Types of Professional Welders
Know the Types of Professional Welders
Many people have heard about welding and how it is a very lucrative career financially, but few know the different types of professional welders that are within the workforce. Welding involves the use of intense heat to join together metals. The different types of professional welders must all have completed a program in welding, but many workers start as an apprentice and complete training along the way. Regardless of the job types of professional welders, training is required because proper use of tools is critical to preventing serious injury.
There are nine key types of professional welders in the present job market. These types of professional welders are classified as:
1. Arc Welders: Arc welding involves using electricity to melt metal down. Arc welding requires special helmets with eye shields that block out the powerful rays. Staring at an arc weld can lead to permanent eye damage.
2. Construction Welders: Handle welding tasks on construction sites. These types of professional welders work on a tight schedule and often work under the close supervision of a foreman getting a job done so that other construction workers can get back to their jobs.
3. Flame Cutters: Flame Cutters are a machine used by some types of professional welders. These machines to cut out specific metal shapes for parts from automotive parts to tool pieces. Though the machine does much of the work, human involvement is needed to verify measurements and settings.
4. Maintenance Welders: Repair or maintain equipment by welding portions back together and/or salvaging parts for future use.
5. Production Welders: Welders who use large machinery for welding tasks are other types of professional welders. Production welders rely mainly on the machine to do the work, but humans are needed to verify settings and that measurements are spot on.
6. Programming/Robotic Operators: Certain machines are now fully robotic and do the welding tasks to meet computer instructions. These types of professional welders require specialists to ensure the computer is working effectively and that the machinery is in perfect order.
7. Underwater Welding: Perhaps one of the strangest, yet most important, types of professional welder is underwater welding. Underwater welders use equipment that can handle the water. Usually underwater welders are required for bridge repairs, underwater pipelines, dock repairs, or even some ship repairs. Underwater welders must be certified divers.
8. Welder Assistants/Apprentices: Welder assistants are types of professional welders that work with certified welders and want to learn the job. While employed by a professional welder, welder assistants receive their training on the job.
9. Welder Fitters: Welder fitters are types of professional welders who take parts of metal that a machine has cut and then weld them together to form a tool, piece or equipment, or similar item.
