worth it?

**ahack3r** · 09-03-2010, 11:56 AM

as you guys may know, I'm and AWS certified TIG welder, achieving this took a total of 3 full semesters of getting up at 5 AM every saturday morning, driving 1.5 hours and being in class for 5 hours welding TIG, ARC, Oxy/Ace and plasma cutting. doing this also made me the youngest welder in the school (I'm not releasing that information, but I'm younger than you would expect) after doing all that, 6 months later I still can't find a job and thus can't afford a Welder to continue my passion in the hopes of opening an online store and selling my products. So I guess you could say I'm in a stand still...and my question is this: should I go on? will all this work pay off or am I just wasting more time?

**Gadget** · 09-03-2010, 12:29 PM

I wouldn't give up too quickly. The job market is tough right now for almost all types of work.
Dan

**arandall** · 09-03-2010, 12:58 PM

No matter what you do in the future, any skills and knowledge you have picked up can only help you - even if it's not job related.

Cheers,
Art R.

**ISKI** · 09-03-2010, 02:08 PM

Hang in there. I walked dogs, mowed lawns, and painted cars. I painted cars when I was about 12 to 23. I did it with a neighbor on the side. I now chase my passion for electronics, paid for by jobs I wasn't even good at. I live comfortably, but will never make as much money as I did painting cars again. I think that if I wanted to weld, I would try to find work on my own and work for myself. If you can get that first job, then add the cost of the welder and keep your dollar rate at zero, while working nights at a fast food place to feed yourself and have insurance. I hate credit, but if you hit a job, buy the welder from a local supply with a credit card, and work hard to pay it off early.

If you lived in CT, I'd lend you one for the first job, then your on your own. Maybe someone else here lives close by and could do the same.

**Bluesman** · 09-03-2010, 02:08 PM

Depending on how young you are, it may be the reason. I have 12 students that got certified in flux core last year but none of them can get jobs around here. They have been PROMISED a job but they can't get it until they are at least 18 at one shop and 21 at the others.

**SICFabrications** · 09-03-2010, 02:37 PM

your age is a giant factor..... around here the market is wicked tough, it was real bad for me when i first got out on my own just because it is what it is.... people go with what they know and not the unknown.... they been usin bubba's welding service for goin on 20 years know and aint gonna change that cause they know him kinda thing...

ive been on jobs where the foreman harrassed me cause my truck wasnt dirty enough "surely you aint no real welder, that truck aint dirty enough" its tough to break into this market, but once you do and you turn out perfect perfection and in a quick manner, that alone will be your saving grace....

patience is still a virtue... rome wasnt built in a day and this economy didnt decline in a day either

**whitescout** · 09-03-2010, 06:35 PM

I would like to echo what Stan and Iski said, but in my own way.... I have done a couple of really different jobs, but they have all been linked one way or another. This helped me with problem solving, etc.. and brought in another perspective, that the people that had only worked in that one industry never would have thought of.

I used to do work, that I was paid pretty well for, but I did not have passion for what I was doing....... I decided that I needed to do what I was passionate about, ( for a pretty good paycut), but it didn't take me long to make up the lost wages because I love what I am doing. My quality of life increased, because I am making a pretty good wage, and I actually look forward to going to work.

**poodle** · 09-03-2010, 08:10 PM

Hang in there, like Stan said it may just take awhile for folks to start using you. When we bought our shop there were 7 welding shops in the little farm community we lived in. We were kin to half the town but we were not from there. It was one month from the day we took over till we got our first job. The folks there were just clannish as hell. After that we had all the work we wanted. But you do have to go the extra mile for folks, we would hold our doors open and work as late as it took to get a job done. Our main competitors would shut their doors at 5pm even if a customer was bringing back something they had fixed and had break again. We opened earlier than anyone else around, that is when we worked on our stuff most of the time. We worked a lot of holidays when businesses would be shut down and we could work on their equmpt. And take care of the little things.

**Buckcp** · 09-04-2010, 08:04 PM

All good advice. Just remember people who can run a welding machine are many, but truley good welders are scarce, and cherished. Just like anything else, do a superior job and it will be noted, and at some time rewarded.

**KHK** · 09-04-2010, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Buckcp

All good advice. Just remember people who can run a welding machine are many, but truley good welders are scarce, and cherished. Just like anything else, do a superior job and it will be noted, and at some time rewarded.

I agree 100% 15 years ago I could weld very good, I am to shakey for great welds now.