Welding can be seen as a difficult thing to do, and in truth, it can be. However, that doesn’t disqualify everybody from doing it. While some forms of welding can be difficult, such as SMAW/stick welding, which is considered the most difficult process, others such as MIG can be much easier for others.
The job does require certain things in order to accomplish a complete weld that will make it through the work fields. In truth, however, anybody can weld— so long as they have a tolerance for heat, decently steady hands, patience, and the ability to (mostly) go in a straight line.
Even if you don’t have these things, if you talk with the other welders around you, accommodations could quickly be made to help you accomplish your work! Cooling can quickly be made by the ventilations around you, and welding kits usually come with a chalk-like tool that can help you follow a line through your metal— which can aid in following a straight line and in unsteady hands.
For instance, I myself do not like being hot, which is a thing you can always expect as a welder. My solution to that is usually to wear more baggy or airy shirts under my welding jacket on the days I know we’ll be welding, which helps cool me off. I also step back from the weld when my partner goes for their turn on the machine during class, which also helps me cool off for a minute or two before I get to do a line on the metal.
I also used the chalk tool in my kit to draw a line on the piece of metal I welded on— which remains visible when the helmet darkens so you can see properly during your welding process and are easy to follow!
So, if you want to do welding, do it! In my experience, it feels great to see a good weld when I’m working in class. You can enroll in the class in GW, and take the bus there and back during the school day. Or perhaps you know a welder in your family or friends who can teach you! If you enroll in the class, you’ll get a free welding kit to use during your time there full of your PPE (personal protective equipment) and various tools.
