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Dylan
Student
Yuma, Arizona
2
Questions
Asked
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Can I get any tips about welding and how to become one?
I am a middle schooler and wanting to get into welding but I don’t know where to do to learn about welding. And can I get some tips about welding I would like to learn about techniques and what equipment I would need.
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1 answer
Brook Rasmussen
CWI
9
Answers
Sacramento, California
Updated
Brook’s Answer
Hi!
In middle school it will be hard to find somewhere that will let you weld with you being under 18, it’s an insurance policy thing.
That being said, definitely explain your interest to your parents. Let them know you are deeply interested in learning a skilled trade. Ask how you can save money or work for the equipment. It’s an investment and the tools you use will last a lifetime when taken care of.
You will need all your personal protection equipment, this should be the absolute first thing to buy before you even START welding.
All clothing has to be 100% Cotten or wool, you need long sleeves and pants and a leather jacket, a welding cap and a welding hood with an auto darken lens (shade 10), leather gloves, high top leather steel toe boots. Cotten doesn’t burst into flames when exposed to high heat, neither does leather. Stay away from synthetic fibers like polyester and spandex. These materials bursts into flames and burn at a high temperature and melt into the skin. For doctors to remove the melted plastic, they will need to remove all the skin and tissue. Cotten, you will walk away with a blister or two.
!!!!!ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SAFETY GLASSES AND RESPIRATOR!!!!!!
I absolutely cannot stress this enough, when you start welding always where your safety glasses and respirator (3M half mask). The less exposure over the years (30+years) to the fumes will greatly reduce your chance of getting a lung/throat disease.
Safety glasses always, I don’t care how hot or uncomfortable they can be. I’ve had metal drilled out of my eye twice, the only reason I didn’t loose my eye is because the glasses kept the metal from penetrating deeper into my eye ball.
Welding is extremely dangerous and hazardous to health. Always be aware and never assume you will not get hurt. You will get burned, cut, smashed, stabbed, pinched, hit, shocked, and pushed to your limits as a Human.
Do not weld past 23.
Become a certified welding inspector (CWI)
With all that said, it is absolutely worth getting into, and staying in it. I went to a school to learn to weld when I was 25. I started welding for a job at 26, I welded for 5 years and became a welding inspector. I am on my way to making $110,000 a year. With you being young and already interested, if you started welding at a structural steel company at 17, then got your Certified welding Inspectors license at 22, You will be making $35+ before your friends even graduate college. At age 26, you’ll be making a six figure salary ( over $100,000) with no college degree. At that point, you will be able to pay and put yourself through school. I recommend an weld engineering degree., don’t ever, EVER, get a student loan.
The last thing you will need is a SMAW weld machine, or a stick welder and hand tools. Slag hammer, a wire brush, and an angle grinder to start. Next is some light steel from Home Depot to practice on. This is by far the easiest way to start welding and getting an idea of how to do it.
After you have all your PPE (safety gear), have your parents help out or you save up for a weld machine. Welding rod is 6010 or 6013. Watch some stick welding videos with the electrode you chose to use and start burning rod!! Always have water and a fire extinguisher near by.
Never give up!!! No matter how hard or impossible it may seem. You will get better. Choose to improve something about yourself everyday. No matter how small, never stop improving.
Do your best to be better than you were yesterday.
Good luck on your journey!!! I hope this helps and I am super proud you want To be a welder. Make best use of your time, I wish I had started in middle school.
Buy PPE
Buy stick weld machine with 6010 or 6013 welding rod
Watch YouTube videos.
Talk to your high school about welding programs
Talk to your parents about finding a welding school they can enroll you into.
In middle school it will be hard to find somewhere that will let you weld with you being under 18, it’s an insurance policy thing.
That being said, definitely explain your interest to your parents. Let them know you are deeply interested in learning a skilled trade. Ask how you can save money or work for the equipment. It’s an investment and the tools you use will last a lifetime when taken care of.
You will need all your personal protection equipment, this should be the absolute first thing to buy before you even START welding.
All clothing has to be 100% Cotten or wool, you need long sleeves and pants and a leather jacket, a welding cap and a welding hood with an auto darken lens (shade 10), leather gloves, high top leather steel toe boots. Cotten doesn’t burst into flames when exposed to high heat, neither does leather. Stay away from synthetic fibers like polyester and spandex. These materials bursts into flames and burn at a high temperature and melt into the skin. For doctors to remove the melted plastic, they will need to remove all the skin and tissue. Cotten, you will walk away with a blister or two.
!!!!!ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SAFETY GLASSES AND RESPIRATOR!!!!!!
I absolutely cannot stress this enough, when you start welding always where your safety glasses and respirator (3M half mask). The less exposure over the years (30+years) to the fumes will greatly reduce your chance of getting a lung/throat disease.
Safety glasses always, I don’t care how hot or uncomfortable they can be. I’ve had metal drilled out of my eye twice, the only reason I didn’t loose my eye is because the glasses kept the metal from penetrating deeper into my eye ball.
Welding is extremely dangerous and hazardous to health. Always be aware and never assume you will not get hurt. You will get burned, cut, smashed, stabbed, pinched, hit, shocked, and pushed to your limits as a Human.
Do not weld past 23.
Become a certified welding inspector (CWI)
With all that said, it is absolutely worth getting into, and staying in it. I went to a school to learn to weld when I was 25. I started welding for a job at 26, I welded for 5 years and became a welding inspector. I am on my way to making $110,000 a year. With you being young and already interested, if you started welding at a structural steel company at 17, then got your Certified welding Inspectors license at 22, You will be making $35+ before your friends even graduate college. At age 26, you’ll be making a six figure salary ( over $100,000) with no college degree. At that point, you will be able to pay and put yourself through school. I recommend an weld engineering degree., don’t ever, EVER, get a student loan.
The last thing you will need is a SMAW weld machine, or a stick welder and hand tools. Slag hammer, a wire brush, and an angle grinder to start. Next is some light steel from Home Depot to practice on. This is by far the easiest way to start welding and getting an idea of how to do it.
After you have all your PPE (safety gear), have your parents help out or you save up for a weld machine. Welding rod is 6010 or 6013. Watch some stick welding videos with the electrode you chose to use and start burning rod!! Always have water and a fire extinguisher near by.
Never give up!!! No matter how hard or impossible it may seem. You will get better. Choose to improve something about yourself everyday. No matter how small, never stop improving.
Do your best to be better than you were yesterday.
Good luck on your journey!!! I hope this helps and I am super proud you want To be a welder. Make best use of your time, I wish I had started in middle school.
Brook recommends the following next steps: