Hello all-
I am studying for the upcoming CWI exam and I apologize in advance for posting this trivial problem, but I have spent ~ 8 hours looking for the “correct“ answer and now believe that perhaps the AWS CM (4th Edition2000) study guide is wrong.

In Section 7, Weldability, Welding Metallurgy & Welding Chemistry, the following question/multiple answers are stated –

Q7-12 Increasing the heat input:
a.  decreases the cooling rate and increases the likelihood of cracking problems.
b.  decreases the cooling rate and decreases the likelihood of cracking problems.
c.  increases the cooling rate and increases the likelihood of cracking problems.
d.  increases the cooling rate and decreases the likelihood of cracking problems.
e.  None of the above.

My choice for the correct answer is “b." since it seems to be well published that increasing heat input decreases cooling rate.   HOWEVER, the answer key tells me that the correct answer is “e. None of the above" .

While this is bothersome since it seems to conflict with every other publication on the subject that I can find, the correct answer to the following question, #Q7-13,  seems to contradict it as well.

Q7-13 states -

Q7-13 Increasing preheat:
a.  decreases the cooling rate and increases the likelihood of cracking problems.
b.  decreases the cooling rate and decreases the likelihood of cracking problems.
c.  increases the cooling rate and increases the likelihood of cracking problems.
d.  increases the cooling rate and decreases the likelihood of cracking problems.
e.  None of the above.

My chosen answer for Q7-13 is again “b.” for the same reason as mentioned above and the answer key confirms that the correct answer for question Q7-13 is “b.”

My request for assistance to this forum is to help explain why increasing heat input and increased preheat do not BOTH  decrease the cooling rate and therefore decrease the likelihood of cracking problems.

Thanks for any insight on this.
Regards
Tom

I am 26 year old AWS D1.1 certified welder and cellular tower technician. I have been in this industry for about 4-5 years. I have had some inspectors come and check our work on our cell sites. It seems that being an inspector for one of these companies can be very rewarding. I was just promised a TIA certification. This is one where it involves plumb and tensioning of guy wire towers. My company backed out of paying for me to take this course and i am very disappointed. I thought this would be the next step in getting closer to doing more paper work etc closer to a foreman position. On one occasion and inspector told me that they hire guys to climb and do the inspections on tower work. I think a CWI would put me in a position where i could make more money and do less. The inspector i talked with gave me his card and told me to call him for job opportunities if i ever got the certification.

IS THIS SOMETHING I CAN MAKE A CAREER OUT OF? I am hoping to become some type of consultant or something of that nature one day.

Is this the right certification for me?

Should i be buying a book in advance and studying on my own before hand? I am more then willing to pay the 2500 for the course if this can put me in a position where i can bring in the same or more income.

I've never liked "excessively wide" beads (weaves) it's the way I was trained while studying for my CWI and aso force fed to me on so many nuclear jobs after entering the inspection field.

That said, if one does a search on the topic of pipeline welding, one may eventually find an old Lincoln Electric document that preaches wide beads (weaves).  I was lucky enough many years ago to meet one of the old timers who helped write that guide.  He didn't convinve me at the time but now that I've learned a bit more I'm not so sure...

I agree with the others, especially js55 and Al.

A surprising question for a CWI.

Any welding textbook and several of your CWI study materials can provide pretty good definitions.

Spray and Globular transfers are both "open Arc" modes... This means that the electrode wire does not touch the work (puddle) while it deposits the metal.. 

Spray tranfer has an open arc and the droplets are smaller than the diameter of the electrode wire. Spray transfer requries a shield gas composition of at least 80% argon. The small droplets are actually drawn into the puddle axially with the field of the arc plasma...  This is why it is often called "Axial spray transfer".

Globular transfer can actually be achieved with any GMAW shield gas...  It will occur at a current and voltage combination that allows for an open arc, but the droplet size remains as large or larger than the electrode wire.

An example of spray transfer parameters for mild steel would be something like  0.035 ER70S-X filler  400 inches per minute and 26 volts, with a shield gas of 90% argon and 10% CO2...   If you reduced the voltage to about 24 the arc would remain open, but the droplets would be larger and this could be described as globular.  If you reduced the voltage even more... Say to 19 or less, the electrode wire would touch the work/puddle, melt, open an arc for a short time until the feed pushed the wire back into the puddle to make another short circuit,, this pattern is referred to as "short circuit transfer"

Globular can also occur with short circuiting gasses like  75/25 AR/CO2  or even pure carbon dioxide at voltages and wire feed speeds that are above short circuiting range... An example would be  100% C02  .035 ER70S-X electrode wire  250 inches per minute and 23 volts....  In this type of globular transfer the CO2 gas actually causes a repelling effect on the open arc transfer and the weld droplets fly all about, unlike the drawing axial effect mentioned above, causing considerable spatter.

Probably about as much as from the Yellow Pages.  Though it adds to the Yellow Pages because we had a link that in the online Yellow Pages you could go right to the website to view pics and find out more about us.  And the hard copy of the Yellow Pages included the website address as well. 

I actually get more nonsense contacts from the website.  People from around the country who get my name because of key word searches and call, email, or in some way contact to ask questions that won't require my actual service.  I also get lots of contacts from the website 'contact us' section from companies selling things or wanting to buy mass volumes of things I don't even handle.  And since I became a CWI and included that info on the website, I get contacts from people asking questions about how to become one, what to study, how much does it cost, etc.  Time consuming even to just weed through them. 

At least my Yellow Pages ad almost always ends up in a PAYING local customer. 

