Boiler, Sheetie, Fitters! Apprentice/job info

Van D · 26-07-2007, 02:29 AM

Hey guys, just wondering if there's anyone in the above mentioned fields on here.

I'd like to be working with metal, including welding and machining but not sure what path to look at. From what i've read/discussed with people, it seems boilermakers work more with heavier/bigger pieces and don't do much machining/finer work, where is fitters do all machining/cnc with little welding as such (and more repair of machines), whilst a sheetie seems to be somewhat in the middle. I think that's correct?

Anyway, I would preferably like to make things from start to finish instead of production/line style work and want to learn and use everything from welding to CNC to lathes and torches.

I don't really mind where i'd start, but in the end I wouldn't mind working with custom cars/choppers or interesting architecture.

What do people on here think is my best path to take? And, as i've been out of school a year, do businesses take on apprentices that haven't come straight from school? What about pre ap courses?

Also, for those in the industry, how much do you earn? In another 10-15 years i'd like to be earning somewhere around 75-80k. Is it possible in this industry?

And if anyone knows someone or is in the trade themselves and is looking for an apprentice, please let me know!

PS. I posted this in the tool chest and it didn't get any replies, and I saw another apprenticeship post in here a little while ago so thought it should be ok.

Cheers!

Powdered Toast Man · 26-07-2007, 10:52 AM

I think you will learn all that while doing a boilermaker apprenticeship, but once you are working it will be a different story.

And you are pretty much right. I'm actually an engineer but I work at a metal fabrication factory that makes excavator attachments (buckets, hitches etc) whick are made out of both mild and alloy steels between about 6mm thick right up to 100mm thick. We use about 50% boilermakers, 50% welders and they do their own drilling and in some occations lathe work (but thats rare); the machinist does the majority of the machining work (lathe, mill, we dont have any CNC machines all old fashioned manual lol). And the parts are cut by a somebody who is specialised in operating a flame cutter (or could be plasma or laser but we dont have one). So really each has a specialised field and unless you work in a small company with only a couple of empolyees thats how things are.

Our boilermakers aren't payed a great wage but some do earn up to about $70K a year, but thats with lots of O/T (55+ hour week). Some places do pay up to $30/hour or more if working in a very ISO9000 quality controlled field (eg crane building). Site work also nets good pay. I did some work for a jobbing shop that did site work a few years ago and the boilermakers were on $27/hour.

Oh, and ATM we're not looking for an apprentice but we are moving to much larger premises soon. I still doubt they will want an apprentice though, been there done that and been stung twice (first guy left for better things and the second was dumb as dog you know what). We still have a mature age apprentice now and will probably keep him (I think he's 4th year, no schooling anymore).

Turboconvert · 26-07-2007, 01:44 PM

as for the being out of school for a year now, should not be a real issue. i went to uni for a 1 & 1/2 years before i decided to quit and get an apprenticeship. it was then nearly 6 months after that before i got an appreticeship as a fitter (machinist). i am now in my second year. i can tell you now that i have not seen many of the machinists do a lot of welding, that is manly left to the boilies. however, i have seen at tafe some older blokes with a somewhat more customised compency based plan, but from what i am told this is somewhat rare to do. and well falling short of finishing an apprenticeship in one and than going on to do an apprenticeship in the other, i dont know what else you can do in regards to that

mr_xr8 · 26-07-2007, 03:19 PM

if your in nsw send me a pm with your details

Van D · 26-07-2007, 07:57 PM

Powdered Toast and uteaddict - Cheers for the info. Toast, what sort of wage are you on, if you don't mind me asking? You can PM if you like.

uteaddict - how are you finding the apprenticeship, and what sort of pay are you on whilst being an apprentice? I'm not fussed, but i'll be moving out for good when I get mine so I need enough to get along!

mr_xr8 - i'm in Vic unfortunately!

Wokkas · 26-07-2007, 08:36 PM

There's two main trades for metal work- Fabrication Engineer (Boilermaker), and Engineer, Mechanical Trade (Fitter&Turner/Machinist, Toolmaker if in SA).

If you do the latter trade, you'll learn pretty much everything a boilery knows (which is bugger all) anyway.

loosey · 26-07-2007, 08:52 PM

I'm an apprentice sheety. At work I do anything from welding (tig/ mig) to CNC Mill and lathe work. You'll want to get into a medium sized business, one too big and there will be people only employed to run the nc machines, too small and they wont have nc machines. I did a six month Tafe prevocc course in heavy/ light fabrication and got my foot in the door where I am with that (i had a few other apprenticeship offers but took this one up). As for not going straight into it, the two other apprentices are 26 and 28 so its not too late.

