Welding is the process of heating and melting metal parts to join them together permanently. Welding is also used to join beams when constructing bridges and buildings. Some welders work at steel mills, railroad shops, and highway departments. Other welders are cutters, using their tools to cut metal into pieces, as required by a blueprint or design, or to cut structures into pieces so they can be discarded. There are more than a hundred methods of welding using electricity or various gasses to create the high temperatures that bond metals. Arc welding, which can be done either by hand or by machine, is the most common form. Another common form of welding uses gas. Many types of gas can be used, but a common example is an acetylene and oxygen torch.

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A welder positions, and secures parts and assemblies according to specifications, using straightedge, combination square, calipers, and ruler. He/she then observes tests on welded surfaces, such as hydrostatic, x-ray, and dimension tolerance to evaluate weld quality and conformance to specifications.

A welder also inspects grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometer, caliper, and precision measuring instruments and determines required equipment and welding method, applying knowledge of metallurgy, geometry, and welding techniques.
 

Industry Changes

The welder is constantly learning and updating their knowledge. With new technology on the rise in manufacturing, improving welding knowledge will always be incredibly important.

The government has recently set targets for greater energy efficiency to combat climate change. With further training, you may be able to install and maintain framing for renewable energy technologies like solar powered heating systems. Some welders use computers and robots to join metal pieces. Welders must continue to further educate themselves for higher end technology in automation. With additional training, they can learn to program the computers.

Over the next ten years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified welders and the expected increased retirement rate in this trade over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs.

Welding is becoming increasingly complex, so welders who have had formal training may find the most opportunities. Demand should also be high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field.

 

Safety

Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials.

Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

 

Job Tasks

• Assembles

• Automation

• Blueprint reading

• Bonds

• Cutting

• Drilling

• Electrical

• Erecting

• Fabricating

• Framing 

• Heats metal

• Layouts

• Machining

• Measuring

• Structures

• Torches

• Welding

• Welds buildings and bridges

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Allen keys

• Ball peen hammer

• Chipper hammer

• Clamps

• Combination square

• Crow bar

• Drills

• Grinders

• Ear Plugs

• Electrical multi-meter

• Face shield

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Lathes

• Measuring tape

• Micrometers, calipers and thickness gauges

• Mig welder

• Mini pipe cutters

• Multi meter

• Needle nose pliers

• Safety equipment (goggles, boots, face shield etc)

• Screw driver set

• Shapers

• Socket set

• Sparking igniter

• Spot welder

• Square

• Tig Welder

• Tin snips

• Torches

• Vice grips

• Welder gloves and jacket

• Welder mask

• Wrenches

• Wire strippers

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Critical Thinking

• Decision Making

• Analytical Thinking

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Writing

• Computer Knowledge

 

General Wages

• Average -   $20.50

• Minimum -  $14.75

• Maximum - $34.00

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Sample Q&A

 

1. Gas tungsten arc welding most commonly used when?

a. welding on thick materials.

b. welding on thin or alloy material.

c. high heat input is desirable.

d. high deposition rates are required.

Ans. B

 

2. A butt weld joint in carbon steel that is restrained during welding and cooling will?

a. have a high residual stress

b. be stronger

c. will never crack

d. none of the above

Ans. A

 

3. Which of the following describes what this symbol is?

 

 

a. ¼ weld  that is 2in from one end and 4 in from the other

b.¼ weld that are 2-4 in long

c. ¼ weld that are 2 in long with 4in spacing

d. None of the above

Ans. C

 

4. When an inadequate air supply in CAC-A system, which of the following problems is most likely the cause?

a. Excessive electrode consumption.

b. Excessive carbon deposits and contaminated base metal.

c. Hydrogen induced cracking in the base metal.

d. Loss of arc continuity resulting in controllability issues.

Ans. B

 

5. If exerted pressure between contact tips is increased, what must happen to the welding current during Resistance Spot Welding?

a. Welding current increases

b. Welding current decreases.

c. Welding current is unaffected by the exerted pressure.

d. Welding current remains unchanged.

Ans. A

 

6. The welding process in which the work is negatively charged and the electrode is positively charged to create a melting process is?

a. induction welding

b. arc welding

c. thermit welding

d. resistance welding

Ans. B

 

7. What is done to a PAC cutting torch to make it suitable for gouging operations?

a. Higher than normal air pressure and voltage settings are employed for optimum results.

b. The torch is changed to use a nozzle that reduces arc constriction resulting in lower arc stream velocity.

c. No changes are made to the PAC torch set up, operator technique is the only change needed.

d. A water cooling system may be added to avoid heat damage to the torch body as associated with excessive heat radiations form the PAC gouging process.

Ans. B