Thread: My journey as an Apprentice Welder

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

Must be fiddly to hold and to mark out with then ?
Next thing you be hanging out with the fitters.

Cheers'
Grahame

HA! just picked it up now to eat some humble pie and re post:

Quality 150mm & 300mm rules

Hey Harry!

Things have been going really well! BUT Is not always Gravy. Not all jobs are dream or glamor jobs and are about persistence consistency and a good positive attitude.

I've been working with 3rd year n 4th year apprentices on this maintenance job that includes cutting in confined spaces(4. 1/2 inch grinder) and lube work.

Were working under rail tracks sliding around in the slush on mechanics trolleys at a cement factory theres nothing fun about it & its dangerous dirty work.............

When your doing these kinds a jobs Its just about being consistent and hanging in there till the jobs done theres about 10 rails as long as the ones pictured we have to work through. I'll be glad when shes over..........

REgards Lou

Lou,
If I ate humble pie every time I made a typo I would have to buy a bakery.
By the way thats a great shot of the steel blue safety boots.
I just got the lace in zips for mine.

I have to change boots between classes and like to be quick about it.

There is a crappier place than a cement works though. Wait to you fab in a tannery. I went without lunch for a few days.What crap places peeeyuuu!
Grahame

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

Lou,
If I ate humble pie every time I made a typo I would have to buy a bakery.
By the way thats a great shot of the steel blue safety boots.
I just got the lace in zips for mine.

I have to change boots between classes and like to be quick about it.

There is a crappier place than a cement works though. Wait to you fab in a tannery. I went without lunch for a few days.What crap places peeeyuuu!
Grahame

YEah we get all the great jobs Im sure you'll find the steel blues apples grahame once I got mine setup right has been like walking on clouds. Next jobs 40 holes on the broach drill!

The foreman loves getting me to do finicky stuff cause he reckons Im kind to all our toys when im on the tools. I'll be using a 60mm broach n at $490 a pop will be taking it real easy..............Needless to say will be using a shitload a lube n a gentle hand

Regards Lou

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

Lou,
If I ate humble pie every time I made a typo I would have to buy a bakery.
By the way thats a great shot of the steel blue safety boots.
I just got the lace in zips for mine.

I have to change boots between classes and like to be quick about it.

There is a crappier place than a cement works though. Wait to you fab in a tannery. I went without lunch for a few days.What crap places peeeyuuu!
Grahame

Never worked in a tannery but I worked as a contract maintenance fitter / welder at a meat works for a Christmas shut down at Nourlunga in SA .
Meat works get my vote for the worst place to do welding and cutting ,especially where they dump all the waste meat and gore to process for blood and bone.
The auger in the conveyor dosen't get all the stuff out of the corners.

The stink is indescribable and nauseating and it permeates your clothing , getting home on the bus you get to sit by yourself.

Kev

Theres nothing like having a great theoretical background so u can understand what ur doing and why. This saves time helps u problem solve and become more efficient.....................the boss will also love ya if he can see u know what ur on about!

I'm always scouring the net looking for resources and was pleasantly surprised when I came across this Aussie site

http://metal.brightcookie.com/index.htm

Highly recommended stuff and well worth working through !

REgards Lou

Hi Lou
Fantastic link mate, a little ripper.

Guess who is going to use it with a particular group of young gentlemen in the very near future.

Thats gotta be worth a greenie.
Grahame

Gidday

Have been a bit quiet in the workshop lately so weve had a free reign on being able to do practice welds playing with our various rigs and practicing the "ART" of setting up a Mig welder to optimum setting............lots a floor sweeping n a bit of maintenance.

I was lucky enough to be able to talk the shop foreman into letting me make myself a good workcart. Essentially a 700mm * 600mm trolley on wheels designed to carry all my wares round the shop with me.

This lead me to thinking the other day about how prone I am to wasting time mucking round looking 4 tools grabbing gloves loosing helmets finding them leaving angle grinders in weird places n the like.

I've discovered that IF I can "setup" all my essential gear within arms length I tend to spend most of my time economically fabricating and pumping out drawings a lot quicker than when I'm unorganized n chasing tools loosing tape measures n the like...........

Heres a few things Im starting to learn from our guns in the fabshop:

1. Yes they do say measure twice cut once for a reason
2. TRy to setup your most used gear where ever possible within arms length
3. Periodically have a yarn to and checkout the 'setup' the fabshop guns are using on there welders. U can learn in 5 minutes what might take u a month or longer to work out 4 yourself.
4. To begin with Try to learn 3 standard settings on your Mig for light medium and heavy fabrication situations. This gives you a starting point to attack whatever the job is at hand.
5. It depends on the kind of work your doing BUT in structural steel work n heavy construction. Ur not expected to produce dead accurate results meaning u often have a 2 mil tolerance......................Develop processes that reduce mucking around with measuring and marking out tasks.

Would love to get a few thoughts from forumites on what u guys found works for U particularly when it comes to working fast and economically..........

Regards Lou

Originally Posted by NewLou

Gidday

1. Yes they do say measure twice cut once for a reason

Lol. We used to have another saying for the times we didn't follow rule number 1
"There's pretty more material in the rack"

Originally Posted by NewLou

Gidday

Have been a bit quiet in the workshop lately so weve had a free reign on being able to do practice welds playing with our various rigs and practicing the "ART" of setting up a Mig welder to optimum setting............lots a floor sweeping n a bit of maintenance.

