Narrative Essay On Pipeline Welding

Welders Revealed

Striding into the shop the very first aspect to stimulate the senses is the sound. Grinding, whirring, scraping, and popping seem to be the most prominent. The cacophony nearly overshadows the other senses until it is adjusted to, as much as it can be. Then come the smells. The scent of well-oiled threaders, saws, and myriad other machines unidentifiable to the untrained eye stews almost subconsciously while the perfumes of scalding steel and elbow grease permeate the air. One must take care about what is glanced at, however, or face the consequences of chemical reactions more luminous than the sun itself. Though certainly under appreciated, the whole atmosphere has an air of toughness and grit about it, which is further …show more content…
“It makes you feel kind of accomplished, you know? Like you're actually doing something even before you start anything.” Travis had called himself a welder for nearly nine years by that point, and was truly adept at his art. It stemmed from his work on an oil rig in Texas, on which he would work for two weeks and then come home for two . He decided that pipeline welding was a more lucrative business than grunt work and began preparation immediately. Eventually he realized the time away from the family was not worth a few extra dollars, however, and made the decision to set up shop in his hometown. Over the years he honed his skill and even started his own business in addition to the job he held at a place called the Wild Horse Machine Shop. By this point Travis emanated confidence and pride while completing his projects and carried himself from stage to stage with seemingly no effort at all. It might even deceive one into believing the profession is much simpler than it is in reality. Humble Travis would never brag about his exploits excessively, but pointed out some of the contracts he had completed in and around the area and gladly shared information about them when