Never- intentionally!
How often do linemen weld?
Never- intentionally!
Distribution Lineman don't do welding (except when it all goes wrong). At some companies the Apparatus Linemen/Technicians may do some welding but that is an infrequent job even for them. In fact most companies do not have it in their requirements.
When I was in New Zealand .. I was contracting down on the South Island ... We ran out of poles and it would have been a three week wait for them.
BUT... THERE WAS AN ABANDONED RAILWAY LINE.near wear we we're building the line. SO !!!!!!! We " borrowed " the railway tracks..welded two together back to back... And welded brackets to take three insulators. And concreted them in place. We used a little helicopter to put them up..and used ladders to work on them.
PROPER CONTRACTING BACK IN THE DAY.
But ain't needed a welder before or since.
IF IT WASN'T FOR BAD LUCK WE WOULD HAVE NO LUCK AT ALL. !
Ive welded a few times...without a torch....had to throw a few screwdrivers/ect away
Thanks y'all