I was lucky enough to be able to talk the shop foreman into letting me make myself a good workcart. Essentially a 700mm * 600mm trolley on wheels designed to carry all my wares round the shop with me.

This lead me to thinking the other day about how prone I am to wasting time mucking round looking 4 tools grabbing gloves loosing helmets finding them leaving angle grinders in weird places n the like.

I've discovered that IF I can "setup" all my essential gear within arms length I tend to spend most of my time economically fabricating and pumping out drawings a lot quicker than when I'm unorganized n chasing tools loosing tape measures n the like...........

Heres a few things Im starting to learn from our guns in the fabshop:

1. Yes they do say measure twice cut once for a reason
2. TRy to setup your most used gear where ever possible within arms length
3. Periodically have a yarn to and checkout the 'setup' the fabshop guns are using on there welders. U can learn in 5 minutes what might take u a month or longer to work out 4 yourself.
4. To begin with Try to learn 3 standard settings on your Mig for light medium and heavy fabrication situations. This gives you a starting point to attack whatever the job is at hand.
5. It depends on the kind of work your doing BUT in structural steel work n heavy construction. Ur not expected to produce dead accurate results meaning u often have a 2 mil tolerance......................Develop processes that reduce mucking around with measuring and marking out tasks.

Would love to get a few thoughts from forumites on what u guys found works for U particularly when it comes to working fast and economically..........

Regards Lou

great thread so far. got any pics of the cart you made up?
cheers,

Howdy Lou,

Wanna say thanks for your post, sometimes when you are making a change in your life you need some words of encouragement. I am 32 and have got the welding bug. I was introduced to welding by an old bloke who's been in the game for ages, now im at Tafe trying to get my Ticket 7 and then 4 later on.

I have two kids and looking for a apprenticeship is a little out of the question. I am just about to purchase a welder so i can practice my ass off. Welding is all about practice and as you said listening to older experienced people.

So i have been at TAFE for less than a month now, I have never welded before but i have always been good with my hands. I just got my self a good helmet (auto darkening) and im just about to buy an esseti welder (just dc inverter). At this stage I guess im looking for some inspiration or some advice on how to takle the next part of the journey. Im really trying hard not to discourage my self with negativity.

Comming from an IT career metal fabrication is like another planet, but a good planet. Something about creating or making something with tools and your own hands thats really satisfying. I enjoy doing the TIG stuff and I guess that leads to pipe welding and more precise work.

I would appreciate any helpfull advice.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by StartedwithaTIG

Comming from an IT career metal fabrication is like another planet, but a good planet. Something about creating or making something with tools and your own hands thats really satisfying.

Welcome to the forums mate.
I done exactly the opposite and boy do I miss being a fabricator.
Anyhow being 32 is not too old to get an apprenticeship. You sound keen and I'm sure someone would see you're keen and take you on. Sure the money might suck at first though you could subsidise it with a part time job (say doing a night shift at the servo or something) till you get good money coming in. Night school might be bit of a bummer too (if they still do it).
All the best with whatever you decide to do for the future!

Originally Posted by kellya01

great thread so far. got any pics of the cart you made up?
cheers,

Gidday Kell .............................Took a few specially 4 u Today! Nothing fancy just thrown together from scrap between jobs.

Must say Im quicker since I started using her and havent been chasing tools since!

Make sure to post yours here when shes done too

REgards Lou

Originally Posted by StartedwithaTIG

Howdy Lou,..................I would appreciate any helpfull advice.

Cheers.

Gidday m8

Yeah just goes to show its all a journey!

My advise would be to go for it................And practice practice practice! Theres money to be made as a tradie these days N fabricators n Quality 1st Class Welders are in demand!

I've heard it said you can teach a Monkey to weld and that its a mugs game rar rar rar ................ Theres a difference between welding and welding properly!

Its an Art my friend!.................... and a continual journey of learning and application. Try to get in Good habits early N if u really want to become a tigkid PM me your address N I'll send you a Great little Video on Tigin

............Good luck with it all n heres to hangin round you'll get all the best advise in the world right here from 'OUR COMMUNITY"

Regards Lou

Hi everyone,

you know the first thing that struck me when first investigating the welding industry, was the community. There is a real sense of belonging to something. And if you think about the welding industry is quite old, and its very important.
Im very excited now as im going to buy my very first welder. I think i got a bargain, an esseti 150 dc inverter (not the one with HF), almost new, with all the leads, the 15amp to 10 amp converter, grinder and disks, good regulator, tungstens, clamps , gloves, filler rods (stainless), also the torch is one of those ones where you can move it around into any position, also the original stainless case oh yeah and trolley. All this for $700. This guy also sold me his Miller elite helmet (the one with all the skulls) brand new for $260. I think his wife took him to the cleaners and his trying to sell everything. What do you guys think about Esseti tig welders?

Thanks Newlou for your words, it really helps when you step far far away from your comfort zone to know that alot of people do change careers at 30+ and come out on top. The I.T. industry which im in now, is really boring me to tears, I still love computers but after 8 years its really taking its toll. If i have to sit in an office for another year im going to go stir crazy. But dont get me wrong I can see and know its going to be hard work, but thats what i need, im striving to work hard and make decent money and at the end of the day have a feeling of accomplishment. Thats the thing about this industry there are no delusions its simple, work hard and smart and you will get good rewards.

lets see how it all works out .............