Need advice on welding training

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by guire, Feb 23, 2016.

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  1. guire

    guire New Member

    Hi.. I wish to do a welding course. Currently I am working in a company and the working time is upto 5.00 pm. So I am looking for a part time course. I came to know about Weldtech Training Inc Welding Training Programs | Welding Courses | Weldtech Canada. I would like to know more about that institution. Also, I want to know which welding course make us to work in Shipyard? It will be a great help if you reply soon.
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    It would be quite difficult to teach welding through distance learning. The academic part would be no different than any other subject but there clearly is a hands-on learning component to it. I won't speculate on percentages but I would rather have a welder with the shop experience and no book learning than someone who had read the books but had never burned any wire. With that in mind I would suggest that you check your local community colleges or even any of the local voc-tech high schools (all of which have night school courses). As for your second question, the easiest kind of welding to learn (IMHO) is Gas Metal Arc Welding, sometimes known as MIG welding. It's used chiefly with thinner gauge metal and so would be less useful for finding working in a shipyard. By far the most common form of welding found in shipyards is Shielded Metal Arc Welding, more commonly known as Arc Welding or Stick Welding. It's trickier to learn than MIG welding but it's more versatile and will make you more employable overall.
     
  3. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    I can tell you as a former instructor at a CC that grads from the welding department started at almost the exact same pay as some one who had done an apprenticeship. Pay for welders in our area (lower Texas) Has slipped a great deal due to a huge influx of cheap labor and on the job training. Unless you plan on entering a highly specialized field (Under water) I would for go the classroom.
     
  4. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    At my company all welders are required to complete a welding test.

    To give you an idea, a guy who had worked for 12 years as a high school welding teacher (that's all he taught) failed the test.

    So, is there a situation where a person could watch a whole bunch of YouTube videos, read a bunch of books and come in and kill the test? I'm sure that there is. And if such a person passed the test here, then their non-traditional mode of learning would be no impediment to their getting the job.

    But we're talking about a very extreme hypothetical here.

    I have had candidates go through traditional welding programs and fail the test (and fail it very badly). Now, before you jump in and say "But some people suck at tests!" let me also add that the overwhelming majority of people who failed the test (who trained locally) were less than stellar students in their certification programs.

    I'm not a welder. So I'm not in a position to tell you how or what makes a good welder. What I will say, from spending an appreciable portion of my work life to hiring welders, is that it is a skill that some people develop exceptionally well and others simply do not.

    But if you're going to develop this, or any, physical skill you should be in an environment where you are learning from a qualified instructor and being given the opportunity to practice as much and as often as you can.

    If you attempted to learn this skill by distance learning it would require, at an absolute minimum I'd say, extensive practice at your home to build the skills necessary. Even then, there would be no one looking over your shoulder to correct your mistakes during this training period. Something that looks good to you might not look good to an experienced welding instructor. That disconnect could mean the difference between learning the skill and developing professional level proficiency and learning to do it the wrong way and potentially making learning the right way significantly harder.

    So, distance learning (the focus of this forum) is pretty much out.

    As b4cz28 says, if you can get an apprenticeship then you are quite likely to start out at the same pay as someone who completed a course at a CC, a VoTech, a trade school or wherever else the program is offered.

    With any apprenticeship, however, it is imperative that you ensure you are learning under someone who actually knows what they are doing and actually intends to teach you the trade rather than just get some low paid shop help.

    If you do look at a trade school, ask for their placement information (a list of where they have placed graduates) and then follow up on that list. Call those companies and verify that they are hiring graduates from there to do welding work (or, at a minimum, that those companies do not have a negative bias against that school).
     
  5. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    I don't know if you have access in your area, but welding courses through the community college are quite common. My oldest son took a program that was intended for placement into a specific program (upon passing) and it met one night a week for a couple months. Not very expensive considering.
     
  6. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Two weld areas that are commonly taught by company training are laser welding and spin welding - both used in the aerospace industry. The high cost of equipment might be the reason it is not taught in California CCs.
     
  7. guire

    guire New Member

    Thank you all for the replies. I would like to know the job opportunities of welding abroad. Kindly share your views.
     
  8. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    The OP was not looking for a distance course - and yes, the prospects of getting that to work would be pretty remote. He was asking about a private career school in Mississauga ON - about 25 miles from where I'm sitting. The school offers hands-on night classes, MIG, TIG and other welding skills, from 6PM to 10PM.

    From the school's qualifications statement.

    • C.W.B. ( Canadian Welding Bureau) Accredited Testing Centre.
    • T.S.S.A. (Technical Standards & Safety Authority) Accredited Testing Centre.
    • A.W.S (American Welding Society) Accredited Testing Centre.
    • A Member of both the C.W.A. (Canadian Welding Association) and the A.W.S (American Welding Society).
    • Weldtech is the only welding school in Ontario that is a certified American Welding Society Educational Institution Member.
    • Weldtech is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
    • Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists
    • Exclusive Testing Centre for I-CAR welding certification programs in Southern Ontario

    I know zip about welding, but I do know OACETT is the respected body in Ontario for certifying technicians and technologists in many industries. And yes, welding is taught here in Community Colleges; there might well be a night class program and I have no idea which route would be more cost-effective. The OP might want to check with Sheridan College, which is in his area. They have full and part-time programs in welding. Great school. Both my sons are grads (not in welding).

