Re: Welding VS Machining

Posted by chris Jones on February 26, 2010 at 19:27:05 from (98.26.240.6):

In Reply to: Welding VS Machining posted by Lanse on February 26, 2010 at 18:44:43:

I'd probably say welding myself but it depends on what you like.

Here is what's going through my mind. Machining requires a large employer who can afford all that fancy equipment. It will probably be a more structured career, more comfortable work environment in a clean air conditioned shop even. Regular hours too. But although requiring a lot of technical knowledge it might be quite boringly repetitive once you know it. Another day another 100 widgets through the CAD milling machine. Unless you get lucky enough to work for someone who makes prototypes and constantly is making some different one-off item. Also consider if the employer goes out of business, relocates or they start outsourcing you may end up having to move to find another job.

While welding can be repetitive if you get a job in a shop producing a product that requires welded joints there is a lot more repair work in welding and this varies greatly from day to day and shop to shop. The equipment required is cheaper and there are more employers out there. There is also a lot of knowledge required and your skills will show there too if you can identify the type of metal you need to fix and the right rod/equipment and do the job at any angle required and do it WELL. It's going to be harder to outsource you in this job too.

Off hand I'd say a machinist will earn a higher initial salary but that I think is just because there are a lot of just average welders out there. If you can weld more than just the basics within a year or so it will be noticed and your pay will reflect that. If you want to take it to the limit it not like you can't. Pipe welding for pipelines or boilers and even nuclear power plants requires a welder that can weld with 100% certainty the job is done right. When you get a job that they X-ray behind you to ensure you did it right and they don't find anything wrong you're going to be paid the big bucks--course some of those jobs will probably require a lot of travel and time away from home.

I come back to you can run your own welding business pretty easily if it comes to that but machining--you'll need pretty good credit to buy the machine tools.

Just my 2 cents and I'm neither a welder or machinist.

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