Anyone know anything about welding? Welding courses

[Contrarian]

Occasionally to atone for my sins, I work as a volunteer in a shelter for homeless and depressed people. There's a bloke who's had a bit of bad luck (that's not true - he's had a lot) but has never shied away from hard work. He's made it to the equivalent of Year 12 but needs some guidance. I've got appointments set up for him with advisers but with Easter, people going on leave, that's about 2 and a half weeks away.

We both looked up the internet and I gather there are training schools which have 2 day courses on welding and then further courses which give you a basic welding ticket of sorts I gather. Will he make a decent living out of it, even as a starting welder with a two day cert under his belt? He's 55. He's not looking at going up north but it's one of those - teach a man to fish things.

To help him, I looked up today's (Saturday's) West and was surprised I couldn't find any welding jobs going - is that because there's so much demand for them that everyone gets work by word of mouth?

Anyway, given the varied make up of readers on this board - anyone got any tips or advice to give 'til he sees all these government course advisers in April?

 

[johnlou]

hi Contrarian , yes this person can make a living from a 2 day welding course as long as he is able to work with building gates , fences or any other work in the light steel fabrication . he might have to prove himself with weld tests as required from the company advertising.

 

[Smoggy]

I'm not a welder but I like doing a bit of MIG welding in my spare time. I find it therapeutic after the daily grind. Contrarian have you and this guy considered getting a forklift ticket. That would offer some opportunities.

 

[Contrarian]

He has a forklift ticket.

Ta John Lou - any idea how much he'd get paid? He's not fussy, but I thought I'd tell him to give him further motivation though he's keen to start a new life with what's left of his life.

 

[Contrarian]

Strange - I thought there'd be a bigger response given the wide range of worldly-wise people on this forum.

 

[Perth boy]

Can he weld now and just doing the training so he has a bit of paper to help get a job. If he can weld and fabricate and can work SOR PM me I have about a weeks work. May help him out a bit and save me doing it over Easter.

 

[Contrarian]

No PB, hasn't even picked up a blowtorch yet, possibly enrolling in a course in a fortnight's time. But ta - that's encouraging.

 

[Perth boy]

No PB, hasn't even picked up a blowtorch yet, possibly enrolling in a course in a fortnight's time. But ta - that's encouraging.

I don't think he will have to much problem finding a job. My mate has a large fabrication company and most of his welder a are on 100k plus. He said to me a few weeks back he finds it so hard to find reliable welders because they all go north. He can afford to pay good money because its a big business but I bet the small fabrication shops are struggling to find welders. Places like others mentioned making gates, patios etc.
I would look in the local paper and call some of the company's that are advertising. They may need staff.

 

[Farm Boy]

Bit of a Reality Check here fellows a two day welding course will get you up to Make a barbecue out of a old 205 litter oil drum for the back yard standard but not work place ready .

As for 100k per annum think 3 year heavy vehicle body building apprenticeship followed by 1st Class Coded Welding Course them a few years experience .

 

[Contrarian]

Thanks FB - rest assured this guy's not looking at earning $100k a year - just returning some dignity to his life. I think he'd earn $24 per hour as a start but he's eager to even work at $18! He's not the type of guy who'll be happy to stay a 2 day course welder and will probably get more tickets as his confidence returns.

 

[Rochelle]

Hi Contrarian, did you guys have a look at TAFE? They do offer all sorts of hand on courses and theyhave something called 'recognition of former learning'.....meaning they accept former skills (after checking it out) and add the paper to it. As a new comer to WA 5 years ago I was surprised to learn that my acquired skills over 20 years were worth nothing unless I added a the papers. TAFE was rather helpful. Coursed are flexible....full time/ part time/ short and intense or a bit longer. I was able do do my course and work. Maybe he should try his luck. Asking a question doesn't cost plus the timing is not bad as the new term starts in June.
Just as an idea. Good luck.


R.xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Contrarian]

Yup, we're on to that.

 

[whilom]

I have a couple of friends that run a medium sized fabrication and sheet metal shop.
It appears that being able to glue pieces of metal together is not what they really want.

They need people who can mark out cut and assemble to a finished product with minimal supervision from drawings.

There are process factories that employ welders for Jig work, making things like trollys, gates, pool fences, and garden furniture.
A friends son did a stint in one of these places while at Uni making wheel chairs.
The pay is usually poor at the start but you get some experience and are in the industry building up your resume.

Tig or Mig welding of stainless or aluminium is an art form that pays well but takes a lot to learn.

Good Luck!

 

[Contrarian]

Thanks Whilom. All encouraging news. Do you know the name of the factory making wheelchairs by any chance?

 

[whilom]

Ill ask my friend when I see him after Easter, his son has graduated and is working with WHO in Rome.
Turned out to have a heap of smarts that he hadn't displayed in his youth.

I f I hear of anything else I wll PM you.

 

[bushbabe]

What about working on a farm. With seeding about to commence there maybe some jobs out there either driving or helping in the workshops.

 

[Contrarian]

Thanks bushbabe - as I said, it's one of those "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" things. The guy needs a skill that's marketable and allows him some element of long term (if that's possible in these modern times) employment as opposed to seasonal work.

 

[Contrarian]

Just thought I'd revive this before we try to solve the issue next week, if anyone has any opinions, advice or encouragement.

 

[Contrarian]

Anyone know anything about poly welding? I gather it's different from soldering/welding metals? I can google it of course but was wondering if there are good employment prospects for this guy who's looking forward to starting a new life with a regular income.

 

[Raye@Langtrees]

Try Bulldog Training they may have courses.

 

[Contrarian]

An update - it's been pretty disappointing actually.

1. Tafe offers a hobby welding course - stretched over 1 night a week for 6 weeks.
2. Tafe offers a cert 2 in Welding and requires you to attend 4 days a week for 6 months fulltime - and you come out with a Pre-apprenticeship welding cert - not necessarily a job that pays you $600 a week at the end.
3. There are private companies that train you over 2 and a half days which charge as much as $800 for it or $1300 a WEEK - depending whether you want to go to an advanced stage - and we're still talking one day course here.

This guy I'm trying to help has emphasised he doesn't want to come out as a fully qualified welder who'll go up North but someone with a welding skill so he can work in a factory and take home $600 to $700 a week. Not looking good so far.

BUT... as opposed to butt welding - one training school instructor was upfront - pay $275 for a one day course, they should tell you if you have any potential to make a living in fabrication and core flux welding from that - go and buy your own welding machine and practice, practice, practice in your own backyard and come back and they might be able to help you from there. This particular company actually has a Recruitment arm and can help you find a job if you're good enough. So that was marginally encouraging.

The search continues!