LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: FORMER STUDENTS COMMENT

Reprinted from Summer 2000.

The Hobart Institute of Welding Technology conducted a recent survey of approximately 5000 alumni dating back to 1985. Thanks to all those who responded.   Among the data collected, we also invited comments on a few questions. While space does not permit reprinting all of them we would like to share just a few of those with you.

What I Like Most About My Welding Job

Fabricating different projects. Repairing broken equipment. ~ R. Chase

I am my own boss. ~ J. Yastrop, Jr.

The different jobs that I do. To see the machines starting back up because of the welding that I have done. ~ B. Maggard

The most important aspect I like about my welding job is the fact that I deal with all welding from SMAW to high-end robot welding. ~ C. Fulk

Do different jobs every day. ~ M. Kemp

It is like artwork. ~ D. Holland

The satisfaction I get when someone compliments my smooth and uniform weld beads. ~ D. Wessel

Rotating the weld stations and the clean atmosphere. ~ M. Muhlenkamp

The satisfaction I get after making a great weld. Then also knowing I’m one of the best welders my company has. ~ G. Santomieri

The variety in my job makes it worth the time it took to learn the craft. It’s more of a challenge than a job.

When I think I’ve seen it all, something new comes along. ~ M. Phillips

Welding to me means a variety. My welding job starts out with stainless steel, then an aluminum project comes up. I might be on that job for a week when I’m asked to design and fabricate and finally weld a mild steel job. What a great job! ~ D. LaMarca

Every day is different, every weld is different, and the perfect weld is still out there somewhere. ~ D. Gay

Personal sense of accomplishment. I can see immediate results. ~ W. Oliver

Looking at the end result, satisfaction of a job well done. Also the callenge when beginning a job – how to fix it or weld it the right way. ~ O. Groat

It’s fun. It’s challenging. I always wanted to be a welder. Hobart helped me reach my goal and get a good job. ~ J. Gartin

Taking pride in my work. Working in the piping industry, not all welds are in easy spots, not all welds have good fits. When you make a good weld in a bad spot under poor conditions, I feel that it is definitely something to take pride in. ~ R. Cuellar

Doing everything by the book. Doing things the way I was taught at Hobart. After all these years, I still can’t make a pipe weld as good as Ben Ford (the best!). ~ W. McClure, Jr. Editor’s note: Ben Ford is an HIWT Welding Instructor.

I have been welding for twenty years and have enjoyed every day. Fabricating, building, and making a difference in my job. ~ S. Hutchinson

Everything. I have been welding for twenty years and Hobart showed me the correct ways to weld. I don’t care whether the weld is in mud, in a ditch, or 300 feet in the air as long as I am welding. I take every weld as a challenge and make the next one better than the last. I like to take the hard welds that other guys don’t want. As you can tell, I love to weld. ~ R. Collins

What I Like Least About My Welding Job

There isn’t anything I don’t like about it. ~ S. Hazzard, Jr.

The item I like least about my welding job is not welding enough. I miss actual hands on GTAW, SMAW, and GMAW. ~ C. Fulk

Most people are in a hurry and don’t appreciate you taking time to give them a quality job. ~ L. Whissel

On the construction side of it, sometimes the elements are not the most desirable to work in. ~ M. Anders

Not having the opportunity to return to Hobart and learn more. ~ S. Kabbes

Having to fix someone else’s failed welds. ~ J. Holtz

Running into people that try to tell me how to do my job. (Everybody’s a welder). ~ W. McClure, Jr.

Uneducated people expecting miracles with a welder. (i.e. steel to aluminum; fill in when pieces are missing; what took so long; why so many passes; show me how to do it in 2 minutes; on and on.) ~ J. Arehart

Quitting time. People that try to tell welders how much to weld when they are not qualified to do so… such as a job foreman who is trained in piping. ~ R. Collins

Quitting time. ~ J. Coleman

Welding without the proper tools. ~ J. Bussey

It’s a little dirty and hard on your clothing. Stick welding stainless is a challenge in vertical and overhead. ~ G. Miller

The hardest thing is going to a new job or new area in the same shop. Getting used to the difference in welding machines. They need to find a common system. ~ M. Phillips

Having to re-do something. ~ J. Buehler

People who don’t understand welding. ~ D. Moulton

The fact that I am the youngest on the crew. ~ D. Perugini

When I cannot repair or weld something to bring it back to its original use. Or when they will not allow me to.

The company thinks anyone that can turn on a welding machine can weld. … That mentality gives all real welders a bad name. ~ V. Chindemi

Sometimes not having good equipment makes for a struggle to do a good job. ~ H. Hopkins