Ten structural welders are standing in a parking lot talking about welding. One of them says, “I think I’m going to see if I can get into a piping school and learn how to weld 6G.” The wise man in the crowd (feeling threatened) says, “Why would you want to do that? You want to be doing the same weld all day, anyone can do that!” Why does the sage speak out? It is because he is afraid. Structural welding jobs are hard to find right now. Pipe welders are in high demand all over the world. And guess what? Not everyone can do it.

Only about 5% of welders are pipe welders.

Why? Being a pipe welder means getting an official certification that you can perform an X-ray quality weld on a pipe joint that is in a fixed (immovable) position at 45 degrees. The pipe is round. Between the round pipe and the 45 degree position, a 6G welder should be able to weld in virtually every position known to man. If that sounds difficult, check this out: The first step in a pipe joint is an open root. That means the two pieces of pipe don’t touch each other. The gap can normally be 3/16″ or 1/8″. The two tubes are held together by four spot welds, one at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. The root is the most difficult to master. Making an X-ray quality weld while fusing together pieces of pipe through a gap that is about as wide as your welder’s filler rod is an art. However, it is an art that can be learned.

Can you sing very well?

If you can, that’s a God-given talent. Very few talents are obtained by coming out of mom. Singing is one of the few. Most talents can reach a “world class” level by anyone with average abilities. This was not always thought to be the case. However, recent brain studies prove it to be true. If you have average hand and eye skills, you can be a world-class pipe welder, with enough critical practice. Critical practice is where you push your skills to the limit every time you practice.

“The Talent Code” is a book worth reading or listening to.

The book is great because it gives a lot of hope to anyone who didn’t think they had “the talent” to achieve much of anything. Yes, you may have a friend who learns to weld pipe four times faster than you. What will be the end result? Well, ultimately you may end up being the best pipe welder, even if it takes you four times as long to get there. Once you’re there, you’ll soon forget the pain of all the practice. I can’t urge you enough to go to Amazon and get the book now. This can change your life. It is science that will make you believe in your abilities to do almost anything.

If you’re reading this and feel like it, move on.

It doesn’t matter how young you are. IF you have the facilities or know someone who does, get ready and start welding pipes soon. Imagine being 18 years old and a master pipe welder making over $100,000? From there, you can master many more skills in your lifetime. Pipe welding can give you the money and time to master whatever else you want to master.

CAVEAT:

Welding safety is very important. You can lose your vision and burn the house down, all in the same day! Go to the library and get a book on welding. Master the security chapter before you do anything else.