Rig welding

[Pipewelder01]

I am getting ready to graduate welding school,and wanting to get into rig welding can anyone give me some advice ?

[griff01]

I am getting ready to graduate welding school,and wanting to get into rig welding can anyone give me some advice ?

This is a bad time to try to break into the oil patch. With the slow down there are experienced weldors begging for work. I am a very small, one man operation and I get three or four calls a week from guys looking for a job.
Don't mean to discourage you but don't give up too easily if this is what you want to do.

Griff

[duaneb55]

You could go here http://www.rigwelder.com/forum/index.php and ask the same question but you'll be wise to have on your thickest skin.

Not only are there seasoned rig welders over there looking for work same as Griff mentioned above but every "green horn" looking to break into the industry as well. As such, even landing the initial mandatory welder's helper position to learn the strings and pay dues is near impossible at the present time.

You will need to be twice as patient as you are diligent in your efforts and practice, practice, practice in the meantime.

[Pipewelder01]

Appreciate the advice, as far as the business side goes what does a man have to know ? Do you have to be bonded and insured and what else

[duaneb55]

The answers to your question are all over the spectrum and vary as much as the type of work you might find yourself in. These are the kind of questions that get answered during the time you work for a welder as a helper learning the ropes before attempting to break out.

There's dealing with contracts, your hourly pay that will vary based on the project/contractor/region, rig pay, per diem pay, who provides consumables, etc., etc..

I'm NOT a rig welder but know a number of them and as suggested before, much more can be learned over on the rig welder forum - if you're up for it.

[Broccoli1]

http://www.oilfieldjobfinder.com/oil-boom-headed-for-north-dakota/

seems like it might be turning around.

[Pipewelder01]

I just joined the rig welder forum, again thanks for the advice and I am hoping that the oilfields go wide open again!