this thread is awesome!!!!! i'm diggin the pics too, keep em comin!!!
however, the following statement turns my stomach
And certs don't mean jack. quote]
i dunno about anybody else, but it took me 4 years to get my aws certs (d1.1-.6, d9.1, d10.etc, etc) and i take a lot of pride in them. it is these certs that separate the skilled from the scabs in my trade, so an appropriate level of respect is deserved by those with aws certification.
I agree to a certain point... I'm just saying I've seen guys come into a shop that hads certs left and right and their welds look like chit. Certs don't descriminate on looks unless you missed the line or theres peroscity(sp?)
Also, with the right instruction during the cert test it's not hard for the average joe to pass (depending on which cert of course). Our yard guy took the test just for kicks and with help from a few guys at the shop he passed the vertical dual shield and hardwire tests. There are definetly harder certs to get though. Pipe fitters, I would say have it pretty hard. IIRC it's 8" 1/4" pipe with a 1/8" gap butt weld and it cannot leak and must be done free hand in order to pass.... but you can make any necessary repairs during the test (I.E. grind out the weld and reweld)
The main purpose of a weld is to stick 2 pieces of metal together and be strong but looks are important also.
Most shops I've encountered around here aren't so worried with certs as they are your ability to weld. Unless theres an inspector on site or the welds will be getting ultra sound. Pretty easy for a foreman to tell if your welds are strong... most can say "he'll pass" or "he won't pass" and be right 90% of the time.