geordie downunder

I'm a welding inspector and found that on the tools the heat wasn't too bad.Karratha on the LNG refinery was a bit of a problem,but it did hit 52C.

Working on pre heat Q/T steels the sweat dries on you and after a while you don't notice it.

You need to drink a lot of water to prevent dehydration,every company I have ever worked for has cold water fountains,some of them have ice making machines.Most of the boys take cordial into work and mix it there.Lemon mixed weakly tends to be the best,weak mix for the sugar.The sugar makes you thirstier.

Nobody gets on your back and expects you to slog your guts out when it is over 35C.Should it really hit you then there is a lot of nightshift going in Perth at the moment,cooler work.Night shift is terrible in winter which is on the way now.In winter you will be glad of a pre heat job to warm yourself up on a cold morning.

Perth is a bit quiet at the moment but still a lot more work than usual.Also the night shift tends to be over 5 nights rather than 4 as they worked in the UK when I lived there.Silly if you ask me.

A lot of work is flux core and a 3G test on 25mm plate would be the norm,back grind for the root.

The usual 6G tests apply for higher guality work,TIG root is normal ,there is not a lot of STT MIG work.The aluminium refineries tend to be a sparkler (fleetweld) root,vertical up rather than stoving.

Codes are US or the OZ version of them,EG ASME1X is AS1210 class 1.AWS D1.1 would probably pass for AS 1554 part 5. AS 1554 is the general structural code.Whatever the client demands is what you will be tested to.There are no current coding requirements,you'll be tested for each employer for that particular job.Further on the job testing is as required.Normal NDT would be X-ray and mag particle,then a lot of jobs would be 20% NDT,with penalty testing depending on how the 20% goes.

Wages in Perth would be between $27 and $30 per hr on wages for 3G fluxcore ,around $35 for sub contract flat rate.Should not be a problem earning anywhere between $1300-$1600 a week in Perth (gross) for between 45 and 50 hrs.

Exotics can go up to $50 or $60 per hr flat rate depending on demand.I would think you would only get 3 months on that then job hunting again..

I wouldn't be too worried about the heat,you're working indoors so it is cooler,working outside in direct sunshine you would rig up shade .Perth has the fremantle doctor to cool you down in summer,unless winds cause problems with shielding gases.

Starlite

We are a family moving to Perth end of November, I am a midwife and my husband is a welder. We are coming over on my 457 visa and my husband needs to find a welding job in Perth. He experiences in Stainless steel welding and works with refridgeration,condensing units and heat exchange plates in the UK. He has also had experience welding stainless steel fittings to luxury motorboats.

I was wondering if anyone knew of any simular stainless steel welding jobs or companies we could perhaps approach either before or when we arrive in Perth? and what sort of money do welders get in perth?

Most appreciated

Starlite

Starlite

ooops sorry geordie.. didn't realise you had put a thread before i put mine up.. sorryyyyyyyyyyyyy..

I was too slow in typing i guess!

LouiseR

Hiya my OH is welder/fabricator and we're also looking at perth, best way to look at jobs and salaries I've found is to search recruitment websites like mycareer.com.au - i've only been looking at aluminium welding jobs as that's my OH's speciality but there seems to plenty of work for all welders in Perth (from what I've seen!) best of luck to you.

geordie downunder

Austal would be the best place for ali welding.Check them out online at Austal ships,they are always after fab/welders.Wages would be around $22 or $23 an hour I guess ,with a lot of overtime and the chance to work in their yard in the US in Mobile ,Alabama.I think they send the golden boys there on 2 yr contracts.

Work is mig using argon as a shielding gas with argon /helium mix for quality hull/water jet work.They also have work for pipefitter/welders for various fuel ,fresh/salt water lines etc.That would be TIG on CUNI and various stainless steels.A lot of bench work and then crawling around the guts of a ship for installation.

