Anyone here do any skilled trades?

[Booostin]

I have been thinking about getting into a skilled trade lately like plumbing/heating/gas-oil

Does anyone here go to school for anything like that or can anyone recommend good trade schools in Ontario? Share your experiences please :)


Thanks

[sammyboi36]

i went to uni for engineering. but in my line of work, i work with a lot of trade guys (millwrights, pipefitters, labourers etc). you can make really good coin as a journeyman if you dont mind travelling. i dont think it matters which college you go to as long as you can get a union job. then you'll be making 40+/hr in no time

[Booostin]

i went to uni for engineering. but in my line of work, i work with a lot of trade guys (millwrights, pipefitters, labourers etc). you can make really good coin as a journeyman if you dont mind travelling. i dont think it matters which college you go to as long as you can get a union job. then you'll be making 40+/hr in no time

Thats the goal lol

[aris]

You need to get a Job in one of Those and then over time they can sign you up as an apprentice... My one buddy is a plumber and he was working at same place for 5 years before his boss signed him up.

My brother is a mechanic on big trucks and he did it same way.. Got job the his work signed him up he's being working for 13 years at same place

[alhope34]

I'm a 4th year drywall apprentice.

[PCLoadLetter]

Machinist here.

Any idea what field you want to get into?

[joedemarco]

a friend of mine is a crane opperator...he just bought an 300 SRT-8...hes 20 yrs old and making some incredible dough, and it only goes up from there...definately something for you to look into.

[Booostin]

Machinist here.

Any idea what field you want to get into?

To be honest I just want to do something hands on. I like challenges but I dont want to be making too many calculations either lol. I am just trying to get a feel for what everyone else does and what it involves. Can you go into a little but more detail on what you job entails?

[PEPSIGIXXER]

if you want to get into the HVAC trade, there is some great money in that as well especially if you learn here in canada and get your journeyman license. Humber college has a great course (world renowned even)i went there all though I am not doing it now but if i ever was to lose my job or get tired of it I will be going back to that trade.

[Noisy Crow]

If you are thinking of electrical, plumbing, etc., better to try for commercial / industrial rather than residential. A lot of the guys that end up in new home construction getting pretty much all their apprenticeship hours installing the same bit of plumbing or wiring over and over and don't really learn as much as they should.

Another area you might find interesting is repair/maintenace of things like hospital beds or vending machines, or even like elevator repair/maintenance/installation.

[FoXy]

trades are awesome but they can be hit or miss when it comes to work. You could get long/short contracts, but the money is always good when you have your ticket in the end. Definitely commercial construction is the way to go to, there will never be an ending to people building buildings. My dad is a steamfitter and been in his trade for like 50 years or something, he's now the president lol

AND if you work your way up and be a foreman you just get to tell ppl what to do and make even more money lol

[B&T's 3]

I'm a journeyman cabinetmaker. The money and working conditions aren't bad. I began when I came out of the army. I took my appreticeship with a business run by menonnites in the rural areas of Manitoba. Trying to find a company willing to give you an apprenticeship is the hard part. Not many businesses are willing to let you go to school for part of the year. Not only that, not everyone is going to give you pensions and benefits that you may expect to get as a skilled trades. Beats McDonalds though. Remember, to get your ticket, it takes five years. You WILL start by sweeping floors, cleaning bathrooms etc. NOT by building masterpieces. Food for thought.

[ShortBus]

i've been in concrete forming for 3 years, because of my union and the way things are setup there's no real apprenticeship for me.

you have to know what you'd like to do because every trade is different.

another piece of advice, don't think you can slack off even doing the dirty grunt work there's always someone ready to take your spot (and watching). there will be slackers/"dog *******" but they are usually related to the owner so that's a different story.

[PCLoadLetter]

To be honest I just want to do something hands on. I like challenges but I dont want to be making too many calculations either lol. I am just trying to get a feel for what everyone else does and what it involves. Can you go into a little but more detail on what you job entails?
Based on this, don't become a machinist lol. Lots of calculating required.
My job is to read blueprints/drawings, then set up and make the parts on a cnc lathe.
Dimensions are sometimes very tight (+/- 0.0001" on some diameters).

B&T's 3 posted that he's a cabinetmaker, that is something to definitely look into.
If you have any sort of background in carpentry or have enjoyed making things out of wood, that's a good route to take.
I was never a cabinetmaker but I worked very briefly in a shop that makes kitchen cabinets. It seemed like it would be an alright job.

[m_bisson]

Painting is decent. Its also an amazing workout so you stay fit at the same time.

[mazdaskit]

ive got my g2 gas and refrigeration licenses