Anything welding

So I'm trying to do some resume building since I lack any professional experience. American Welding Society has several online courses available. Any thoughts/opinions on if I should invest my time & money into these? The courses seem to be a fairly new addition, so I'm not sure how seriously an employer will look at those as opposed to online courses offered by established schools.

 

Well I put my welds to the test today, ran into a pine tree (8-10" diameter) with my DIY relentless bumper, as of the current inspection none of the welds failed, it's all bent metal so far.

 

That looks like a pretty solid hit! Bummer man!

 

Yep, going about 20 MPH and hit some slick mud, couldn't steer and wasn't able to brake much, impact speed was probably just over 15 MPH with a lot weight in the truck, also hit the front/side of the tire and sheared an alignment tab, just glad I didn't bend the frame and the airbags didn't go off.
Next time I'm in the area I'll take a picture of the tree (Before I push it over and burn it) it was a good hit that took about 2 inches out of the tree.

I think I can straighten it out for the most part, and if I need to I can fab some new pieces to kale it work.

 

You have Mud we have Ice and Snow still hitting unmoving objects hurts.

Did you really have that little faith in your welds??

Anything can fail depending on the direction of the impact.

Glad your air bags did not go off that can make a mess.

 

I've rarely had to deal with ice but I'll take mud over ice any day.

I wasn't sure about these welds because I welded the bumper after I had been welding for about 3 months, most of my experience was with flux core and we had just started learning MIG at school.

Yeah, me too, airbags would've sucked to deal with.

 

has anybody heard anything, whether it be good or bad, about the Hobart handler 140?

 

Excellent rug to have around the house, even if you are a pro.

Great unit for a great price.

 

I have one, it's great. Parts are plentiful and cheap if it breaks but mine has been dead reliable.

 

Not a bad little welder !!

.023 wire and weld within the limits

 

206 of 1100 Tundra sway bar endlinks for TRD. Up close pictures of welds got corrupted...

 

Upon looking I did break a weld, not major though, should be able to get it close and weld it again.
I was also able to bend the bumper back down again, gonna wait until after I get the suspension back on to try to pull the bumper forward again.

 

Buying a bottle of argon and a flow meter tomorrow... Structural welding jobs are getting hard to find and combo/tube welders are getting more and more in demand. F this unemployment life lol.

 

If you have $1,500 (for tuition) and a year of time (2 semesters of night class) to spend you can get a structural welding job here in south Ms.
A lot of experienced welders will take the 2 semesters of night class to get fast tracked to the weld test at the (semi) local shipyard.

 

Already went to school. Already a certified structure welder.

 

The weird thing about this company is that doesn't matter, you either go through the 3 year program to become a welder at their yard or you go to a school that they have a connection with to get fast tracked to take the welding test to decide if you get the job or not.
Apparently they don't even care about Certs, they only care if you pass the X-ray test at the yard.

Another option for you though, good pay (IMO) and good benefits.

 

F that. They want me to goto school then they better pay $20+/hr with full benefits and 50 hours/week lol.

 

$19/hr starting with full benefits and as much OT as you want.
Sundays are double time and a half.

 

Not bad at all. I used to work for $18/hr at a production shop and didn't mind it except for the fact that we got 48 hours one week and 36 the next week. That was the schedule and they wouldn't let anyone get OT. I cant live off that low of pay unless they let me get them hours.

 

Opinions? Welded in 6g. Scratch start.