Thursday, July 14, 2011

The Different Types of Welding Methods

The Different Types of Welding Methods

Welding is not only a binding of two materials, it is also a blend of art and natural support. The basic theory of welding is simple, to permanently bring two materials together, but these are the three primary welding methods that can be used in nearly every application.

The Art of The TIG Weld

TIG, or tungsten inert gas, is the material used for one of the longest lasting and practical forms of welding. Many welders prefer TIG during their welding training as it provides for the most leeway when it comes to the materials that can be welded with. One of the primary users of TIG welding is the aerospace industry, which prefers TIG due to the 'fillers' that can be applied to make very strong bonds. Other uses of TIG are practically limitless and it is perfectly suited to any aluminum or aluminum alloy products.

The Ease of The MIG Weld

Another very streamlined form of welding is the MIG weld, or metal inert gas weld. The initial costs are slightly more expensive due to the complexity of the gun, but welding training could not be easier once the materials are purchased. The MIG welding gun provides both the current and the force fed wire through the working end of the machine to create a very consistent weld. Special care must be taken when using a MIG gun as it is one of the slightly more dangerous welding methods. The light produced from the weld can often give 'arc eye', or swelling of the cornea, if eye protection is not used. Protection of some sort should also be used to contain the sparks from any nearby persons. Finally, due to the toxic gases released during MIG welding, it is suggested to use a mask or only weld in well-vented or open areas.

The Uses Of The Stick Weld

Stick welding is arguably the most popular style of method around the world due to its ease of use and the affordability of the materials. An electrical current is run through a consumable electrode of material which forms the bond. While this process is very simple to learn, it can also provide for poor bonds if not done correctly.

There are many other forms of welding, but these three in particular are some of the most common. They each offer a good blend of affordability, quality, and safety in the realm of welding.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Use Military Benefits for Vocational School

Use Military Benefits for Vocational School

Most service men and women join the military when they are very young and spend a great deal of their professional within its structure. While the reasons for joining military service are deeply personal, so too are the ones for leaving that service, but it carries more weight now than ever before to leave a career without being equipped to begin another one. The economy is not kind, but the military has recently begun to offer assistance to veterans for vocational study.

What is Veteran's Vocational Rehabilitation?

The Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation service is a program geared to veterans who had a service related disability severe enough to disqualify them from duty. Its objective is to allow for job training and accommodation at the work place to assist with finding a new career and keeping it. It provides evaluation for skills, ability and interest, and helps to ease some of the financial burden from those veterans that will expect to be honorably discharged, have a minimum of a 10 percent disability, and have applied for the service.

The Montgomery GI Bill

This is one of the military scholarships that allows a certain amount of money monthly for the costs of attending a school or vocational study. While it once paid tuition outright, the system switched to a fixed monthly income meant to go toward the tuition of a veteran. In order to receive this funding the veteran must have an honorable discharge, have joined the military for the first time after 1985, and served for two to three years depending on the enlistment agreement for a category 1 bill disbursement. Category 2 meets different criteria.

Exploring the military scholarships

There is a variety of military aid available that can be found online or at your local veteran affairs office. These scholarships carry a wide range of fund disbursement and are a great help for veterans who do not have adequate means to pay for all of their educational costs. There are also scholarships that assist the veteran's family member, thereby relieving some of the financial pressure from the veteran.

Readjustment to what is termed civilian life can be difficult enough, especially with the job market today being so uncertain. Programs such as the veterans vocational rehabilitation services and military scholarships can help with the cost of the education it often takes to get a leg up.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Five Reasons To Pursue an Associate’s Degree in Welding

Five Reasons To Pursue an Associate’s Degree in Welding
Once you’ve made the decision to be a welder, you will then be faced with the decision of how to obtain welding training. Some welders are trained on the job, while others pursue formal training and obtain an associate’s degree. When making the decision, keep in mind that your training is the foundation of your career. Before beginning your career, consider these five good reasons to get your associates in welding:

You will be taught a variety of welding methods
If you are unfamiliar with welding, you may assume that there is only one technique used by all welders. However, this is completely untrue. When obtaining your associates, you will be taught Arc Welding, Gas Metal-Arc Welding, Electroslag Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, and Shielded Metal Arc Welding, as well as other techniques. If you want to become a pipe welder, this is one of the last things you will learn. Welding is much more complicated than some may think.

