Peter's story begins with his first experience in electric stick welding in ninth-grade shop class, then helping out at his family’s metal fabrication business, marrying his high school sweetheart, and moving with his wife to Texas to work his way through school while studying welding engineering at LeTourneau University. LeTourneau is one of two universities in America to offer a degree in welding engineering.

Peter describes his work history and the amazing experiences he had following his degree in welding engineering. He talks about working for welding equipment manufacturers, his family’s business, and offshore oil platforms, Peter assures young listeners that you don’t need to go to college to have a good career in welding.A welder is qualified, not certified. A welder in a refinery might have over 100 to 200 qualifications regarding specifications, materials, process, material thickness, welding position, and many more.

Peter describes submerged arc welding that doesn’t require using a helmet. You set everything up, make your weld, remove your flux, knock off your slag, and hope you have a good-looking weld. It’s the workhorse of the welding industry. It is limited to flat and horizontal positions. Peter talks about trends in high-tech welding with robotics and parts automation. New, stronger alloys are being developed.Jim notes that heat and pressure in a marriage strengthen the marriage bond.Jim encourages young listeners that welding is a good, stable trade. You can make a lot of money doing it. You don’t have to go to college to do it. At the end of the day, you’ll be sweaty and dirty but you’ll have something you created you can be proud of. Almost everything you weld, you sign or stamp your name. This creates traceability but also pride and accountability. One of the marks of a man is being accountable for your actions. You’re accountable for your life.

Peter’s advice to young people: If you think you might like it, get your hands on it and try it. Once you try it, you’re going to like it.Jim invites you to allow heat and pressure to continue to work in your favor, both in life and your marriage. Stay under the hood, get dirty, and get the weld done.

 

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