Re: Pros & Cons to going union ?
Hello Steven, guess from my sight of things, depends on what you are looking for? Get into things and start makeing money thru a trade union? Or work a few odd job shops or the like and pick up and improve on the finer aspects of welding. The best piece of advice I recieved was from a retired U.S. Navy trained welder "don't jump into a 'make big money right away job'. Take a few learning jobs first. Learn from the 'old guys' first, then go out there". Was the best thing I ever did was do just that. I improved on my structural iron torch skills and a rat hole shop. Next job got me into welding water tight items with hardwire while needing a showroom outcome. Also that job required parts to be within +- 1/32" using a 12 foot stanley tape, alot of hand layout, and learning the rightway to weld keeping things in square. Then I got into 3-D solid modeling using Solidworks. Oppertunities are endless. Now I am in my "retirement job" and enjoying it. If that oldtimer was still alive I would shake his hand!
TOOLS AND TOYS
SMAW Mid States Inc. "MISSING LINK" 10-150 AMP Buzzer circa 1945ish
SMAW Magic Wand 40-60 AMP Suitcase Buzzer circa 1939ish
GMAW Hobart 210 Ironman
Oxy-Propane Torch
Many other old and cold goodies
"Rusty but Trusty"