Van D · 26-07-2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motionless_xe

I'm an apprentice sheety. At work I do anything from welding (tig/ mig) to CNC Mill and lathe work. You'll want to get into a medium sized business, one too big and there will be people only employed to run the nc machines, too small and they wont have nc machines. I did a six month Tafe prevocc course in heavy/ light fabrication and got my foot in the door where I am with that (i had a few other apprenticeship offers but took this one up). As for not going straight into it, the two other apprentices are 26 and 28 so its not too late.

Sounds like it's what I want! Do you have a link to the course you did at all? (realise it's in SA) And what business/company do you work for if you don't mind saying?

loosey · 26-07-2007, 09:07 PM

PM sent.

Blue Ice · 26-07-2007, 09:07 PM

Boilermaker here by trade, but I'm more into the pressure welding side now, pipelines and boiler breakdown repairs. Good coin, hard work if your just a scrappy boilermaker though. Pressure Welders are in demand.

Green X · 26-07-2007, 09:13 PM

I think what you re looking for is Fitter/ machinist, where you will do both, work on all types of equipment as well as spend time in the machine shop on Mill's, lathes Ect, I can't stand machining my-self, i am a straight Fitter Now 4th year apprentice, I have done machining but I avoid it.

You got to watch it, Some company's look good from the outside but are pricks and don't train there apprentices well, I am fighting with my employer ATM about this, they have basicly lost me as a Future employee due to the way they have handled my apprenticeship, they don't now that, but once i have my papers in hand I will be dust.

Cheers.

V8falcons · 26-07-2007, 09:45 PM

Yep you should go for a fitters apprenticeship if you like working with machines,assembling ,fabricating ,designing etc,after a while to outsmart the guys that go to uni for 5+ years and call them selves senior engineers as you on the floor all day you see and understand more,Its a great trade and really there is so much you can do with it.

You can also relate it to you car/home projects etc.... and you'll so see how very simple things are to do mechanically............Yep Im a maintenance fitter and very happy with my trade.But you will always have days no matter what path decide to take.

And yeh around $100K where I am.

cortEA · 26-07-2007, 10:16 PM

Hi mate, 4th yr boiley here. I'm an adult apprentice, I'm 27 now. I work for a company that employs 700 ppl! We design and manufacture underground loaders and dump trucks. I started on $14hr as a 1st yr and earned $42000, this yr as a third I earned $47000. Our jnr app start on $9hr and can earn around $28000 as first yr with a fair bit of over time. We mainly work with migs but get to use tig/stick rarely. We don't get the chance to do any machine work but that not too much of a problem as ya got enough to learn as it is in ya 1st 4 yrs. I'm currently 3 quarters the way through build a drag car and without know what I know as a boiley app I wouldn't have been able to do half the amount to the car as I have. Each Trade has it advantages/disadvantages, good days/bad days but at the end of it I know that Ican travel to almost anywhere and be able get a job. Hope that helps a little

Cheers Corey

Turboconvert · 26-07-2007, 10:26 PM

popinfresh, i have to tell you now your wages will not be terribly great for the first two years at least, especially if the business is in 'town commercial boundries'. how ever if the job were to be 'way out west' in a mine so to speak actually is good wages otherwise. i think you will have some difficultly in living away from home for those first two years. i am 22 and still living with my parents and i am not ashamed of this fact. for me it is really cheep livings and means i can spend the money on things that i would rather spend it on. the only way i see you been able to manage on such a crap wage while away from home is share accomidation and learning to be penny pinching everything (ie savings toliet paper that is actually sandpaper and so forth).

and how am i finding the job? well to put your normal work politics aside that you would get anywhere, its actually pretty good. it is very interesting when i put the production aside. getting the cnc's to work and completing a job (sometimes a one off) is very satisfing on the lathe and mill's.

goodluck mate

Ryan · 27-07-2007, 07:03 AM

I'm doing a pre apprenticeship Fitter/Machinist course at Tafe, and it's pretty good.

Although Lathes give me a headache, but it's a good trade overall.

Racecraft · 27-07-2007, 07:58 AM

ex sheetie here... A good trade but like anything it comes down to your employer.. I was employed by a decent company.. WE worked predominately in stainless steel so it was relatively clean in comparison. I was lucky as my old boss had a rotation system whereby each apprentice spent a few months in each section. For example a few weeks in the polishing section, a few weeks in the office, the fridge section, machine shop etc etc.

