I wish I was a plumber!
- Thread starter Vinno
- Start date
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WelshMan said:Studying at Coleg Morgannwg Aberdare roach fyi. Tutor is great, relaxed and more than happy to help with any queries you may have. Guys in the workshop are great too, all in all happy to have studied here.
Finished my lead today and i goto say to date its the most rewarding module we have coverd. There specialist further training in this area?.
I am a 29yo trainee plumber. Just finnished my gola test a couple of weeks ago which finnishes off my Tech Cert (night classes). I absolutely love it and I have been going out whenever I can with my brother in law (who is a plumber) to gain as much on site experience as possible, unpaid too. I am also taking a load of photos while I am out on site because I am going to carry on with my NVQ2. I know at some point I will have to bite the bullet and give up my current job and take a bit of a pay cut (well quite a large pay cut actually) to start out as a level 3 apprentice but its what I really want to do so I dont mind. My way of thinking is that the more I can actually do on site and the more experience I can gain now the more I will have to offer a future employer when I do give up my current job.
Oh and lead was without doubt the WORST part of the Tech Cert, I was never as bored in all my life
You have to find out what people will pay good money for and go for that. Doing what you like is usually a way to not earn much.
I spent time living in a pub in the Welsh Valleys (Abercynon) while at what's now the Uni of South Glamorgan (Ponty Poly, then) doing degree #2. It was back a while, but nobody local seemed to be earning much at all!
Recently a bright guy in my road left Reuters IT with a bit of money, bought a 4x4 and a load of plumbing type tools, and did a 6 week plumbing course. Just after he'd finished the course his day rate was £300. He fits bathrooms. Taught hiimself to plaster adequately for the odd wall, and tile. Due to do his Part P leccy so he can do the whole job.
Is plumbing hard - for 95% of stuff don't be silly of course not. You just have to find out what you need to know for the job in hand.
For me and the chap down the road, the NVQ2/3 books were an easy weekend's reading, nothing hard in there at all. I did later go to college for the quals, waste of time really, though it was handy to have the tutors' (ex plumbers with booggered knees) brains to pick if I hit a snag with a part. Web forums like this have taught me more.
If you work hard and can keep your brain focussed you can do OK.
If you can't understand the difference between pressure and flow, and you want an easy life, forget it.
I spent time living in a pub in the Welsh Valleys (Abercynon) while at what's now the Uni of South Glamorgan (Ponty Poly, then) doing degree #2. It was back a while, but nobody local seemed to be earning much at all!
Recently a bright guy in my road left Reuters IT with a bit of money, bought a 4x4 and a load of plumbing type tools, and did a 6 week plumbing course. Just after he'd finished the course his day rate was £300. He fits bathrooms. Taught hiimself to plaster adequately for the odd wall, and tile. Due to do his Part P leccy so he can do the whole job.
Is plumbing hard - for 95% of stuff don't be silly of course not. You just have to find out what you need to know for the job in hand.
For me and the chap down the road, the NVQ2/3 books were an easy weekend's reading, nothing hard in there at all. I did later go to college for the quals, waste of time really, though it was handy to have the tutors' (ex plumbers with booggered knees) brains to pick if I hit a snag with a part. Web forums like this have taught me more.
If you work hard and can keep your brain focussed you can do OK.
If you can't understand the difference between pressure and flow, and you want an easy life, forget it.
I haven't seen the advert myself but a sparks yesterday was telling me that there is now a form of pipe which you can fit in 30 seconds compared to equivalent length present plastic 30 minutes compared to copper 2 weeks.
My advise to anyone in a job that isn't very rewarding is get into plumbing and start using this new pipe. You'll be able to sweep the board.
My advise to anyone in a job that isn't very rewarding is get into plumbing and start using this new pipe. You'll be able to sweep the board.
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ChrisR, i live in Abercynon myself m8 . What pub did you stay at btw?
Btw Chrismac you must be nuts.....lead is brill !!!!!!!!!!!!. Any advice on the gola ?. While we got a few more left to cover my mind is already thinking on this, is there any practice tests out there. Or any other books/sites with good general info?
. What pub did you stay at btw?Btw Chrismac you must be nuts.....lead is brill !!!!!!!!!!!!
