Real welders share their New Year’s resolutions

Josh Welton asked welders via social media what their New Year’s resolutions are for 2020. Their responses vary, from sharpening their skills to focusing on their craft. Illustration by Gareth Sleger

It’s the year 2020, and hopefully that means your vision for your future is in clear focus.

As the welding and fabrication industry seems to be at a tipping point between old norms and new ways of doing things, I thought I’d throw out a question to my friends and followers on social media to see what hopes, wishes, and resolutions they’re looking forward to this year. The answers range from silly to serious, but instead of feeling like perhaps you’re alone in your mindset, it can be nice to read about others with similar thoughts.

So here are a few New Year’s resolutions from real-world welders.

Chad Saylor: “Weld more, talk less.”

Shane York: “Grind less…”

@Logan12155: “Work less!”

@Farmfabrication: “Weld less”

A popular resolution for many welders is obtaining new welding certifications and training to improve their craft.

Jb Rezzy: “My New Year’s resolution is to learn how to TIG and get my certs.”

@trowdah: “This past year I barely got to TIG weld at work, so I'm heading into my union school two to three nights a week again to work on my stainless and carbon TIG and get a few more certs.”

@micdylsmi: “Get certified in stainless pipe. I don’t need it for work, nor will I be getting another job soon, but I just want to do it.”

@brokendreamsfabrication: “Finish INCONEL® certs and my Jeep, and buy property.”

@quinnjamin19: “Keep learning, stay up to date on my pressure welding tickets, and acquire my stainless welding ticket.”

@henryensleytig: “Certs & stainless pipe.”

@jonesn1985: “Try to spend more time learning to TIG because I'm horrible lol.”

@Wing_it247: “Learn to use my left hand to walk the cup on 6G.”

@Arcmonkeyw74: “Hopefully be more consistent, and also keep my job post Brexit.”

@Gingerrmariee: “Loved reading all of these. Certs this year for me.”

This one is my personal favorite.

@artwarrior01: “Work on my welds, passing 11th grade, asking this girl out to see if she wants to get a cup of coffee, and continue to weld.”

There were also some ambitious replies from folks like my friend Scott Raabe (probably the only person who has had his welding photos “borrowed” without permission as often as I have) who recently opened Precision Welding Academy.

@scott_raabe: “Making my school the best I can for the first year open and then continuing to grow it into one of the top in the nation.”

I love this.

@petty_welding: “To increase benefit packages to employees.”

Many of you are looking to get a new business off the ground.

@arclifefab: “Making myself better, growing my own business to get away from working for someone else, and then sharing my knowledge and helping to grow this great brotherhood of welding and fabricating we have going on around the world.”

@chopp256: “Getting the ball rolling on some fabrication of some parts for diesel trucks. Hopefully getting a small batch sold by this time next year.”

@untamedartist_sara_hamburger: “To weld sculptures that express my artistic vision and to continue to grow my welding business.”

@Fireflyfabrication: “Mine is to talk to more people, hand out more cards, and hopefully get some more paying work.”

@uniquemetalworks13: “Looking to be more recognized in the social media world!! Through Instagram and may start playing with Youtube.”

@nates_welding: “TIG welder. Bigger argon bottle. And make some money in the shop.”

@Hendersonmobile: “Get busy enough with my rig to quit my day job.”

@86kofen13: “Get my contractor’s license.”

@garageboundllc: “To acquire my first robotic cell.”

@Spotn wants to build a stainless exhaust for his FZ6 sports bike.

One person speaks of healing while others look toward self-improvement.

@neweraoutlaws: “Try to retrain myself after severe nerve damage in my arm. Get back to the things I enjoy. Glass of bourbon and skilled trades!”

@Amigo_arts: “I’m hoping to slow down a bit and pay more attention to craft and technique. I feel like I’m always running on fire and it hurts my craftsmanship a bit. I’m also not a fully educated welder in proper technique or theory. I want to learn more about that.”

@metalmasterhawley: “Get a new welding hood! And finding more patience for new people!!!”

@myllamadakota: “Get into another career that pays worth a damn.”

As for that last one ... well, it’s my personal resolution to push for change that would mean you can earn that pay without needing to change careers!

Good luck to you and your 2020!