CSWIP 3.1 Weld Inspector

[bootnec]

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking about doing my weld inspector ticket,has anyone on here done it?

Just trying to get some feedback about course content, I have been on a couple of welding forums but the 'advice' is a bit vague tbh.

I meet the requirement's the TWI state before I can be accepted on to the course, my issue is I left the welding game a few years ago,i don't want to bite of more than I can chew..so to speak

if time and money weren't an issue I would do the 3.0 before trying the 3.1..but unfortunately it is.

any advice would be really appreciated

thanks.

[SLCZ3]

Hi there, the 3.1 is not particularly hard if you have some welding background, but the NDT knowledge and metallurgy are essential.
You have to remember it an examination for an Inspector, there is the theory, practical, commenting and sentence on welded specimens, then the macros and bends.
How long have you been out of welding.

[bootnec]

Hi,

I left welding 10 years ago, I was previously a coded welder (ECITB) petrochem/powerstation stuff mostly,so it has been quite a while mate.

I have however recently done NDT PCN UT and MPI tickets, not sure how much of what I learned on the NDT side I will be able to apply to the CSWIP.

thanks.

[SLCZ3]

Ah in that case you should not have too much trouble, most important is the "duties of a welding Inspector" get that down pat and you are on your way, next will be the technology, welding types-techniques, defects associated with,then mechanical testing, bends-tensiles and charpy"s.
The visual inspection of samples will be a significant part,make sure you get a real metal sample, not a rubber replica!!!!, and then welcome to the club.

[bootnec]

SLCZ3 said:

Ah in that case you should not have too much trouble, most important is the "duties of a welding Inspector" get that down pat and you are on your way, next will be the technology, welding types-techniques, defects associated with,then mechanical testing, bends-tensiles and charpy"s.
The visual inspection of samples will be a significant part,make sure you get a real metal sample, not a rubber replica!!!!, and then welcome to the club.

Duties of a weld inspector..yep that phrase is coming up more and more in my research,

do they actually give rubber samples to detect weld defects on????

how is demand would you say for weld inspectors? worthwhile doing?

thanks mate very helpful reply.

[SLCZ3]

Rubber replicas have been offered at CSWIP, but everyone i know asked for the real thing, as i did on my last ten year.
There is demand, but you have to realise there are a huge number of Indian/Asian guys as well with all the tickets, abit of advice is keep all your NDT tickets going, also for offshore pipelines AUT experience is becoming a required ticket as well.

The big money comes after some years in the game, i have been in it for 40 now, and seen ALL the ups and downs, the current demand for oil etc is the longest, i have seen.

You need to aim for SWI- and then in the QA side for better conditions and money, also get L3 in NDT as there is some dmand for that, you need to be an allrounder, if you get spare cash do coating/painting and think about a degree in NDT Northampton does one for mature students remotely, it is worth it as the majority of Asian/Indians have some sort of degree, Bsc preferable.

In Europe integrity is a big thing now, and starting to show overseas, so it may be worth looking at Matthews engineering for API/ASME training, note CSWIP integrity training is 5- ten year but the API/ASME has not got to that stage yet.

[bootnec]

SLCZ3 said:

Rubber replicas have been offered at CSWIP, but everyone i know asked for the real thing, as i did on my last ten year.
There is demand, but you have to realise there are a huge number of Indian/Asian guys as well with all the tickets, abit of advice is keep all your NDT tickets going, also for offshore pipelines AUT experience is becoming a required ticket as well.

The big money comes after some years in the game, i have been in it for 40 now, and seen ALL the ups and downs, the current demand for oil etc is the longest, i have seen.

You need to aim for SWI- and then in the QA side for better conditions and money, also get L3 in NDT as there is some dmand for that, you need to be an allrounder, if you get spare cash do coating/painting and think about a degree in NDT Northampton does one for mature students remotely, it is worth it as the majority of Asian/Indians have some sort of degree, Bsc preferable.

In Europe integrity is a big thing now, and starting to show overseas, so it may be worth looking at Matthews engineering for API/ASME training, note CSWIP integrity training is 5- ten year but the API/ASME has not got to that stage yet.

I'm Fully aware of the indian/asians being employed i currently work on a large oilfield in the middle east and despite a work force of hundreds and the contract companys being british,there is literally a handful of brits out here,and all of them are in senior roles

If you were starting out where would you be sending your CV?,

If it means getting the all important first start i would go wherever,im not naive enough to think i will walk into a 2/2 in the north sea.

Thanks again for your advice mate you have been very helpfull

[SLCZ3]

Well you seem to have got a good handle on it, it depends where you want to work, do you want to continue overseas or back to UK.
The best place for cv"s to be place are oil careers, oil and gas jobs search, and then hit all the agency websites, Fircroft, Brunel, Moody, Orion, etc.
Where did you do your NDT training,TWI Ruanes or Lavenders.

[bootnec]

noted,most of those are new to me.

I done my NDT Training at Talon NDT in Aberdeen mate.

[SLCZ3]

Hmm, TWI is The Welding Institute, who are the parent company for CSWIP and B-Gas certification, Argyll-Ruane does PCN/ASNT/Icorr ( and mark the examinations for TALON ) Lavenders do PCN/ASNT.

[bootnec]

sorry,

I meant to say the agency's are new to me..added to my favourites now though!