Grandson Certified Welder

[ovrszd]

I'm very proud of my Grandson. He's 22 years old. Certified Welder. Works for a company doing Commercial Grade Welding. His previous gig was welding medical grade stainless steel. Now he's welding iron pipe.

This gig has him in Commerce, Georgia. He's working on construction of a Battery factory for SK Battery. When it's up and running they'll make batteries for Ford and Volkswagen Electric autos.

I'll let the pictures talk.

 

[groundcover]

Work of art !

 

[ovrszd]

Work of art !

He's a very modest young man. I call him a Craftsman and he gets red faced and says not yet.

 

[oldballs]

There's a young man to be proud of. Looks like very tiring work....as well as dangerous. Concentrating on a perfect weld would be tiring.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[jaxs]

They wouldn't let me work there if I could weld like that. First bead I made like that,I'd stop to admire it and get fired for slacking on the job.

 

[tomplum]

Great security being a tradesman. Looks like he's been at this for a while. Was his interest started somehow through his Grandpa in his early years?

 

[CADplans]

The US Navy spent the ENTIRE summer of 1971 getting me, and 50 other guys trained well enough as welders to receive certification.
I probably practiced welding submarine pressure hull for over 100 hours alone,,

My toughest cert test was 3/4" pressure hull, with three types of rod, including 110-18.
All of our test plates were x-ray examined.

Based on my experience, I would say your grandson is a true craftsman,,,

As far as my certification, the Navy assigned me to a WWII era destroyer,,
I occasionally welded a handrail stanchion, or a bracket for a new light fixture...

The entire summer of 1972, they trained our rate in fire fighting, and damage control.
I guess they could not decide what they wanted us to do,,,

 

[ovrszd]

There's a young man to be proud of. Looks like very tiring work....as well as dangerous. Concentrating on a perfect weld would be tiring.

Cheers,
Mike

Thanks Mike. I am very proud of him.

His first job was in Virginia where he worked for a year. Expanding a military ammunition plant. Often welding pipe 40ft off the floor. He hasn't mentioned this job being that high up but in the pics he's high enough that his day will be ruined if he falls. Note he has a harness on.

Definitely would be tiring for old men. And I too would tire of the concentration required. He sent me a video last year of welding and changing hands without stopping and no interruption in the perfect bead. It all comes natural to him. And he's almost addicted to it. Lives to do it. I'm glad he feels that way. Everyone should have a job they feel that way about.

He's a very intelligent, logical, grounded young man. I lecture him about the large money he's making. If he'll manage his money as well as he manages his welding skills he will be able to walk away from that tiring career by the time his body starts rebelling.

 

[ovrszd]

They wouldn't let me work there if I could weld like that. First bead I made like that,I'd stop to admire it and get fired for slacking on the job.

Me too Jaxs.

Dylan says the first week on a new job is a bit stressful. The Boss is looking over your shoulder and very critical. Once you prove yourself they leave you alone. He had his first job before he graduated from Welding School. He's been constantly employed since. Has companies calling him offering jobs. He's very Blessed to have been given a talent such as that and to follow it.

 

[ovrszd]

Great security being a tradesman. Looks like he's been at this for a while. Was his interest started somehow through his Grandpa in his early years?

He's been Commercial Welding for 2 1/2 years.

Actually his first taste was in the Vocational School at his High School. I was a bit surprised he gravitated to it. But after seeing his natural talent it made sense. I can't take any credit for it.

I have another family member who is currently attending the same school Dylan did. She'll graduate in a couple months. She's a beautiful young woman and I never thought she'd want to be a Welder. She too was introduced to it at the Vo Tech school where Dylan learned. I look forward to having those two together at a family gathering and listen to them talk. Maybe we can get a contest going.

 

[nybirdman]

Congrats;great trade;I was a certified welder/pipefitter also for 40+years.Only thing that is a young man's job,eyes and body fails later in life.It was great for me,was a supervisor towards the end.

 

[pokey1416]

That sir is a beautiful weld . Kudos to the smart decisions these young people are making to forgo 4-years of college and instead, go the vocational route. Our youngest at 22 will finish his 5 year apprenticeship next year as a fire sprinkler fitter, kid already makes 80% of my current wage.

 

[JimRB]

Get done with that battery plant and someone is going to be building a new electric truck plant someplace. Supposedly Georgia and Texas in the mix for that new plant. I guess maybe new battery demands. Kind of wonder what we run out of first, fossil fuels or exotic metals to make batteries.

Fine looking welds there that I could dream of doing a 1/4 as good. Then again my welder gets fired up a few times a year. Kudos to the grandkids for finding a trade they excel in.

 

[jaxs]

Public schools around here have been eliminating vocational classes. I believe some kids find inspiration in vocational they would never find otherwise.

 

[Thomas]

Congrats to your grandson.

 

[ljjhouser]

Picture Perfect. Very nice - love talent in the trades. I would be proud also. Good for him - good for you.

 

[ovrszd]

Get done with that battery plant and someone is going to be building a new electric truck plant someplace. Supposedly Georgia and Texas in the mix for that new plant. I guess maybe new battery demands. Kind of wonder what we run out of first, fossil fuels or exotic metals to make batteries.

Fine looking welds there that I could dream of doing a 1/4 as good. Then again my welder gets fired up a few times a year. Kudos to the grandkids for finding a trade they excel in.

I'm betting on products to make the batteries!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

Public schools around here have been eliminating vocational classes. I believe some kids find inspiration in vocational they would never find otherwise.

Our Vo Tech portion has all it's classes full every year. We are rural with little job opportunities. The program has been in place here for 30 years. Very productive and helpful for the kids that don't fit the college mold.

 

[Richard]

Is there a reason for it (or is it just me who couldn't weld two match-sticks together) or is there some irony/humor in the 'no smoking' sticker on his helmet??

In part, a serious question, in part I'm guessing it's a sense of humor??? (is it safety related somehow?)

Those are pretty welds!

 

[ovrszd]

Is there a reason for it (or is it just me who couldn't weld two match-sticks together) or is there some irony/humor in the 'no smoking' sticker on his helmet??

In part, a serious question, in part I'm guessing it's a sense of humor??? (is it safety related somehow?)

Those are pretty welds!

Absolute comedy. And the pic confirms it with smoke curling about his helmet with the sign in the background. It's a great pic displaying the complexity of welding in situations like this. Then the clencher is the sticker.