Now, having said that, the website has been well worth it.  We send a lot of potential customers there to find out more and especially to view a few pics.  My son recently redid the photo gallery and I need to add more pics, but it gives customers somewhere to start.  It gives them other info about us as well: Registrar of Contractor numbers, organizations we are part of, and other info to see who we are and what we can do.  Shortens my need to spend one on one time with them.

And judging from the calls I get from around the country, it would be worth it for those who do completely mobile work and travel wide areas. 

I also have an advantage, one of my younger sons has taken college courses on web design and works for a well known gun sales distributor on their internet sales, web design, and email correspondence IT team.  We bought a domain and all the other access through a company that only costs me a few dollars per month.  And, with the size of our access, we have several websites on the one server.  My son has done one for our church, a business my wife was going to set up, a couple for one of my older sons, etc.  They all piggy back off of mine and they share my cost so I pay even less.

You can see mine in my profile.  He did mine pretty much from scratch.  Some of the others he has found templates that worked and a person just fills in the blanks.  Some of those are pretty good, others, well, you get what you pay for.  And another important factor, keep it updated and make regular changes to it.  It helps somekind of rating and keeps you up at the top when people do some of the key word searches.  I don't keep mine up near enough. 

While it is only my opinion based upon my own company needs and results, I fully recommend both a decent website and a Yellow Pages ad.  Remember too, most people think of a huge ad in the Yellow Pages.  You can do just a 3/4" ad/listing right in the main part of the column, not a separate AD that may not even be on the same page as your listing and costs a lot more.  For me, it is not about the size and looks of a huge ad.  It is about name recognition.  That's why I also recommend doing some of the occassional radio spots and other things that keep a person's name out there. 

Another note, I know we just came through some pretty good times and you had to really be a failure to have not succeeded until the last 2-3 years (though it is amazing how many people I had come into the shop looking for work saying, "there's too many backhoe operators out there.  Not enough work.  I need to find something else to do."  The same from other trades as well).  But during my 15 years here let me give you a little break down:
1) The last 5 months of 1996, when we first took over this shop, we did as much business as the previous owner did in a full year.  With no change in company name, no advertising, etc.
2) The next year we moved to the far end of the building, changed the name, and did 2.5 times the volume the shop did before.
3) In 2005-8 we were at over 10X the volume of when we bought the shop. 
4) In the past two years with the current slower economy, we are still at 3-4 times what the business was doing when we bought it. 

I have posted here about how slow things are and they have been.  Once you get used to working a certain volume and then it slows down that much it hurts.  Especially when you look at all the insurance, licenses, certifications, ADVERTISING and other overhead you are keeping up that you didn't have when you started.  But without the advertising we wouldn't have even half the business that we do have.  I know that by asking people where they got our name.  Say all the negative you want,  Thank You Yellow Pages for keeping me working. 

Have a Great Day,  Brent

Bill,

First, Welcome to the AWS Welding Forum!!

Now, you have me a little curious.  But I hope it is just lack of full information. 

You said you just completed a 2 year college course, and, are currently working at a Bridge Company. 

Questions:  1)How long have you been welding? 
   2) Do you have any other welding related college background? 
   3) Are you sure you are qualified according to QC1 and B5.1 to take the CWI exam?
   4) Taking exam in March?  Where?

Not bad topic area to study and know in any case, but just thought I would ask.

Have a Great Day,  Brent

This is my first time doing an online forum.  I am studying to take the CWI exam in march. I am reading through the code to clarify things that I do not understand.  Currently, I am a certified welder at a bridge company and have graduated after two years at the local community college in Welding Technology.  I understand that the CWI exam doesn't require you to memorize the D1.1 Code from cover to cover.  It tests things such as your ability to look up the answers, your general understanding of the standards, how to measure weld sizes, and what changes require requalification.   I am posting questions that may deal with the engineering aspects of the code. I realize that I don't need to know half of the stuff I'm asking about in order to pass the CWI exam. However, I am asking them in an effort to become a more knowledgeable inspector, and hope that someone who reads these posts will be able to answer my questions. 

1. What is "undermatching" sec. 3.3
2. How does yield strength differ from specific yield strength? sec. 1.2.2
3. How do "nominal" stresses differ from "calculated" stresses? sec. 2.5.1
4. In section 2.3.1.1, the effective weld length of a groove weld is the "width of the part joined...perpendicular to the direction of the stress...regardless of the orientation." This doesn't factor in the actual length of the weld. Why?
5. Effective weld length-Fillet weld (2.3.2.1), “No reduction in effective length shall be assumed in design calculations to allow for the start or stop crater of the weld.” Does this mean calculations based on weld lengths should include the start and stop?
6. What is the difference between filler metal specification (Publication A5.20 & Annex V) vs. filler metal classification? (Table 4.13)
7. What is an end loaded fillet weld? (2.3.3.2)
8. “The calculated base-metal stresses shall not exceed the allowable stresses specified in the applicable design specifications.” (2.5.3) Isn’t this kind of obvious?
9. What are some common examples of “design eccentricity”? (2.5.2)
10. What is the difference between “effective length” and “length specified” (2.3.1.1)
11. “Allowable stress increase” where are they coming from in this rule? There is nothing on it in  the commentary. (2.5.5)
12. Is “finished to bear” the same as mill to bear? (2.6.2.1)
15. What are “local geometrical discontinuities“? (2.14.1)
16. What are “concurrent applied loads”? (2.14.2)

This is my first time doing an online forum.  I am studying to take the CWI exam in march. I am reading through the code to clarify things that I do not understand.  Currently, I am a certified welder at a bridge company and have graduated after two years at the local community college in Welding Technology.  I understand that the CWI exam doesn't require you to memorize the D1.1 Code from cover to cover.  It tests things such as your ability to look up the answers, your general understanding of the standards, how to measure weld sizes, and what changes require requalification.   I am posting questions that may deal with the engineering aspects of the code. I realize that I don't need to know half of the stuff I'm asking about in order to pass the CWI exam. However, I am asking them in an effort to become a more knowledgeable inspector, and hope that someone who reads these posts will be able to answer my questions. 

