Aaron
Ardaiz is an experienced welder who has been working in the field for
many years. Over the course of his career he has learned a variety of
different welding techniques, and received multiple certifications.
Currently,
he works as a pipe welder. A pipe welder’s job is quite similar to how
it sounds. The most cost-effective method to merge two pipes is to weld
the two together, which creates the need for experienced and skilled
pipe welding professionals.
Being
a pipe welder requires specialized training. That is because many of
these pipes are used to transport hazardous material, whether it be oil,
sewage, or tainted water. There are also many environmental risk
factors that are associated with repairing piping. Errors like weak
welds can cause some serious problems for pipes, even if the materials
being transported are not hazardous. A leaking or busted pipe can
represent hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of product lost, and
doesn’t include the damages to the environment. That is why
certification is typically required for pipe welders, and involves
passing a number of tests, as well as understanding and being able to
execute multiple welding techniques.
The
most common technique used for connecting pipes is arc welding. There
are, however, many different kinds of arc welding processes. A
well-known process for a pipe welder is the gas-shielded metal arc weld.
This involves blanketing the welding area in an inert gas to protect
the molten metal from impurities such as oxygen.
Welding
is not as simple and straightforward as it appears. Particularly, pipe
welding can be quite difficult. That is because pipe typically requires
highly mobile equipment, so the precision of the weld depends entirely
upon the experience and skill of the welder. Welding in the field
presents other problems too. A welder has to maintain a straight and
even bead in order to meld the metals properly. However, the heat
required to make molten metal creates a light too bright for a welder to
look at. So a welder must wear a protective mask that dials down the
light’s intensity. So essentially, the welder has to draw a straight,
consistent line with a pencil that reaches 6500 degrees Fahrenheit while
he is blindfolded. Quickly it becomes obvious why companies value an
experienced welder. An experienced pipe welder can do the job more
efficiently, with less mistakes, and avoid injury. While welding is an
easy trade to get into, it is a difficult one to master.
Aaron Ardaiz has dedicated himself to his trade. He takes pride in his pipe
welding abilities, and holds many certifications in various forms of the
discipline. He has the kind of experience to train other aspiring
welders into seasoned, reliable professionals.
