Welding classes and real world experience

[SICFabrications]

after going through a few new hires and the likes that have went to an accredited welding school, i am thoroughly disgusted! this is what i have come across.... when anyone applies for a job with SIC Fab, i give them a welding test to show proof of knowledge and teachability. also to give me a reference of their capabilities... examples:

1: kid comes on for a test. i ask him if he is proficient with SMAW process. he says that he is. so i walk over to a machine, throw some metal on the table, a few rods, and turn the dials to the machine to "0" using 1/8 7018 rods, i ask for a 3 pass 3/8 fillet. he asked me where i had the machine set up..... do they not teach them how to set the dials on a machine in school?

2: another new hire comes over, went to a different accredited welding school.... asked said person if they were proficient with using a torch to flame cut....yes..... after about 3 minutes of them screwing with the regulators, i looked over and they had the fuel regulator set to 45 psi!!! wtf!!! do they not teach students the do's and dont's of a O/A set up?

3: i asked another if they were comfortable with mig.... yes.... take em over to a machine, spin the dials to "0" and ask for a 5/16 single pass fillet.... again was asked how to set up the machine and i was feeling kinda nice, so i set the machine back up..... they burned a hole in 1/2 inch thick plate with .035 solid wire mig..... dang, really?

4: i ask if a different one can tig aluminum.... you bet, he says.... after handing them the torch and machine, and 4 tungstens and 3 cups later (trying to run dcep) i sent him home.... do they not teach students about AC tig?

5: seismic rods.... dont even get me started...lol....



so here is the thing, after a few friends and friends of friends have asked, i will be giving welding classes (real world experience and procedures) at my shop. covering O/A, plasma, mig, tig, smaw processes, machine set up, maintenance, and also can offer discounts on the purchase of equipment. you will be responsible for meals, lodging, and gear (hood, gloves and other PPE) i will even certify those that take the class and pass DT testing. the classes will run 100 bucks per session, 8 hour day, every other saturday...

the cert test is 200 bucks per coupon whether you pass or fail.

i live in central arkansas, just send me a pm for more details. seriously, i am completely fed up with these accredited welding schools not being able to teach properly!

so, if you want to learn the right way to burn rods for a bridge job, or to pass nuclear spec'd x-ray welds with aluminum, or pass avation spec'd stainless, come on. i will only take 8 people per session...

[SICFabrications]

classes start this coming saturday at 8 a.m. i have room for 2 more...... just sayin...lol

[poodle]

Wish I was closer I would like to sit in on a few. I may not do this for a living anymore but I love learning more about something I enjoy. The only schooling I ever had was out burning rods. I will say the guy I used to work for was a welder for Chicago bridge and iron, and he could burn a rod better than anyone I had ever seen But that was all he could do.

[SICFabrications]

yeah, i am kinda out in BFE.... but thats the good news for me... i dont have much competition...lol.... and the ones that are competition, usually get shown up by SIC Fab... *shrugs*

[Gadget]

I wonder how many people are scratching their heads over the BFE comment, I haven't heard that term in ages. Made me giggle though.

[SICFabrications]

I wonder how many people are scratching their heads over the BFE comment, I haven't heard that term in ages. Made me giggle though.

arkansas must be way behind the times, because that term is still very frequent here.....in BFE...lol

[Gadget]

You anywhere near BullShoals? I have relatives there.

[SICFabrications]

bull shoals is a really big lake that stretches across the top part of arkansas.... i can be at bull shoals within 1.5 hours on a bike and 3 hours via rig truck...unless you wanted me at bull shoals up by hardy and that would be 5 hours via truck... harrison is 2.5 hours by truck. mountain home is 3 hours... not too bad a ride though... nice roads for a crisp spring morning, sittin on a oil leaking, rattlin, shakin, loud, harley =))

[Gadget]

nice roads for a crisp spring morning, sittin on a oil leaking, rattlin, shakin, loud, harley =))

I had a Harley once years ago. It was a 1947 hard tail with springer front end. I sure wish I still had it, it was a sweet ride.

[SICFabrications]

1947...hmmm.... that would be a pan head, or if right at the beginning of the year, it would have a knucklehead.... that is a sweet ride! you know, the original springer front end on that year bike will sell for around 2 to 3 grand, if its in decent state of repair?