You Can Increase Your Chances of Finding a Job
With the job market as competitive as it is, it isn’t exactly easy to find a welding job if you are new to the career. Unless you have someone willing to take you under their wing and train you, it is going to be very difficult to find a job without prior training.

You Can increase Your Earning Potential
Welders with formal training will generally earn more than those without formal training. Taking the time to earn your associates will also increase your chances of being chosen for higher paying positions. The more welding methods you have mastered, the more successful your career can be.

You’ll Have a Better Chance of Becoming a Supervisor in the Future
When competing for management positions, those with a formal education will usually have the upper hand. Unless other applicants have significantly more experience than you, you will generally beat out other welders if you have a welding degree on your resume.

You can Always Build upon an Associate's Degree
If you decide that welding isn’t for you, you can take more classes and begin working towards another degree. An education is never a bad thing to have. Investing in an education is like investing in a backup plan.

The welding training you receive will affect your entire career. An associate's degree will not just get your foot in the door, it will continue to benefit you throughout your entire career.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Choose a Structural Welding Career - Owasso, Oklahoma

Choose a Structural Welding Career - Owasso, Oklahoma

When you are considering career objectives, structural welding is an option that provides many benefits to the worker that holds these skills. An Owasso structural welder career can lead down the path to continual employment, and a good pay rate.

Structural welding is necessary for any type of construction work. Buildings, roads, bridges, and even large equipment must first have a skeleton constructed, and this is generally done with steel. Proper welding is necessary to ensure a stable structure for the rest of the project to be completed.

Structural welding is also very necessary for the manufacturing of equipment. Machinery of all types requires a metal frame to be solidly built before any mechanisms are put into place. Tractors, cranes and even the car you drive all had to have a structural welding done before it could be completed.

What Does Structural Welder Training Consist Of And How Long Does It Take?

Owasso structural welder training will require you to attend classes to learn about the many types of welding and how to accurately weld different metals together. You will be required to learn about the different types of welding, such as stick, flux core, tig; you will also learn which metals require each type of weld. You will learn blueprint reading techniques as well as how to interpret welding symbols.

There are many different types of welding; it is more than simply laying down a line of molten metal. Different types of welding, such as vertical up, pipe welding and multi pass welds will be taught. Grinding, finishing and testing for strength will also be covered in the program.

What Should I Expect Of An Owasso Welding Career?

When you become a trained and certified welder, you posses a core skill that can translate into work for many industries. You have given yourself the opportunity to stay employed, even during hard economic times.

Structural welding is a skilled career, not a laborer's position. Most people that have entered into an Owasso welding career find that they have long term employment with single employers, leading to a much happier working environment.

Whatever you decide to do with your welding training, you will develop a strong foundation for life by completing an accredited structural welding associate's degree program near Owasso.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Skilled Trades Insight: What is a Master Welder?

Skilled Trades Insight: What is a Master Welder?

The title of Master Welder carries a lot of weight in the profession, and for good reason. Anyone who has achieved this status has earned it through accumulating at least five years' experience in a welding career, and learning, not only their own craft, but ancillary crafts as well. Master Welders may be called upon to use their welding school skills in a variety of fields.

Basic Requirements of a Master Welder

The first requirement of Master Welders is precision. They must be able to consistently create near flawless welds with a failure rate below 5% in Magna Flux testing, and below 10% in X-ray testing. They must also be a journeyman fitter and be able to read blueprints as well. Master Welders are also able to cultivate good team skills, work safely and responsibly without supervision, and realize that not everything can be taught in welding school, so they must help the welders under them. It's not just a welding career to this professional, it's a commitment.

Job Opportunities for a Master Welder

There are many areas where a welding career may take the Master Welder after achieving a welding degrees. Structural welding is one of the more common ones and may include bridge and overpass construction as well as work on high-rise office buildings, refineries, power plants, and even shipbuilding. Another venue for the Master Welder is in the aerospace industry. There is no substitute for the trained eye of a seasoned professional when it comes to this type of metalwork.

