February 20, 2019
Story and portrait by Brandon Steinert
Barton Welding Instructor Wade Morris spent 35 years fusing metal as a pipeline welder, foreman and in various other roles before coming to Barton in the fall of 2018; he knows what it takes to be a good welder. Skill and technique are important technical proficiencies, he said, but the real basis of mastering the trade is found a little deeper.
鈥淎ttitude,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about your ability to give attention to detail, and welding is about practice. If you can put in the time and effort, you鈥檒l become a good welder.鈥
He said while anyone can become skilled at the craft, some individuals do seem to take to it a little better than others.
鈥淎rtsy people who can draw鈥 they usually make pretty good welders, but it still depends on your attitude,鈥 he said.
Morris鈥 approach to teaching reflects his philosophy of practice-makes-perfect, as he puts them to work as much as possible.
鈥淚 try to keep a limited amount of time in the classroom,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 much more important to get the quality time in the welding booths. My students get lots of hands on time, and if they have problems they come to me or they help each other.鈥
The time students get with the instructor because of the small student-to-teacher ratio is one of the many benefits of Barton鈥檚 program, which takes only one semester to complete via a series of four-week classes that meet every day. The program covers all the basic welds, MIG, TIG and stick, and cutting processes including training on a CNC plasma cutting table. All the equipment in the updated facility is state-of-the-art.
Once they鈥檙e done picking Morris鈥 brain for a semester, students who complete the program can enjoy a plethora of career options.
鈥淧eople are crying for welders,鈥 Morris said. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l enjoy independence and you can go anywhere you want and work. And there鈥檚 no limit to the money you can make, depending on how many hours you want to work. Basic welding jobs start out at $17 to $25 per hour. You can come here for one semester and make a pretty good living.鈥
Morris鈥 own career took him all over the country as a welder, and developed a knack for teaching others to weld by coaching welders鈥 helpers on how to lay a quality bead.
鈥淚t was always a challenge to turn a welder鈥檚 helper into a good welder,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of the same thing here. You might start with someone who only knows how to spell weld, but they come in and you watch them progress and then they go to work. That鈥檚 a good feeling.鈥
Barton鈥檚 welding certificate is 16 credit hours and costs about $3,600 total with equipment and fees.
For more information about Barton鈥檚 welding program or to enroll, visit .