Metal Inert Gas Welding

Welding Technology · Level 6  ·  3 Chapters

▣ What this unit covers

In this unit, you will be able to confidently read and create detailed work drawings, set up and operate MIG welding equipment safely, and perform precise welding on various metal positions and thicknesses. You'll master the skills to prepare materials, follow safety protocols, and deliver neat, high-quality welds that meet industry standards. By the end, you’ll also be equipped to maintain and repair your tools, ensuring your work is reliable and professional every time.

■ Where this takes you

Mastering MIG welding equips you with a blend of technical drawing, precision set-up, safe execution and equipment upkeep that is in high demand across Kenya’s growing metal-fabrication landscape. Whether you join an established workshop or launch your own service, these skills translate directly into reliable income and career advancement.

  • Fabrication workshops in industrial zones of Nairobi and Kiambu - you draft and read work drawings, set accurate dimensions and create welding symbols that guide the shop’s production, earning a steady wage as a qualified welder-drafter.
  • Construction sites for large infrastructure projects in Mombasa and Kisumu - you develop operation procedures and follow strict safety protocols while performing MIG welds on structural steel, receiving project-based pay and bonuses for meeting quality standards.
  • Automotive body-shop bays in Nakuru and Eldoret - you interpret chassis drawings, assemble MIG machines and prepare materials to repair or customize vehicle frames, charging per vehicle or hourly for your specialised welding service.
  • Agricultural machinery service centres in Kitale and Kericho - you set MIG parameters and weld components up to 10 mm thick on tractors and harvesters, earning service fees and building a reputation for dependable field repairs.
  • Pipe-fitting contractors working on oil-field pipelines in Turkana - you perform flat, horizontal and vertical MIG welds to join pipe sections, following stringent safety and quality standards that command premium rates.
  • Metal-craft cooperatives producing ornamental gates and furniture in Kisumu and Thika - you finish welded products neatly to client specifications, adding value that allows you to price bespoke pieces higher.
  • Mobile welding service providers serving smallholder farms and rural workshops across the Rift Valley - you travel with a fully assembled MIG set-up, prepare materials on-site and execute welds, billing clients per job and expanding your client base through word-of-mouth.
  • Maintenance departments of large manufacturing plants in Nakuru and Machakos - you identify, troubleshoot and carry out preventive maintenance on MIG machines and tools, earning a regular salary as a maintenance welder and reducing plant downtime.
  • Repair bays in county referral hospitals’ biomedical equipment units - you repair welding tools and replace worn parts using manufacturer manuals, providing essential support services that are compensated through service contracts.

Keep sharpening these abilities, and you’ll find countless avenues - both employed and entrepreneurial - where your MIG welding expertise turns into a rewarding and respected career.

Chapters

Practise this unit

Revise this unit

3 more for this unit

Beyond the syllabus