NS Dev
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 03:10 PM |
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Tig welding course
Roight,
reading elsewhere I have been inspired to investigate some further education for myself.
I would like a formal welding qualification, and I would like to learn properly how to tig weld.
There's little point me doing a normal general welding course as I have worked in fabrication and am pretty accomplished with MIG and MMA,
therefore I would like to get a TIG specific qualification.
Does a City and Guilds qualification exist for this specifically, and is there anywhere in Leicestershire that I can do it?
The only course I can find is at Sheffield Uni which is a bit of a trek on a regular basis really.
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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MikeR
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 03:37 PM |
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Nuneaton College of Higher Education.
Where i did my C&G MIG course, they also do (did) TIG. Been thinking about it and making my own TIG welder from the hobby plans the other day.
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907
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 08:45 PM |
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I hold a different view.
A good theoretical knowledge is a huge asset when it comes to the day to day practicalities of welding.
Learning is an ongoing thing and I for one would never turn down a chance to add another string to my bow.
A friend of mine took up the challenge of the Tig torch and now holds a CAA cert.
Not only has he built his own plane but has a nice little side line in repairing other peoples.
Good luck NS Dev. Go for it.
ATB
Paul G
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NS Dev
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 11:58 PM |
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Cheers Paul, and I'll give you a call in the next day or two Mike.
I'm fully aware of the "piece of paper vs practical skills" argument. Where I can sometimes fall down is that I have a nice shiny
piece of paper with mechanical engineering degree on it, and I have worked at the practical sharp end of fabricating in the past too (MIG, MMA, CNC
plasma, laser and oxyfuel, punch and pressbrake etc) but I have never had any formal qualification in the latter.
As I would like to learn how to tig weld, and no longer work in an environment where I can get "taken under the wing" of somebody who
knows what they are doing, it seems like a good opportunity to combine a hobby with a piece of paper which might be of some value.
Perhaps not so appicable on this forum, but a lot of employers are getting sick of degree qualified engineers with no practical experience. I'm
fine if I get to an interview and show photographs of my work etc, but that relies on getting to the interview to start with, and I have no paper to
back up any of my practical knowledge or skills at the moment, which those who know me will say is daft as that's my strong point, but an
employer doesn't know that!
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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ned
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 07:53 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
Perhaps not so appicable on this forum, but a lot of employers are getting sick of degree qualified engineers with no practical experience. I'm
fine if I get to an interview and show photographs of my work etc, but that relies on getting to the interview to start with, and I have no paper to
back up any of my practical knowledge or skills at the moment, which those who know me will say is daft as that's my strong point, but an
employer doesn't know that!
sounds like you're looking for a new job?!!
beware, I've got yellow skin
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wildchild
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 08:58 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by NS DevPerhaps not so appicable on this forum, but a lot of employers are getting sick of degree qualified engineers
with no practical experience.
It sometimes scares me how many people come out of a 4 year engineering degree unable to hold a spanner the right way round. There's no
requirement, bar maybe a couple of hours in the first year, to get your hands dirty.
I'm reasonably competent at 'hands on' engineering, I can weld (MIG/TIG/MMA/Gas), turn, mill, work sheet metal, etc (given the
equipment to do so) and I know my way around a car. None of this was learnt from my four years in one of the top mechanical engineering departments
in the country.
What sort of jobs are you going for? I would have thought unless you are going for a *very* small company (less than 10 employees kind of small)
doing both design and manufacture in house, a formal qualification in welding wouldn't matter to your employer - because someone else will be
doing the welding! Being able to talk about your interest in engineering and what projects you've done will make a difference, qualification or
not. Just make sure you squeeze as much as possible into your CV.
But this may just be the kind of jobs that I've applied for. If from your experience you think it would help, then go for it.
Good luck if you are job hunting!
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iank
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 09:47 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by wildchild
...
Just make sure you squeeze as much as possible into your CV.
Getting a bit off topic, but this isn't necessarily a good thing. Done a lot of interviews over the years, and the CV is basically a pure
sales+marketing document designed only to get you an interview and make it easy for someone to ask you the questions you want to answer. Nothing more
nothing less. The decision will be made at an interview not on a bit of paper.
If they are looking for a coded welder you have to be able to say you are a coded welder at which point most will ask to see a bit of paper (after
they have decided to give you the job), but beyond that expand on the stuff you do well and enjoy, mention but don't concentrate on the stuff
you dislike or are less accomplished but think they will want to see.
Oh, and keep it to 2 pages with the recent/important stuff on the 1st page 
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flak monkey
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 10:04 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
Perhaps not so appicable on this forum, but a lot of employers are getting sick of degree qualified engineers with no practical experience.