Work would be to DL specs/codes probably,DL is German LLoyds

geordie downunder

Tube sheets for heat exchangers would come under AS 1210 class 1,so he would need to do tests to that standard,probably a 50mm dia pipe on 316L in the 6G position.Then the tube sheet test would probably be a melt the end of the tube on to the tube sheet.Can be tricky as some sheets are up to 100mm thick and the tube can be 3mm wall.

There are some balustrading companies with stainless work but you would need to look on arrival here.If he has to polish his own work keep away from it,all those fine grade grinders and waxes to bring it back to high grade finish.

Try www.jobsearch .gov .au.If that is not right then jobsearch Australia into Google should get you there.

wardy2

Hi fellow Geordie.

How much do pipefitter/welders make are they on about the same as welders.

thanks

kaye

trevamather

where abouts in northumberland?
All my dad's family originate from seahouses

keel

Not that far up. Newbiggin by the sea for me, Alnwick for my good lady.

Keel

keel

Try "Specialised welding" in Hazelmere (Perth). They do alot of Heat exchanger work. Last week they were advertising (through an agency) for $40 an hour.

www.specialisedwelding.com.au

They've recently been on UK welding sites offering sponsorship to Oz.

Keel

wardy2

They didnt even bother to reply to our enquiry the miserable devils.

Are you still having that barbie or is it to cold

Kaye

keel

Hello Kaye

Yes it's a bit chilly here at the moment and only forcast to reach 23c today.

If you give us a bell when you get out here I'll sort out that barbie. I'm not that good at barbies in fact the last one we had I ran out of gas half way through and had to leave about 30 guests hungry whilst I tried to get a new bottle.

I'm sure us locals can wrap up whilst you foriegners can strut about in shorts and T shirts.

Keel

MrA

Have you come across many welders who have been sponsored?

nick man city

hi geordie ,im working in bibra lake perth at the moment ,shop work ,s/s ,carbon ,tig ect they have also got me doing duplex , flux c , mig, and stt ,which is good practice as ive not done ,stt (even though its easy) flux or duplex before ,i find its a lot of pressure as its only a small shop ,forever swapping sets gas equipment ect as job priorities take place .
do you know of any firms the weld with just tig or any long terms site work in or around perth ,any info will be good ,thanks nick

keel

Hello

Yes I've come accross hundreds of sponsored welders and boilermakers.

A lot of the fab shops in Perth now have a large number of asian sponsored "tradesmen".

As I mentioned earlier Specialised Welding are currently sponsoring from the UK. (Sorry Kaye I Know they didn't get back to you but I've been talking to a Scotish lad, from your husbands welding forum, and he's having medicals for them soon).

Here's another link I found it may be of some use but I don't know anything about them.

Keel

Posted: 21st April 2008





Job Description:- Boilermakers / Metal Fabricators / MIG & TIG Welders

Location:- Central Queensland / Sunshine Coast

Rate:- $30 + / hr

Visa:- Sponsored 457 Visa (We pay your Visa Fee)

Contract Length:- Initial 12 month Contract, renewable on proof of ability

Experience:- Preferably 3 - 6 years

Trade Qualifications:- You must be trade qualified to at least

NVQ Level 2 / City and Guilds, and with a current UK or South African

welding licence

Type of work

Based in either Rockhampton or McKay, only a short distance from the Great
Barrier Reef Coast, we have 20 vacancies for working in a Large Scale Heavy
Plate Company producing equipment for the mining and resources Industries.

You should have experience in Plate sizes 8mm - 20mm, and the majority of the
work will be MIG. We will consider TIG Welders with similar experience.

We will pay your Visa Fee, although you are responsible for you one way air fares
to Australia. We will assist you in sourcing accommodation, schools, banks etc,
and we will provide a few nights free hotel accommodation when you first arrive.
We additionally have commercial partners to help with cheaper flights, currency
exchange and shipping of tools and personal effects.

Please send you CV to, or call Richard

[email protected]

Tel (UK Office) 01594 517126