In the past I have facilitated and had the honour of being invited to welding camps and workshops for young women to try out welding. As well, learn about potential opportunities for a career in welding. That’s where myself and other women in welding volunteered to share our journeys. The whole purpose for guest speakers is to share perspectives. To provide their insight into the opportunity the welding industry has to offer. Sharing passion for our careers and the industry that we thrive in. All in the hopes that our journey will shed light on the vastness the industry possesses.
Normally when facilitating these types of programs we welcome guests to share their story. As well as, bring their welding equipment to have the opportunity to strike an arc and share techniques and insights from under the hood.
One time as a guest I was so excited because due to maternity leave and COVID19 I hadn’t had the opportunity to strike an arc in approximately 2 years. Where, in the welding world that can be detrimental on your skill level. Not to say that it can’t be achieved again. Maintaining a certain level of welding technique takes hours of arc on time.
I have to say striking an arc after so long, using a process that I’m not extremely practiced in went well. It wasn’t weld porn quality, but I was satisfied with my ability.
Muscle memory is a thing.
Everyone knows the term practice makes perfect.
But we could also make a testament that just because it looks pretty, doesn’t mean it’s an acceptable weld.
What makes a weld, a good weld?
What’s an acceptable weld to you?
What I’ve learned through my journey of education and experience with welding, is that it’s all based on acceptance criteria. Translation, you can’t solely look at a weld and judge whether it’s acceptable or rejectable without understanding the acceptance criteria required for that weld to be considered sound.
What does that mean? It could be different for everything. One of my mentors, Jack Ronan, gave it to me straight from day one. In terms I could understand. “The acceptance criteria for the pig trough repair is considerably different to the aerospace industry.” I’m paraphrasing, it’s been a while. But so on and so forth there are so many industries and applications. Where there’s potential for everything having different acceptance criterias.
Infinite possibilities.
Look at research and development; even if a few samples have been created there are still literally an infinite number of parameters.
Too much for one person to do in one lifetime if you were to try to test every combination…
Thankfully from previous experience and R&D, searching for a specific set of parameters or recipe to make an application follow code and company compliance can be narrowed to some reasonable starting points. All a part of the process of creating procedures to be followed to a specified acceptance criteria.
Taking this knowledge into the weld booths with students is a great equalizer. It can help somebody who is struggling to find confidence. But it can also ground arrogance. Or at least it’s worked for me in the past to support either situation. But for the most part with new welders it’s a fantastic confidence booster. Perspective is a great thing. Sharing knowledge all in the hope of helping a new prospect welder relax, and then be able to find the right flow or groove (Puns intended) to execute the required weld pass.
There is an opportunity to be had one-on-one in a weld booth.
A couple weld passes and the right words can be the translation that some need to see the characteristics of a weld puddle, arc and joint.
I’m absolutely grateful to be able to pass on knowledge and opportunities.
One of the most enjoyable pastimes in welding is the introduction of multiple processes. It’s beautiful watching people accomplish some pretty amazing discoveries. Some know they want absolutely no career to do with electricity, welding or so forth. Others are invigorated and intrigued to find out more. Either way they’ve discovered something about themselves and have found a path to walk.
Thinking back I recall saying something similar in many of the workshops I have been a part of. Here’s an article from years ago when I had the privilege of facilitating a women’s welding summer camp that was being publicized.
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4218376
Similarly I recall, during an interview with the late Jennifer Campbell. Unfortunately I cannot track down a copy of the live radio broadcast. But definitely click the link below to read about and honor the memory of Jennifer Campbell for the Influential Beauty that she is… Her radio interview with me was what led me to being nominated for KW Oktoberfest Woman of the Year. The power of communication at work.
https://www.guelphtoday.com/around-ontario/remembering-country-1067s-jennifer-campbell-3361065
I’m so proud of every woman that jumps into a women’s welding workshops or camp. But I’m also proud of anyone who’s walking the path of engineering, technology, and skilled trades that support one another. Regardless of age, gender, race, skill level, whatever the differences that we should celebrate, not berate. Each of whom makes a choice to try something new and see if there is something more for them… I applaud my mentors and colleagues for putting in so much work and passion into programs to enrich the minds of all people who are interested in welding technology.