1. What is "undermatching" sec. 3.3
2. How does yield strength differ from specific yield strength? sec. 1.2.2
3. How do "nominal" stresses differ from "calculated" stresses? sec. 2.5.1
4. In section 2.3.1.1, the effective weld length of a groove weld is the "width of the part joined...perpendicular to the direction of the stress...regardless of the orientation." This doesn't factor in the actual length of the weld. Why?
5. Effective weld length-Fillet weld (2.3.2.1), “No reduction in effective length shall be assumed in design calculations to allow for the start or stop crater of the weld.” Does this mean calculations based on weld lengths should include the start and stop?
6. What is the difference between filler metal specification (Publication A5.20 & Annex V) vs. filler metal classification? (Table 4.13)
7. What is an end loaded fillet weld? (2.3.3.2)
8. “The calculated base-metal stresses shall not exceed the allowable stresses specified in the applicable design specifications.” (2.5.3) Isn’t this kind of obvious?
9. What are some common examples of “design eccentricity”? (2.5.2)
10. What is the difference between “effective length” and “length specified” (2.3.1.1)
11. “Allowable stress increase” where are they coming from in this rule? There is nothing on it in  the commentary. (2.5.5)
12. Is “finished to bear” the same as mill to bear? (2.6.2.1)
15. What are “local geometrical discontinuities“? (2.14.1)
16. What are “concurrent applied loads”? (2.14.2)

I have registered for the CWI seminar in March and was hoping to start in on studying. However, I am having trouble getting a hold of the study material for D1.1. I understand that I can buy this material ahead of time but that is a lot of money to spend on books that they will just give me when I show up for the seminar. Can anyone suggest anything that may help? Thank you.

Are the majority of the questions on the CWI exam.. (1104), covered in the Code Book? If not, what other study material should be used in preperation for the exam? Thanks in advance.....

I also was in the same class as scrappywelds and highly recommend anyone looking to take the CWI exam look into the Hobart CWI prep course. Elmer is an excellent instructor. I also passed with very little studying prior to attending the course.

Hello good friend;

I don't sit on the Test Bank Committee and it has been many years since I sat in for a CWI examination. I have no idea whether that question could be on the examination. I might doctor it up a bit and add it to my NAVSEA 248/278 training courses though. I like the nature of the question, if not the exact wording.

I will say this about challenging an exam question; I believe I've challenged questions on every examination I've taken. Whether it paid off or not is a different matter. I always tell my people to challenge any exam question on my examinations if they take issue with the answers provided or if the question isn't clear. You have to understand the question in order to respond properly and you need to have a good working knowledge of the subject to make a reasonable challenge. I tell my people to reference the page and paragraph when they challenge a question on the open book examination.  It makes a better examination and I give credit if their argument is reasonable.

I have always said ASME stands for "Always, Maybe, Sometimes, or Except." The same can be said about working with NAVSEA documents. One paragraph tells you to do this, but a footnote will tell you to do something else. It drives the novice (and me) crazy. The good folks that develop military welding standards should sit down and study how the AWS D1 standards are put together. I see TACOM has taken the AWS D1 approach to their most recent welding standard. It was a good move on their part. As a general comment I can say that most of the AWS D1 documents are by far the easiest welding standards to use. It is easy to challenge a question when taking a test on a convoluted military welding standard. The more convoluted the standard, the more likely a user will make a mistake in trying to apply it.

No matter how many times you review a question, it is very difficult to make them bullet proof. It is my humble opinion that the Certification Committee Test Bank Committee has done a very good job of vetting their examinations over the years. The one exception was the first SCWI examination I took years ago when the SCWI was in its infancy. The committee addressed my concerns right away and now the test is very reasonable in regards to the quality of the questions and the degree of difficulty. I took my last SCWI a couple of years ago and only found five questions that I could challenge. Yes, you read correctly. I've taken the CWI examinations a few times and I've taken the SCWI examinations a couple of times just to make sure I've stayed on top of things. I guess I enjoy a little pain in my life. 

Best regards - Al

Ah. Disagreement.
I've disagreed with some of the best minds in this forum. Al, jon, john, Gerald, henry, marty, and many others. And in every single case except one I was right.
Of course, I ain't sayin which case.
Thing is, an issue with respect doesn't even enter into the thinking.
Its what drives the discussion.
We've had these threads before. These questions, many of em student generated AWS CWI study questions, are poorly written. And thats when the fun begins.
Besides, I didn't say correct. I said I can see the logic. If there wasn't any logic to it at all there would have been no thread. The discussion was based (IMO) upon best answer, not possibly acceptable answer. Or, this answer is decent as long as we consider all of these mitigating and troublesome circumstances, and if we hold our tongue right during the waxing phases of the moon.
Its like the comedien Chris Rock in his routine about the OJ case. "I'm not sayin he should have done it, but I understand."

