OK boys and girls i got a big question to ask yall. What is a good tech school to go to for welding thats not far from Kentucky

 

i, not sure in kentucky, but i moved it to get ya better exposure

 

Find a small welding company you can go work for and learn there. Alot cheaper.

 

lincoln tech is in ohio. run by lincoln welding company. a buddy of mine went there and said it was very good.

 

OK and thanks to yall and I'm going to school and not to work to learn so i can get certified and make more money with how things are theses days.

 

I been welding for about 6 years i never went to a school and i was never certified for a LONG time.

I recently got a job that required me to take a mig structural welding test which i passed flawlessly anyways now im certified in that.

You guys that come outta school are good at welding, but you have no real world experience. What if you have a gap? They dont teach you that in school, i know cause at my new job theres a guy 10 years older then me that just got outta welding school and i had to show him how to weld a 1/2 gap good.

Your gonna waste money going to school, even if your certified you dont make that much money then someone thats not atleast around here. Like i said i just got certified cause i had to, sure its cool to say im a certified welder but its not a big deal.

I would seriously go to a local shop and ask for a job, they will teach you how to use just about every tool in a steel shop. Welding school only teaches you how to weld and grind. You wont be that familar with a torch, plasma cutter, etc. Real world experience is the best. Im 21 and i have a 30 yr old coming up to me asking me for some pointers.

Plus why not learn and MAKE money instead of learn and LOSE money, trust me i know all about that, but thats another story.

 

Hey PLMCRZY? There is a sort of catch 22 going on. Some companies use the excuse that they wan't certification. and then even if he did, or did not go to school. He will get OJT, it might (but not always the case) be easier to train somebody out of school. How is one going to get a job without any training and experience? It's the old adage you need to know somebody that knows somebody to get you in. It's the old good old boy connection. But, if your in an area where you're not known, that education and certification will go along way. When moving up in the ladder, who is going to excel during the interview? The guy with just experience, or the guy with experience and education? When you don't have either, A guy has to start somewhere. I can see how you got where your at. You must have been raised in a shop, thats a big plus. Do you plan on going on to management, or would you rather keep welding? If you rather keep welding then thats where you will be. I'm not knocking your approach to gaining knowledge on welding. I just feel that you're a bit closed minded.

 

Basically what i mean is you go learn in a shop and learn about every tool and how to weld good. With different machines of course mig, tig, stick, etc. Then go get your certification, if you HAVE to. Most companies around here atleast make you take a welding test. Then they will certify you. At my company us welders make more then the management guys. We are needed, and we work hard but we still do better then them.

Another thing, if you make a resume(like i did) they saw i was in 3 welding shops in 5 years. They called all of my ex bosses to ask how i did. It was a no brainer for them, i obviously knew what i was doing. I would think they would pick the guy with REAL world experience not just some guy that went to welding school and all he knows how to do is Weld in perfect conditions/situations. Infact alot of companies state on the qualifications that you must have a certain amount of months or years of welding to be hired by them.

 

well of course if you have experience. your going to get hired on. if some shops are requiring a certain amount of months, how are these kids going to get it? If there on the farm I'm sure they have some experience. if they are from their family's welding shop I'm sure they have some experience? If a guy came out of a good welding program like the ones we have here in Northern California. They walk out knowing a great deal of welding! come on out to Redding's Shasta College or Chico's Butte College and I will show you. Your 21 you just got out of high school 3-4 years ago. Not saying that your ignorant. It's quite true in what you say to some extent. Eventually business will be relying more on tech and community colleges. no one should ever rule out a good education wether it be out in the world, or in the class. I'd rather have both! When things change I can change with it.

 

The kid sounds young. Im guessing around 18 he can put in 2 years at a welding shop and know his way around tools and how to weld. He can then go on and get a cert if he wants. Ya they know a great deal of welding! Like all the slang for it and how to weld in perfect situations! We supposedly have one of the best welding programs around in Waco, Tx called Tstc. Ive worked with 2 guys that got out of there. One all he knew how to do was burn 7818 anything else he SUCKED! He couldnt mig or tig, let alone burn a 6010 rod. The one i work with now can mig pretty good and probably tig better then me. But he hasnt a clue about a stick welding!

Real world expierence is key! I got into it at a very young age (13) and i was off and on with it til now. I've decided its my trade and thats what im going to master. If he is 18 he will have no problem getting a job at a welding shop and learning EVERY tool in it. Most welding shops mig and stick on the jobsite. So theres 2 already knocked out. Tig pays the most but is also the hardest, i bet there is a shop with all 3 that needs a grunt. He proves himself as a grunt and they let him weld. 2 years later he has 2 years of experience, money in the bank, no grants to pay off, and certs for welding.

Yes im young, but ive been in the welding gig for a while now. I know what to expect and how to do it. If they give me something thats cut short and we are on a time crunch and i have a weld a 1/2 gap so be it. It will hold, its guaranteed by me once its out the door. Got some magnetized pipe that needs welding, sure i can do that that. Ya its a pain but i can weld it! O btw i can weld with both hands to, alot of these students dont get taught that. That is a major advantage to know how to do.

Call me ignorant if you want but im trying to save the kid some money. Ive already waisted 6k on a school that i hated(truck driving). I will now have to pay that off. On top of all the normal bills i have around the house. Who knows he may not even like it! Some people cant stand the heat or the awkward positions you have to be in. It sucks sometimes. But its nice to have something go out the door with a little of you built into it.

Sorry if i came off a little rude but i am trying to get my point across...