[halfmoon_]

Used to work around alot of guys who were welding, and it seems to be like a pretty cool trade to get into. You'd be left alone, free to do your job and its hands on labor. I'm not sure how much welders usually make but it has got to be decent though. I hear after years of welding alot of guys go blind Any certified welders around the mayberry that are happy with what they do?

[YeahBee]

alotta welding stuff on oilrigs, hear those guys make bank

[TheWalrus]

It pays good, depending on where you work. Never actually met someone thats went blind, I think thats more of an old wives tale, or the result of someone not using the right protective eyeware.

[Scrotumlock]

When I was a kid my soccer coach was some type of a high pressure welder, and every so often he'd come to practice with a big wad of cotton taped over one eye for a few weeks, so eye injuries do happen.

The pay varies by what kind of tickets/certifications you have, where, and for whom you work. For example of you want to have a buddy show you how to do some basic welding and then just work odd jobs using someone else's equipment in a small town or for some small-time auto wrecking yard cutting shit up and doing minor repairs, you'll get minimum wage and 10 hours a week.

If you go to a good trade school, apprentice for a few years, and get the best/highest ticket you can... then get a 2nd mortgage on your house and buy your own welding truck... then move up north to a remote work camp and weld pipelines in sub-zero temperatures for months at a time, you could make $1000 per day. Mind you it'll take a few years to pay down all the debt you'll have accumulated getting properly certified.

[RedmanWrestler]

i'm a 1st year welder with my level 1 theory, I just need a few hundred more hours then i'll be a 2nd year. It's good trade to get into it keeps you busy and your constantly learning like any trade. As a 1st year welder you make decent money but not a great deal its kind of paying your dues I guess. You make better money as you get more experienced and more certified.

The going blind is kind of an old wives tale imo. It can happen, as long as you protect your eyes properly you shouldn't have a problem. A lot of the dumb things I've seen ppl do is not flip down their helmet or protect their eyes when tack welding or looking at the welding arc from a distance for an extending period. To answer your question am I happy as a welder? Indeed its teaching me new skills and I like building things.

[TheWalrus]

Originally Posted by Scrotumlock

When I was a kid my soccer coach was some type of a high pressure welder, and every so often he'd come to practice with a big wad of cotton taped over one eye for a few weeks, so eye injuries do happen.

The pay varies by what kind of tickets/certifications you have, where, and for whom you work. For example of you want to have a buddy show you how to do some basic welding and then just work odd jobs using someone else's equipment in a small town or for some small-time auto wrecking yard cutting shit up and doing minor repairs, you'll get minimum wage and 10 hours a week.

If you go to a good trade school, apprentice for a few years, and get the best/highest ticket you can... then get a 2nd mortgage on your house and buy your own welding truck... then move up north to a remote work camp and weld pipelines in sub-zero temperatures for months at a time, you could make $1000 per day. Mind you it'll take a few years to pay down all the debt you'll have accumulated getting properly certified.

That wad of cotton was due to his own negligence. Always wear safety glasses and side shields if you already wear glasses. I usually send someone home for the day if I catch them without.

As for the moving up north, you only do that for a few years, till you can get a nice cushy shop job back in civilization. As for getting certified, most big oil companies will pay for your certification.

[TheWalrus]

Originally Posted by RedmanWrestler

i'm a 1st year welder with my level 1 theory, I just need a few hundred more hours then i'll be a 2nd year. It's good trade to get into it keeps you busy and your constantly learning like any trade. As a 1st year welder you make decent money but not a great deal its kind of paying your dues I guess. You make better money as you get more experienced and more certified.

The going blind is kind of an old wives tale imo. It can happen, as long as you protect your eyes properly you shouldn't have a problem. A lot of the dumb things I've seen ppl do is not flip down their helmet or protect their eyes when tack welding or looking at the welding arc from a distance for an extending period. To answer your question am I happy as a welder? Indeed its teaching me new skills and I like building things.

Which shop you at in stoon? Any interest in moving?

[RedmanWrestler]

Originally Posted by TheWalrus

Which shop you at in stoon? Any interest in moving?

I was at shop the repaired and made custom trailors but quit a few weeks ago. Just finished getting my oilfield safety tickets and am going out for a pipeline job. I have some interest in moving but it wouldn't be until after this pipeline job is done.

[TheWalrus]

Originally Posted by RedmanWrestler

I was at shop the repaired and made custom trailors but quit a few weeks ago.

Good for you! Trailor repair ftl. Never done it but anyone I've talked to said it sucks.

[RedmanWrestler]

Originally Posted by TheWalrus

Good for you! Trailor repair ftl. Never done it but anyone I've talked to said it sucks.

yeah those silly bastards lied to me to they said I would start welding afer a couple of weeks. That's what they advertised for was a welder, the boss told me I would be doing some wiring for the first 2 weeks then i would start welding. 6 weeks of nothing but wiring and pushing a broom around I gave them my 1 weeks notice, I shouldn't of even done that. Yeah it was total bs the only reason I did it was I want to make a 16ft trailor for my dad and figured I would pick up a few things from that job, silly me.