Welding is an art form, which has been around for years and years. Requiring patience and practice and no small amount of skill, it is not something you can wake up one morning and decide to do as your day job.
So what if you are interested in welding but unsure where to start? What do you need to know about welding and welder qualifications? Keep reading, and we can help you out.
What is Welding?
Welding has a simple explanation: fabrication of products by joining together materials such as brass, steel, aluminium or stainless steel. Welders shape, cut and join metals for a huge range of industries – construction, automotive and creative arts, to name a few.
There are two different types of welding – manual, controlled by the welder and semi-automatic using machinery. Working as a welder means you will need to know about the following:
- Laying materials to be cut and joined
- Following drawings and instructions from an engineer
- Using the most subtle method for the job you are doing
- Inspecting and testing joins and cuts
- Using precise measurements
- Operating spot-welding and semi-automatic equipment
With the right training, welding will come to you as simply as you first thought, but in the meantime, there are certain steps to follow to get there.
Welder Qualifications
Beginner welders can start with apprenticeships to learn the basics and then move on to welding courses that give them the backing qualifications. Welders need to be proficient at joining metals together and have the skills to use any welding equipment, then; there are various qualifications available depending on your budget and long-term goals.
Have a look around until you find what you need. Certain employers also have specific requirements, so it is worth doing your research before you start your welding journey.
A Job in Welding
Welders use their knowledge of materials and physics to fuse metals together. Their understanding of what they are working with needs to be on point, and they need to be able to work quickly and effectively. If you think this may be the job for you, then welcome to the fabrication industry.
Let’s get going with your welder’s qualifications!
