Certified Welders

My younger brother is the Service Manager for a “High-End” import car dealership on the west coast. He received a recall notice concerning Receiver Hitches on Cross-Over SUVs. Welds on the hitch could not be verified as being completed correctly therefore they would need to be removed and re-welded. The Recall Notice stated, “All welding shall be completed by an AWS Certified Welder.”
Joe’s question to me, “What does that mean? Where do I find an AWS Certified Welder?”
Not all welders are AWS Certified Welders. Certified welders are tested at an accredited test facility and their records need to be strictly maintained within AWS QC7-93 guide lines. QC7 is the AWS “Standard for AWS Certified Welders”.
So where does Joe go to find a certified welder? My first suggestion was to contact the nearest “Accredited Test Facility”. The AWS maintains a list, online, at http://files.aws.org/certification/docs/auto/atf_listing.pdf The closest facility for Joe was in Tacoma, WA.
With a little help knowing where to look and the right questions to ask, Joe was able to get the 40 SUV’s on his lot repaired so his sales team could feel confident and start moving them.
If you want to know how you can become “Certified” log on to http://www.aws.org/w/a/certification/index.html There are AWS certification programs for Welders, Inspectors, Supervisors and more. Certification can open doors, present opportunities (like Joe’s) and put you out front in a tough job market.

Arc Welding 101
May/June PWT 2008
Title: A WPS lesson for beginners

Question
Recently I was given a weld procedure specification (WPS) from a contractor to review. It’s still lying on my desk. Do you have any tips for a beginner like myself on how to review a WPS?
Habeeb Rahman
TPI Welding Inspector

Answer

It's time to pick up that WPS off your desk and give it a good, hard look. The first thing you need to arm yourself with is the correct code or standard. The WPS is going to state which code or standard it complies with. You most likely need to get familiar with ASME Section IX or AWS D1.1 Sections 3 and 4, or both.

Does it reference a procedure qualification report (PQR), or is it considered prequalified? It is important to make sure that the WPS states how it was qualified.

Review the joint design. Does the joint on the WPS match the joint referenced? Is backing required? Is the joint within the stated tolerances?
Ensure the base metal of the joint matches the base metals listed on the WPS, which may require a little homework. Your code should list materials by group or P-numbers. Also review the filler metal/flux/shielding listed and witness which is used.

Are there preheat or postweld heat-treat requirements? How will you measure them? Are the welding parameters such as current, voltage, travel speed, and number of passes being used within the range of the ones that are listed? How will you measure them?

A WPS is really a recipe for how a particular weld is going to be made. All the ingredients need to match, and when they don't, even beginners need to stand up and get the attention of someone who will get your welding back on track. Don't be intimidated by a WPS. Break it down section by section, and simply ensure that what is noted matches what is being done on your project.

Workin' for the Man -vs- Workin' for Yourself

One of the best pieces of advice I didn't follow before going into business for myself was "Before your leave your regular job, save up $10k and put it in an account you can access immediately." Right! My first thought was, "I'm going into business for myself because I couldn't save $10k while workin' for the man". "If I could safe $10k at the drop of a hat I wouldn't bother workin' for myself".

Looking back, it was the best advice I'd received and should have followed.

Stepping off the dock of "the Man" employment and into the boat of "self-employment" was certainly exciting.

While standing on the dock and looking out at the calm water, life was sure to be full of good times and adventure. I didn't realized that once I untied the boat from the dock and "pushed off", my footing would be incredibly unstable. I wasn't alone in the boat. With me was my wife and kids, our home, our dreams, college educations, dreams after high school, retirement.

When the waves would pickup and crash against the boat there was no way to secure it and it was difficult to guide. The boat may crash against the rocks. It may take on water and sink. It was me against whatever the waters could through at us. Enough with the boat analogy...

In the 3 years that I worked for myself we almost lost our home 3 times. Summer vacations were less about relaxing and more about creative financing to get through the week without income (Thank God for my family, who always knew how to divert my attention and make me laugh). Always being attached to the phone. Dealing with frustrated clients while out of town.

During the winter business was slow. This meant finding contract work to "get through". New Orleans, Wilminton NC, Beloit WI... Contract work was Never close to home. Work was every day as long as there was sunlight (and often when there was not). Money was good, but we were one more missed payment away from loosing the house. So the money was designated. Keeping expenses low meant living in $30-a-night hotels and living with the "riff-raff" they attract. Trying to help out with Teens at home but knowing that giving that help over the phone was a big part of the problem. In 2007 I lived over 6 months out of the state.

Living the dream wasn't supposed to look like this.

Getting the opportunity to go back to working-for-the-man was the lifeline I needed. The phone call to workout the details was like a big Coast Guard spot light hitting me in the face as I clung to the boats remains, cold, tired, scared. (Alright, no more boat analogies... I promise)

A deposit in the checking account, religiously, every other Friday... paid time off... vacations without a cell phone... I admire those who build their business on their own. There is also a lot to be said for Workin'-for-The-Man.

Now when I stand on the edge of the dock and stare out at the water things look different.

It's Good to be Me!

PWC