M9202 - Welding

Operational Details
Welding shops include custom welding and repairing of equipment, implements and the fabrication of metal products from angle iron, pipe, sheets of steel, rod, and I beam. Welders operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. They operate semi-automatic welding machines that fuse metal using processes such as gas tungsten arc (GTAW), gas metal arc (GMAW), flux- cored arc (FAW), plasma arc (PAW), shielded metal arc (SMAW), resistance welding and submerged arc welding (SAW). Acetylene and arc welding are common, however, TIG welding is be used to weld stainless steel, aluminum, brass, etc. They also operate manual flame-cutting equipment known as a cutting torch. Brazing and soldering are also part of this industry. Metal shaping machines, shears, slitters and cutters, metal bending machines and machine lathes are also used in a welding shop operations.

While welding shops usually use stationary welding equipment, they may also have portable welders, which are used to make field repairs. A welding shop may also incidentally erect a product they have manufactured, such as a framework for a stationary auger. Often welding shops have a machine shop capability, which is supportive to the overall welding operation.

Portable welding is used in the rig, oilfield and pipeline construction industry. They are versatile and can be used to weld pipe on pipelines, texas gates, fences, cross members of towers, broken metal stairs and ladders, etc. The key is that the portable welder is used in field situations, away from a shop environment. The welding unit is made up of a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, with a metal flat deck and a welding unit attached to the deck. A vise and a lifting apparatus may also be part of the deck equipment. Employers with portable welders may work in the oil patch and in the off-season work out of a welding shop. They may use the portable welding unit as their primary, or secondary source of revenue.

SIC Codes
000000587 - Welding