I have welding shop in idaho with two portable rig set ups. we have been slow doing bids left and right but havn't been getting anything. anyways i got a call about a company in ND looking to hire one of our rigs on and it fell through. we do industrial, heavy equipment repair, to light fab like handrails ect. anyone know how i can get my foot in the door to chase rigs when they're down? i've heard they can keep you busy. Besides that anywhere would work not only limited to ND.
Dec 03, 2011 Rating
Really?NEW by: old tired rod burner
I have been in the trade for 24 years, welder, machinist, millwright...basically the mix that revolves around being a welder in commercial or industrial work. I own a welding company and our primary business is portable. SO that is where I am coming from on this.
RIG WELDER by definition (at least mine) means you know how to weld; gmaw, smaw and gtaw at a minimum. You are probably very adept at a lot of alloys. You can fit pipe or structural with a degree of professional competence. You HAVE to be dang good at getting it done with whatever you have at hand, and thinking on your feet.
Starting or breaking out as a Rig Welder on anything and everything...well it is tough. Professional connections with other shops, construction managers, QC/CWI's, heavy equipment companies etc. are KEY to making it through the first year much less the next two. Now specialized work like vessels, oil patch, or pipelining well that is either your in the group or your an outsider...takes connections to break out successfully. Other than that the connections are merely survival until you build a reputation. 20k for advertising is great, but during that first year, connections are what will keep you alive.
You have to build that clientele, it takes time and lots of legwork. Get use to working 100hrs and actually getting 20-30 hrs of work...if your lucky! HUSTLE. NOBODY CARES how many certs you have held...the only ones worth a flip are the ones in your companies name and they are not worth much. You can easily break a 6 figure income if you are fairly intelligent and willing to WORK for it...takes time to get there. If you expect to wait for it to come to you....well let us know when your ready to sell your stuff for 1/2 price.
Good luck
Feb 27, 2011 Rating
HOW TO BECOME A RIG WELDER by: Emma Thompson
I go with the words by Pypeliner09.
Emma
http://www.everlastwelders.ca/
Jul 01, 2010 Rating
whos in the mirror by: 30 years
Hand I grew up walking line with my dad watching the pipe go in the ditch and I got good news and bad. First the bad: the guys who hire for these jobs have already been where you are now and they WILL not put up with the BS that you might be putting out there. To quote a wise ole pipeliner "son Ive seen pups like you come and go." Pipeliners are a very closed group:if they dont know you they dont want to. Try a little bit of respect if they open up ease into it, if they dont try somewhere else. Now the good news: there are jobs out there but you may have to pull your chest in IF thats the deal and when you go to test ASK for the job DONT demand it. If you use your head and stop, look, and listen they will tell you everything you need to know when you walk up. But in any event your the looking for a job not them if they dont need help and you do it right they will tell you where to find a job.
Jun 09, 2010 Rating
re: how to become a rig welder by: miller killer
In your title it says- HOW TO BECOME A RIG WELDER? What my take on this is that if you have the experience you say you have you would not be asking that question. so come clean, you prob don't really have any experience. And to the guy called "rig welder" , anyone can weld a pipeline with enough practice, but it takes a good welder to fabricate and build. so stop acting so cocky, that shows your insecuritys. Weld on!
Apr 06, 2010 Rating
Rig welder by: Pypeliner09
Every line job I ever had in my 18 years of welding depended on passing the test and the company needing welders. And BTW "bustin out" refers to failing not passin the test. Pipeliners are a breed of their own, and can tell if another guy is or isn't from a mile off. Even though you got your own rig and are an experienced welder go find a line needin helpers and hire on as a welders helper on your first job or two learn how to do it their way. That way you'll learn a lot in a short time the difference in the way they do it and how everybody else does it. My best suggestion is to find your local United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters and either apply for thier apprenticeship program or if you are truley an experienced welder ask about their "Provisional Journeyman" program. Thats wher if you can pass 2 tests UA-21 and UA-41 they'll let you in without apprenticeship. Another way to go since you have your own rig is to check out UA Local 798 They are pipeliners only and if you meet their requirements and have your rig and can pass their test then you are admitted as a journeyman. http://www.local798.org/shop/page/16?sessid=2Fb6S0WQ2U7sSc3abGf5iLq8BSvUNTGbAGO4Y8Da9Lr0vUfD2pF7Xt6VNNA511yY&shop_param=
Mar 04, 2010 Rating
AMERICANS by: Anonymous
Instead of being a scab why dont you actually go through training? I love american welders try the schooling!
Mar 04, 2010 Rating
AMERICANS by: Anonymous
Instead of being a scab why dont you actually go through training? I love american welders try the schooling!
Dec 01, 2009 Rating
weldin papers by: Anonymous
do u have up to date welding certifictions? if u do give them a copy.if you do not try getting some papers.
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