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Old 08-04-2019, 08:24 AM   #1
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How Many Tradesmen Here? What Type?

I think it would be interesting to know how many Members here are (or were) in the trades, which trade they are in, and how long they have been going at it. I’m not so interested in credentials, but I know most people are proud of them, so if you want to post them, go for it.

I think it will be interesting to learn how many different trades there really are because it seems that most people only think of carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC/Ductmen, steelworkers, masons and only a few others as tradesmen, but there are so many more trades requiring very different skills.

What do you do?

I am a plumber and gasfitter. I have been doing this since 1982 and I see no end in sight. There will be no retirement for me — my last day plumbing will be the day that somebody has to drag me out from beneath their kitchen sink by my feet. My basin wrench will have to be pried from my cold, dead hand. At least I will die doing what I love.

Bruce
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Old 08-04-2019, 08:45 AM   #2
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Home remodeling contractor, 50 years, semi-retired. just can’t quit completely.
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Old 08-04-2019, 08:53 AM   #3
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HVAC Contractor. Started in 1970



Retired when I turned 70, Occasionally will offer Free Advice or help some friends with a minor issue, It was difficult to retire however like all things in life it's time to move on to the next chapter in life.
Nice to see a posting from others in the Trades
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Old 08-04-2019, 09:01 AM   #4
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ASE Automotive Master Technician. 20 years in service. Lots of hard work and in this industry you learn and adapt every day. If a tech tell you that he or she knows it all it is a lie. As well as this position has been i am ready for a new venture in life. The wife and i have some plans for this but it will take some time and planning.
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Old 08-04-2019, 09:03 AM   #5
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I worked in a family owned custom upholstery shop in high school. Got pretty good with cars made in the 50's and 60's.
Was a machinist mate in the US Navy. Attended MM school, nuclear power school and HVAC school.
Went to more machining schools and worked as an ultra precision machinist in the defense/aerospace industry. Attended night classes for several years and went into engineering in '89
Retired as an engineer with General Dynamics.
Most proud of the skills I developed as an ultra precision machinist. Last big program as an engineer was developing and writing the process for building the mirrors for the James Webb Space Telescope and building them in our facility.
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Old 08-04-2019, 09:06 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nomad297 View Post
I think it would be interesting to know how many Members here are (or were) in the trades, which trade they are in, and how long they have been going at it. I’m not so interested in credentials, but I know most people are proud of them, so if you want to post them, go for it.

I think it will be interesting to learn how many different trades there really are because it seems that most people only think of carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC/Ductmen, steelworkers, masons and only a few others as tradesmen, but there are so many more trades requiring very different skills.

What do you do?

I am a plumber and gasfitter. I have been doing this since 1982 and I see no end in sight. There will be no retirement for me — my last day plumbing will be the day that somebody has to drag me out from beneath their kitchen sink by my feet. My basin wrench will have to be pried from my cold, dead hand. At least I will die doing what I love.

Bruce
I was a stucco contractor for most of my working career but the housing market collapse ended that. I now do remodeling work.
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Old 08-04-2019, 09:08 AM   #7
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45 years in aircraft maintenance. Mostly light aircraft and agriculture aircraft. Also we have restored 145 Boeing Stearmans and 17 Cessna L-19 on the side.
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Old 08-04-2019, 09:14 AM   #8
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Union laborer for 2-3 years before I got into the Carpenters Union (35-40 years). Did everything from digging ditches and jack-hammering concrete to high-end, custom finish/cabinet work. Have worked on roads and bridges to multi-million dollar custom homes and everything in between (hospitals, clean rooms, industrial plants, high rise, etc.). Last 10 years of my working life I was a project superintendent.

Certifications? Most of my working life was before credentials became a big deal. (If your boss needed you to use surveying tools, for example, he taught you and after that you just told people you knew how to use a theodolite - no papers needed.) But I am a certified door & hardware installer and a certified solid surface installer and certified clean roomer. Plus all the other cr*p you need now-a-days - - - fork lift license, scissors lift license, power shot license, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseum.
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Old 08-04-2019, 10:16 AM   #9
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Handyman...Forced retirement from chemical industry 12 years ago. Didn't want to go back into the "rat race", so I started a handyman business (general home repair). Trying to figure out how to slow down now.
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Old 08-04-2019, 11:09 AM   #10
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45 years in aircraft maintenance. Mostly light aircraft and agriculture aircraft. Also we have restored 145 Boeing Stearmans and 17 Cessna L-19 on the side.
Same here, except almost 35 years as a government military contractor. I could tell you more, but then you would probably die of boredom.