I want to recognize all the amazing contributors to the welding engineering community. Also shine light upon how they have supported me through the learning moments.
On one occasion at an event such as the above described I was confronted with potential sexism and ageism…
A facilitator was passionately objecting to me spending any time in the booths with students.
In the fear that I would steer them wrong or teach them something contradictory to the learning provided through the program.
In the moment I kind of just brushed it off and was grateful for being able to share what I could share.
Also, out of respect I acknowledged and respected the request.
I’m a respectful person with a work ethic and a respect for the career path that I’ve chosen. Furthermore, the utmost respect for the people within the welding community.
But now looking back I wish I quietly confronted this person who didn’t even have the stomach to approach me directly. To tell me to my face that he did not want me in the booth with the students. It was all so surprising because it came out of the blue. An issue that was only resonating within one person. Actually, I’d like to thank this MAN for helping me see a little clearer. But also let him know that this RESTRICTION took away from the education.
The PROSPECTIVE WELDERS deserved my time because my time is knowledgeable and worthy. They deserved to have me in the booth talking and welding with them.
Whisper in the ear.
More like yelling.
Shop voice all the time…
Repeat, hearing is not as good as it used to be. But I can tell when your electrode is running in the wrong polarity or at least E4918 . I can tell when your semi-automatic gas shielded welding process is lacking shielding gas, from outside around the corner under a gas manifold…
I have 10 years under my belt with welding and education in welding.
I have a few pieces of paper I earned after putting hours upon hours of blood, sweat, tears and heart into educating myself on the vast topic that the term welding technology could represent.
Maybe this person was worried that I hadn’t MCAW welded much in my career. But personally even without thousands of hours under my belt I understand semi-automatic welding processes enough to be able to help a beginner… That last statement is probably even degrading what my knowledge actually is and capabilities are.
Anyway, I guess the question is did I do the right thing in the situation. I didn’t actually confront this man. He did come to get eyes on the welds I put down. His first response was questioning whether I actually welded it or was it the other facilitator who welded it. A true COMPLIMENT to compare me to an amazing welder and educator… But was it meant as a compliment… Probably as he admitted that it was better than what he could do…
I welded about a half to three quarters of a practice plate with padding or resurfacing or cladding could be another term. That is if you count what I laid on the other side of the plate to fight the distortion, but that side was, let’s call it a hot mess…
This is another aspect that would have been amazing to share with the students. I should have taken pictures, but I didn’t… Next time… Talking about a welding sequence on the practice plate so that time can be utilized as wisely as possible, would have been invaluable to these women. As you lay weld beads, your plate increases in temperature. Therefore, increasing the preheat temperature for the next weld bead that’s deposited. Hence you’ve changed a parameter every weld you put down potentially. Where if you continuously weld and ignore this change in parameter, weld quality significantly drops. Pointing this out and having a short conversation about, sometimes weld time, is wait time. That weld sequencing can affect heat distribution. All to help support quality.
But I digress, what really birdnests my wire feeder…
Okay LMAO, I’m having a moment with my husband with this metaphor….
Could this be the equivalent to a welder dad joke….
What really gulls my wire… lol
Grinds my gears…
Is the unknown why?
Why was I asked not to weld with the students?
Was it because he’d never worked with me before?
Was he threatened by the terminology I was using?
But really when working on an introduction, I always try to keep a nice balance of technical terminology translated into more common words and descriptions.
Was it my age? Truth be told he has no idea how old I am.
Was it my gender?
I have in the past experienced a male colleague disrespectfully bad mouth me behind my back for my willingness to ask and look for further information on a subject I was not familiar with. Props to my colleagues that had my back and an employer that didn’t stand for that.
In all my experience knowledge is power and asking for advice or information is not a weakness, it’s growth.
