Any trades workers here? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Any trades workers here?

Max527

Max527

Well-known member
Anyone here work in the trades? Looking at a new career even if it means school or college. Been with the same lousy job and I need to move on. I'm 39 and feel it's time to do something else.
I've seen pros and cons to being an electrician, plumber, welder etc... Just curious if anyone here does something or fan chime in on their career?
Thanks
 
In a past life ICI carpenter.

Depending on your interests and desires, HVAC is a good choice as it is protected from DIY, easy enough to spin up your own business and is full of goombas so it would be easy to be a star.

Taper has a super low barrier to entry, flexible, lots of weekend cash jobs of you want, all your tools fit in a bucket so you cam takentransit to work, etc.
 
My ex was a maintenance mechanic millwright and he loved it because of the variety of things he did any given day...he ended up specializing in hydraulics, and in 2008 was already making $80,000...

I had my hot water heater repaired by Reliance a couple of years ago, and we were talking about becoming an apprentice with them (my current hubby was inquiring for his son)...apparently they provide all training, vehicle and if you're willing to work overtime, newbies can easily make over $100,000 after only a few years...my step son wasn't interested, so we didn't pursue it, so I have no idea if what the service technician said is true or not...
 
Join LIUNA 183 union. There's SO much underground work coming up in the city of Toronto....stupid money, good benefits, and you get at least 10-15 years of work coming up.

@GreyGhost what do you mean taper? Just taping?

I'm would LOVE to leave my job and go into the trades...but I can't afford to go back to apprentice salary while I work my way up. But if there's weekend work...I'm all ears!
 
mimico_polak said:
Join LIUNA 183 union. There's SO much underground work coming up in the city of Toronto....stupid money, good benefits, and you get at least 10-15 years of work coming up.

@GreyGhost what do you mean taper? Just taping?

I'm would LOVE to leave my job and go into the trades...but I can't afford to go back to apprentice salary while I work my way up. But if there's weekend work...I'm all ears!
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Yup taping. If you want to make serious coin, get one of the old italian guys to teach you how to do plaster crown molding and then hang out in woodbridge. Probably require a truck to do it but a weekend of work will cover the truck payments for six months or more. No tickets required so you wont have someone like ESA prosecuting you.
 
GreyGhost said:
Yup taping. If you want to make serious coin, get one of the old italian guys to teach you how to do plaster crown molding and then hang out in woodbridge. Probably require a truck to do it but a weekend of work will cover the truck payments for six months or more. No tickets required so you wont have someone like ESA prosecuting you.
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Calling @Joe Bass ... he's woodbridge lol

I'm pretty good at taping. It's the compound that I don't know how to do properly. Honestly saw a few guys doing it at my buddy's house...beautiful to watch pros.
 
Elevator mechanic
HVAC
Electrical

if you have good communication and management skills then a superintendent is very in demand and most my guys are over $120k before bonuses.

I would recommend staying away from the union, especially if you want to eventually have your own business
 
HVAC & plumber have the bonus of possibly collecting old copper
$5/ lb rn

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make sure the trades is right for you, not everyone is good working with their hands, is adept at using tools, and it helps to be physically fit.

if you've been sitting in a cushy desk office job in front of a screen with, AC on, for many years, think twice before jumping to the trades.
 
I was in the trades years ago, I really miss working with my hands . I do not miss hot sweaty days , exposure to hazards and people screaming when will it be done .
It’s very good , for those that are good at it. Too many took up trades as a consolation prize , which is why that entire sector of the economy is suffering.
Decent workers will ALWAYS have a job.


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GreyGhost said:
Yup taping. If you want to make serious coin, get one of the old italian guys to teach you how to do plaster crown molding and then hang out in woodbridge. Probably require a truck to do it but a weekend of work will cover the truck payments for six months or more. No tickets required so you wont have someone like ESA prosecuting you.
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Another potential advantage.... it can be hard to break into the "red seal trades" from scratch if you do not know anyone to get the starting apprenticeship but if you are getting into building sites with other work you will get a chance to meet some of the other contractors (plumbing electrical, HVAC) and it may open some doors.

Or you get good at it and like it and you are all set.
****
We have had a few threads on this, one thing I always recommend is to also find something that will not be back breaking as you get older.
 
Max527 said:
Anyone here work in the trades? Looking at a new career even if it means school or college. Been with the same lousy job and I need to move on. I'm 39 and feel it's time to do something else.
I've seen pros and cons to being an electrician, plumber, welder etc... Just curious if anyone here does something or fan chime in on their career?
Thanks
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I am a red seal welder, worked in pressure vessels (boilers) most of my career. The last few years I mainly trained people. Babcock in cambridge, and all the nuke plants, and Irving shipbuilders have a lifetime of work. I'm 54 and retired.
 
SunnY S said:
make sure the trades is right for you, not everyone is good working with their hands, is adept at using tools, and it helps to be physically fit.

if you've been sitting in a cushy desk office job in front of a screen with, AC on, for many years, think twice before jumping to the trades.
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I'm reading a book on doing stuff and the author commented some people couldn't glue two pieces of wood together if you put the pieces of wood in their hands, slathered them with glue and told them to clap.
 
nobbie48 said:
I'm reading a book on doing stuff and the author commented some people couldn't glue two pieces of wood together if you put the pieces of wood in their hands, slathered them with glue and told them to clap.
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I was one of those guys when I was younger. But my dad always took me with him (begrudgingly) to his jobs to teach me.

I hate it at the time, but I love it now. What's frustrating most now is when he sees I'm struggling with something, he just does it.

There's been many times where I tell him 'how the eff am I supposed to learn if you keep doing it?'
 
mimico_polak said:
I was one of those guys when I was younger. But my dad always took me with him (begrudgingly) to his jobs to teach me.

I hate it at the time, but I love it now. What's frustrating most now is when he sees I'm struggling with something, he just does it.

There's been many times where I tell him 'how the eff am I supposed to learn if you keep doing it?'
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"How the eff is it going to get done if I wait for you to do it?.....three of four times???"
 
mimico_polak said:
I was one of those guys when I was younger. But my dad always took me with him (begrudgingly) to his jobs to teach me.

I hate it at the time, but I love it now. What's frustrating most now is when he sees I'm struggling with something, he just does it.

There's been many times where I tell him 'how the eff am I supposed to learn if you keep doing it?'
Click to expand...

Back in my younger days, I was working on my Cutlass Supreme and my dad was putting in his 2 cents. I always learned a lot from him but this time I was being stubborn and spoke up…

“Dad, there’s my way, and there’s the right way. Let me find my way.”

From that point on, we had a mutual respect.

Cherish every moment with your dad MP. I’m sure he means well.


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Robbo said:
Back in my younger days, I was working on my Cutlass Supreme and my dad was putting in his 2 cents. I always learned a lot from him but this time I was being stubborn and spoke up…

“Dad, there’s my way, and there’s the right way. Let me find my way.”

From that point on, we had a mutual respect.

Cherish every moment with your dad MP. I’m sure he means well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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My dad was a broken man by the time he was 50. He had a very hard life growing up and he didn't have much patience for me. But he still taught me how to fish and weld. And he used to make custom wrought iron railings (he was essentially a blacksmith) and he brought me along a few times when he went to install them.
 
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