Contest Description
Competitors receive contest drawings and a set of welding procedure specifications. All drawings, welding symbols, and welding terms conform to the latest edition of the American Welding Society standards. Through a series of stations, contestants are tested on various aspects of welding: measuring weld replicas, using weld measuring gauges; laying out a plate and using oxy-acetylene equipment to cut several holes that are checked for accuracy and quality; gas metal arc welding (GMAW) on steel making welds in various positions using short circuiting transfers; flux cored arc welding (FCAW) using a shielding gas, making welds in various positions and, using a combination machine capable of providing the correct welding current for shielded metal arc (SMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Competitors complete the steel project and weld an aluminum project in various positions using a variety of filler metals.
Contest Chair or Organizer
Mar 19, 2023
Contest Update
Supplied by the competitor: Only items (a.-y.) below may be used during the competition.
Using any tools other than those listed items (a.-y.) below will result in a points deduction
for each infraction throughout the competition.
a. Hearing and/or ear protection
b. Welding gloves — full length (gauntlet) for SMAW, GMAW and FCAW
c. Welding gloves — appropriate for GTAW
d. Welding cap/beanie
e. Welding helmet with appropriate filter plate/lens and protective cover lens for
tacking and welding; auto darkening filter plate/lens permissible. Spare filter
plate and cover lens.
f. Cutting goggles — with shade 5 lens/cover lens for OFC/PAC; helmet with
shade 5 capability permissible; face shield headgear with shade 5 permissible.
Spare filter and cover lens.
g. Pocket calculator
h. Fillet weld gauge — standard set
i. Lead pencil and/or ballpoint pen
j. Soapstone with or without holder or silver streak pencil
k. Scribe without magnet
l. Compass
m. Protractor
n. Combination square set or speed square
o. 10-foot (3.1 meters) minimum steel tape measure
p. 16-ounce (.45 kilogram) ball peen hammer
q. Center punch
r. Cold chisel
s. 11R or 10-inch (254 millimeters) vise grips
t. 6-inch (152 millimeters) side cutting pliers or diagonal cutting pliers
u. 6-inch (152 millimeters) needle nose pliers – welpers permissible
v. Chipping hammer
w. Carbon steel wire brush
x. Stainless steel wire brush
y. Friction lighter (striker) and tip cleaner
z. All competitors must create a one-page resume