Many people believe that learning how to weld can help them find and settle down on a career. This is a true assumption – especially if you seek to become things such as Welding Inspector or an Engineer. Before you’re ready to hop into a career of welding you have to understand that it doesn’t immediately make things easier. There will be a fair number of hardships that are accompanied by this occupation. In addition to this, there are quite a few things that you as a future welder should make sure that you understand before you get started.
1. A welding degree isn’t much like a 4 year college degree
Welding is very much a hands-on learning experience. You’ll have to spend quite a bit of time learning on your feet. For the most part, you’ll have 2 different experiences during your time in a welding class. First, you’ll have to spend quite a bit of time learning in the classroom-basically so you can learn the theory behind it all. Next, you’ll have to learn in a workshop. This is what we call a lab and it gives you time to practice with the equipment you’ll be using to weld. While this is a great setup for those who learn best through practice, it does mean that it wouldn’t be very beneficial for you to begin skipping class.
2. What is hand-on-work exactly?
Welding equipment isn’t very simple to use – there are a wide number of buttons on the machines that need to be adjusted and calibrated in order for the machine to be used properly. In the lab you’ll have to use the machine – which will give you more time to use the machine and figure out how to use it. In the lab you’ll learn how the application of angles works and how the bead on the weld can be made better. In addition to this, in class you’ll have to perform quite a bit to pass certification exams that you’ll be forced to take.
3. Do you really learn how to weld from a book?
It can really help a budding welder to know the theories behind what they learn in class. Understanding why certain things happen when they’re welding can be really beneficial to making a person an overall better welder. It can also help a person avoid certain issues that tend to arise when they’re welding.
4. How exactly can someone grade you on welding?
When you take a course on welding you get tested based on things that you learn both from your teacher and the book. You’re also give a project that contains aspects given to you by a professor. After these things, you’re then graded based on you welding according to standards given by the AWS.
5. How helpful is learning how to weld in a college setting vs. in another area?
There are actually quite a few ways to learn to weld. The downside is that a number of welding positions require you to have a degree. Positions such as Engineer or Welding Inspector can take at least 12 years to obtain without getting a degree. College also gives you several soft skills that makes you more of a prospect such as the ability to communicate or an understanding of costs.
6. Is college really for you?
Welding isn’t the easiest thing in the world to study – but nothing in the world is really easy. If you’re interested in learning how to weld though, it can be beneficial for you to study welding. If you want to get a jumpstart on your education, it can be helpful for you to get familiar with the tools involved. Don’t worry though, while it may seem futile to get a degree in welding it is actually beneficial for you to do so.
7. There are several welding processes
There are a number of welding processes, ranging from Forge welding all the way to Gas Tungsten Arc welding (GTAW). We won’t go too deep into detail on the different types of welding because we have an article here that goes into detail on all of them.
Forge Welding
Video credits to Mitchel Jacobsen. It explains the process of Forge Welding.
Flux-core Welding
Video credits to Weld.com. It explains the process of Flux Core Arc Welding.
Electroslag Welding
Video credits to Engineer’s Academy. It explains the process of Gas-Metal Arc Welding.
Gas Metal Arc Welding
Video credits to Weldtube. It explains the process of Gas-Metal Arc Welding.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
Video credits to Weldnotes.com. It explains the process of Gas-Tungsten Arc Welding.
MIG Welding
Video credits to Weld.com. It explains the process of Submerged Arc Welding.
Plasma Arc Welding
Video credits to Jordan Smith. It explains the process of Plasma Arc Welding.
Shielded Metal Arc Welding
Video credits to Weld.com. It explains the process of Stick Welding.
Submerged Arc Welding
Video credits to Jordan Smith. It explains the process of Submerged Arc Welding.
8. Safety isn’t optional
Essentially, you must be safe when you’re welding, at least if you want to have a long welding career. You want to make sure you have the correct gear, pick an adequate location, as well as do a few other things to make sure you won’t harm yourself or others.
