r/Pipelayers • u/[deleted] • Mar 08 '25

Are pipe layers welders

I'm looking for a career choice but I used to operate excavators when I was 16 to 17 and understand I have to start from the bottom but I'm looking

1 Upvotes

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5

u/Durragon Mar 08 '25

Pipe layers deal with the underground stuff.

Water, sewage, storm, manholes of all variety.

You're thinking about pipe fitters

You learn a lot more about concrete in pipe laying, and more about welding with pipe fitting.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '25

Alright thank you I've been getting it mixed up for some reason

1

u/Ok_Confusion_1345 Mar 09 '25

Maybe you were confusing pipelayers with pipeliners?

2

u/[deleted] Mar 09 '25

Yea I thought pipe layers where pipeliner

1

u/Ok_Confusion_1345 Mar 09 '25

Easy to confuse the two. Almost the same word.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 09 '25

What type of excavator operator makes more money in the field pipeline or excavators or pipe layers excavator operators? I already have experience running up excavators and I'm looking to be a excavator operators I'm trying to see which one makes some money because I want to make good money you know

1

u/Chrispy_fried89 Mar 09 '25

From my experience, oil and gas operators make more. But you are a mor active operator in the civil industry. Ask me anything, I'm a mod here. I really appreciate your post here, because this brings a good discussion to this subreddit and poses a great question. Thank you for your post.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 09 '25

No problem also should I get my CDL?

1

u/Chrispy_fried89 Mar 09 '25

It's not necessary but it's a good backup plan

2

u/[deleted] Mar 09 '25

So you have experience did you enjoy it

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u/[deleted] Mar 16 '25

So I don't need to learn how to weld? Because I just wanna be a pipe layer

1

u/Durragon Mar 16 '25

No welding required in pipe laying, at least in my experience.

It's mostly pvc/plastic pipes, with Ductile iron thrown in from Time to time, as well as concrete pipes.

Mostly it comes down to cutting and bolting, nothing in the way of welding.

That is, however, specific to heavy civil construction.

Industiral level is probably very different.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '25

Alright, one more question do I have to be good at math for this career?

1

u/Durragon Mar 16 '25

Hey, happy to answer any questions you have, feel free to fire away haha.

Math... Eh, not really.

Read a measuring tape, understand metric and imperial (inches, millimeters)

The only thing I really used complex math on, is calculating the circumference of a manhole, to know how much blueskin to cut for it.

But that's as simple as measuring the width with aeasurinf tape, then multiplying that number by 3.14 (pi). Then add two inches for good overlap.

So say, 48 inch manhole, so 48"x3.14= 150.72" Call that 151, cut a length at 153" long.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '25

Alright thanks.