Career Details :: Welders and Cutters
Description
Use hand welding and flame-cutting equipment to weld together metal components and parts or to cut, trim, or scarf metal objects to dimensions, as specified by layouts, work orders, or blueprints.
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
Tasks
- Guides electrodes or torch along weld line at specified speed and angle to weld, melt, cut, or trim metal.
- Selects and installs torch, torch tip, filler rod, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or type and thickness of metal.
- Repairs broken or cracked parts, fills holes, and increases size of metal parts, using welding equipment.
- Inspects finished workpiece for conformance to specifications.
- Welds metal parts or components together, using brazing, gas, or arc welding equipment.
- Welds in flat, horizontal, vertical, or overhead position.
- Connects and turns regulator valves to activate and adjust gas flow and pressure to obtain desired flame.
- Positions workpieces and clamps together or assembles in jigs or fixtures.
- Cleans or degreases parts, using wire brush, portable grinder, or chemical bath.
- Selects and inserts electrode or gas nozzle into holder and connects hoses and cables to obtain gas or specified amperage, voltage, or polarity.
- Reviews layouts, blueprints, diagrams, or work orders in preparation for welding or cutting metal components.
- Chips or grinds off excess weld, slag, or spatter, using hand scraper or power chipper, portable grinder, or arc-cutting equipment.
- Ignites torch or starts power supply and strikes arc.
- Preheats workpiece, using hand torch or heating furnace.
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- Foundry Mold and Coremakers
- Helpers, Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Sawing Machine Operators and Tenders
- Welder-Fitters
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Monitor Processes, Material, Surroundings
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
Important Skills
- Product Inspection
- Operation and Control
- Operation Monitoring
- Equipment Maintenance
- Equipment Selection
Frequent Work Context
- Hazardous Equipment
- Using Hands on Objects, Tools, Controls
- Consequence of Error
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Hazardous Situations
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Welding Management Technology |  [ add ] |
| Welding Technology | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.