Everything You Need To Start Your Welding Career off Right

A career in welding can help you break into a number of major industries, such as aerospace, automotive, construction, and manufacturing. However, there is crucial preparation that goes into making welding a full-time job. To help with your preparation, we’ll breakdown everything you need to start your welding career off right.

Welding Equipment

First and foremost, you need to have the right welding equipment by your side. If you know what specific industry you want to weld in, then buy equipment that is relevant to that field. This equipment will help you get the hands-on experience you need to hone your skills. Of course, make sure you’re doing so safely every step of the way.

Essential equipment all welders need includes a welding machine, torches, consumables, and whatever else you need to get the job done. If you’re unsure of what industry you want to weld in, then research the different welding methods to determine which one is best for you. MIG welding is typically seen as the best choice for beginners.

Additionally, make sure you have equipment for cleaning base metals too. Like much of the equipment on this list, the best choices for the job aren’t always the same. Common tools for cleaning base metals include angle grinders with a flap disk, wire brushes, and even acetone.

Safety Equipment & Attire

Aside from the essential welding gear, you need specific safety gear. Welding is a hazardous process that requires immense preparation to avoid injuries. Luckily, as you can see from our library of welding protective gear, there are plenty of tools available to keep you safe.

The most important PPE (personal protective equipment) for welding includes an auto-darkening helmet, safety goggles, and respirators. Welders also need fire-resistant attire from top to bottom including pants, shirt, jacket, gloves, and boots. Both the gloves and the boots must be shock-resistant too. Never weld without covering your skin with the right safety materials.

The type of PPE you need can vary slightly between welding methods. For example, Pigskin and thin-cut Deerskin leather jackets are best for MIG welding tasks, whereas Cowhide and Elkskin leather jackets are better for TIG welding.

Official Training and Certification

One of the great things about welding is that you don’t need a bachelor’s degree to get a job. That said, you will need to go through a comprehensive training course and certification process. This will be the point where you should have a pretty clear career path in your head.

The reason for this is the training and certification you receive depend on specific industry requirements. Make sure to do thorough research into everything you need to break into the career you’re striving for. Once you earn your certification, you’ve officially gathered everything you need to start your welding career off right.