For most people, welding is moderately to very difficult to learn how to do, as it’s a hands-on skill that requires more than just reading. Furthermore, welding is very difficult for most people, because it takes years and years of practice, on top of learning how to do it.
Welding is physically demanding and takes some practical coordination to master. It’s not as physical as a builder’s job, but there’s usually a fair amount of lifting and climbing over things, which some people don’t like.
For more details on how welding is a demanding profession, continue reading.
What is Welding?
Welding is a fabrication process whereby two or more parts are fused utilizing heat, pressure, or both forming a join as the parts cool. Welding is usually used on metals and thermoplastics but can also be used on wood. The completed welded joint may be referred to as a weldment.
Some materials require the use of specific processes and techniques. A number is considered ‘unweldable,’ a term not usually found in dictionaries but useful and descriptive in engineering.
The parts that are joined are known as the parent material. The material added to help form the join is called filler or consumable. The form of these materials may see them referred to as parent plate or pipe, filler wire, consumable electrode (for arc welding), etc.
Consumables are usually chosen to be similar in composition to the parent material, thus forming a homogenous weld, but there are occasions, such as when welding brittle cast irons, when a filler with a very different composition and, therefore, properties are used. These welds are called heterogeneous.
Uses of Welding
Welding processes are commonly used across a range of industries including aerospace, automotive, energy, and construction amongst others. Used to join metals, thermoplastics, or wood for a variety of applications, it is also used to create artwork by a growing community of artists.
Welding is also a part of our everyday life. From the kitchen appliances we use each day, the buildings we live in, to the cars we drive. Most of what we use is welded or made with equipment that has been welded. Without welding, our lives would be completely different and frankly, quite boring.
Is Welding a Demanding Job?
Welding can be a very hard and dangerous job. This is great for people who love danger, and often more dangerous jobs pay better, but regardless of how you look at it, welding is hazardous.
With the way welding machines are designed now, along with better safety standards in most workshops, the danger aspect has been reduced. But it can never be eliminated. Firing live electricity into metal sections to create an arc that burns up to 20,000° F will always be dangerous.
There are also grinders, saws, gas torches, and heavy unstable objects inside welding workshops, which cause a risk as well. For some, this is a part of the fun and challenge. Learning how to control such powerful devices to create amazing results is extremely rewarding, but again, it’s not for everyone.
Even while welding might need extended periods of concentrated effort, the physical demands of the job are considerable. Welders can experience muscular injuries, cuts, crushed toes and fingers, and other physical injuries from high-pressure operations, sharp-edged materials, and difficult work environments that typically accompany the welding process.
Welding also produces gases and particles that are dangerous to breathe, and welders must be certain to work in areas of adequate ventilation to protect themselves from airborne dangers. Workers in the vicinity of welding operations also need to be protected from exposure to fumes, particles, and sparks.
Dirt is also a huge problem but If you’re a stainless steel TIG welder or an underwater welder, it’s not very dirty. But in most other types of welding, it’s filthy. With a black color always on your hands, and metal dust in your hair and up your nose, coming away from a day’s welding work usually requires a thorough wash before you can do anything else.
Your hands are the hardest to clean, but they’re also the easiest to cover with gloves if this is a problem for you. When you’re welding, you’ll always be wearing gloves, but often it’s easier doing preparational and finishing work on projects without gloves. This is where using lighter gloves can come in handy, so stay clean.
Welding is physically demanding and takes some practical coordination to master. It’s not as physical as a builder’s job, but there’s usually a fair amount of lifting and climbing over things, which some people don’t like.
Among those on the tools within the mechanical engineering trades, welders tend to be looked down upon by the machinists/fitter and turners. Most machinists can weld, but they tend to stick to their machines because it’s a more sophisticated type of work. If you end up working in a larger firm that has welding and machining divisions, you may have a bad experience with some machinists thinking they’re better than you
Workload And Pay For Welders
Welders work full-time and often must work overtime. They can work up to 10 hours a day if needed. They primarily work outdoors and are exposed to hazardous situations daily. They may work in confined spaces, on scaffolding, or in inclement weather.
Welding as a profession is not going to get you instantly rich, but if you stick at it for even a short time, you can earn some good coins. Entry-level welders earn $40,000 a year on average, and the increase continues regularly, up to between $50,000 to $500,000 with experience in a good field.
Conclusion
Welding is a very physically demanding job and is so important to our modern world, yet is so underappreciated. It’s a tough job and underpaid for all the work welders do and the working environments they must endure.
