Welder

About This Role

This role involves laying out, aligning, and welding fabricated, cast, and forged components to assemble structural forms such as machinery frames, tanks, pressure vessels, furnace shells, buildings, and pipes, all according to blueprints and metallurgy. The position requires precision and adherence to established guidelines, often working under immediate supervision.

Responsibilities

• Select type and size of pipe or other related materials and equipment according to specifications
• Select equipment and plan layouts, assembly, and welding, applying knowledge of geometry, physical properties of metal machining, weld shrinkage, and welding techniques
• May be required to use Gas-Metal Arc, Flux-Cored Arc, Gas-Tungsten Arc, Submerged Arc, or Shielded Metal Arc welding processes
• Lay out, position, align, and fit components together in various body positions
• Bolt, clamp, and weld together metal components of products such as piping systems, plate, pipe and tube or structural shapes, using arc and arc gas welding equipment
• May weld in flat, horizontal, vertical, or overhead position
• May tack weld assemblies together
• Connect cable from welding unit to obtain amperage, voltage, slope, and pulse as specified by procedure or supervisor
• Obtain specified electrode and insert electrode into portable holder or thread consumable electrode wire through portable welding gun
• Start power supply to produce electric current
• Strike arc which generates heat to melt and deposit metal from electrode to work piece and join edges of work piece
• Manually guide electrode or gun along weld-line, maintaining length of arc and speed and movement to form specified depth of fusion and bead, as judged from color of metal, sound of weld, and size of molten puddle
• May manually apply filler rod to supply weld metal
• May clean or degrease weld joint or workplace, using wire brush, portable grinder, or chemical bath
• May repair broken or cracked parts and fill holes
• May remove excess weld, defective weld material, slag, and spatter, using carbon arc gouge, hand scrapper, grinder, or power chipper
• May preheat work piece, using hand torch or heating furnace
• May cut metal plates or structural shapes
• Examine weld for bead size and other specifications
• Load, transport, and unload material, tools, equipment, and supplies
• May assist in lifting, positioning, and securing of materials and work pieces during installation
• Perform minor maintenance or cleaning activities of tools and equipment
• Assist other mechanics as needed
• Pass employer performance tests or standard tests to meet certification standards