Welder/Fabricator
 

I've been looking into going to school to be a welder/fabricator and was just wondering if there is anyone on here that is either and could give me some advice/tips or whatever. I thought I wanted to be a mechanic but come to realize that it just frustrates the hell out of me:madd: while welding and making stuff(like my bumper I built) is kinda a release for me. Its fun and when its all done its a bigger sense of accomplishment(to me at least):jump:. So are there any schools or programs and anything in particular that I should look into? Where I see myself in this field is probably trying to open a shop and doing probably custom work, have a truck set up to do service calls and such and making kinda general designed bumpers, headache racks, steps, or whatever when I get time to sell. Flatbeds might be an option too. Thanks for any input! :tu:

find you a good tech school since your young still and get in it and get after it get qualified for all the different kinds of welding you can and even take it it a step further and go to school to learn how to weld underwater and then you could go just about anywhere and have a good job or open a shop and have something to fall back on if that didnt work out :yeah:

Tulsa welding school is a good school, my buddy graduated from there 2 years ago and is a pipeline welder now making 80+k a year and he loves it.

X2 on tulsa

Checked out TWS's site and I think I'm gonna call them tomorrow and find out some more info. I guess I'll see where it goes...

Get your 3G MIG cert, then 3 and 4G combo Stick cert, followed by 3G FCAW cert but if you want to make serious money get a 6G E6010 open root and E7018 fill and cap pipe welding certification. If your not into pipe welding do a combination of the first four then pickup classes in automated laser and plasma cutting. Local tech schools are a great resource for training. :c:

look into becoming s boiler maker. they rake in the cash.

What the heck is FCAW? Never heard of that one before. I noticed that when I read through the course descriptions on the TWS site that they seemed to be geared more toward pipe welding so maybe I do that for a few years and then get a shop and build stuff. Not sure yet, still need to find out more info. I missed then today so I'll try again on Monday and try to get more info. Are 3G, 4G, 6G positions, am I understanding right? I don't know a whole lot about welding yet. All I know is what my rural high school Ag Fab class taught me(not much).

Sorry for the delay in reply = It's a work demand / weather thing.

FCAW = Flux Core Arc Welding
Flux cored arc welding is typically used when there is a lot of welding to do and it is outdoors. FCAW is used during industrial shut downs for welding of boilers and pretty much any industrial construction projects that need high quality welds fast

You are correct in saying that 1G, 3G, 4G, 1F, 2F are welding positions. The 3G welding certification qualifies you to weld flat, horizontal, and vertical or 1G, 2G, and 3G positions, also includes the 1F, 2F, and 3F positions without having to take the 1G and 2G certification. This is called working smart toward certifications and not wasting time.
Don't knock you AG Fab class, It was only there to plant an idea in your head and give you a chance to try something new. THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY. :tu:

Pipe welding can make you a VERY good wage depending on the company you hookup with.

Thanks. That was kinda of a duh moment there :duh3: didn't even think about flux core. I wasn't trying to bash my Ag Fab class, its just that my school has less than 500 kids each year so its not a real fancy shop or anything. It was actually my favorite class, the teacher was awesome, lots of fun. I called TWS and they are going to mail me some info so when that gets here I'll look it over call them if I have any more questions or such. Thanks for the help. When I know more I'll post again. Are there any other schools I should check into besides my local tech school? I've already looked into it and its an option. Couldn't really find much for schools when I looked for them.