Quote:
Originally Posted by southern151
This!
If you're the respectable type, younger guy, go hook up with one of the older welders in the shop. Pimp for him(gopher). Get whatever he needs and, when you aren't running for him, have your hood down, watching what he's doing. Be patient because most of the older guys aren't gonna want to "waste their time" with some newbie. Be persistent but, polite and, attentive.
I can assure you that I ran my butt off for some of these guys but, they taught me a tremendous amount doing just what I described above. Many times, when break time came along, I'd have scrap metal lined up to weld on while everyone else was at break. When break was over, I'd ask my welder how it looked and, what I could do differently.
Lastly, when you get to the point that you can pass the welding test, don't think it makes you a welder and, that's all you should be doing. I can't tell you how many FNG's I saw come out with that attitude! Be ready to still be pulling leads and pimping for the proven welders. If you'll do that and, not complain, you'll be noticed and, in time, you'll be that guy behind the shield all day. At that point, you have an FNG doing all the things you once had to do!
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This is what I did to "break out"
When I first started I worked with a "Burner" he was a very slef opionated man who hater everyone. He was old, couldn't cut that good and dipped and cursed all the time. I told my boss after a month or 2 grinding behind him that I wanted to work with a fitter. He told me to learn how to tack and I would be able to work with a fitter. For the next 2 or 3 weeks I set up a welding machine and practiced welding during lunch and breaks.
Finally a fitter and his helper got into our boss swapped us out, I got to go work with a real fitter and the other guy went work with the burner. From there it took me about to 6 months break out as fitter. I worked my way up to be a top fitter, assistant leaderman, taught safety classses, made some very critical fits. From Splicing jacket legs, to trimming out 60" diagonal braces. Now I work in the office and I'm loving it.