Retirement is only a few years away then it's a year or two full-timing on the road. Can't wait!
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Old 08-04-2019, 11:53 AM   #11
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Home inspector for buyers & sellers for the last 13 years. 28 years in the marine industry in support areas, ie. warehouse, R&D lab, production control (scheduling) for Morgan Yacht, Endeavour Yachts, Wellcraft Marine, Lazzara Yachts, Interpid Powerboats, Catalina Yachts.
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Old 08-04-2019, 12:01 PM   #12
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Machinist and maintenance heavy equipment
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Old 08-04-2019, 12:14 PM   #13
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Union carpenter for 34 years, the passed 15 years I have been a project manager! Easier on the knees!
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Old 08-04-2019, 02:50 PM   #14
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I was a Union pipe fitter for the last 19 years, refrigeration/ HVAC tech for about 15 years, and drove semis before that. Been retired for six years due to Meneir's disease, so wife and I sold our house and went full time in our fiver for the last three years.
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Old 08-04-2019, 03:01 PM   #15
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Machine/Repair....GM (General Motors)......35 yr's.......retired 22 yr's...
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Old 08-04-2019, 03:12 PM   #16
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Union Carpenter and Millwright for 36 years. Retired Jan 4 2012. Worked every day unless I wanted to be off. Just got tired of all the BS.
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Old 08-04-2019, 03:36 PM   #17
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Union Journeyman 15 years (late 1970s-early 1990s) in xxx industry. Specialist (do one thing very very well) and very good at it....very stressful and fast paced. stayed in my lane and made bushels of money until the company was consolidated, bought out and closed and moved over seas. I do not miss the union mandated soap opera. 'We' killed a very good company and in the end many of those who worked there, their lives were also destroyed. I know of 5 old friends that took their own lives over the years. Depression and the mindset of guilt of 'failure' are killers of families and individuals. One friend was on a boat on a river and drinking and doing drugs and he stepped over the edge and everyone there knew he could not swim. Another time a friend was also, drinking with some people. He put the business end of a shot gun to his chest and pulled the trigger. At times, I had also entertained ideas of checking out, but with the help of God and my family, I came to understand that my life is not my own and I have no right to take it. It belongs to God and my wife and kids and family and they need me and I need them and I had no right to take the easy way out of my pain. My life is not my own, it belongs to them and I will be there for them as long God allows it.


Last 30 years different industry, but doing the same thing in a support role for the company as what I did as a 'Journeyman Unionist'. I am now a 'Generalist (can do many things to the bosses satisfaction) and I love it... no stress and no mess. I make a good living and am happy to go to work every day. It is not a job when one enjoys what they do, but a family and friends doing 'stuff' together for others benefit.




"If a hammer can not fix it... it must be an electrical problem... But first... let's try a bigger hammer."
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Old 08-04-2019, 07:16 PM   #18
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Man i sure am glad you can make chicken soup out of chicken @#$&. Its really the big things in life that really matter IE FAMILY. I tell my bosses regularly that family comes first and tool boxes have wheels for a reason. Glad you got your happy spot. Happy camping![emoji481]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brother Les View Post
Union Journeyman 15 years (late 1970s-early 1990s) in xxx industry. Specialist (do one thing very very well) and very good at it....very stressful and fast paced. stayed in my lane and made bushels of money until the company was consolidated, bought out and closed and moved over seas. I do not miss the union mandated soap opera. 'We' killed a very good company and in the end many of those who worked there, their lives were also destroyed. I know of 5 old friends that took their own lives over the years. Depression and the mindset of guilt of 'failure' are killers of families and individuals. One friend was on a boat on a river and drinking and doing drugs and he stepped over the edge and everyone there knew he could not swim. Another time a friend was also, drinking with some people. He put the business end of a shot gun to his chest and pulled the trigger. At times, I had also entertained ideas of checking out, but with the help of God and my family, I came to understand that my life is not my own and I have no right to take it. It belongs to God and my wife and kids and family and they need me and I need them and I had no right to take the easy way out of my pain. My life is not my own, it belongs to them and I will be there for them as long God allows it.


Last 30 years different industry, but doing the same thing in a support role for the company as what I did as a 'Journeyman Unionist'. I am now a 'Generalist (can do many things to the bosses satisfaction) and I love it... no stress and no mess. I make a good living and am happy to go to work every day. It is not a job when one enjoys what they do, but a family and friends doing 'stuff' together for others benefit.




"If a hammer can not fix it... it must be an electrical problem... But first... let's try a bigger hammer."
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Old 08-04-2019, 07:29 PM   #19
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Jack of all trades you name it and I have done it. I have a wall covered with diploma's certifications license's and awards now that i'm retired they are just decorations on the wall.
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Old 08-04-2019, 07:32 PM   #20
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Building contractor after co-owning and managing a rural lumber yard for 20 years.
Wife and I flipped 24 houses until the real estate collapse in 2008 and now because of TV
Shows everyone is doing it.
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