definition of a skilled welder

[addendum9]

I want to know the definition of a skilled welder.
1. What are the on the job duties of a “skilled welder”?
2. What are my duty expectations when hired as a GMAW, TIG etc welder?

Skilled welders that I know have put in the time, money and practice to attain the GMAW, TIG, SMAW etc. certifications and skills, and have in my opinion earned the right to apply their craft without compromising technique by being forced to grind for days because the customer and/or workforce has not defined the “skill” for which, GMAW, TIG, etc welder was hired. It is shock to go out as a skilled welder and spend the first 6 days of a 10 day job grinding.
When seeking a skilled TIG welder, on the job requirements should be strictly defined.

[woohoo]

That's a tough one I guess it depends on who your working for. Some places I've been all welders did was weld and then some other places they want to see you doing something all the time even if it's out of your craft.

[ThorsHammer]

so basically you're bitching because you think that Grinding is below your "skill level".

Yes, you've taken the time and spent the money to become a certified welder. But no one likes working with someone who thinks "thats not my job" or " thats not in my job description". All the best people I've worked for and with have had no problem what so ever doing any job that was required. regardless of their job title, or skill set. You're getting paid as a welder weather you're welding or not. if the person paying you want's to pay you $25 an hour to pick up sticks or even their dogs leavings, thats on them. you're still the one getting paid to do it. people who were not willing to clean bathrooms, take out trash, or clean up spills have never been welcome in any work place I've ever worked. Including supervisors/Managers, and even Owners.

[riley mcmillan]

Welding something together that meets requirements and specs.

[hypothecary]

I don't want to start an arguement but how does doing a buttload of grinding compromise technique? Are you saying fatigue compromises a welder's ability to weld and thus a "skilled welder" should not be subjected to such working conditions?

[roadkillbobb]

definition of a skilled weldor..is an employee definition of an employee..is to do what ever the fk your boss wants you yo do( unless its unsafe) if you dont like it..start your own business and do as you like...

[fortyonethirty]

New guy gets the sh!t. It happens everyday, in every town, in every country 'round the world.

[weldbead]

prima donna.....

[zapster]

Defination of a skilled welder....

One that knows what material he/she is dealing with...
One that knows what to do and when to do it..
One that knows what is going to happen to what you are about to do before doing it..
One that knows how to PREP and PREPARE the pieces in question..
One that just does what the BOSS wants to have done and has no issues with it...
One that can take a so called "Demotion" without pissing and moaning about it...
One that can take a grinder and do absoulte wonders with it..
One that just don't trust what others prepare for them and has to go over it anyway..Because 90% of the time it's not what you asked for...
One that gets the job done on time and CORRECT the first time..

You asked.

...zap!

[daddy]

I like your answer Zap. I don't know if I would call myself "skilled" yet, but I sure hate having to re-do the prep work of others... I have guys who want to help me at work all the time, and I usually find something else for them to do, cause I won't be happy with the "help"...

[flatbustedbroke]

Originally Posted by zapster

Defination of a skilled welder....

One that knows what material he/she is dealing with...
One that knows what to do and when to do it..
One that knows what is going to happen to what you are about to do before doing it..
One that knows how to PREP and PREPARE the pieces in question..
One that just does what the BOSS wants to have done and has no issues with it...
One that can take a so called "Demotion" without pissing and moaning about it...
One that can take a grinder and do absoulte wonders with it..
One that just don't trust what others prepare for them and has to go over it anyway..Because 90% of the time it's not what you asked for...
One that gets the job done on time and CORRECT the first time..

You asked.

...zap!

I can only add a couple of things to this list
One that shows up on time....
One that shows up ready to work...
One that works until quitting time and maybe later...

[grumpycricket]

If I'm getting paid as a weldor (and I do),the boss/owner would be wasting his $ and my skills if I'm doing ANYTHING but welding! And yes, where I work, there's always more welding than weldors!

[LayoutMan]

Im working in a Iron work shop we are making railling, baluster and staircases, some other architectural metals, and we have a LOT a grinding to be done!

Im a fitter and layout guy at this shop, never learned welding, but our welders do all the welds on our projects, and have to grind all the railling themself, i worked in 3 shops since the end of my school 2 years ago and those 3 shops worked as the same way, all the welder had to grind their jobs!

older worker say thats because the miss of labor and young new worker don't want to do a 8hrs of grinding, so they do it, its longer but they are welder and they grind because its the job!

