What I Loved About Being A Pipeline Welder (And What I Didn't)

Covering the pros and cons of being a pipeline welder. Why I liked it and what wasn't so great.
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[@unclebuzz6913]

Just remember rule 1. DO NOT PISS OFF THE WELDING INSPECTOR! It doesn't matter how good your test is . My father was a pipeliner in 70s thru 90. I was his helper, then when I got my head out of my rear end, he started teaching me to weld and fit. I decided that I would fit.I retired as a piping superintendent. THANKS DAD. Those 7/12 days on the firing line with PAPA were days I will never forget. You're right the welding boss will make or break a job... God Bless you and your LOVED ONES

[@jf7393]

You aren't lying there's nothing quite like working on a seasoned crew. We're all teachers and students at different times but when you are working on a crew where you don't even need to talk to eachother you all just read eachothers minds it's something special. Doesn't even feel like work sometimes you're just printing money those days

[@adamtheede2575]

i can concur but in a heavy truck shop for about 2 years, 6 of us had 2 bays 3 guys each and did fleet maintenance for a fleet of 100 trailers 70 trucks...we had that same feeling when a something rolled in we literally just looked at each other cranked the music got to work it was fun had 2 old experienced guys 3 middle age and 1 young guy and we all clicked professionally and personally still talk to them to this day helping solve all problems but in different industry's now

[@WelderSkills.1]

Hey Austin, one thing I learned when going out to take a welding test for boilermakers jobs and/or pipeline job was this "be confident in taking your welding test, because you don't want to go back home empty handed without a paycheck or any means to get back home financially" also have a back up plan like searching other local contractors in the area in case you fail one welding test so you can still give a welding test another go for someone else so you can come up with the means to travel back home when it's time. One thing I didn't hear you mention that is a con of traveling as a welder is not seeing family or friends back home for extended periods of time in person.

[@Dale37]

I miss pipelining and miss watching your pipelining videos. Glad to see you are doing well.

[@johnnyhunter4345]

Worked behind welders, laying in and back fill in late 60 and early 70, then fell in love and stayed home. No reason to go home until winter or job ended, loved new towns, new scenery, overtime, early quits, rain outs and get paid to do laundry. Always wanted to see what was around the bend or across the creeks. Breakdowns, cave ins, floods, cabling up and down hills were exciting to me. River crossings were the most exciting, no underground tunneling back then Started in dope gang and worked into backfilling, always mesmerized by blade shoving backfill so easy, would get in to a trance with the power, sound and feeling of the machine. No OSHA, no toilets, no hardhats, cross 2 lane asphalt in most cases with tires, 4 lanes with low boys, one contractor for the entire job, usually multiple year jobs, work 9 months, off 3 months usually. No hydraulic backhoes or side booms. X-Ray trucks did not have screen, just rolls of paper. Every lever on machines was manual, no battery starts, all pony motors except some Allis Chalmers. They briefly tried Japanese equipment, not strong enough dealer network or parts to continue, only Cat. Even still had cable and clam shells to dig out cave ins. Loved the job, not good if you want to be around your kids or if wife does not agree to run house alone for 9 months. Even today I tell folks, those days were the most fun I have ever had working, between the job, the guys, the bars, the new adventures.

[@chadkennedy529]

Yepp dealing with degenerates was the worst thing I had to deal with in the beginning.. when you've been around long enough you know where to go and who to stay away from.

[@cranerigging3604]

Amen at 0:40 as we say " It's good to be loved " LOL ! The biggest draw back I can see is being away from home if married with children . It would be the perfect gig for a younger individual who has not settled down . Seems like the older I get the more I like working close to home as Wife with 3 kids can be a job in itself ! LOL Keep up the great work Austin ! Hey , Did you folks get any of that ice and nasty weather this week ?

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Great information Austin. Makes me glad I am too old to be out of the rat race . Thanks for sharing all this information. Stay safe and keep up the good videos. Fred.