    All I can say is - Weldtech (private) sounds pretty decently qualified to me. Sheridan is a Community College with an excellent reputation.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 26, 2016
  9. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    As has been noted with many other posters, sometimes responses go beyond what was asked to answer questions for a broader audience.

    If we don't do that, if we just settle on having people come by, ask a very narrow question about a very specific school, and we answer it without any qualification or further thought, then we are basically functioning like Cha cha.

    Regarding job opportunities abroad, where did you have in mind?

    It seems you're in Canada. There are plenty of welding opportunities in the US. I also have personal knowledge of some decent sized welding operations in both Austria and Sweden. So the jobs certainly exist.

    What I can't tell you is how competitive those positions are or what they desire by way of training. I'd be inclined to say that it is like other production jobs whereby if you can do the job and communicate effectively with co-workers and management, you'd stand a good chance.

    Is there a particular country or region you are especially curious about?
     
  10. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Also, since this is a discussion board that focuses on distance learning the op can't be too surprised that our responses might lean in that direction. Generally people are willing to help but if you go to a shoe store and start asking questions about dresses you might get some discussion about shoes thrown in. Frankly, I'm surprised that people knew as much about the school in question as they did. Similarly, asking about manufacturing jobs in Europe/Asia/wherever is a bit off target for a DL discussion board but people are nice enough to take a shot at answering. I'd suggest that the op take a look at large multi-nationals as they are all over the world in all sorts of manufacturing projects. Once you're in at a company like that you can begin to write your own ticket.
     
  11. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Yes - we're primarily a DL forum. Yes, there are plenty of good suggestions and it's perfectly proper to widen the scope.

    But the OP was asking about a specific school. I think it's important (for me, anyway) to answer his question and THEN explore other possibilities. So that's what I did. And gave him a lead to an on-ground community college in his area, in case it meets his needs.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 27, 2016
  12. Maurice T floyd

    Maurice T floyd New Member

    Hai everyone
    I am new to this forum.My name is Maurice T Floyd. By profession I am welder.And I work on my workshop.few days ago my son tell me about this forum where there are people seeking help on welding training.Then I think I can help some of you with my little knowledge.That's why I registered on this forum.This is my introduction forum.
     
  13. Maurice T floyd

    Maurice T floyd New Member

    Not all you tube videos can help you learn welding.it should be a skill that needs a lot of practice.And i don't agree with the opinion of doing welding courses on distant learning.
     
  14. Maurice T floyd

    Maurice T floyd New Member

    I too have the same opinion.As it is risky it will get paid more than all other welding fields.
     
  15. Maurice T floyd

    Maurice T floyd New Member

    Looking to buy welding machine or welder inverter but not sure on what suits my requirements. What to look for in a welder machine for home and workshop use, Mig , Tig and Arc welders.
    Can any one help me??
     
  16. Maurice T floyd

    Maurice T floyd New Member

    Welding is an art.it should be learned by proper training.Yes, we have a group arguing that welding is not a profession that is essential to learn it from a school itself.I started welding at the age of 25.I am not a trained welder.I learned it from my father.But I took a decision to send my son to a good welding training center.Those who are reading this now may think why I decided to train my son.For him I can be the best instructor to train.But while searching for a job they will first prefer where did we certified from.That's why I pushed him to join a course.He is now doing welding Technician Program(Mig-Stick-Tig) under AWS certification.With in few weeks he will become a certified welder.Those who are looking for a career it's just advice to get well trained from reputed training centers.Wish you good luck
     
  17. Maurice T floyd

    Maurice T floyd New Member

    Can somebody suggest some leading school that provide underwater welding training.One of my friend asked my suggestion.And I need some more suggestion from you guys.Please help me to suggest
     
  18. Maurice T floyd

    Maurice T floyd New Member

    Did any body in this forum have work experience in CWI????I am asking this for my friend.He has an experience of 5 years in certified welding inspector.Now He resigned from the current company an seeking for new job.How much he will get when he joined a new company?Did anyone has any idea about this???
    Did welding field help to earn more when people have experience in the same????
     
  19. Maurice T floyd

    Maurice T floyd New Member

    Hi guire
    So you are looking for part time welding school???
    My friend too joined similar one.But he used to go classes on weekends.He was also a working man at that time.Now he completed his course and he started his work on a small workshop.
    Yeah, nowadays many people are engaged on doing welding courses.Production industry in our country is growing up.And many new joiners are getting an opportunity of job.
    welding in shipyard is a good option too.You can do Apprenticeship Programs for shipyard jobs if you prefer that.But before joining all these first its better to learn more about basic techniques in welding.For that you must go for welding school and join any short term courses part time.It will help you get more knowledge about welding.
     
  20. Maurice T floyd

    Maurice T floyd New Member

    Can anybody suggest me some basic tips to improve stick welding?Its for my friend.He needs some suggestion on this.
     

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