You are right you know. I know several people on both manufacturing and mechanical engineering degrees who cant even change a lightbulb or fix their
bike...sad really. And many have no idea what will and will not work in a design either. Generally the stuff that comes from experience of getting
your hands mucky.
I have one up on some people when it comes to the more technical courses as I have already seen it before, and probably even had a go at whatever they
are talking about. Like Wildchild I have a fair bit of hands on experience for my age. I have been using lathes since I was about 6, and had my first
engine apart at 7. Designed and built my first steam engine at 12, which won a prize at the Model Engineering Exhibition.
I am getting a degree, because people like to see them. But if i was this age 20yrs ago I would be on an apprenticeship. For all the practical stuff I
have done, I have no bits of paper saying I am qualified to do it....
As for the point of this thread... Go for it Nat, if you already have experience of the things you want to get a certificate in, then it makes it
twice as easy and you would have no problem passing the couse. 
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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wildchild
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 10:34 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by iank
...the CV is basically a pure sales+marketing document designed only to get you an interview and make it easy for someone to ask you the questions you
want to answer
That's kinda what I meant (but failed to state clearly enough). Not shove an essay in there but put some stuff that will lead them to ask you
about your more practical experience.
quote:
Originally posted by iank
If they are looking for a coded welder you have to be able to say you are a coded welder.
If you've got a degree in engineering and are looking at a job which requires a welding qualification then either:
a) you really enjoy welding
b) you are applying to work for a very small and specialised company
or c) you're really selling yourself short.
Otherwise, saying on your CV that you are building/have built a car, then at interview being able to expand on that and talk about the skills you have
picked up and the challenges you have faced; will I'm sure be worth as much as a piece of paper saying you can TIG weld.
But hey, I'm 23 and have applied for maybe ten engineering jobs in my life, so who knows? No qualification is going to do your employability
any harm.
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wildchild
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 10:35 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Like Wildchild I have a fair bit of hands on experience for my age. I have been using lathes since I was about 6, and had my first engine apart at 7.
Designed and built my first steam engine at 12, which won a prize at the Model Engineering Exhibition.
I can't quite compete with that!
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NS Dev
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 12:02 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by wildchild
quote:
Originally posted by NS DevPerhaps not so appicable on this forum, but a lot of employers are getting sick of degree qualified engineers
with no practical experience.
It sometimes scares me how many people come out of a 4 year engineering degree unable to hold a spanner the right way round. There's no
requirement, bar maybe a couple of hours in the first year, to get your hands dirty.
I'm reasonably competent at 'hands on' engineering, I can weld (MIG/TIG/MMA/Gas), turn, mill, work sheet metal, etc (given the
equipment to do so) and I know my way around a car. None of this was learnt from my four years in one of the top mechanical engineering departments
in the country.
What sort of jobs are you going for? I would have thought unless you are going for a *very* small company (less than 10 employees kind of small)
doing both design and manufacture in house, a formal qualification in welding wouldn't matter to your employer - because someone else will be
doing the welding! Being able to talk about your interest in engineering and what projects you've done will make a difference, qualification or
not. Just make sure you squeeze as much as possible into your CV.
But this may just be the kind of jobs that I've applied for. If from your experience you think it would help, then go for it.
Good luck if you are job hunting!
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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NS Dev
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 12:14 PM |
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You've hit the nail on the head, I DO want to work for a small company, fed up with a large company!!!
I worked for a company which though large, had a small UK arm of around 30 people, and there the designer was expected to understand production, and
build his own prototypes, test rigs etc etc, that's where I learnt much of what I know now.
Now I work for a large company, where if something costs money, it doesn't get done, and if you need something making, forget it for 3 weeks at
least, lethargy isn't the word for it!!
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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wildchild
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 02:00 PM |
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then it would probably help to have formal qualifications.
I work for a company with about 50 people (maybe 20 on the engineering side), but we're a consultancy with no manufacturing facilities. I
don't think a big company would suit me either.
good luck with finding your ideal job!
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MikeR
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| posted on 13/4/06 at 05:23 PM |
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go work for clive
Seriously, if you want me to give your CV the once over mention it the next time i'm over. I must have read a few hundred CV's and
interviewed 50 people.
The key is to get the interviewer interested in hiring you. Which means figuring out what he wants to see from the advert so the first page ticks
enough boxes for them to be interested. You should really tailor each CV to each job application (and keep a copy so you know what you said before you
go to interview).
Reality with agencies getting in the way is you've got to do a broad brush approach and hope.
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