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Real world numbers?

Naww - for those that read the OP, I mentioned picking it up for giggles/fall back later type of deal.

Simply adding skills and learning for the sake of learning but I'll not waste GI bill money on learning something I can't make a nickel with were I forced to.

Both the welding and machining programs here have a 2-3 year wait for placement, there's a lot of competition for spots.

To me, the trouble with welding is that if you can, then you must, or your world will not be at peace.

It's like a pronounced doom, or fate...

I am old. My eyes aren't all that good any more. Aint' nobody wants to hear it, though...

I suspect one day their gonna miss me at dinner time, and find me wedged back into a [bleep] hole.
Dead with a stinger in my hand...

I'm going to Frame this and post it on my shop wall, Amigo.

here is my take. I have held a D1.1, 1.5 and a heap of pipe certs for a long time. I own a very nice machine shop and make my bulk of money sitting in crane.

what ever you are going to do, be better than most at it. make sure that a robot could never do YOUR job. have a STEADY hand and the ability to stay calm 100% of the time.

I spend a good number of hours working iron around some instant death if I let confidence get ahead of talent. stay focused, continue to chase knowledge and try hard to have fun at what you do.

if I had a do over in life, I would be working for a local utility as a natural gas meterman/welder or a lineman.

if you think you may want to become a welder, I would suggest you throw a handful of bb's in a frying pan and get them up to high heat, dump a few down your shirt and be certain at least one goes into your ear.....that sizzle you hear, is normal. did you jump, wiggle or move? if so.....you are gonna need to repeat until you don't. it takes a steady hand, good eyes and the ability to not mind picking your nose at Christmas dinner to dig out those smoke induced bugers.

think service of needs of those who have money...utilities, governments...etc they pay the bills and have positions that will not me turned over to a robot anytime soon.

Excellent post buddy, but I have to say if I get a hot one down the pants I'll be dancing like Michael Jackson... I'm big I'm bad, I know it, but molten metal on the balls or schlong hurts!!!!

I have caught on fire several times and you just halve to hold your self some times to finish what you are welding before you can even flinch.

If you do not like fire stay away from welding

I have my CWI and the illegals here is Cali have destroyed the construction market here.

I am inspecting two different company's on the job I am on right now and the certified welders in the field are making $12.00 per hour.

I have a full rig set up with a 500amp. diesel welder , 80 gal. air comp, 45 ton iron worker, 60 amp. plasma and all the extras. I use to get $80.00 per hour with my rig.

Physically I last 1 day and I am down for 3 or 4 getting old sucks and welding and iron takes its toll on you.

Good luck on what you decide on doing.

"Welding" covers an awful lot of ground.

I've taught at community colleges, and can assure you that the "Career Counciling" pimps will be pushing whatever curricula within which there's a registry shortfall.

A two year "associate degree" does not a welder make, and the fellows who started out as helpers, riggers, and deckhands will most often eclipse the performance (and DRIVE) of the freshly graduated fella with ink drying on his ticket.

CNC or welding ?

I say BOTH !

GTC

That's a fact

And to fuel the fire.....a bunch of "welders" are not worth the cost of a used 4" rock on a torch. Spend time fitting your own connections without power tools. ....it will make you a hand or realize that this is not your cup of tea.

Getting burnt is all part of the job. Look at a welders arms and the scars tell the story..

Seems a welder hasn't arrived til he's stood 170 ft in the air on an 8" beam and poured a paper cup of gator-ade on his sack for relief...