I agree with Al. Nobody in the real world uses carbon equivelency to determine or evaluate mechanical properties. The biggest reasons being there are numerous CE's and elements have a tendency to have multiple effects which tend to interfere and cancel out with each other. The overall effects cannot be accurately predicted. Still to this day in common alloys we utilize emperical results to determine mechanical properties muchmore accurately than computer models.
This seems the type of question generated by the 'students' often utilized to generate these questions and is vaguely theoretical at best. Just what you would expect from students with little real world experience and elementary book knowledge. These types of questions are valuable in that they stimulate discusssion but are often incorrect or poorly written or conceived of, which I think this one is.
Weldability can somewhat fit, though as Al correctly states there is much more to it than that.
I would not be surprised to find the noted answer as D. But in the real world Al is more correct than the students theoretical opinion.
In the end the question is poorly written as are many of the training questions for CWI study.
We've had these types of threads before. And the discussions follow the same pattern.

Well over a year ago. And it sounds like I did it the way you are. I always prefer a gap between the course and the test. Did it that way with CWI and I do it that way with API. The course, of which I think Code West is quite good(the 510 guys seem especially knowledgeable), helps establish the target subject matter, then you have extra time to study before the test. I took Code West in Houston on Westheimer, and took the test in Charleston WV.
Some criticize the idea of study for the test. IMO I do not have a problem with that because you are only establishing a foundation anyway. YOu will learn on the job. Always. Always.
And in any case, if you wish to get more out of it than test study then ask questions. They are always helpful in answering. You get out of it what you put into it.

I have to give it up to one of the best teachers i have ever had. Mr. Daniel Luna. Senior Welding Inspector. I have been in the construction field for over 12 years now in total. Only 2 of those years as a welder/fabricator. Dan has helped with perfecting my skills in Tig. The things he can do with a Tig welder. WOW. I was very fortunate to have met Dan through my work place. This is where i took his QC Class ( Quality Control ) for the company i work for. I plan on taking his CWI Class as well. The only thing i can say to you as an upcoming student. Be ready to learn your ass off. There is a lot of info. Take notes. I know for myself. The more i write the more it stays on my mind. Don't forget to study.



Here is Dan's info. Take his class. You will thank me.



Daniel Luna  dan@weldingdocs.com
Welding Consultant
Senior Welding Inspector



good luck to all of you

Jake

I just found out today I passed my CWI exam I took last Friday. I attended a 2 week course at the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology at Troy, OH. My instructor was Elmer Swank. I would reccomend this course to anyone looking for an CWI prep course. The 2 weeks made the study needed to pass all three tests easy, the practice exams they give are excellant tools for learning what you need to know and get used to the time limits.

Did somebody know who can sale me a use code book AWS D1.1 editon 2010 .....you know the new edition is apply on Jun 2011 for a cwi test and I have the edition 2008 ( the one I been studying)  I need it asap and sheap ...I spend alot of money on classes and test

Hi again Alex,
I just remember DGXL taking part in our forum here when I was cutting my teeth as a new CWI many years ago. He and others here helped all of us here dig in that ole D1.1 and make our points of discussion with the code and not let us just voice our opinions. Those were great lessons to learn, and I appreciate those challenges that the seasoned CWIs here would put up. Dig in and study while you have someone willing to let you glean the info they have gathered over the years. I've told my story on here many times, but when I was a new CWI, my mentor that was supposed to help bring me along had health issues and then passed on. My boss threw me right into the fray and I had to sink or swim. I depended on the forum and the knowledge base here to help guide me along until I could hold my own as a QC manager.

Study hard, and dig in with both feet...you'll do fine.

Hello everybody,

First I'd like to thank all the people that take there time to share there knowlege with the public.

I been meaning to post this for a couple of weeks, ( sorry ).

There's a CWI class starting April 9th. in  Manhattan Beach, California. The instuctor is a well qualified SCWI. There's a lot of value in these course. And a great amount of money savings. There's only one more spot left, as the instuctor only takes a small amount of students. All you need is the Code book and he will have the rest of study materials. He has a high exam passing percentage.

The information is as follows:

Weld Inspection Training Module (WITM).

Daniel G. Luna
Welding Consultant
Senior Welding Inspector

dan@weldingdocs.com

I will be sure to post when I pass the test in July!

Your neighbor, Alex G.

Hello everybody,

First I'd like to thank all the people that take there time to share there knowlege with the public.

I been meaning to post this for a couple of weeks, ( sorry ).

There's a CWI class starting April 9th. in  Manhattan Beach, California. The instuctor is a well qualified SCWI. There's a lot of value in these course. And a great amount of money savings. There's only one more spot left, as the instuctor only takes a small amount of students. All you need is the Code book and he will have the rest of study materials. He has a high exam passing percentage.

The information is as follows:

Weld Inspection Training Module (WITM).

Daniel G. Luna
Welding Consultant
Senior Welding Inspector

dan@weldingdocs.com

I will be sure to post when I pass the test in July!

Your neighbor, Alex G.

I have welded my entire life and at the age of 52 decided to get my CWI. I went to Hobart's 2 week seminar, studied 3-4 hours each night and 10 hours on Sat and Sun. Took the test the following friday and passed. The part B ate my lunch but I barely made it. Like the reply's before, you need to get all the information and books and study alot. If you do not have alot of time I would suggest the 2 week siminar as there is a great amount of information to go over. Good Luck!!!

I highly recommend MSTS (Mark Smith) Training out of OK.  His classes fill up fast but you can get on the wait list and a lot of guys do drop at the last minute.  In my humble opinion he is better and more affordable than some of the others out there.  All the classes helped me.  510/570 are more straight forward than the 653 for sure but all are difficult tests.  Much better to take a class and study for 4 or so weeks than to beat your brains out and just study for 2-3 months.  You'll make back the cost of your class/test first time out.  API certs are way more in demand than the CWI in my opinion and I do have both.  However, if you like new construction a CWI is a better bet.  I love new construction but doggone it I love the money in the oil patch a lot more!!  Good luck on the test man.  If you put in the time to study it ain't bad.  But you gotta log a minimum of 150 hrs of book time to be comfortable with any of the API exams as a rule of thumb.  Yes I said minimum. . . .

