What You Need To Know About Choosing A Welder
Whether your particular job is big or small, professional or personal, you want to make sure you choose the right welder to get the job done right. Fortunately, there is no shortage of welders working in today's world, so you should be able to take your pick from among a wide range of professionals. Don't just hire the first one you come across however. Take the time to choose the right welder—one with strong qualifications and experience and who can do your job better than anyone else.
Experience Vs. Education
These days, everyone believes in the value of an education, which is why a lot of modern welders are proud graduates of trade schools or community colleges. And, while an education is a wonderful thing, don't let yourself get too impressed or swayed by degrees.
Try and choose a welder who has not just a formal education but some hands-on, real world experience. Even if you're hiring a newer welder, look for someone who has at least worked as a welder's apprentice or had some type of real-life practice. It's always safer to hire a welder with years of experience backing him up, but there's also nothing wrong with giving someone newer a chance...as long as you make sure he or she has at least some experience outside of just sitting in a classroom.
Available Procedures
Different welding jobs require different welding procedures. You should know which type of welding procedure is the right fit for the particular job you have in mind. If you're not sure, do a little research on your project and the types of welding recommended for it.
Then, ask prospective welders what procedure they would follow if they were given your project. Hearing their answers and whether or not they'd follow the best possible procedure is an easy way to separate the know-hows from the know-nots.
Certification
The best and easiest way to determine whether a particular welder knows his stuff is to ask if he's certified. Not every good welder is certified, but every welder who is certified is guaranteed to be a good one. (For more information on welding services, contact Checkpoint Welding & Fabrication or another company)
While there are many welding certification boards, the one that really means something is the American Welding Society. If a welder has this certification, you can rest assured that his skills have been put to the test repeatedly and proven satisfactory, which should give you great peace of mind when you hire him or her for your project. And, in the end, you definitely deserve to feel confident about the job at hand and about the hands that job is in.