Learning a Trade...

[SaintGJR7]

Hi guys - i am looking to learn a trade.

There are a few that interest me, electricians and carpentry being the main ones, building and plumbing after that.

It is going to be a career change for me as at the moment i am a personal trainer, but i am only 21 so i am still quite young. I am finding it quite hard at the moment to make a living and i have always fancied having a career in a trade.

I am just looking for general advice really on what is sometimes the best way into things like electrics or carpentry. I have a friend who is a carpenter and he does really well out of it.

Of course, all of my qualifications are in fitness/nutrition, so if you could advise also on decent qualifications, experience, etc... it would be great.

Thank you.

 

[seco services]

plumbing won't be no good to you as you have to get your hands dirty.
that may spoil your nails.

 

[gregers]

its no good you becoming a builder ,theres to many visits to the cafe.

only joking,what ever you decide to do think hard what trade you fancy doing the most,and work hard at it,personally if i had my chance again id be a brickie coz you can hop on the bus with your tools and it only costs you approx 200quid to set yourself up,unlike carpentry so far ive amassed about 5k worth of tools plus you need a van to transport them all.

 

[SaintGJR7]

plumbing won't be no good to you as you have to get your hands dirty.
that may spoil your nails.

 

[Paul Barker]

I advise specialising and going for the trade with least expensive specialist equipment in need of anual callibration and membership of bodies and retaking qualifications 5 yearly or whenevr new regs invented.

that leaves chippying, popping up on roofs and no nailsing slates back together (roof repairs), general building, plastering, brickying, groundwork.

Run a mile from doing the following self employed, gas work, domestic eletrical work. By all means do those jobs on the cards if you can get in,

Wet plumbing is OK.

I wouldnt bother with finishing work like posh bathrooms and kitchens, people are so fussy these days. Cheap bathroomsstraight swaps, float valves, leaks, no problem.

 

[namsag]

Plastering or Tiling seem to be what is in demand at present, but when the fad for plain painted walls is over and wall paper becomes the norm again plasterers will have a down turn.
Carpenters are also in demand still for kitchens and all work associated with wooden floors and new skirtings etc.

But with the downturn in house building there will be a load more guys out there looking for work than normal so prices will prob fall.

 

[mark.neale]

id be a brickie coz you can hop on the bus with your tools

Do you have to pay extra for the cement mixer?

 

[gregers]

Do you have to pay extra for the cement mixer? icon_lol.gif

no the laborer should have his own shovel

 

[tonybhoy]

Mainly all automated on site these days for brickies.

Apparently they just push a button and the mix is perfect then the forklift driver takes it to where they are working.

Had a 2&1 squad doing blockwork for me last summer,honest to God they wouldn't lift a finger everything had to be put into their hands and even that was a moan

 

[NS215]

Mainly all automated on site these days for brickies.

Apparently they just push a button and the mix is perfect then the forklift driver takes it to where they are working.

never perfect as some fecker always adjust the water

 

[wilhelm]

fekker. I think you mean.

 

[NS215]

fekker. I think you mean.

No i meant fecker, change the 'e' to a 'u' to make f*cker

 

[Zampa]

but i am only 21 so i am still quite young.

Not in terms of training...most people entering the trade are trained and qualified by the age of 19/20

Whatever you decide dont drag your feet...college courses start in sept..make sure you are registered by then

 

[ExSpread]

I was a Plasterer for seventeen years and toward the end I got really despondent with it all. With architects and builders wanting lightweight pr-mixed plasters and using very high suction blocks, you need to float and set the same day, unlike before when High Suction Browning could be set the same or following day. And with sand and cement you could float for several days before setting. Also, the amount of tools required, what with straight edges, mixing baths, hosepipes, board and stands, buckets,levels, generator, leads,handtools, etc. etc.
Seven years ago I saw the light, and took up taping and jointing, and wished I`d done it from the offset. The tools you need are minimal compared to Plastering, and the biggest bonus is that I don`t need a van, just an estate car which doubles up as a family car if needed. Okay, the downside is that you have to sand down when dry enough but you soon learn how to keep that to a minimum. The other down side is that you get `tugged` for making good behind other "trades". ( GO TO MOANING PAINTERS IN FORUM )
However, I would not go back to plastering, the money is better, this year being the best year I`ve had so far yet.
So if your considering taking up a wet trade I would recommend taping.