I was fortunate because I am quite good at maths that I was made leading hand of the tube section in my third year. Some people just couldn't get a grasp of Pythagoras and geometry, so I had free run of my own section and an extra $1.40 an hour. I used to make from start to finish all sorts of things, decorative balustrades, custom exhausts, architectural grab rails etc etc. I would then go on site to fit them occasionally. The coin wasn't great but with the multi skilling policy and diversity I learnt a lot of handy skills that I still use today

I can't stress just how important the employer is (and to nearly the same degree) the type of work they do. I went to TAFE with blokes that made nothing but air conditioning ducting

:.. All they did day in and day out was stand a at press and guillo and couldn't even weld

Van D · 31-07-2007, 01:11 AM

Jeez, a lot of good info here, sorry for taking so long to get back to ya's!

Uteaddict - I've been thinking of staying at home as well, it's not that i'm ashamed at all (easy living :P), but my folks wanna move out country more and I don't want to be driving over and hour to and from work, yet don't want to stop them from moving. I'm pretty sure i'll be moving out with some band mates next year, but if that falls through and the olds stay a little longer i'll take advantage of it!

CortEA/vctxr6ute - the fact that what I learn at work can relate to my hobbies and things around the house is a big plus to me, and one of the reasons I've been thinking a lot about this trade ;)

Racecraft - I've heard the same from a couple guys about employers and it makes a hell of a difference. Thanks for the heads up. Also, with the maths stuff, I was never bad, I did year 11 methods, then dropped it. I could handle it pretty well, but wanted to do something more interesting instead so took Design Tech.. But I assume they're not going to teach you the stuff on site, so best to just freshen my memory in my own time? And if you don't mind, can I ask what you're doing now?

Also, if I want to start an apprenticeship, can I do it whenever, or will I have to start at the beginning of next year and go to TAFE as well?

Psi-Pop · 31-07-2007, 09:33 PM

I'm 20 and a 2nd year Fitter and Turner and i love every aspect of it other than the wages, im on a base 2nd year rate of $8.70. I live at home and dont pay board or anything so i manage very well. I left school and got into RMIT TAFE as a Aerospace Engineer but after finding out that the course was rubbish and a nowhere path, i decided to get out and get a trade.

I work at a Engine Manufacturer so the work isn't always that related but giving me a ace understanding of motors. Though trade school is the best days of week, playing on Mills and lathes is awesome, just making something from nothing is very satisfying.

You can start anytime, i was messed around, i started in April but tafe never enrolled me so i only started 1st Schooling in Jan but im 2nd year at work. It is handy knowing more than other guys, ill be finished 1st year school early and into 2nd.

jmi8 · 31-07-2007, 11:28 PM

I'm an ex fitter machinist.. It's the best all round trade if you want to work with metal. Most go on and do a further general welding part time course for a year as welding is very important and if you want to specialise, it's easy to get into hydraulics with your trade behind you..
I find I use my trade background in everyday life so no regrets here!
Oh, Be a good reliable worker and you will always have work with a decent wage..

Wokkas · 31-07-2007, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmi8

I'm an ex fitter machinist.. It's the best all round trade if you want to work with metal. Most go on and do a further general welding part time course for a year as welding is very important and if you want to specialise, it's easy to get into hydraulics with your trade behind you..
I find I use my trade background in everyday life so no regrets here!
Oh, Be a good reliable worker and you will always have work with a decent wage..

That's a great bit of advice mate.

Van D · 31-07-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmi8

I'm an ex fitter machinist.. It's the best all round trade if you want to work with metal. Most go on and do a further general welding part time course for a year as welding is very important and if you want to specialise, it's easy to get into hydraulics with your trade behind you..
I find I use my trade background in everyday life so no regrets here!
Oh, Be a good reliable worker and you will always have work with a decent wage..

Never thought about doing a welding course on the side whilst doing a fitter/machinist apprenticeship.

Do TAFE's run the courses or are they privately run?

jmi8 · 31-07-2007, 11:56 PM

I did all mine through TAFE but that was many, many moons ago..

Good luck!

schnoods · 01-08-2007, 12:46 AM

Im a boily here 2 years out of my time. Great oportunities in most trades these days so you cant really lose. Im on $30 an hour (with penalties) doing general and SP structual work, welding to AS 1554.

As for welding courses, Tafe do night courses for a couple of hours in the evening, so regardless which trade you take up you can still learn to weld in your own time. I did one in TIG (as 1796) a couple of years ago and from memory it was around 2-300 dollars for a semester which covered all consumables, theory and so forth. And considering Argon is almost $90 a bottle its pretty cheap.