Popular Mechanics - USA (2019-04)

@PopularMechanics _ April 2019 75

Getting Started:
There are many types
of welding that aren’t
critical and require
no certification to do
safely. Weld a mailbox
post, a fence post, a
gate, decorative iron-
work, or a barbecue
smoker, and you’re
talking about aesthet-
ics and function. Weld
a gas pipeline or struc-
tural steelwork, and
you need certification
for that because the
last thing you want is
a gas leak or a weld to
crack to cause a struc-
tural collapse. If your
weld training is formal
and under the auspices
of a union, nonunion
construction organi-
zation, or technical
school, some form of
certification will be

part of your training.

Additional certification

(or “certs” in welder

lingo) is granted by the

likes of the American

Welding Society, the

American Society of

Mechanical Engineers,

the American Petro-

leum Institute, and

the Federal Aviation

Administration.

“I advise young

people to work with

their local com-

munity college and

the high school’s

cooperative educa-

tion program if it has

one. They should also

get involved with

organizations like

the American Weld-

ing Society, which

has local and student

chapters,” says Mike

Lang, welder, global

director, Corporate

Welding Services,

Fluor Corporation.

Chandler Stepina
WELDING

“It’s a huge

generation

shift, away

from ‘Boys

can do this

and girls

can’t.’”

Bianca

Criollo-Cruz, 27

WELDING

INSTRUCTOR

to work inside, which

is good, because it’s

20 degrees outside

with a howling wind.

Tough Day:It’s

20degrees outside

with a howling wind

and you’ve got a day

of pipeline welding

ahead. You get to lie

on your back, on a

board. The last guy

who used the board

forgot to pound down

the nailhead sticking

out, which rips a hole

in your new fire-resis-

tant winter coveralls.

Things Welders

Love:A new multi-

process wire-feed

welder; it’s small, it’s

light, and it’s fun to use.

Fun Job:

TIG-welding motor-

cycle frames.

Great Resource:

Stick Electrode

Welding Guide

(free pdf) and Gas

Metal Arc Welding

Guide (free pdf )

from Lincoln Electric,

James F. Lincoln Arc

Welding Foundation.

Obscure Tool

You’ll Get to

Use: A 12-amp pipe

beveler.

Great Day:The

drawing is clear,

the process is one

you’re familiar with,

and you’ve got

enough time to set

up the job and weld

it without feeling

rushed. And you get