[@christopherstidams3369]

Please I loved them videos !!! I binged watched all your pipeline videos all your vids are good but them are the best

[@kennethdutton4153]

The other option is to take a pipewelder call out of a local in your area for whatever rate they’re paying. If pipewelding jobs are unavailable take a fitter or a plumber call, it all pays the same rate and there’s no headaches of driving 2 days for a test

[@jeffreyplumber1975]

True but crossing over from a welder to the building trades isnt that easy in so ca to go out as a plumber or fitter requires journeyman cert in the applicable trade. to go out on a building trades job even as a welder they usually call for a pipefitter/ welder. for a plumber to go out as a fitter or vice versa is frowned upon often wont let take the job. All this said it is possible I started out plumbing and after many years broke into fitting. Also I dont think 798 is a combo local sending plumbers out?so it would require travel to another local. Just a guess but wouldnt there be a grip of pipeliners at 798 chompping at the bit to take a job in the Tulsa area at the plumbing , fitting , and pipe weld local for building trades? Probebly kinda clickish amongst the locals but would be interesting to hear if a 798 hand is able to get local tulsa work as a plumber

[@kennethdutton4153]

@@jeffreyplumber1975 having the rig, consumables, and being on site with short notice is a lot of overhead and stress. Bust a test, no job. With UA certs testing onto a refinery or nuke job is common. I would imagine 798 has an apprenticeship program of some kind as do all UA locals. How chomping at the bit they are for plumbing work likely depends on what their bank account looks like

[@MrPipeliner99]

AR just keep doin your own thing. You'll be better off over the long haul.

[@forresta65]

that is why I got out of the trades. waiting for work. Earning good for a few months and than using all your earnings to survive to the next job. loved it but being broke all the time trying to catch up just didn't appeal anymore.

[@troyrunyan249]

You explained that very accurately.

[@samuelscragg7052]

I can tell you that you and your wife are far better off to go the self employed route. Your own business with your life partner is far more rewarding than working for others. You have something a lot of men don’t have a wife working for the same goal. You support one another and lift one another up if one of you falls. Another key factor is no children yet. Your world changes very much with children. And there’s nothing worse than leaving in the middle of the night to keep from having them crying not wanting you to leave for a month at a time. I did this for years. You will be a lot more satisfied in life working for yourself. You and your family and the Lord are in control and that makes a Hugh difference.

[@skystevenson24]

Austin sounds like you would love welding with us Ironworkers up here in NYC!.

[@calebc6028]

Cant wait to get out there someday...

[@davetaylor4741]

Very insightful synopsis of construction style work in general. I have predominantly run my own business. But I then have to work for someone that pays me money for doing what i do. Be that direct for a customer. Or as a contractor for a bigger company supplying the complete package. Everything you touched on in the pros and cons is spot on. The main point I would emphasize after nearly 42 years in construction. Mostly as a contractor. Is the stress factor. Not everyone is prepared for or can cope with that stress. You mentioned it in your break down. What I mean by it is this. If you go to work in a 9 to 5 job employed. Unless the worst thing happens, and you lose that job. You will rock up each day. Do your bit. Go home. Same thing next day. And so forth. Contract construction as you say is not like that. When you are working you are worrying about where to next. When you are not working you are worrying about where to next. Plus how do I pay the bills. You live your life in a constant state of flux. It is hard to plan for any form of lifestyle away from work. You don't know for certain when you will be working or where you will be. You don't book a holiday because that stupid two weeks entertaining the kids could mean you miss the start of a job that would have paid you money for six months. And now there is nothing going. I have always found the same as you. When on a good job where it all clicks. The freedom and camaraderie are great. Sometimes it isn't and you suck it up because work is work. But overall be prepared. It is not a regular lifestyle with paid vacations and sick time. Definitely not for some.

[@ak471911able]

Busting a test is a true humbling experience, it can make you or break you.

[@johndoe43]

Another good video and content.

