Welding Tips and Tricks

I work in a non union shop been here for five years. i was interested in the pipefitters apprenticeship,do you have any advice? I have mostly purge welded s.s. tube and done some other s.s.(sanitary tanks).

I started my career in the food & beverage industry, welding stainless. Working for a non-union contactor, we learned on-the-job and there were limited opportunities for growing or developing new skills. It was a great experience, but I continued my education to move forward in my career. If you find yourself in a similar situation, the pipefitters apprecticeship might be a good option for you. The "trades" provide capable, skilled labor by providing a robust training program. Depending on your location, interests & skills - there are many options that you can evaluate.

what do you do now?

Jamie, A union pipefitter doesn't weld.

He calculates, marks, cuts, grinds, and bevels pipe. He holds parts in place or clamps parts in place, and tells his welder when to tack then damn thing.

If you want to weld for the union, consider the boilermakers.

Steve S

jamiewells wrote:what do you do now?

A little bit of everything ... relatively speaking. I was with the "blue" company, now operating my own gig.

Otto that may b the most arrogant post ive ever read on this forum. I'm a union pipefitter but the only thing I do is weld.

Jamie joining the union was the best thing ive done for myself. Like u I started out working non union as well. Realized it was time for a career not a job with no real future. Been seven years now and I can honestly say that the education and on the job training u receive thru the union are as good as it gets. It is true that not all pipefitters are welders just like its true that not all boilermakers weld. U have to decide if welding is the path u want to take. My union book reads pipefitter but first and foremost I'm a welder. I assure u that u wont see boilermakers doing the critical heavy wall main steam chrome welds. That's where the glory is. Million dollar welds from start to finish. Not to knock the boilermakers I have many friends that chose that path and all of them say if they had to do it over again they'd b a pipefitter. Do ur research though I'm pretty biased. Take into consideration how much u want to travel. I have the option but I can work at home if I choose. Hard to b a boilermaker and still watch ur kids grow up.

Yes, the bias shows.

I meant no arrogance. I was referring to the clear distinctions between crafts in the unions.

I also didn't mean to imply that a fitter can't weld. I know fitters that weld like spreading butter, and welders that can fit rolling offsets in their sleep.

However, as a union fitter, you're very unlikely to hear, "Your welder is sick today. Do you mind doing this 24" chill-water joint today?

As a union pipe welder, you're unlikely to hear, "Your fitter is sick today; Would you mind building this branch-wye?"

To go union, you need to pick one craft to focus on. We all absorb knowledge from the crafts around us.

Steve S

Yes Otto u r correct and I apologize I could have made that post with a little more tact. I took the initial post as a dig from a boilermaker. U know how often we bicker over stupid whit. My bad.

It is what it is...

Everyone who takes real pride in what they do is sensitive to those who seem to put it down.

i have an interview with pipefitters jatc on 5/15. i hope that i get in.

Hey,

Good luck.Let us know how you go.

Mick

jamiewells wrote:i have an interview with pipefitters jatc on 5/15. i hope that i get in.

Good luck to you Jamie, hope you get in.

Jamiewells.

Putting a few years in fitting will transform your welding opportunities too.
For many shops, the fitter is the eyes of the welding, able to cut times and reduce rework.
A fitter will keep multiple welders busy.
From fitter or lead-fitter,there are opportunities in welding supervision and welding inspection.

Fitting would be a good investment ... but keep one foot welding too.

Alexa

so i just got the call that i have to take my drug test then we start work on the 8th of next month. what does a 1st year apprentice have to do on the job. i was told that we wont be welding untill 3rd year. so i was wondering are they going to have me sweep up or take out the trash. i wouldnt mind doing these thing i just wondered what to expect.

jamiewells wrote:so i just got the call that i have to take my drug test then we start work on the 8th of next month. what does a 1st year apprentice have to do on the job. i was told that we wont be welding untill 3rd year. so i was wondering are they going to have me sweep up or take out the trash. i wouldnt mind doing these thing i just wondered what to expect.

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Jamiewells.

You will cost them too much to be used as a custodian or janitor.

Pipefitting is a craft that demands a lot of study and practice.
You will be astonished as to how much you learn just the first week.

Keep welding on your own though ... the two jobs overlap ... but are different.
For a career in welding, pipefitting experience is a big plus.

Alexa

While Alexa is right in that you won't be the janitor, you will get a certain amount of "laborer" duty, which will occasionally involve sweeping the work area, dragging leads, schlepping stuff from the tool crib, etc.

You'll develop a sense of what is an appropriate level of this by observing those around you, and if you find you're being abused (not to be confused with "hazed" as the newbie), you'll gain respect by speaking up for yourself... tactfully.

Just remember, the tool crib does NOT have stainless magnets, uterus punches, arc starter, or plasma for the plasma cutter... You know... the kind of stuff we get a kick out of sending the green helper after.

I once sent the GF's 17YO son to the (female) tool crib attendent for six feet of "fallopian tube". She knew it was me. She laughed about that one for a week.

Steve S

Hey,

Dont forget going to the tool store for a long weight( wait). One of our welders sent an apprentice to the sick bayfor "anti shake tablets" that "all" the welders take.

Mick

One of the funnier ones I saw,

Buddy told a helper he needed some oil, spec'd ID- Ten-T. Handed him a sharpie, told him to write it on his glove.

Kid dutifully wrote, "ID10T"

I smiled for at least an hour...

Steve s