Canadian Welding student saying hello!

[cannonfodder]

Hi, I've been lurking in the shadows of this forum long enough thinking about asking you guys a question that's been on my mind.

I am currently attending a trade college for welding here in Ontario. and my question is in your opinion(s) as a young tradesman have I been afforded a good foundation to build my career in this trade? or have I missed the mark? I have a great passion for welding and understand it as a hobbie but when it transfers over to a career I'd just like a more grounded opinion with regards to starting off as a tradesman.

My college Instructors tested me as follows
TSSA standards 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G SMAW plate test using bend tests.
TSSA standards open root E6010/7018 1G, 2G, 3G modified SMAW visual
TSSA standards open root 6010/7018 1G, 2G, 3G SMAW visual
TSSA standards open root 6010/7018 4” Pipe 2G, 3G, 6G SMAW visual
TSSA standards open root GTAW/7018 6” Pipe 2G, 3G, 6G visual
GMAW on steel plates
GTAW on aluminum

Evaluation by off-site independent testing lab for my 3 TSSA tickets
2” dia. 6G position sced 160 steel pipe E6010 root E7018 fill and cap. Process SMAW

2” dia. 6G position sced 160 steel pipe GTAW process ER70S2 root pass with SMAW E7018 fill and caps.

2” dia. 6G position sced 160 steel pipe GTAW process ER type 309 SS root, Fill and caps.

Other objectives in my welding program (all the usual stuff)
Blueprint Reading for Welders, A.E. Bennet & Louis J. Siy, Delmar Publishers
Read and interpret blueprints and welding symbols
Demonstrate familiarity with the processes SMAW, GTAW, GMAW.
Welding steel plate with the GMAW process.
Weld aluminum plate with the GTAW process.
Understand safety in the workplace with a direct relationship to welding equipment and machinery.
Perform visual inspections of completed welds and fitted assemblies.
Manipulate welding equipment, or technique, in order to produce a weld to TSSA standards.
Identify and operate different types of welding equipment.
Select the correct electrode or consumable for the job.
Understand and deal with stresses and distortion.
Understand the causes of weld, or weld related faults and how to correct them.
Operate semi-automatic flame cutting equipment
Operate grinding equipment and show proficiency in the use of related tools and equipment.


And I'd also like to say that this forum is great for someone like myself, I've learned a lot by not talking and just reading.

Keep up the good work.

[Nitesky]

Hiiiiiiiiii cannonfodder

Another Canuck. Boy am I glad to see you here.
What College are you studying at and where are you located?

I re-test in the late morning for the horizontal position I blew for the CWB cert. Have some practice plates here at home that the instructor gave me last night. Am gonna rev up the SA-200 and have at er today so I'll be in shape.

See ya around EH?
I got to say EH to a fellow Canadian. Ya gotta love it.

[specter]

Hi Ya cannonfodder and Welcome to the Welding Web Family. Well it certainly looks like your covering all the various applications of welding.

What are you doing for actual hands on training in the way of shop training? If you can find out if the school has an apprentice program so you can get that actual shop experience you'll need when you graduate. if they do not have such a program then see if one of your instructors has a shop where you'll get that hands on experience.

[cannonfodder]

Thanks for the replies I'm attending Connestoga college in Guelph Ontario; It's a great school with a good name for turning out good skilled workers. As far as shop training the course includes 200 hours of CO-OP and the typical job search assistance. I'm thinking about my options as far as an apprenticeship is concerned; should i do it the old fashion way and "apply" to places to see if thier looking and then registar or should i go to the local union of pipefitters and see my options there?

[specter]

Hi Ya again cannon,

Glad to see someone out there today actually taking some inititative on their own! Sounds like your following the right options. While others just followup with job placement you should never just reply on them, or the newspapers in the hope that a company might just be looking for someone at the paticular time you pick up that paper.

One of the best places is both the local union and the local shops. At the unions seek out the longtime members of the union! Those guys not only have the most experience in most cases, but they also have the most connections and associates that could help you. The older guys love to see the younger guys take the inititative and they also like to tell about their experiences! A great source of learning the in's and out's of the field as well as any possible openings that may be coming up. In addition try the local shops they mamy not have an opening but may be willing to take on an apprentice or welding helper! That gets you in the door, gets you some actual hands on shop experience, necssary for that resume, and those shops have have connections as well an maybe abler to refer you to a shop looking to hire.

Good luck in your search,
Tom

[Jboz]

hey canonfodder! Good to see ontario in the forum . I'm just finishing up the pipe course over at light speed which is also in guelph.........i've been in school since july i started out in just the general arc course where i earned my CWB tickets and i figured i'd go on and take the pipe course mostly for my tig tickets but i'm actually starting to like welding pipe anyways just nice to see a local on a forum i've been search for a local forum for a while. wish i knew how to start one

[Clockwelder]

Hi cannonfodder and a welcome to you, too! I believe you are starting in a good foundation, that is the schooling. Specter has given you great advice on what to do. And, while readin' , feel free to ask questions. I wish you success!

[JLE-ENT.]

Hello Cannonfodder. Your list of school tests is rather impressive. I am a Union weldor (Boilermaker) and wouldn't get away from Union no matter what. I saw your post showing curiosity in the Pipefitters. There's good benifits and good wages in the craft, just as long as there is work. There's always the slow times. But it seems with the way you are pursuing your future, you'll have no trouble landing work in a field that's already short on quality weldors no matter which path you choose. Good luck in your journey.

[Jboz]

hey where's the closest union hall to guelph i'm just finishing up in a couple weeks. i have completed the same testing as cannonfolder as well as an all position SMAW and GMAW cwb ticket so i could go either way. although i can't seem to find a job anywhere around guelph

[MrBill]

Welcome to a fellow Canuck.