I don't mean this to sound ugly or judgemental and I'm not saying your son is this way, but I've hired several welders straight out of school and NOT ONE of them has been able to set a welding machine. If I set it for them most of them can weld up a storm, but in the real world your boss isn't going to come over and set your welder for you every time you change material. He can join a union or start working on a road crew welding in a chicken plant this weekend. If he can't set a welding machine up from scratch, he's not going to last long.

Just something to think about or check on.

Fur you don't sound judgemental. evan has told me he can do it, but they should have spent more time on that in class. He has already done the chicken plant. I could get him to come take your weld test if you are looking for anyone.

We've hired 3 people this week so we don't need anybody at this exact minute but that could change at any time. How mechanically inclined is he? I don't need certified welders, I need people who can weld good but mainly take broken things apart and put them back together. Not mechanics as far as building an engine but people who are mechanical enough to fix about anything.

One of the 3 lasted 4 hours. I asked him when we were interviewing him if he could pass a drug test. His response was "yes sir." I then asked him if he was sure he could pass a drug test, his response again was "yes sir." He started the next morning at 7;00. At 11:00 am the lady that does our drug testing came and he told her he couldn't pass it and left.

He is more mechanically inclined than me. That's not saying much but he is good. Drug test no problem. he is the one that was with me Saturday when I saw you in Locust Fork.

10-4 Seemed like a good kid. I'll let you know if we have any openings.

ok. Thanks.

Hit me up anytime I will help anyway I can

Same here, I don't regret my time inservice but after high school I did not have any real direction even though I did 2 years at Wallace state. It sounds like he has a solid plan, he just needs to stick it out.

Thanks bigcountry pm about to be sent.

How long does it take to set one up?

17 years ago I came real close to going with the boiler makers union, however I got on with the railroad. was called about 3 days before I was going to the hall. that spring I had all my stuff ready to go to the hall but my dad told me to hold off for now that there wasn't much work at that time so it wasn't worth quitting one job to go home for a bit before work came up. then I was about to go again when the work picked up , then rr happened. My dad was a boiler maker after he was retired from CBI with 31 years.

scott

Austal could probably use him building those littoral ships for the Navy down here in Mobile.

Our oldest boy, BamBam, got his degree in welding. He started out on a pipline crew as a welder's helper, and moved up into welding. Going on the road is a MUST...the work is very seldom close enough to be home every night. As has been stated, the Permian Basin is opening up again, as are the northern Plains States; up in the Dakotas.

BamBam lucked into a deal on his first truck, an F450, and found a good deal on a used machine. He owned his rig for a year or so before it actually went to work with him welding. He has since upgraded the truck, but prefers the old machine, and is in the market for another used machine to have as a spare. When he's on the road, per diem and several other payments the company makes to him make the payments and lot rent on a REAL NICE 33' camper. There's money to be made, if he's willing to work and willing to travel.