Page 9 - HIWT Fall 2016 World of Welding

Swank answered a spectrum of questions from readers ranging encouragement to prevent anyone from failing or dropping out. But
from all types of things, but most of them about troubleshooting if there’s one difference he’s noticed in today’s student population,
welding fabrication, maintenance, or repair problems in a clear and it’s the amount of encouragement they need to keep moving
concise, down-to-earth, conversational manner similar to the way forward.
he’d answer someone face-to-face.
“Young people need encouragement. Maybe they always have and
But if there was one topic area he tried to stay away from, it was I’m just more conscious of it today. We’ll get some who aren’t as
questions pertaining to welding code. motivated, while others question whether or not they can do it. But
they change immediately when we show them they can. I really
“I didn’t feel comfortable answering those mainly because until you hate it when I hear, older people perhaps, talk down about our
have all of the details to answer accurately, you have to be careful young people.”
because we don’t want to misguide someone.”
You Can’t Go Wrong With Welding
45 Years and Counting
Perhaps one of the drivers for Swank’s long teaching career is the
Like so many of the knowledgeable contributors who have shaped fact that he is an ardent believer that welding is a great career
Practical Welding Today over the years, Swank has great familiarity option. He said there’s always going to be a need for good welders
with welding’s past and is still contributing significantly to welding’s and he doesn’t ever see that changing, especially with significant
present to ensure a better future. In an industry where welders have demand in the infrastructure and energy sectors. And as long as
the freedom to travel the world and go where the jobs are, Swank there is a need for welders, there also will be a need for welding
has stayed put, influencing at least three generations of welders engineers, welding educators, welding inspectors, and welding
and preparing them to face the rigors of the job.
equipment manufacturers and sales personnel.
That includes staying on top of the technology upgrades that have “Someone picking welding as a career path today, I can’t see that
affected the industry and, by extension, his lab environment. When they’re making a mistake at all because I think there will be a lot of
he first began teaching, his lab included opportunities there. They can weld as long
mostly power sources that ran on motor- as they want, and when they’re tired of it,
generators. They were heavy and inefficient they can do a lot of different things that
but produced a really nice weld. But as “Young people need require welding knowledge.”
technology progressed and those types of
machines were replaced with small yet encouragement” In fact, Swank has noticed an uptick in
powerful inverter-based power sources, young welders pursuing certified welding
Swank rolled with the punches like he inspector (CWI) credentials.
always does.
“I think they see there are opportunities,
“Welders didn’t like them at first because they just didn’t have and even though they can make a decent living as a welder, they
a very good arc. Old motor-generators, when you ran a 7018 want to be more versatile. They’ll invest their own money, which is
stick electrode, had a real good feel to it. Early inverters didn’t considerable when you think about all of the costs involved, and it
do so well. But the inverters that are around currently have been will help them either get a better job, become more employable, or
perfected to where you can hardly tell the difference in the arc become valuable to their current employer.”
characteristics from the old motor-generators. That’s about as
smooth a DC output you can get.” After more than four decades, Swank still has a genuine passion
for teaching. That, paired with his extensive knowledge, is why
Technology isn’t the only thing that has changed students have readers wanted to Ask Elmer and why welding students today are
changed, at least in some ways, too. But you won’t hear the typical still asking Elmer.
“kid’s today” speech from Swank. Ever the optimist, he’s not
interested in pointing out generational faults or preaching about “It always made me feel good to know that I had helped someone
how previous generations are far superior to today’s smart phone- solve a problem or helped them do a good job welding something
addicted youth. He prefers instead to see the similarities between they were working on.”
today’s students and students of the past. Associate Editor Amanda Carlson can be reached at amandac@
“Most of the students we get range from age 19 to mid-20s. I’m thefabricator.com.
involved with one of the very first classes students take when they Even though the Ask Elmer column no longer exists, Swank has
enroll here. There’s incredible enthusiasm and it’s wonderful to never stopped answering questions or lost the desire to help those
see.” who are willing to become better welders. Photo courtesy of Hobart
Like past students, he said members of this generation work hard, Institute of Welding Technology.
are willing to learn, and do their best to understand the information From Practical Welding Today, July/August 2016.
they are taught. Instructors, in turn, make every effort to keep Reprinted with permission of Practical Welding Today.
students progressing by providing instruction paired with enough

2016 FALL ISSUE - 8 - www.welding.org www.welding.org - 9 - 2016 FALL ISSUE