[@timmywarren2349]

Very good Video 👍

[@electricshepherd6153]

I feel like your love that there’s a sense of an end in sight probably means that you don’t like monotony and stagnation when it comes to working a job, which I think is a healthy mindset. I’m the same way and am frightened by the thought of going into the same place to work every day, year after year until retirement. Your time off is a mental breath of fresh air and allows you to be home and reset while spending quality time with you’re family.

[@260160nl]

Same thing here. In my mind the best thing about being self-employed is sending out the invoice to the customer. I like to work hard for a set periode of time though.

[@alejandroguerra8380]

Hello I got a question do you get paid overtime in pipeline or is it just straight time for all hour’s worked thanks

[@russelljackson7034]

Right on

[@larryezell5106]

I miss being on tie-ins. I really miss the sound of those sound of side booms starting up in the morning.

[@masonbrown7884]

Yeah it’s sad theirs probably a hundred or so tractors sitting in Ironton Ohio still, I guess they are waiting on the next job or president to move all those side booms.

[@wvjeepguy8178]

My first job on the pipeline as an operator was for a tie-ins crew. What a rough way to start off. I spent the next two years on Environmental and liked it a lot more.

[@zenabu80]

What do you think about the Lincoln Maverick 325x? I was thinking about getting that in a few months when I upgrade to a diesel welder.

[@zenabu80]

I'm thinking either maverick or frontier 400x. I don't know yet though. It will be a little while.

[@ishmaelanzaldua4750]

That's some real good 😊👍

[@landendickey489]

Where in Oklahoma can I go to get on the pipeline

[@MBwelding]

It sounds allot like cutting logs that’s my main trade you are always looking for the next job while you’re cutting this one out and if it’s a ugly job with a better one with more time in the sights you have to jump the logger doesn’t care about you and is willing to cut your throat in a heart beat so get him first but if you find a solid guy you stay faithful for as long as you can

[@jakejohnson7714]

i was a pipe layer in wet utilities for 40 years

[@jimmyrogers2448]

Austin can I reach out to you for feedback for my son? He's looking at welding and I think its a great idea.

[@JohnGriffith222]

Austin are you a union Pipeliner?

[@harleyjune1233]

pay question - i apologize i am sure you have answered this elsewhere - hourly arm pay? is this just the rate from when you show up until the time you leave even if waiting in truck for the pipe to be ready - in other words - the daily wage rate? regardless of actual work? this is the amount on taxes as income - not expense or consumable like truck time - and does this include the consumables - they give you the bucket of 6010 or does it come out of your truck rate - 45/15/120. - arm/ truck/ ,per diem - $15-$20 for truck to include gases and rods and vehickle replacement fees seems to be not great....? thanks in advance

[@Drewdayz2419]

My company pays arm/rig/fuel/ per diem , arm is around 30/ rig is 25 hour / fuel is Monday thru Thursday, and per diem is 120, now I’m not mainline we are distribution. We provide gas and rods only

[@Drewdayz2419]

You ever looked in distribution, yes, it’s less money, but do you work year-round there is no layoffs

[@danielmcginnis6630]

Do you have to have your own truck and and set up to be a pipeline welder?

[@thomasmcnicholas8656]

Austin, just curious you still carrying a card through 798 payin dues ??

[@harlanstocks3514]

14:00 in, is why you can't self solicit in the IBEW

[@Ball-Sweatz]

Yup also in my UA local (pipeshitter) no self solicitation because then the list NEVER moves and it’s the same blow jobs working while the rest have to hope to be called. IBEW --- I Bone Every Welder 🤣😘 you keep that damn conduit to yourself haha

[@bill6590]

Austin, Have you Butt Welded over inside backup "CHILL RINGS?" These are, or were, common on Electrical High Voltage Underground Pipe Type Cable Systems. 115Kv and up on Electrical Transmission Systems: 8 5/8in. and higher diameter steel pipes. Chill Rings are backup plates on but welds. They provide a better fit, re-enforce the welds, and a smoother fluid flow rate with out turbulence on the inside of the pipe. Also, what are your thoughts on the new Hydrogen Pipe Welding projects. Hydrogen causes "Hydrogen embrittlement stress cracking," in steel. So, materials, techniques, etc. are tricky. This appears to be the future of pipeline welding.