Your CWI is not going to help much with 510.
It will be Section VIII heavy course.
And as mentioned,the body of knowledge is huge. Section IX, failure mechanisms, corrosion mechanisms, calculations, etc.
I would recommend the long course. You'll need all the time you can get.
I would also recommend you not take the test immediately following.
Use the course to learn what information is going to be involved, and then use the extra time to polish your study.
For most people 510 is the toughest of the big 3 (510, 570, 653). But each time it gets easier because the body of knowledge overlaps.

Welcome to the forum Allen

The AWS.org website has suggested study material.

Honestly, if you are a freshman at D1.1 you might want to think about pushing your test date back a year or so.  The CWI exam is pretty comprehensive and requires thorough knowledge of D1.1, hands on visual inspection, a process based knowledge of about a dozen welding and inspection processes.. and code research accuracy under a stopwatch.

There is a week long seminar befor most CWI exams that is of great benefit.. But even this is only ment to prepare test takers with YEARS of code quality experience.  It is a test that sends professional engineers home with failing scores and migraines if they don't take the time to prepare.

I don't recall seeing anything that made things that easy for you Joe.

I am rather new to API as far as inspecting but have been studying it a fair amount as I would like to add the endorsement exam to my AWS/CWI which so far is D1.1 and Bolting.

Hopefully some of our more distinguished members will jump in here.

Have a Great Day,  Brent

Go to The ICC website you can purchase their online course to study for the ICC Bolting Exam
since your already a CWI they will give you their welding inspection license with no test after you pass the bolting
exam. you will need to buy or borrow The International building code book, an AISC sxteel manual. Icc model for
special inspections. Test is open book, plan reading test is also required.

Is 100C, or 212F preheat a "good practice"? There can be intelligent arguments made, but nothing set in stone. In certain applications such as Sheet Metal, this much preheat might be undesirable and cost prohibitive due to excessive heat input (warpage?) and innerpass cooling rates.
If scientific study proved it necessary to produce sound mechanical properties by having base material be 100% moisture free prior to welding, then codes would specify a minimum preheat equivalent to SMAW Lo-Hi storage temperatures.
Sometimes QCs say stuff above and beyond their pay grade. I'm sure every Inspector has been guilty of this at least once in their career. Some make it a habit.
I think good practice should dictate all Inspectors have at minimum a CWI (or equivalent). Does this one?
Just my thoughts on the subject.

Your absolutely right trying to get your foot in the door is tough.
I've took a cut in pay from being a welder , but im not killing myself
anymore lol. I thought just having a CWI would be enough but every company wants
more for their dollar. Alot of testing agencys like Mactec,Twining, etc want you to also have
masonary, rebar, soils certifications  which i think is a bunch of crap. Just because i can
study and pass an ICC  Masonary test with absolutely no experience does it qualify me to be
an inspector. I was lucky enough to land a job at a fabrication facility where I befriended there
level 111 UT inspector. They were training a couple other cwi from different plant locations
and i was able to get my training for a few lunches  and got hands on training every day.
Im noticing Quite a demand for AP! 510 , 570 and 635 inspectors that will be my next goal as i already have
my 1104. I've worked several pipeline jobs as a welder and  none of the inspectors had a CWI  or API cert of anykind
and were making BIG BIG money go figure. Apply at aerotek they seem to always be looking for inspectors
there not really a testing agency there more like a staffing agency thats why ther wages are lower
there just like a PIMP lol. Get all the training you can afford and learn from every job you go to
check out the posts here a couple times a week and you will learn from the best. some of the people
on here are incredible with the amount of knowledge their willing to share. Getting your CWI was a great move
It took me six months to get my first inspection job. Im currently working 3,000 mi away from home  lol
and have been getting quite an education as you will find out. Some contractors are very cooperative
and professional and have got there **** in order then theres those who don't follow the codes plans specs
dwgs and plain don't give a **** . imagine being told to leave a jobsite for trespassing when you ask for a copy
of a WPS or welders cert lol one guy let his pitbull loose on me and another inspector for failing a UT.
sending you a PM   Joe

Anyone that qualifies for CWI status is wasting their time checking the box for "First Looser" (i.e. CAWI). Just my opinion of course.
With that being said, a person that is new to the trade, and especially if the Company/Management offers to foot the bill for training, an AWS approved seminar, and the test... Go for it. Are they willing to promote you to "Apprentice Inspector"? Why not jump on the opportunity for advancement? The Test is the same for CWI and CAWI, so only the score determines whether an applicant attains CWI, first looser, or fails.
Besides, it is never too early to start preparing for the CWI exam. I've seen degreed engineers not make it. Pass or fail, at such an early point in your career, I don't see any reason not to pursue it. The knowledge gained studying, and should worse case scenario occur and you do not get a passing score, you are in an excellent position to know what to expect the next time around, and the experience of having taken on of the toughest tests in the industry. I consider the Certified Welding Inspector to be the best engineering job one can have without a Bachelors Degree.
As dbigkahunna advised, NDT skills and certs are very valuable, especially combined with a CWI.

