A Word About Certified Welders.....

[Allen]

"Certified Welder" is a term that often gets tossed around, but few really understand what it actually means.

There are 3 main criteria for American Welding Society certification.

Electrode, position, and thickness.

To certify, a welder must pass the applicable AWS test for each individual criteria.

For example, if a welder is being certified in MIG using L-50 Super Arc MIG wire in .035 diameter in the flat position on thin mild steel, that is what he is certified in. Nothing more, nothing less. Exactly that process.

If he just changes the wire to L-56 Super Arc MIG wire, he is no longer certified unless he has passed the same test with L-56. Even though he's welding on the same steel parts in the same position with a very similar MIG wire.

The same goes for electrode diameter. He can't technically bump the wire diameter up to .045, or down to .030 and remain certified. Unless he's passed the required tests with those wire sizes.

Now there are some blanket certifications that will specifiy all size electrodes within type, and multiple positions, and on multiple thicknesses. So that can help keep the confusion down, streamline certification, and reduce the paper load.

But generally, the AWS is pretty stringent and keeps everything narrowly focused.

As for me, I am certified in 116 different processes give or take a few under AWS D14.3. The 14.3 spec covers the manufacturer of earthmoving and construction equiptment. Spec 14.3 also places a heavy emphasis on workmanship and qualification.

116 different processes may sound like a lot, but there are literally thousands upon thousands of different combinations and thus different weld procedures. So 116 different processes is actually diddly.

I'd encourage anyone to take a course, even if you've been welding for a while. Technology changes, procedures change, everything changes.

I'm seriously considering a TIG course next semester taught by a good friend of mine. Just for a refresher and to get some hood time.

Allen

[Overkill]

Hey, I learned something today

[Stu Olson]

And then there are those folks who burn at the nuclear power plants. we are nice to the folks who do it well. We often times require them to do it while standing on their head (yet another one of the many varied positions Allen spoke of!)

[Allen]

Originally posted by Stu Olson
And then there are those folks who burn at the nuclear power plants. we are nice to the folks who do it well. We often times require them to do it while standing on their head (yet another one of the many varied positions Allen spoke of!)

You should be even nicer to them and fork out some cash for some orbital TIG welders.....



Orbital TIG is cool.....

Allen

[Cutch]

Originally posted by Allen
" So 116 different processes is actually diddly.



Allen

As I suspected....you do know diddly