I started working as helper on a fab shop, had never in my live used a grinder. The guy eventually tried to teach me how to weld but that didn't work... He knew how to weld but had no patience nor did he know how to explain... With time I grown to like the job and decided to learn, did a lot of research, RU-vid is a great source of information... Now almost 5 years later I have my own fab shop and I love what I do
@@brianpatrick8441 I don't know if that's the case... I'd like to think it's not, besides the problems I had with him I like to think he was being true to me... There's things he didn't teach me though, I never had interaction with the clients, never explained to me how to do an estimate or how to charge for a service, those could be the case you said or just how the things developed
100% facts. I went to welding school at night while working a full time job. I rigged up a truck and I'm now a mobile welder. Learning everyday, ain't always pretty but it'll hold (till it breaks)
I went to local community College, i don't know how it is now but if you are poor enough they will actually give you money for going there. When I went full time for 2 semesters I got like around 1200 for one semester and 1600 for the other. I think Obama was in office.
But who wants to spend two years just to learn with sub par instructors and having to take general education classes??? If I want to weld why the hell do I have to take English and social studies AGAIN!!!!!!!
I went to community college for a structural welding course. It didn't cost anything at all in fact it was all paid for by federal grants. It got me far enough that I can run a decent bead and learn the rest on my own. I agree any construction worker is far more useful in the field than someone who went to school without a fabrication course. I also agree the welding tips and tricks channel teaches everything that the course does.
I started as a boilermaker apprentice 23 years ago, now an independent like yourself for the past 16 years. I tell anyone who is interested in becoming a welder to skip paying for school and get paid to learn.
I took welding in boces my junior/senior year in high school. 100% free I would absolutely recommend taking a skills trade in high school if offered. Even if your going to college, always have a certification skill trade to fall back on will never hurt u. That’s what I’m going to push for my kids to do.
Im a certified welder with a 6g pipe stick cert and a unlimited dual shield cert. I did go to school for welding at 17. I got my apprentice about the same time. Im 35 now and although iv been on jobs that you were supposed to be certified. I never have been asked for my certs. Iv worked on bridges, heavy equipment, and high pressure steam and oil. If your good enough and you meet the right people you’ll never need that cert.
Nice to hear of someone else who hasn't done it the conventional way. Us autodidacts gotta 'stick together'! Thanks dude, even though I can already weld and fabricate, I still greatly benefit from your advice. No-one knows everything, right?
I sincerely wish you all the best! I hope you love what you are doing. Cause then it would not just be a job, but an adventure! People like you inspire me. Thank you!
I was lucky enough to get funding for school to learn welding and just got my first welder and looking to start a welding business been watching your channel to get an insight on what it takes to be a mobile welder
Here Here! Kids need to hear this. Going in to debt for information that is free everywhere for everyone that want’s to learn most skilled trades is your first financial mistake in life. Information is not hidden away in a collage or a trade school. When you get your degree and think your God’s gift to the welding industry you will find out very quickly you know next to nothing and the learning has now just begun. Be humble.
Thats why the community college can work out for some because some young men cant do a thing like anthony said read a tape measure read a print etc. way cheaper than a for profit trade school Its not just burning rod. The union trains too not for everyone but you learn a lot
Very Good Advice! Apprenticeship is always a great way, sometimes the best way, to learn anything. Just start welding. A welder is far less expensive than any school. The will and want to do a great job is the most important thing.
Do what I did. Learned basics in the FFA. Didn't touch a welder for 25yrs or more. Started with a cheap decent welder and practice. Find a good welder that's well rounded and listen and ask questions. I promise you it go along way.
Thank you man,I highly appreciate you took the time to post this video,nobody on youtube explained this to me im thankful,and I'm just an 18 year old hoping to get a job in this when I move out,but for now I'm going to practice with a machine I have in my garage
Honestly this was inspiring to me because I’m self taught and learning by the job. I have been thinking that I needed to go to a school and get official certs in order to be successful or in order to get jobs but this gives me a lot of hope to be able to make something of my welding without the school. Thank you.
This video was very educational on your experience and makes me even more excited to be a welder! Also, Jodi from Tips and Tricks is another fantastic page I follow!
You're right, find a school that teaches the techniques and skills you need in the real world or at least in the field you're going into. I went to a Community College because it was the only school around (still had to drive 1.5 hours one way) and they focused on 3/8" plate, 2" pipe, and 6" pipe. That's it. No aluminum or other metals. Their reasoning was that if you could weld pipe in all positions you could weld anything. I think they were focusing on job placement as well since the school is in a very industrial area. The instructors were hit and miss. Most knew their stuff but none of them were very good teachers. You had to go in with self-discipline focusing on welding as much as possible for the duration of the class. I learned mostly by welding for the full 4 hour class and not socializing. The instructors hardly ever checked on you, especially if you looked like you knew what you were doing, and they were usually grumpy and unapproachable. The classes were mostly attendance based and many of the students were there for an easy class credit that would get them government money for going to school - basically a super easy job. I learned a lot because I was determined to learn a lot. I would be upset if I had used money out-of-pocket to pay for that school (I used the G.I. Bill). The best unsolicited advice I can give is: do your research on the school to see if it fits your needs, go in determined to learn as much as possible, and see if they have any small week-long classes that would give you a massive head start to launch you from amateur to professional much more quickly. This particular school had week-long classes in aluminum MIG/TIG, welding fab, oxy/acetylene, etc. I know this was kinda long but I hope it helps someone.
