Welder Morgan Bledsoe gave welding a shot when she wanted to learn about repairing her car, but while enrolled in a welding class, she learned that metal can be very forgiving and found both a career and a hobby as certified welder. While working during the day at Albany, Oregon’s Tekfab on machinery used in steel rollforming, Bledsoe also works on metal art in her spare time.
Bledsoe took to welding quickly, winning a Skills USA contest and then placing 13th in the national competition. While she creates garden flowers out of metal in her home forge and experiments with art pieces made from nuts, washers and other common metal materials, she has plans to expand her art metal welding projects in the future.
Welding Industry
Automated Oil and Gas Welding Relies on Manipulator
“When people think about welding automation, they typically envision some sort of robotic system: a robotic welding arm attached to a welding power source and a controller, lined up in the hundreds, using GMAW wire to weld automotive parts by the thousands.
While this is certainly accurate in automotive and related industries, when it comes to oil and gas (pressure vessels and process piping), pilings, penstocks, shipbuilding, and some structural steel applications, efficiencies are more likely to be gained using some form of mechanized automation, usually in the form of a welding manipulator (also known as a column and boom), side beam, or gantry system.”
What You Need to Know about the Miller Clearlight Lens
“Miller Electric Manufacturing Company recently released their ClearLight welding lenses, which offer significant benefits over traditional lenses. As anyone who welds can tell you, the better you can see the weld area, the better your welds will be. The new ClearLight technology, with high-definition optics, gives the welder a view with more natural color and better contrast. Those who weld for extended periods are likely to notice less visual fatigue, since the improved optical properties of this state-of-the-art lens make it easier to see not only the weld, but the entire area viewed through the lens.”
Welding Jobs
Welding Students Win Competition, Prepare for Careers
“Fresh from winning both local and statewide awards, the students enrolled in SUN Area Technical Institute’s welding class are preparing for a national competition in June — and life after high school.
‘This can be a very lucrative occupation,’ said Jamie Kotarski, welding class instructor. ‘The students here could enter into the workforce right now. But some want to continue their education at Penn College. They have earned 16 college credits this year so they’ll be almost a semester ahead of the game when they go.’”
Welding Education
Students Use Scrap Metal at Welding Rodeo
“Students from the Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center are gearing up for a unique fundraiser that will take their technical know-how to the next level.
The SCCTC will host its sixth annual Welding Rodeo at the school today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m and Saturday from 12 to 2 p.m. Juniors and seniors from the center will compete against each other to weld together unique structures from scrap metal. This year’s theme focuses around ‘transportation.’”
Chicago Area Students and Communities Benefit from Welding Program
“Tony Sanders, CEO of Elgin School District U46, told city council members at a recent committee of the whole meeting that a welding certification program at Elgin High School has just been nationally accredited.
As treasurer of the Elgin Development Group, Sanders cited the program as an example of how the group and the schools are working together on careers and academics under the Regional Career Pathways initiative. He said the program in welding does not duplicate other school districts’ offerings and is open to students in Burlington School District 301 and Carpentersville District 300.”
Career Center Students Prepare for Welding Certification
“The welding program at the Southeastern Career Center is a two-year program, and it is partnered with Vincennes University, reports Jenny Truesdell, SCC dean of student services/recruiter.
In the two years spent at the career center, the students will earn 12 high school credits and 20 college credits. ‘We also do a 10 hour OSHA training. This helps to get the students a jump-start on other future college credits. This program is fast-paced. The students will have weekly tasks in the shop and some book work. The students learn a lot of information and also get hands-on experience with some of the latest technology.’”
Welding Students Win Super Mileage Competition
“Kankakee Valley High School welding instructor David Hass and his students recently competed in the second annual ETEI Super Mileage Competition. The event, hosted by the Engineering/Technology Educators of Indiana, was held on April 8-9 at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis to test the mileage limit.
The class’ car, dubbed the ‘Full Send,’ obtained a high run of 1,298.2 miles per gallon and averaged 1,082 MPG. In past years, the highest distance recorded was 351.9 MPG. The score earned the KVHS team First Place not only in their division, but also in the entire competition.”
Welding Events
2018 Welding Summit, League City, Texas
Oct 16, 2018 – Oct 17, 2018
This Summit is intended to bring the best quality information and construction welding professionals together for a series of interactive presentations on how more value can be brought to welding operations and the best way to execute success welding plans into projects.
Welding Gone Wrong
Welding Fumes Cause Evacuation at British Island
“Welding fumes outside Dinosaur Isle blew into the building and set off alarms, leading to call out for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service… The building was evacuated for a time, but business is now returning to normal. ”
Welding Supplies on Sale
There’s still time to pick up Miller Electric welders on sale with the Build with Blue rebate program at Baker’s Gas and Welding. Check out the latest in welding helmet technology from Miller, ESAB, and Lincoln, consider the latest models of the ESAB Rebel, or review the big price cuts on Lincoln’s reliable welders.