[@c.b.7830]

I'm 33 and have been welding seasonally (winter during our repair time) and I'm currently trying to get a full tit welding job for more hood time. The reason being, I love laying down beads, whether it be mig, tig, or arc, I don't care which. My thought process is, when my kid starts to go out on his own, I want to travel and weld. My wife and I love to travel, and we have always been used to living an extremely frugal life style. The way I see it, we would be able to travel, meet new people, and I would be able to support us by welding. Am I bat shit crazy, or would this be viable?

[@digginthatcut22]

Did you ever work in west virgina?

[@wvjeepguy8178]

He has many videos of working out here in WV.

[@thebosscatman7]

I was a construction Foreman for half my career and I hated them guys that would jump ship halfway through a job because they thought the grass was greener on the other side if they ever did come back to work for me they would be the first to go guys like that weren't usually that good anyway

[@paulmeersa7162]

Why don't you show how to make a full pen branch weld there Mr. Austin....? From scratch. Be good to see you do that, and teach others how to do it. :):)

[@paulmeersa7162]

An open header one, so fluid can flow through it.

[@estebansaenz4925]

Do you think a vantage 322 is good for a pipeline rig for if I can get it at $10k

[@Texaspipeliner210]

Depende on hours but yea good machine to pipeline with

[@duluthduncan2949]

Yes, vantages are alright prefer the SAEs but to each his own

[@larryezell5106]

It is really sad what has happened to the industry. I am a current 798 member. My father got Journeyman welder retirement credits from 1963-2006.

[@yourface3154]

How much money we talking here?

[@SouthernCrates]

Hey sir. Are you and Kayla still married? I miss seeing your KZbin videos.

[@usmarine7914]

Hey Austin I have been a union pipe welder for over 30yrs it's a dying trade with all this new crap they are coming out with, I'm about ready to collect my pension thank god

[@thomasmcnicholas8656]

The only thing dying is the fact that younger folks do not wanna get into the trade……

[@bsideadventures2180]

Do it. But don't waste your time with the 798.

[@kadenjueneman8676]

Why is that?

[@iantripps]

I'm sure if you had children

[@freebird1ification]

make sure you get some spanish lessons in cause in the next 10 years that all you will be working with and trying to get a job against

[@ShainAndrews]

Says the guy clearly struggling with english...

[@kingsolomon8946]

You’re probably gonna have to wait till we get a good president before you can go back to that kind of work!!!

[@Drewdayz2419]

I don’t know what’s going on because i figure with this president nobody’s doing no major mainline, but there’s a lot of mainline companies starting to hire. I really don’t know what’s going on. I’m talking a lot of people to not just small amount.

[@stickjohnny]

​@@Drewdayz2419 There is a labor shortage. More are retiring than being replaced. Capable welders are in short supply. This trend will continue no matter what letter is next to the presidents name.

[@Drewdayz2419]

@@stickjohnny no dude I’ve been working in this field for 20 years and since Biden took office things changed you can’t tell me the labor shortage just happened in a year it doesn’t work like that, it’s just like every other line of work. Nobody wants to do it ever since the government started paying people more money to stay home nobody wants to work.

[@stickjohnny]

@@Drewdayz2419 Who exactly is getting paid more to stay at home? All I ever see is working folks that can barely keep the lights on and play rent. Are you talking about the two federal checks that had Trumps name on them? That's Bidens fault now? Also you are just completely wrong about the labor shortage. A massive wave of people retired during the pandemic and there aren't enough workers coming up from the younger generations to fill them. Economists were talking about this a decade ago but the pandemic sped this process up.

[@wailnshred]

He just approved some big oil project in Alaska so maybe that will lead to some work.

[@larrybarnes7102]

100% clean and pure penetration! Dirty pipe doesn’t pay! Dirty cheap steel nah work mon! 🔴🟢🟡🌈🔥