Seven Interesting Facts about Welding You Probably Didn’t Know
Welding has existed for centuries, in one form or another. Welding has dated back to as far as the Bronze Age and is still going strong. Welding has such a long history that it’s not shocking there are some really fun and interesting facts about the welding process. Here are some of the interesting facts about welding that you probably didn’t know: –
1. You Do Not Need a Certified Degree to become a Welder
- While many people believe that in order to earn good money, one would need to go to college and get a degree.
- In reality, there are a number of real-life positions in a world where you can make decent money and without getting a four-year degree.
- Take welding for example: if you were to become a certified welder you could get a certificate in about 9 months and be well on your way to making enough money to sustain yourself. In addition, the better you are at welding, you will earn more.
2. There is a Wide Range of Career Paths for Welders
- Not only do you not need a college degree to become a welder but you also don’t need to worry about a lack of options in a variety of industries, since there is always opportunity.
- Welding is one of those career paths that opens people up to a wide variety of possible industries to work in, all you would have to do is pick one and focus on it.
- Due to the scarcity of welders right now, welders are finding themselves working in a wide range of industries such as:
- Sales
- Project Management
- Education
- Engineering
- Inspection
- Robotic
3. Welding is Older than We Thought
- Some of the earliest welding recorded have dated back to the Bronze age with the discovery of small gold circular boxes.
- These small gold circular boxes were made by forge-welding two pieces of metal together and hammering them to make one component part.
- There are welded objects that have history dates back to about 2000 years BC.
- Welding was even seen in the tombs that were built by the Egyptians.
4. Welding Produced The Fastest Record for Ship Building
- During the second world war, the advancements of welding enabled ships to be built in a short period of time.
- The record for the ship that fastest build was the SS Robert E Peary which was constructed in 1942, taking just 4 days, 15 hours and 27 minutes. Interestingly enough, this record still stands today.
- As for the ship itself, the ship had an illustrious career, operating in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans before eventually being scrapped during 1963.
5. The Very First Robot Was Built for Welding
- The very first industrial robot of the world was made to spot weld.
- In 1961, an American car company called General Motors installed the very first robot, which is known as the Unimate.
- The Unimate was basically an industrial motorized arm weighing in at a staggering two tonnes.
- The Unimate performed step-by-step procedures which were stored on a large magnetic drum.
6. A Welder can Earn As Much Money as a Doctor or a Lawyer
- A welder is highly trained and experienced can actually earn as much money as a doctor or a lawyer on an annual basis, perhaps even more.
- Unlike other jobs, welding is a trade where one can make as much as a doctor or a lawyer, this means that the income can sometimes be as high as 6 figures.
7. Not Every Welding Requires Heat
- Contrary to popular belief, not all welding requires heat.
- There is actually a method of welding that’s done in outer space called “Cold Welding”.
- This welding process involves 2 pieces of metal to touch without having any coating on them.
- Cold welding occurs when 2 similar materials are joined without heating or fusing happening on the surface of the object being fused.
In a nutshell, welding may seem like an industrial occupation that can be easily overlooked, but welding plays an important role in building and manufacturing products we use in our everyday lives. Therefore, welding should not be a career that is overlooked or underestimated.