Be studying for the CWI. As soon as you get the time to qualify, get that puppy.
The industry needs more like you. Be sure to encourage other women to enter the trade.

well i certainly have a long way to grow to try and match that very impressive. I use to make 65,000 to 70,000 with my hood down
working spot OT here and there. I personally know welders that easily clear 100,000  a yera but there also working 7/12'S a good part of
the time i like to have a life besides work.  im still fairly new to inspecting have alot to learn, just bought the study material for the
API 570 examination. Just having a CWI im averaging about 50,000 a year but im not killing myself burning rod lol. When i see a welder
now crampted up in a ball trying to make a weld with the hot sparks engulfing them i just thank the lord its not me in the hole. i wish
i would have gotten into inspection 20 years ago when learning something new seemed much easier. I find that you can teach an old dog
new tricks but will he remember them next week lol. sounds like you've outgrown your little pond and its time to move on to the lake lol
education is the key to your goals I know from personal experience that clases are'nt cheap, books are'nt cheap but the compensation
for having multiple certifications is priceless  go get em Joe

I started out as a welder, got my act together and got my CWI, left my tools in the dust.  Did my time on the road following construction, took the odd seminar here and there, a few home study courses, read codes for years (religiously, every day for at least an hour), continued taking courses and studying on my own, joined as many volunteer code committee's as would have me, spent loads of time with them, met the leaders in our industry and some how, by the grace of God maybe, managed to gain their confidence.  Got my first opportunity to work overseas in 1999 and have never looked back (with exception of a 5 year gig in Michigan).... are ya sitting down?  For the last 3.5 years my gross pay has shown an average of $350K each and every year since.... stick to it boys, welding is most DEFINATELY not a dead end, low paying job, its what YOU make of it.

In case you're curious, no, I do NOT have a degree in ANYTHING but freely admit it would have made the jouirney much easier and a lot quicker!

rangerod,
What I failed to mention is, that I am in favor of quality training. In fact in 2009 (it was a slow year for work), I spent a couple of zillion bucks at Hellier just for the heck of it.
Just as I would advise those taking the CWI exam to purchase your own Code book and study materials first. When taking a certifcation test, I believe in the "failure is not an option" concept.
A few years ago, I was preparing for my CWI and had access to those "they are here in the plant somewhere" books...Yeah, I bought my own...money well spent.

I'm currently studying for my CWI exam and it has been brought to my attention that am lacking a bit of Metallurgy knowledge. Was wondering if I should just get the Welding Metallurgy Vol. 1 by George Linnert of if anyone had a better book to recommend.
Thanks,
Anthony

When I was beginning study for my CWI, my job at the time was a maintenance welder for Boeing so I had loads of free time at work :) I used that free time wisely and studied as much as possible, sometimes maybe up to 6 hours daily and then did an hour or 2 at home.  I did that for 6 months then took the 5 day Seminar offered by AWS - which I HIGHLY recommend.  Essentially the seminar is NOT going to teach you what you haven't already learned; it is an intensive review and to some extent, provides some extra tips on best ways to pass the exam, which is offered directly following the seminar so its all fresh in your mind.

Different study habits work differently for different people.  Since I've never really considered myself the sharpest tool in the shed, I've always tried extra hard, the one thing I have no lack of is motivation and its proven one of my best assets!

As for finding employment, obviously you have use of and knowledge about computers and internet, there are no shortages in opportunities but you should be prepared to relocate often, following the work.  (Speaking from my own background which is construction).  If you don't want to do a lot of moving around while establishing your experience, you'll find less opportunity and obviously less pay.

Best of luck, keep posting.  This business has provided me with over 35 years of continuous learning, I've never been bored with it and never regretted my career path!

EDIT:  Just adding a P/S: My experience was almost identical to yours when I first sat for my CWI, that leads me to believe if you follow good advice and study hard you'll have no problem passiing!

First off congrats on getting into inspection.
As you are studying on your own and are a ways away from taking the test, do not burn yourself out on studying. Become familiar with the different codes and skim over them. Spend 20 to 30 minutes twice to three times a week just looking at the different sections and becoming familiar with how they are arranged.
Do this up to mid June. Start increasing the frequency of your studying to about 15 minutes every three days.
Mid July increase the frequency to 15 minutes every day. 
A week before the seminar stop studying. Do not crack a book until you go the the seminar.
During the week of the seminar, study at least an hour every day additional to the presented material.
Not all companies have welding inspectors so you are going to have to do your own DD on what you are looking for. If you are a road Wh0r$ that looks for the $$ and do not mind traveling, you look for those type of companies. If you are a homebody, getting one of these jobs regardless of the $$ will not work out.
Take my word for it.
As for getting into the business, you do it just like you started welding. You take any job that comes along. If you are looking for a permanent position, research the companies you would like to work for and go after them. If you are wanting to be a contract inspector, you are looking at 3-4 years to get established.
A CWI can be a stand alone certification, but as a contract inspector I would recommend at least 2-3 additional certifications. A structural welder, CWI and a NACE coating inspector certification would keep you gainfully employed more than you really want to work. You get on a gig that works 6-7 days a week for months at a time and the only time off is rain out days.
Then you work for a company that wants you to do paperwork on the rain out days.
Good money, but a lot of work.
Good luck with your pursuit.

How's it going everybody.
First time post
I am a current Certified Welder/ Ironworker looking to take the CWI exam in August along with the week seminar.
I have purchased a few books recently:
AWS D1.1 2010
AWS B1.11 Guide for Visual Examination of Welds
AWS B1.10 Guide for NDE
Welding Inspection Workbook
Visual Inspection Workshop Ref. Manual.

All studying has gone well. I'm just struggling with getting through the D1.1 code in a timely manner. I can find the answer just not as quickly as I'd like. Any advise is much appreciated. Or give me a question to stump me.
If you think there is other reading you suggest please feel free to comment.

p.s. not related, but where should i turn to start looking for employment??
I have 6 plus yrs experience as a welder/ fabricator / steel erector
certified welder since 2007
Welding School Grad.