About "thats not my job" thats some people here talked, i only want to say if you are good at what you do and why your company hired you, they won't play with you to and ask you to do odd boring jobs, im only 2 years experience and they don't ask to grind or paint, sometimes i have to do extra jobs (calculate material to order ect) but if you are a good fitter or a good welder you'll be the last one who have to do grinding without complaining!

[19662]

What Zapster said.

[tbone550]

I don't know Addendum9, burning rods or pulling a trigger all day is about the most boring job I could think of anyway. It takes a "special" person to be able to strictly weld for a living and do no other parts of the fabrication process.

My business is built around welding, but I find the variety of other work that comes along with the actual welding to be necessary for my sanity's sake. Insert comment by Stick-Man here....

[LayoutMan]

I like what Zapster said, but its still hard to define...

the line is really thin between the guy who he's really good in he's job, professional, and have a lot experiences, and can take a lot of decision by himself because of he's own experience, and the guy who he's the totaly ''yes men'' or ''brown nose'' and do even too much that the boss ask but make some mistake in he's project, and miss some experience on the table during fitting or reading drawings, or work too slow!

i think its a hard question due to the difference of each one and the difference of all the shops!

i worked with a guys who they were able to say to the boss ''i'll go home if you push me again'' and the boss just almost obey because he like this worker because he's good at what he do!

[weldbead]

[QUOTE=tbone550;1103011 It takes a "special" person to be able to strictly weld for a living and do no other parts of the fabrication process.

.[/QUOTE]

thats who this joke was written for....

q: what do you say to a guy with a 75 IQ ?
a: real nice bead

sorry.

[Farmerboy]

I would say it some what depends on the shop, what that terms means,
My son is a professional welder, and done most ever thing from production welding to Rail car rebuilds,
but in a lot of the shops he has been in some of the welders can only effetely do what they do ever day, and that may be just a straight seam on a tank, if they have to do a different position or some thing else they have no idea how to set the machine or what rod size to choose, and then there were shops that the guys could do any job that come into them, (mostly smaller repair and fabrication shops),

[Insaneride]

I thought that welding is like painting; there is more prep work (grinding/masking) than actual painting/welding.

[ExpatWelder]

I pretty much have a revolving door, welders coming and going constantly. I actually have a very comprehensive data base of qualified welders ALL over the world, and am constantly updating it, which, by the way comes with tons and tons of networking around the world. One thing I never deviate from is hiring people under a 90 day "probation" period. During this period they can be fired for any reason at all and I usually throw ALOT of "undesireable" work at them during this time, if a guy has the desire, He will do whatever it takes to get the job, and keep it.. One other thing I do is give them the 90 days to pass whatever test we are using at the time--currently d 14.3 earth moving equipment, 3G and 4G. I have found that there are lots of guys that can pass a test, but mighty few who will stick it out when the conditions are less than favorable, you can teach a guy a skill, but you can't teach him how to work. The good ones, we keep around, the not so good ones, out the door.

[AHenslee@aol.com]

I learned from old welder {he was welding with his first welder 1944 Westinghouse gave me his first cutting torch LC Smith I still have} The better you cut and weld the less you grind and if you grind for someone else you see their mistakes and learn from them!

[weldermike]

Imagine you worked for yourself as a welder, had a little shop and a mobile truck, everything in between is what a welder should be expected to do.

[LayoutMan]

Originally Posted by AHenslee@aol.com

The better you cut and weld the less you grind and if you grind for someone else you see their mistakes and learn from them!

so true, the best is when one of those ''old welder'' came to see you after making a mistake in wathever part of the job, and admit with no shy that he made a mistake and EXPLAIN you how to NOT do the same mistake if you have to do a similar job in the future, those kind of fitter/welder are the best, they want help and show how to work to young worker!

[SPG54]

When you qualify in the 5G and 6G positions with mild steel, your on the right track. Then upgrade in the alloy's (stainless, inconel,aluminum,ect.) and your doing good. You know you have arrived when the Inspecter loves working with you (quality) and the supervision loves having you there (production).Always look for way's to learn.You can learn something from anyone if you look hard enough.

[DeanneWhitely]

That's a tough one I guess it depends on who your working for