Preparing to Become a Master Welder

Although welding can be taught on-the-job, it's difficult to proceed beyond the lower levels of welding and into the realm of the Master Welder without attending a dedicated welding school of some type. Whether a part of a college-level curriculum, or at a technical-vocational institution, becoming a Master Welder requires years of dedicated study and practice at a master welder program. However, that hard work is worth it for these skilled professionals.

Prospects for a Master Welder

With a growing need for welders as many countries begin the daunting task of rebuilding their infrastructures of highways, bridges, and public buildings, the prospects for a Master Welder are looking brighter all the time. Openings will depend, to a degree on the welding certifications a Master Weld has accumulated, but the current salary figures show that a Master Welder can earn an average of between $35,000 and $40,000 per year. Salaries depend upon the job and the geographic location. Studying to be a master welder is not a guarantee of employment.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Training to be a Welder in Kingsland, Georgia

Training to be a Welder in Kingsland, Georgia

Is an Associate’s Degree in Welding Right for Me?

When you earn an associate’s degree from a Kingsland welder school, you will be preparing for a job in a variety of settings in the manufacturing industry. In your degree program, you will learn the basics of welding, welding techniques, and technical math. When you complete your degree, you will have skills to obtain an entry-level position as a welder.

If you enjoy working with your hands in a manufacturing or construction setting, a Kingsland welding career may be an enjoyable educational and career choice for you. Welders often work multiple and different shifts, as many manufacturing operations offer two or three shifts per day. Workers needing flexibility in scheduling may find welding an appealing choice. Additionally, welding is a very physical occupation, and students considering a Kingsland welding career should be able to lift heavy objects and work while standing, bending, or stooping.

Associate’s Degree in Welding

Associates degree programs in welding usually have several educational requirements. In addition to taking classes in basic reading, mathematics and language skills, you will likely be required to take classes in basic arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux core arc welding and gas tungsten arc gas welding. You will also be required to take safety regulation classes, and some programs offer certificates that certify you as having knowledge of OSHA safety regulations. Some programs also offer certification with the American Welding Society upon completion of your degree. If you are pursuing a Kingsland welding career, your associate’s degree, along with the appropriate certifications, can help you to get a job.

Employment Outlook for Welders

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the welding industry is projected to stay stable until at least 2018, but may experience a slight decline due to increased automation in manufacturing plants. Additionally, because the basic skills of welding remain the same across manufacturing industries, welders who are laid off should be able to shift to another job, even if it is in a different industry. Since welders who are trained in the latest technologies are in higher demand, students should ensure that the Kingsland welder school they enroll in trains them on those technologies.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Training to be a Welder in Gainesville, Florida

Training to be a Welder in Gainesville, Florida

If you are considering a Gainesville welding career you should consider obtaining an Associate's Degree before looking for employment. A Gainesville welding Associate's Degree will allow you to find better paying employment because your skill level will be higher than an on-the-job trained welder.

Welders are one of the most necessary jobs in all of the construction trades. Buildings, bridges and even roads cannot be constructed without a welder to build the frames. Equipment used to construct other objects is first made by a welder. Welding is a profession that will not disappear, even as technology accelerates.

What Will I Gain From Taking Gainesville Welding Courses?

A Gainesville welding Associate's degree will give you all the knowledge and training necessary to be a well rounded welder. You will learn the different types of welding styles such as arc welding or stick welding, and you will learn about the different types of metals that can be bound by this process.

To pursue your Gainesville welding career you will need to know the different types of gases that are used and how to properly mix and regulate them. Welders must be very careful that they are knowledgeable about the proper ways to use these flammable products.

You will gain trade-specific knowledge with your Gainesville welding courses, such as blueprint reading and interpreting welding symbols. You will also learn about the other equipment often used in the trade.

What Does The Future Hold For Welders?

Welding is one career that you do not have to worry about the recession hitting, or that it will become a “dated” profession. As long as things need to be built, there will be a need for welders. Welding is a profession that can almost guarantee steady work, something that not many professions can promise.

If you train to become a welder in Gainesville you will be pleased with the outcome. As in any profession, a person with a degree will always make a higher wage. Welders with a degree can look forward to advancement within their companies. Many companies have begun to hire welding inspectors as a way to provide quality assurance. These inspectors make very respectable wages. However, all welding inspectors are required to hold an Associate's Degree or higher in welding to be considered for the position.