Thanks, Anthony

How's it going everybody. First time post
I am a current Certified Welder/ Ironworker studying to take the CWI exam in August along with the week seminar.
I have purchased a few books recently:
AWS D1.1 2010
AWS B1.11 Guide for Visual Examination of Welds
AWS B1.10 Guide for NDE
Welding Inspection Workbook
Visual Inspection Workshop Ref. Manual.

All studying has gone well. I'm just struggling with getting through the D1.1 code in a timely manner. I can find the answer just not as quickly as I'd like. Any advise is much appreciated. Or give me a question to stump me.
If you think there is other reading you suggest please feel free to comment.

p.s. not related, but where should i turn to start looking for employment??
I have 6 plus yrs experience between welding/ fabrication/ erection
certified welder since 2007
Welding School Grad.

Thanks, Anthony

Sorry for jumping into this discussion several months late.

Well here are some of my thoughts on this matter. There are many construction inspectors who are multi-certified. They all had to start somewhere. Some started in welding, became CWIs and then got into concrete, soils, etc....picking up relevant certs along the way.

So, a concrete inspector can be trained to pass the CWI exam. It's not that difficult with adequate training and lots of study. However, lack of relevant experience may qualify the individual for CAWI status only.

Ok, I'm a new CWI but wouldn't the melt through symbol satisty the CJP requirement?  There were several examples of this in the study guides and the CWI exam had some questions on this subject as well.  Square groove symbol with melt through symbol on the other side indicates CJP?  

[http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii259/lincolnmorgan/melt20through.jpg]

I recently took the CWI exam.  The symbol appears to be a Square Groove Weld/Arrow Side with no other info specified. 
If the symbol specified Full Penetration, shouldn't it have a Melt-Through symbol????  At least that's what my study material suggests and it has an example of this weld symbol showing a full penetration square groove weld with Melt-Through symbol.
I'm just a newby so don't flame me too much :)

Thanks for the reply qaultra.

I have no access to the publications you mentioned.  I just want to get started with study materials like I did with the CWI exam.  Should I go with the ASNT CP-189 as an entry level publication to study?  These books tend to be expensive, at least they were for the CWI exam.  I really need to get moving on this as I'm getting up there in years (mid 40's). I can't afford to waste time or money.  My mechanic/welder job pays extremely well but I'm clinging to the toilet ring waiting to get flushed on the next round of layoffs.  I'm the next guy to go.

I plan on spending a sunny weekend hammering resumes out as it's better to look for a job while you have one.  If I could just get my foot in the door!  They'll see what my work ethic is compared to the younger guys.  Please note that I'm not bashing all the younger guys but I won't be texting all day and taking days off with a hangover as those days are long gone (yes I know what it's like to be young). I really want to learn this stuff and get started! I have 20 years of productive work life left in me and I'm healthy, willing to relocate, computer literate, have some college, etc.  I've worked side by side with inspectors and NDT techs for 20+ years and know the basics of what they do.

LOL!!

Terry,

It all really depends upon how much money you want to spend ahead of time.  There are MANY books you COULD buy and study.  D1.1, Part B, & WIT are your best resources to begin your study.  You will get a copy of D1.1 and WIT at the seminar the week ahead of the exam,  I bought them anyway and then gave my well used copies to my oldest son who was my shop foreman (has since left the area for other things). 

From there you can get any or all of the reference material listed on the AWS website in the certifications section.  I will chase that down and put it here in a bit.  I bought almost all of those reference books and consider it a very well spent addition to my welding and inspections library.  I read through every one of them before the exam.  Much of the info will be very repetitive but is well worth it.  Sometimes it is stated differently or with added information that helped me comprehend it better.

EDIT:  If you go to the main AWS website, go to the 'Certifications' header and click on it, go down to about the first or second spot to 'CWI' & click.  When you get that page, go most of the way to the bottom, at the box to choose a package pick the CWI package download.  When you go all the way through the application and visual acuity and other pages, the last page is the Body of Knowledge page.  Down on the bottom left corner is a list of 'AWS Recommended' references for self study.  Choose away.  They are all good additions to any library.

If you only had the money to buy one book, and hopefully you already are knowledgeable in the general information arena and with D1.1-or API 1104 for those who so choose, then I would recommend the 'Welding Inspections Handbook'.  BUT, most of the info in it is also in the WIT, 'Welding Inspections Technology' book.  There is also a reference book with a whole bank of questions covering the WIT book chapters, many more questions than the ones at the end of each chapter in the WIT book itself.  Good for covering much more of the general knowledge ground.

Spend your money wisely.  Use your time wisely.  Study, do the practice exams and questions over and over.  Study, study, study.

Have a Great Day,  Brent

Hey Chuck,

I will also say that if a person has the time to go through some schooling I would recommend going to Ridgewater Community College here in MN.  By the time you graduate you will have knowledge in UT, MT, PT, VT, RT, LT, ET and not to mention some Welding, Blueprint and Metallurgy.  You will be BOOK certified to the equivallent of a Level II according to ASNT-TC-1A.  I went through the school back in 99 and 2000.  Helped me greatly when I took the CWI exam.  Also, if you are looking to study up in one discipline I do believe they offer that as well.  It's all hands on and learn at your own pace.

Delaney

The idea is to stop the radiation from passing through the weld. I like the flashlight though. It is easier to see the "holes" when the inspection is done at night and the flashlight placed inside the pipe.

Calm down, I am just raising a little dust with you.

