| If you talk to any welder and ask, "Are you | | | | "G". Putting together the coding system is simple. |
| certified?" you're most likely to hear a big, happy | | | | For practical reasons, most structural welders will |
| "YES!" in reply. The real question should be, "What | | | | take two welding certifications. The first is the 3G |
| positions are you certified in?" There is never a | | | | position which is a groove weld in the vertical |
| simple answer to welding certifications, but the | | | | position. The 3G position qualifies the welder to |
| basics of welding positions are easy! | | | | weld in the flat, horizontal, and vertical positions |
| Welding certifications are broken down into two | | | | with a single test. The 4G position is a groove |
| main categories and a couple more positions. The | | | | weld in the overhead position which qualifies a |
| first category is structural welding, mostly used | | | | welder to weld in the flat, horizontal, and |
| for welding square-shaped objects. Structural | | | | overhead positions with a single test. When |
| welding certifications are the most common and | | | | combining the 3G and 4G welding certifications, |
| just about any student welders will pass them. | | | | the welder is qualified to do structural welding in all |
| The second type of welding certification is for | | | | positions. |
| welding pipe. Not many welders have this type of | | | | Pipe welding certifications use the same coding |
| certification, as very few of them are able to | | | | system but add a few more positions and |
| pass the exam. | | | | combinations. For pipe welding, the numbering |
| Welding positions are just that, positions! Structural | | | | system goes from one through six. One is for a |
| welding is done in the flat, horizontal, vertical, and | | | | pipe that is rolled in the flat position, two is for a |
| overhead positions. Square shapes give a straight | | | | pipe that is running up and down along the surface |
| line to weld, therefore - one angle, and one | | | | of a wall, four is a pipe that is horizontal running |
| position at a time. Pipe welding, on the other hand, | | | | along the floor, and six is a pipe standing on a 45 |
| never allows the welder to use a single angle or | | | | degree angle. The 1G pipe position covers flat |
| position! When welding pipe, the angle and position | | | | welding, the 2G covers horizontal welding, the 5G |
| of the weld are never the same, as both are | | | | position is a combination of overhead, vertical, and |
| consistently changing as you work through the | | | | flat welding, and finally the 6G position covers the |
| entire weld. | | | | flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions in a |
| Welding certification positions have a coding | | | | single weld joint. There is no such thing as a 3G or |
| system that welders always refer to. Structural | | | | 4G Pipe Welding certification. For practical reasons |
| welding positions are coded one through four. One | | | | most pipe welders are certified in the 6G position |
| is for flat, two is for horizontal, three is for | | | | and that covers all of the structural and pipe |
| vertical, and four is for overhead welding. Most | | | | welding positions in a single test. It's the hardest |
| welding certifications are done in groove welds | | | | welding position and the pay scale for a welder |
| and what that means is the weld joint is beveled. | | | | with a 6G welding certification can be more than |
| The abbreviation that is used for groove welds is | | | | double that of a structural welder's salary. |