Welding Cert???

[Davediesel]

Hello all,
I'm thinking about pursuing a welding certificate during the last year of my Diesel Technology Associates Degree program. I don't have any experience welding or using a Oxyfuel torch for cutting and I feel behind. Do you think it would be worth the time and money to get the cert? Thanks for any advice.

 

[jakemac]

Weapons (Skills) you don't use, are still weapons (skills) you have in your arsenal.
Speaking from a position of regret, I'd say take the class now while you can. It will be much harder to get to it later in life.

I always wanted to learn how to weld but time, money, access, life, always got in the way.
If you have the chance now, do it.

 

[readhead]

The cert will show that you can pass a test. Your continuity starts and stops every time you change jobs. You are supposed to test every time you change jobs. A lot employers ignore the requirement and will keep a copy of your original cert in their files.

If you decide to be self employed the cert will last forever as long as you maintain your own continuity log to show that you have done work related to that cert within the last six months.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to have the knowledge that comes with the cert. I used to do welding repair for several of the local heavy equipment and rental places because they didn't have qualified welders. That always surprised me but was pretty common. The welding experience may help you get a job.

 

[Tinner]

Readhead nailed it. Everything you need to know on the topic.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Take the class, get the cert. You will never regret the skills you gain now, and once you have the initial cert getting re-certified is pretty easy.

Someday you may have a shot at a high paying welding job, and without your certs and logs you may not get a chance to test or compete for it. You needed that to get in the door to test for welder spots where I used to work. Without it - sorry, nothing available for you.

Go for it.

 

[sberry]

Having metal working makes a guy 2x as valuable. The welder can do stuff a non welder simply cant do. The cert doesn't mean much, some stick welding skills and being able to use a torch are about priceless.

 

[crewchief888]

every job ive had over the past 30+ years working at const eq dealerships, the biggest PLUS on my application was that i could weld.

the vast majority of the guys working in the heavy eq world can barely light a torch, if they do manage to get it lit, the mess they make trying to make a simple cut takes 3x's as long to clean up.

we had a young guy come into our shop a few years ago, fresh out of the military as a mechanic, said he knew everything...
handed him 2 reinforcing plates to weld on an oil filled chaincase, along with printed instructions....

2 days later i found out he didnt know he was suppose to turn the gas on on the mig welder. took me 10 hours of cutting, grinding, and rewelding to fix his f*ckup. he was gone about a week later...

 

[WittHay]

I actually learned the torch and some stick welding in high school. Knowing how to use a torch is a must have skill, if you are going to work on older rusty equipment or trucks and trailers that have been exposed to salt. As others have said a good welder is valuable

 

[Roberts210]

I learned to weld in Ag. Shop when I was 14 years old. That was 56 years ago and I'm still welding. It's a good skill to have and comes in VERY handy. The front gate on my barnyard driveway is one I made when I was 15 and it's still in great shape.

 

[dr_clyde]

The most valuable thing I ever did for my career was learn how to weld, then got good at it. I have gotten more work from my welding abilities than any other skill.

It is always a plus to be well rounded and have extra skills. I've never regretted learning new skills and abilities.

The certificate only shows that you passed the course. It doesn't qualify you to do code welding, but it is a good thing to have on a resume. Most employers that need to have qualified welders will test you themselves anyway. If nothing else, this will get your foot in the door.

 

[Davediesel]

Below is the program breakdown:

Semester 1
Oxyfuel Welding and Cutting
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Basic)
Welder Qualification Tests 1

Semester 2:
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Advanced)
Welding III (Inert Gas)
Welder Qualification Tests 2

Semester 3:
Pip Welding I
Inert Gas Welding
Pipe and Tube Welding
Welding Drawing and Interpretation

Upon completion of the program, students may qualify as tack welders or may successfully pass the AWS Journey Certification tests.

As a diesel mechanic in training, is a Welding cert this in-depth unnecessary? Would I be better off picking a few classes just to develop basic skills?

 

[turbowoodworker]

There is some side value to this as well that is not been mentioned previously.
You will be the expert when you drive up your post count on any welding thread at Garage Journal. When I have a stupid welding question I'm very careful who I listened to.

 

[readhead]

Do the whole program. It's better to have covered everything than have gaps and not be able to do some process later down the line. A D1.1 qualification will cover most of what you may need to weld but there are some specific qualifications that will allow you to weld on crane and forklift repairs. Be the most qualified guy in the shop and you will always have a job.

 

[sberry]

As a diesel mechanic in training, is a Welding cert this in-depth unnecessary? Would I be better off picking a few classes just to develop basic skills?

*@#$ The better yo are the better off you are. dr eluded to it a minute ago, there is a big difference between those who know and those who think they know. There is a big difference between some basics and being proficient, being able to pass tests when needed, being able to weld pressure piping etc.
I bounced around for a while in the work world and one thing always showed up was the welding, it stood out,,, you should see this etc. 2nd day the boss is asking my opinion over guys been on his payroll a decade. I was enough better than a part timer or basic scratcher that it was noticeable as night and day. Lots of busted stuff on heavy equipment, lots of it in difficult places and poor positions.

 

[Wamsutta]

Most employers don't ask for welding certs unless you're going to be welding structural steel. You're not going to need any AWS certs if you're going to be a diesel mechanic.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Well, you can use the welding program.....to be a welder.

I have no welding certs. I have been a pipeline welder, ship fitter, production line welder, equipment repair welder, and overhead crane builder/welder. I am a heavy equipment/diesel tech now. The welding life is hard but is an invaluable secondary skill as a heavy equipment tech. In my case, I am a welder first but I opted for a few more dollars and less hard work as an equipment tech.

You don't need a cert but you really do need to know how to weld to excel in the heavy equipment/diesel field. The only welding class I took was SMAW and it was invaluable for the rest of my welding career. I say just get your feet wet with a welding class and take it from there.

 

[dffay]

If the best job you can land is putting rolled-over, beaten up diesel borne vehicles back on the playing field like timber work, quarry trucks and such, you will be the absolute go-to guy. Get it powered back up and fix its abused body and you'll be the man.

 

[bczygan]

All humans should be able to weld.

 

[flushcut]

I don't know about getting certified but learning how to weld is invaluable.

 

[readhead]

Any legitimate shop that has liability insurance will have qualified welders. If they are repairing crane booms, outriggers, dump bodies etc that have written procedures they would be crazy not to have specific qualified welders to do the job. That being said, there are any number of quality shops that take the chance that nothing will happen with those repairs. Seems nuts for a $400 test.

 

[dffay]

Don't say no to more education and knowledge. Learning how to learn is the hallmark of any legitimate education program. There are so many intangibles that go along with welding like patience, math skills, physics, critical decision making and yes, Zen-like mastery, that you will build skills for later that you can't forecast now. The same goes with your diesel mechanics eduction. Grab it all now. No regrets brother....

 

[PBCampbell]

You have the opportunity, take advantage of it. You'll be none the worse for doing so and indeed you'll likely be better off in the long run.

 

[tdkkart]

Just be ready, minutes after you pass the weld cert test, if you see a guy coming at your with an air hose with funny attachment on it you should run. He's coming to blow your head up about 4 hat sizes.........