I have no doubt that you are a proficient welder, but you could enhance your image by using terminology that is accepted by industry rather than "hillbilly" vernacular.

Many of us that are regulars in the Forum are welders. If we are not now welding, we were at some time in our career. At some point a few of us have studied for and passed the CWI examination or an ASNT examination for NDT. Studying for the examination where a review of welding standards is part of the training is often times an eye-opening experience. The code requirements are usually based on “lessons-learned” from failures that occurred resulting in huge expense in terms of lost profits, injuries, and loss of life.

Those of us that work in the oil patch or construction should recognize the cost of these accidents. Many accidents could be easily avoided if the workers received better instruction and management followed industry safety standards.

Many of us have developed the concept that there is no such thing as a weld of little consequence. Every weld on every system plays an important role in the overall operation of the machine. When a system is down, it affects the safe operation of the entire machine directly or indirectly. Most accidents do not happen because of one minor indiscretion or failure, but by a confluence of small seemly-unconnected events. It is unnerving to discover so many accidents are associated with "quick-fixes" where industry accepted practices were circumvented in the name of "expediency."

Better communication is one-step that can be taken to minimize potential problems. How many times have you heard “I didn’t understand the immediacy of the problem because I didn’t understand what he was trying to tell me.”

One clear memory I have is of the passenger airliner that crashed a few years ago because it run out of fuel. The pilot called the radio tower, but failed to make it clear that the plane was about to run out of fuel. He asked for clearance to land, but the air traffic controller placed him in the standard rotation for landing not understanding the extent of the plane’s fuel problem.

Better communication is key to obtaining what we need. As professionals, welders and inspectors alike, it is important to use standard industry terminology for better communication. Colloquial speech might seem to set us apart from the rest, but it usually makes us look uneducated and unprofessional. The use of texting shortcuts; I place them into the "hillbilly" catergory.

Best regards - Al

I went from 10 years of stuctural and bridge fabrication & welding on the floor to shop inspector within the same company.  The previous shop inspector had moved on to another job.
I had not had any formal training in weld inspection prior to that, simply learned what the inspector would not accept and tried to make sure not to do that.
My boss was a mechanical engineer/CWI and he wanted me to get my CWI.  He had taken the seminar and passed and decided that I didn't need to take the seminar myself (although I would have liked to).  He handed me the CWI study guide (can't recall the title), the "Welding Inspection Handbook", D1.1, and photocopies of the sample questions he had from his seminar.
I did well on the code and general portions and squeaked by on the practical. 
I muddled through the early parts of my career (some will say I am still muddling) without a lot of guidance.  I like to think I figured it out (now if only I could remove the politics from inspection)

The biggest problem I see with structural and bridge steel inspection is the lack of training opportunities.  I don't mean the seminar, but hands-on inspection on real steel.  I have no idea how to do that cost effectively.  Perhaps the most logical approach would be for the various DOT's to run a seminar of their own?  That could also cover reporting requirements and documentation (seems like that's the TPI's most common complaint s/he doesn't know what paerwork is required)

1) Force Protection is NOT hiring.  Zero welding jobs available and calls to them are refered to the web site as the only way to apply.

2) Helmets to Hardhats is an a apprenticeship program with the Union trades. There's very little work right now and my union is NOT taking in new members despite numerous retirements.  There's really no work available.  90% of my local is laid off.

3) USA JOBS.....Maybe being a vet will give you preference on getting hired.  Not too many welding related jobs available but it may be your best shot.  It takes hours to apply for these jobs due to the redundant questinonairre so make a pot of coffee.  I'm told by people who work  for the government that many of these jobs are filled (patronage jobs) before they are even posted.  The posting is just to make it seem fair so note that you are probably wasting your time.  It's worth a shot though.  I've submitted over 100 resumes to USAJOBS and never got a reply.  You'll need to study up on "keywords" and such.  If you don't have the correct keywords in your resume for the posting, the automated system will reject it long before a human will ever read it.  This requires custom modification of your resume to match keywords in each specific job description and it's very time consuming.  If you're not willing to do this, your resume will be rejected.  This info comes from a friend who actually hires people from the USAJOBS website.  Just so you know.  

4) CWI training.  There are lots of CWI's with many years experience out of work right now.  The pay scale for CWI's has fallen sharply since 2008.  The market is flooded with CWI's since the domestic oil and power industry took a dive.  Lot's of kids willing to do this work for $15.00 an hour.  How do I know this?  I've been trying to use my new CWI for the past year and this is what the inspection outfits are telling me.  It may be years before demand picks up but if you are young, go for it. 

This is the reality of the welding world today.  You may want to pursue another occupation as it's getting worse, not better.  Hope this helps.

I was a welder for 7 years before taking my CWI, passed first time with good grades after a previous 6 months of intensive self study followed by taking the prep seminar (I STRONGLY urge the prep seminar, as expensive as it is!).  Retired my CWI just last year after holding it continuously for 29 years.  For me personally, obtaining my CWI was the absolute best career move I ever made, it opened so many doors it was unbelievable!

I went from a Navy Welder to Civilian Boilermaker (8 years total ) then took my 1st CWI exam. No course but lots of self study on my own that was not really for CWI prep but covered most of the material anyway. I was somewhat of a bookworm when it cam to exciting reading like the Welding Handbooks.

I was only familar with Mil Stds about 6 mos prior to the test but was working for a boiler company with a P.E. that loved to talk about codes as much as I wanted to learn. Used B31.1 and Sec IX.

I think the core knowledge of the subjects could maybe be evaluated before hand and the classrom/ojt suited to the individual.

Gerald