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Welding Fabrication

Contest Coordinator: Bruce Gregory

All metal will be provided for contestants. Ignore instructions about school-supplied metal.

Bench Vice 2026 Drawings SLSC26 – (Updated 3-26-26). 

2026 Tools and Equipment list

The Welding Fabrication contest will require each student to submit a resume. In addition, each team must provide a build plan outlining roles and responsibilities from the start to the end of the competition. This plan will be evaluated as part of the teamwork score.

Updated: 3-27-25

3-person teams will be given a detailed blueprint and steel materials to complete a project within a 3-hour period. Some of the project parts are premade, and the team will make parts too via OA cutting and mechanical cutting with an angle grinder/cutoff wheel. Parts are assembled, tack-welded, and final-welded via GMAW & SMAW weld processes (post-secondary includes GTAW DC- process). The individuals must know how to read and interpret blueprint drawings & weld symbols. Utilizing a tape measure, square, protractor, and skills in GMAW (MIG) & SMAW (E7018, E6011) welding are crucial. GTAW (TIG) for post-secondary is needed as well. Skill in safely using an angle grinder with a grinding disc, a cutoff disc, & sanding disc for metal finishing is also critical. Knowing how to drill holes in steel is important. Teamwork and time management is paramount to a successful team. Safe shop practice must be employed at all times.

Harris 43-2 torch (instructions), handle, and 73-3 torch cutting attachment that we will use for Oxygen-Acetylene cutting. 
Here is the link to the Lincoln Electric Power Wave 300C Advanced that we will use
 
As in the past few years, the post-secondary team has an additional GTAW process that uses the Lift-Start TIG technique. We will have 17V TIG torches for this. Teams may provide their own tungsten and 17V torch parts if they wish. But we will certainly have tungsten electrodes and parts there too. We will also provide a grinder for sharpening tungsten.

There will be a multiple-choice test for welding fabrication knowledge administered the evening prior to the hands-on competition.

The TEAMWORK scoring category will include a “progression of build outline” that lists the major steps of the build process and the team member responsible for each step. i.e., who is doing OA cutting, parts layout, SMAW welds, GMAW welds, etc.
 
 Also new for this year is “team captain” or “team secretary” (or called “member of responsibility!”) as I want to know the responsible person who is in charge of bringing all tools listed, assurance of PPE for each member (& an extra pair of safety glasses and ear protection required for the team) along with blueprint drawings (each team must bring their own copy of drawings)  This team captain/secretary will submit a checklist upon roll call on Thursday evening orientation and written test. 

Hints to a potential winning team:

The key to this contest is individual skill in the various welding, cutting, and fabrication disciplines, team skills, and team management. The highest-scoring teams have the best team management, which translates to TIME MANAGEMENT. Organization of the assignment of skills to the various points and stages of the project build is imperative. We do NOT expect all teams to finish or submit a completed project by the end of the allotted work time. Teams that complete the project receive the highest grade in the Team Management/Cooperation category.

Fit & Finish of the submitted project carries a higher-grade scoring category. AKA Quality of Finished Project

Sample scoring from Scoring Summary

Qualification 2026

1) Ship all 3 students’ test welds (6 projects) together to: Attn. Kiley Palmertree/SkillsUSA, Klute Inc. 1313 Road G, York, NE 68467. The package must be postmarked (or dropped off) by Friday, January 30th. There will be no extension; plan accordingly and prepare for missed school days due to inclement weather. We will report on the finalist on Friday, February 13th, or sooner if possible.
 
2) Each of the submitted weldments SHALL be identified with the high school name and the student’s first name and last name. The initial of the first name and the full last name would also be sufficient. This needs to be done with a permanent marker or on tape adhered to the sample project. Do NOT use chalk or soapstone. Failure to do so will cause rejection of the projects.
Also, it would be helpful if the advisors emailed me upon shipping the projects with the tracking number so that I know they are en route.