum, or plastics. Some welders have more limited duties, however. They perform routine jobs that already have been planned and laid out and do not require extensive knowledge of welding techniques.

Automated welding is used in an increasing number of production processes. In these instances, a machine or robot performs the welding tasks while monitored by a welding machine operator. Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders follow specified layouts, work orders, or blueprints. Operators must load parts correctly and constantly monitor the machine to ensure that it produces the desired bond.

The work of arc, plasma, and oxy-gas cutters is closely related to that of welders. However, instead of joining metals, cutters use the heat from an electric arc, a stream of ionized gas (plasma), or burning gases to cut and trim metal objects to specific dimensions. Cutters also dismantle large objects, such as ships, railroad cars, automobiles, buildings, or aircraft. Some operate and monitor cutting machines similar to those used by welding machine operators. Plasma cutting has been increasing in popularity because, unlike other methods, it can cut a wide variety of metals, including stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium.

Read more: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos226.htm

What Do Welder Do?

Welders permanently join pieces of metal through welding processes, of which there are many – over 70 to be precise. In addition to fusing metals, welders also repair metal parts, as well as grind and solder materials.

Their duties vary depending on where they work and what they specialize in, but welders are usually responsible for some or all of the following: following blueprints and specifications; using manual or semi-automatic equipment to attach metals; operate flame-cutting, brazing, and soldering equipment; and using metal-shaping machinery. Because they’re constantly exposed to chemicals, fuels, and machinery, welders must be cautious and follow safety procedures at all times.

Welders can have a variety of specialties, including: structural construction, shipbuilding and repair, machinery and repair, and custom fabrication of tools and products. They can also focus on welding aerospace and/or pressure vessels and pipelines.

Read more: http://careerbear.com/welder/article/what-do-welders-do

What is Welding?

Simply, welding is a way to make high strength joints between two or more parts. There are many ways to do this and these require a high degree of skill and advanced technology.

Welders work with a lot of different metals, alloys and materials – heating, melting and joining these ‘composites’ together.

There are several different ways to weld, some involve amazing machinery and revolutionary technology, including electron beams, lasers, ultrasonic and friction stirs.

Welders can be found in lots of places and in lots of companies… these include the making of aeroplanes… assembling cars and other vehicles… constructing buildings and bridges… working on oil rigs in the middle of the ocean and under the sea.

This section is here to provide you with more information on careers, education and training in welding.

Read more: http://www.theweldinginstitute.com/fab-futures/what-is-welding/