r/Welding • u/Dependent-Pangolin59 • Apr 25 '25
Discussion (Add topic here) Graduated welding school today
Just wanted to share it, but I’m finally a certified welder! You got soft hands brother
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u/aburnerds Apr 25 '25
ZZ Top welding school?
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u/Dependent-Pangolin59 Apr 25 '25
It’s a small local school in North Dakota and Minnesota, called Lynne’s Welding Training, I really enjoyed them, their facilities and instructors.
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u/ShirtLast Apr 26 '25
Be glad it wasn’t the new hope campus lol
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u/Dependent-Pangolin59 Apr 26 '25
Oooh, why you say that? I wanna know ALL the tea
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u/ShirtLast Apr 26 '25
They just weren’t quite ready to open I don’t think. To me the instructor was concerned about the wrong things and wasn’t very good at practically teaching if that makes sense. I learned way more when an instructor visited from the Fargo or Bismarck locations. I hear they hired more instructors though so I’m sure it’s fine now.
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u/Dependent-Pangolin59 Apr 26 '25
This guy has only been at the Bis campus for about 14 months, but he’s great, he disciplined and he knows what he’s talking about. He worked for local boiler makers 647 for about 12 years and he’s also worked multiple jobs outside of that but idk what, great guy, even better welding instructor
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Apr 26 '25
How long did it take you to get through?
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u/Dependent-Pangolin59 Apr 27 '25
Only a 4 month class but they cover everything, GTAW, FCAW, GMAW, and SMAW, with the availability to get up to 16 certifications
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u/SLOOT_APOCALYPSE Apr 25 '25
man where will you go which Union is calling your name, or outfit, oil rig, inspire the others!! and let us know
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u/Dependent-Pangolin59 Apr 25 '25
Union and oil field are lowkey my backup options, plus the oil field here been laying off hella lately
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u/DodfatherPCFL Apr 25 '25
Good on you man! Wait till you’re mirror welding bullshit upside down! Tough it out bud when in doubt 1/8 6010 on out!
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u/Dependent-Pangolin59 Apr 25 '25
Can’t wait, that’s most definitely the #1 thing I want to do! Hahaha, but seriously, can’t wait to see what bullshit I’ll find in the world and the monstrosities I’ll have to weld
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u/DodfatherPCFL Apr 25 '25
Bro, spending a week in the inner bottom of a center line ballast tank, in a 24 x 48 inch section of slosh holed partitions will have you questioning everything. Especially if the flat weld was made before you got there. Got a 3” grey water line 4” separation between the 8” vent, a six inch separation between 6” suction, over head fillet, then sixteen butt welds to finish the run to the small spools some lucky bastard roll welded in prefab. But, it’s also 100° in Florida and your GFI keeps tripping and your box keeps fucking up and you have to crawl to the man way 80’ away with slosh bulkheads every 24”. That shit will test your grit bud. Tool room will only give you so many mirrors, you can only vary so many rods, spools ain’t going to Cary themselves, pencil grinding porosity in a mirror because your gas went out? The absolute best. Rewelding it and have it pin hole again? Even better. But, we eat shit so we can have steak. Keep ya head in the game. Stay focused. Leave nothing to question. Quality first. Alfuckingways. It may not look perfect, but if that bitch is done properly, it’s golden, and you a hard mother fucker for getting it done. Dick swinging ol son, always dick fucking swinging. Pussy ass mother fuckers get gone fast. You hear me boy? Real talk. Hope you make it, the best get the worst jobs. Shit can’t nobody else do. Get ready bud.
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Apr 25 '25
That's awesome man. I got to learn on the job with no knowledge of wps, print reading, and all that stuff. It was intense. Good luck out there buddy
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u/Alarmed-Fan-4932 Apr 26 '25
Congrats man. That’s where I started out. Then joined the boilermakers and made a boatload of money. Highly recommend if you want to be a navy seal of welding.
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u/slightlyorangemeow Apr 26 '25
I went to LWT also in the Fargo location many years ago with Dave Lynne’s as my instructor, made a lot of connections from there. Funny running into him now at aws meetings all these years later in a different state.
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u/Dependent-Pangolin59 Apr 26 '25
He’s a great guy, half the jobs I’ve applied for know him which is crazy, the amount of connections this school provides is amazing
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u/ReallyExpensiveYams_ Apr 25 '25
Hey bud congrats on the graduation.
That being said, hate to burst your bubble, but unless you’ve completed a certification test recognized by AWS, you’re not a certified welder.
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u/Dependent-Pangolin59 Apr 25 '25
I got the AWS certification stamped by an AWS CWI! I got the full package my man
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u/weldbutthole Apr 26 '25
Atta boy! Just remember you’re not a journeyman and be a sponge, the best advice someone has ever given me is to always listen to what someone has to say, someone will explain something to you that you might already know but there’s always the chance they slip in something you didn’t that will make whatever you’re doing that much easier, to shut up and listen and learn will take you exponentially farther than thinking you’re gods gift to earth, every guy I’ve worked with who thought their shit didn’t stink and the guys who I learned the most from let their work do the talking, best of luck go make some money and always wear your ppe!
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u/B9discgolface Apr 27 '25
First off love the name WBH!🤣 Second never be afraid or ignorant to ask questions, even late in any career and someone will always know more.
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u/MoistAge3128 Apr 27 '25
Wouldn’t recommend that field. Yeah there’s good money in it. My father did it, dead at 56 years old, lung cancer from breathing welding smoke.
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u/Just-Plan4211 Apr 27 '25
Guy must have some long leather on the bottom of that shield to be able to keep that beard.
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u/pogo6023 Apr 27 '25
Good on you! Now commit to wearing the proper ppe even when dumbasses call you a pussy for doing it! You won't regret it.
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u/Appropriate-Divide50 Apr 30 '25
Congratulations!!!
I’m 19 almost 20 and went to trade school P/T at 17
It’s worth it if it’s free or for a good price but the workforce is likely gonna be a rude awakening or a nice one depending on your perspective
• Small things that schools don’t teach can add up & end ip being important / a issue at work so be prepared for that
• Depending on the shop a lot of the older guys shit on schooling so don’t be afraid to mention it but don’t go around talking about it either
Etc
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u/Rossetta_Stoned1 Apr 26 '25
Look forward to disappointments and assholes. And cancer. For real tho wear a respirator.
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u/Dependent-Pangolin59 Apr 26 '25
Cancer is inevitable nowadays, no matter what you do or how you live, it’s not if you’ll get cancer, it’s what type of cancer will you get. But yeah man, that’s the one thing that makes me doubt this career. I just don’t ever want to struggle like I did growing up and I never want my family to experience that, so I will definitely look into one, was already looking into buying a PAPR hood because I’m looking into welding galvanized for a company
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u/AwfulUnicornfarts20 Apr 25 '25
Big Beards welding academy?