It’s the same as owning up to mistakes. You’re strong and have courage if you are able to take responsibility for your actions and words.
These qualities are what thriving people have. The ability to seek out knowledge and ask for help when needed. As well as, The courage to stand strong when things don’t go to plan.
So I suppose in both situations it’s definitely a great possibility that it’s the systemic thumb of a woman in a supposed man’s industry.
But, two men don’t define the industry. Case in point, I later found out that this person was removed from the program. Grateful for industry paving the way for equality for women in trades. Kudos and thanks to the organizations supporting equality.
I think from this I will learn to ask why more often. Also, giving myself permission to shine my value. So often we are told to be humble and non-confrontational. I’m learning to recognize the behaviour so I can break free.
Double standards exist both ways…
Regardless, I choose to see all of the goodness and learn from the uncomfortable moments. Typically, moments that I ignore and release. But it’s not time to ignore, It’s time to acknowledge first the issue so that learning can take place and then later there won’t need to be an “ignore.”
It will take us time and practice. Possibly another generation, time passed to really start seeing a change. But we have to keep pushing. There are so many levels struggling to get out from under the systemic thumb.
Keep raising your voice.
Keep walking the path you’re meant to be on.
Embrace your journey.
It doesn’t matter what industry you get into, whether it’s male-dominated or not.
You will meet some people that don’t get it.
You will meet some people that disrespect.
You will be confronted with awkward difficult moments.
And so much more…
But..
You will also meet a community that does get it.
You will meet inspirational leaders.
You will meet infinite amounts of knowledge.
You will meet infinite amounts of opportunity.
You will see the most beautiful light.
Through all of this, I highly recommend a career in the welding industry…
Opportunities are infinite as we grow through this world of technology.
Final note, above I mentioned an electrode designation E4918. Where confusion of what these numbers mean and their importance gets overlooked sometimes. So I found an article that discusses electrode designation and the importance of matching electrodes to parent metal composition before welding. [1] With that understanding you can’t just take a welder and some random materials and stick them together and hope it’ll work out… But then again maybe you can because it’s all based on acceptance criteria…
Yet…
Think about that next time you drive your CAR, over a BRIDGE that is mainly steel construction.
Or…
The next time you’re on the 37th floor of a SKYSCRAPER.
Where are you right now, are there welds around you that you never thought of before…
Do you want the welds in your daily life to be engineered or just, whatever works?
The point is to understand that there is science behind welding engineering and if you don’t know, pay for someone who does. Due diligence is all about insurance in case failure happens.
JEMI
Edit – WDI
P.S.
I challenge you to tell me something that doesn’t have a weld influence on it.
Some resources to have a look at if you are interested below…
Electrode designation and more…
https://www.canadianmetalworking.com/canadianfabricatingandwelding/blog/welding/welding-tech-stick-electrodes-carbon-steel-understand-options [1]
Difference between filler and parent metal….
https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/how-it-works/what-difference-between-weld-metal-and-filler-metal [2]
Why welding…
https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/how-it-works/why-should-someone-consider-welding-career-and-how-would-one-become-welder [3]
[1] K. Thorn, “Welding Tech: Stick electrodes for carbon steel – understand your options,” Canadian Metalworkings, 12-Jul-2016. [Online]. Available: https://www.canadianmetalworking.com/canadianfabricatingandwelding/blog/welding/welding-tech-stick-electrodes-carbon-steel-understand-options. [Accessed: 12-Jul-2021].
[2] “What is the difference between weld metal and filler metal?,” What is the difference between weld metal and filler metal? | CWB Group. [Online]. Available: https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/how-it-works/what-difference-between-weld-metal-and-filler-metal. [Accessed: 12-Jul-2021].
[3] “Why should someone consider welding as a career and how would one become a welder if they have no experience?,” Why should someone consider welding as a career and how would one become a welder if they have no experience? | CWB Group. [Online]. Available: https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/how-it-works/why-should-someone-consider-welding-career-and-how-would-one-become-welder. [Accessed: 12-Jul-2021].