I subscribed to MMA for the entertainment and real workday welding experience and advice you provide. It is cool to recognize the real OG, the grandfather of YT welding instruction and leaning, Jody Collier (welding tips and tricks). Jody's industry experience and teaching ability make him a must watch for beginning to advanced weldor instruction. I also learned from Lance Edwards (chucke 2000) who was my favorite until some unfortunate sharing of his opinion got him tarred and feathered on YT. So you, MMA, keep up the videos to, about and for welding. You are one of the hand full of reasons I sit for hours wasting time watching welding on my PC rather than really doing it (as much as I should). Otherwise...go F,,, yourself - well you know the saying! LOL
Welding is a awesome job and if your lucky get hook up in a good place like a friend he dont even how to weld well and he knew a big contractor and now his making a lot of work a course money with like 12 persons working for him with 6 trucks and new home I was like 😱 what a change in 1 year
So I go to a technical college and I think I payed $500 for like 2 years just because I had a 3.0 in high school which is easy to get I made c’s so school if cheap is great. I have used so much of their supplies that I would have spent thousands on what I’ve used and the practice and knowledge I’ve got in insane. But my school is the top in the state and around it so I’m very luck most schools aren’t as good as mine. So it really depends, all of my instructors have been in the field for years. Love the videos keep it up!
Hey! I am a new subscriber, thank you so much for putting this video up! It’s great to hear how you got started in the trade! I am trying to get started and it is nice to hear your story of where you began! Thank you!
I agree to a degree...I went to school but it wasn't expensive and it was 6 months 40 hours a week of learning all the processes and shop tools. The drawback.....no hands on fabrication experience. So I had to learn and am still learning it OJT. I think many kids think they are automatic fabricators and experienced welders after getting a few AWS certs...they aren't. I almost think the schools would be better off teaching fabrication in addition to basic welding, if not more of the fabrication skills. BTW...Florida plates but you sound like you're from PA.
@@MeltinMetalAnthony I went to community college bounced around between Automotive and Machine shop wound up going to work Machining spent about 10 years in trade then I got out and went to plumbing new homes later getting into commercial plumbing and finaly going to pipefitting working with a lot of weld pipe and fabricating all the cutting beveling building supports but now retired and never got into the welding aspect. I really enjoy all the differant things there are to know and no regrets on going to school its stayed with me my entire life. but You gotta get some experiance work as a shop helper or something or an aprenticeship. but a full on private weld school I think you might miss out knowing how to fab
Well said man, I wento butte college. Wasn't very expensive, but ony a foot in the door. Didn't make much starting out with the certs I didn't actually need till now, as I'm a structural steel contractor, 20 years later. Fabrication experience is eaened.
I went to a trade school and the head of the welding program was a cwi. No body passed a bend test who didn’t earn it. I got out of the army not knowing shit about welding and now I’m starting my own business
Good video. I went to a boces to learn to weld. It did help me make employment contacts but I agree with you. Getting into debt for something you may not get into isn't a good idea. In hind sight I wish I just learned on my own or starting from scratch at a shop
Get your self into a light and heavy plate fabrication shop. Learn how to read blue prints. Learn how to fit jobs from the blue prints. Press brake roll machine pantograph line burner plasma cutter. Learn all you can from that shop. I did back in 1985 best thing i ever did. I know work in the trades at an airforce base, and do welding on the side. You can go to school for the basics, but there's nothing better then hands on. Love these videos.
I got certified in 1995 and never used my certifications. Got certified on MIG, TIG, Stick, in all positions, and brazing. I only use my welding skills around the farm.
I can always tell on the jobsite who has gone to school and who hasn't. School and work experience go hand in hand. If you really don't want to go to school, you can join a trade union that does welding work and they will train you. You will make good money in the first year. Here in BC, tuition is pretty much reimbursed.
want to vocational school in high school and learn how to stick welder and meg welder the kids at regular school thought I was an idiot now I make more than most of them that went to college now I’m into boiler operation
Bingo!read books ,start simple . Weldors are happy for the most part are happy to show you what you want to know. Probably not owner operators as much,self preservation you know.
Hi Anthony. I’ve been a full-time pastor for the past 12 years and am looking to leave vocational ministry and begin a new career. I’m 46 years old. I am very interested in a welding career. I currently live in Asheville, NC but am seriously considering relocating to Charleston, SC. How would you suggest I go about learning to weld, gain experience, etc. in that area? On the coast as you know. Are there specific types of welding you would suggest I pursue in a coastal region? Thank you so much Anthony.
do u have to have experience to go to an apprenticeship because i know close to nothing about welding and i want to do the regular then move into underwater welding?
Hey man. Just watching your videos and love the ideas you share about welding business. You are a good man! But this content right here i have a little bit confused. Not going to school or just get apprenticeship? Does not the apprentice program have to go to school? And in my opinion ,schooling is good too learning not just about the hands on practice of different processes but also learning the metallurgy and theory behind of what we do on our daily basis. Just give you example; aluminum cant be welded on steel. As a welder we should know why and not just because we are told not to.
I just noticed that you have the same crane that I just picked up. Can you do a video walk around on it? I had to rebuild allot of stuff on mine and want to see if it's more or less correct
best training will be from an old master, but finding one will be a challenge, plus too many B.S. artists, but if find a real old master, you listen, I had 2, and I wish I had paid more attention, they are long gone, 1 was in his 70's in the mid 1980's the other was nearing 65. in my youth I wanted to learn torch, which I excel at it. it was out dated back then, but teachers were very proficient with, but all other processes I am just ok with. I just in last 2 years retired my favorite welding hose,1 hose was black, they discontinued black hoses in mid 1970's, I had to go to normal modern red & green, but always loved psyche value of my older hoses.
Hey, if you're a vet then use your G.I. Bill and get the Pell Grant. Get your school paid for and get yourself paid. Use GIB and PG to buy all your equipment and be ready to start off when you're done with school.
@@MeltinMetalAnthony I'll admit that I paid someone good money to handcraft a resume and suddenly I start getting calls. It's a bad system, but it's the only one they know.
