Friday 29 April 2016

Aaron Ardaiz - An Introduction to Pipe Welding

Aaron Ardaiz is an experienced welder who has been working in the field for many years. Over the course of his career he has learned a variety of different welding techniques, and received multiple certifications. 
                                                       Aaron Ardaiz

Currently, he works as a pipe welder. A pipe welder’s job is quite similar to how it sounds. The most cost-effective method to merge two pipes is to weld the two together, which creates the need for experienced and skilled pipe welding professionals.

Being a pipe welder requires specialized training. That is because many of these pipes are used to transport hazardous material, whether it be oil, sewage, or tainted water. There are also many environmental risk factors that are associated with repairing piping. Errors like weak welds can cause some serious problems for pipes, even if the materials being transported are not hazardous. A leaking or busted pipe can represent hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of product lost, and doesn’t include the damages to the environment. That is why certification is typically required for pipe welders, and involves passing a number of tests, as well as understanding and being able to execute multiple welding techniques. 

The most common technique used for connecting pipes is arc welding. There are, however, many different kinds of arc welding processes. A well-known process for a pipe welder is the gas-shielded metal arc weld. This involves blanketing the welding area in an inert gas to protect the molten metal from impurities such as oxygen. 

Welding is not as simple and straightforward as it appears. Particularly, pipe welding can be quite difficult. That is because pipe typically requires highly mobile equipment, so the precision of the weld depends entirely upon the experience and skill of the welder. Welding in the field presents other problems too. A welder has to maintain a straight and even bead in order to meld the metals properly. However, the heat required to make molten metal creates a light too bright for a welder to look at. So a welder must wear a protective mask that dials down the light’s intensity. So essentially, the welder has to draw a straight, consistent line with a pencil that reaches 6500 degrees Fahrenheit while he is blindfolded. Quickly it becomes obvious why companies value an experienced welder. An experienced pipe welder can do the job more efficiently, with less mistakes, and avoid injury. While welding is an easy trade to get into, it is a difficult one to master. 

Aaron Ardaiz has dedicated himself to his trade. He takes pride in his pipe welding abilities, and holds many certifications in various forms of the discipline. He has the kind of experience to train other aspiring welders into seasoned, reliable professionals.