Phase 1 – SMAW Structural Welder

5 Weeks; 200 Hours

Course Info

No experience needed, show up and learn the basics. Entry-level welding students are provided a pack out that includes all the basic welding tools needed to complete the course. Students learn welding/shop safety, welding machine set up and operation, how to weld SMAW (shielded metal arc welding) fillets, full penetration v-groove welds, and oxy-fuel cutting procedures.

5 Weeks; 200 Hours
**Tuition pricing subject to change without notice**
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This teaches Shielded Metal Arc Welding for beginners. Students learn the following skills:

  1. Use and care of welding tools.
  2. Intro to Shielded Metal Arc Welding.
  3. Proper electrode storage.
  4. Proper electrode sizing and selection.
  5. Arc strikes, shielding gas, hydrogen cracking.
  6. Base metal grading and selection.
  7. Amperage/Voltage ranges, Travel speed, Heat inputs.
  8. How to read and understand a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)
  9. Welding machine set-up for the Shielded Metal Arc Welding Process.
  10. Proper base metal preparation for welding.
  11. Body positioning techniques when welding with SMAW.
  12. Fillet weld measurements, fit-up, and welding techniques.
  13. Weld defects and acceptance criteria for AWS D1.1 structural steel code.
  14. Intro to V-groove welds, electrode selection, and industry uses.
  15. V-groove welding techniques for all positions.
  16. Oxy-fuel torch set-up and cutting techniques.
  17. Destructive Testing techniques of V-groove welds, industry methods, and specimen preparation in accordance to the applicable code or standard.

More Courses

Phase 2 – SMAW Pipe Welder

Students learn how to weld pipe with SMAW on all sizes of pipe, from 6” to 2” in the booth and in the pipe rack simulator. Upon completion, students are certified to AWS specifications in accordance with ASME Section IX.

Phase 3 – GTAW Pipe Welder

This teaches Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/SMAW)COMBO welding on pipe. Students are provided all the GTAW welding tools needed (including TIG torch) to complete the course, however, tools that are not stated on their Welder III tool list must be purchased by the student. Students learn how to weld pipe with SMAW on all sizes of pipe, from 6” to 2” in the booth and in the pipe rack simulator. Upon completion, students are certified to AWS specifications in accordance with ASME Section IX.

Phase 4 – Advanced SMAW DOWNHILL & GTAW STAINLESS Pipe Welding

Students are provided with all the welding tools needed to complete the course, however, any other tools needed that are not stated on their Welder IV tool list must be purchased by the student. Students learn how to weld pipe with GTAW and SMAW on all sizes of pipe, from 24” to 2”. Upon completion, students are certified to AWS specifications in accordance with ASME section IX.

Welcome to Western Welding Academy

Western Welding Academy is the only pipe welding school in the country that is solely owned and operated by real pipeline/pipe welders. At WWA we have the most elite, highest skilled welders in the world teaching students how to weld pipe.

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