. Any advice on the gola ?. While we got a few more left to cover my mind is already thinking on this, is there any practice tests out there. Or any other books/sites with good general info?
I got this text tonight.
"High my name is ***** *****. I'm 22 and am interested in becoming a plumber and was wandering if you would like to take on a trainee. I'm willing to pay for the insurance to take me on please can you get back to me thank you for your time."
I already do have the insurance for employees, that is why my insurance is £940 and most peoples' is £350.
We get approached by one of these a week, and cvertain times they all ring in the same week.
Word doesn't seem to have filtered out that plumbing is a mugs game. We keep trying to tell you.
I had a call today, boiler short cycling. So I''m thinking pump, they have a gledhil 2000, sure enough the boiler pump has a feed to it but not working. I have a brand new Grundfos 15/60 pump head on the van (well it belongs to Alpha but I would replace it afterwards) I am there with the tools and the lnowledge to change it.
"NO we'll buy our own pump". So I gave them a bill for my time and diagnosis and will persue it to the small claims court if I have to.
Then her's another, answerphone message help bboiler not working. Well UI just got home so I rang straight away because I love boiler repairing and always respond asap. Oh we just got hold of someone and he did it on his way home.
In this town even the boiler repairs are quickly swallowed up. If you don't respond same day you lost the job. When I started 4 years ago you couldn't get someone for weeks if your combi broke down. lately I even had one where when I got there a competitor was there fixing it. They had asked us both to come to see who got there first.
Try the insulation game, that's the next get rich quick scheme.
"High my name is ***** *****. I'm 22 and am interested in becoming a plumber and was wandering if you would like to take on a trainee. I'm willing to pay for the insurance to take me on please can you get back to me thank you for your time."
I already do have the insurance for employees, that is why my insurance is £940 and most peoples' is £350.
We get approached by one of these a week, and cvertain times they all ring in the same week.
Word doesn't seem to have filtered out that plumbing is a mugs game. We keep trying to tell you.
I had a call today, boiler short cycling. So I''m thinking pump, they have a gledhil 2000, sure enough the boiler pump has a feed to it but not working. I have a brand new Grundfos 15/60 pump head on the van (well it belongs to Alpha but I would replace it afterwards) I am there with the tools and the lnowledge to change it.
"NO we'll buy our own pump". So I gave them a bill for my time and diagnosis and will persue it to the small claims court if I have to.
Then her's another, answerphone message help bboiler not working. Well UI just got home so I rang straight away because I love boiler repairing and always respond asap. Oh we just got hold of someone and he did it on his way home.
In this town even the boiler repairs are quickly swallowed up. If you don't respond same day you lost the job. When I started 4 years ago you couldn't get someone for weeks if your combi broke down. lately I even had one where when I got there a competitor was there fixing it. They had asked us both to come to see who got there first.
Try the insulation game, that's the next get rich quick scheme.
B
Bambergaspipe
Vinno said:
Not tooo many moons ago there was a Gentleman who informed you of how to be a Gas Engineer within eight months or some suchlike.It was, & is, actually true, although you will be completely ****e. But you will not be allowed to pass the course unless you are safe, gaswise. It did **** a lot of people off, but it`s happening people, get used to it, and the more lazy bastard Teenagers that are being dragged up on the dole, the more there will have to be a quick fix,( i.e. 8 month Gas fitter courses)..if you don`t believe me, look at the Polish question.
You won`t do it?...........**** you..I`ll import someone who will at half the price..
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Bambergaspipe
Paul Barker said:
Try doing a days work Mate, most people I know, don`t expect to be charged hundreds of pounds for 2 hours work. I`m an installer, & at the end of each day I`m dirty , filthy, knackered & normally starving. You & the rest of the `lazy bas*tard fraternity` expect to swan in to peoples property, blind them with your knowledge,( not much, apart from fans, air pressure switches & p.cb`s) expect huge amounts of lolly for the privilege, then wander home without the need to shower. Get real, people want to see what they are getting, **** off into computers & leave the real work to `proper` Heating Engineers. Barker
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Bambergaspipe
corgiman said:Ahhhh bambers back
I mised your well balanced and considerate postings mate welcome home
Someone has to make up for PVM
P.S.(I`m always here)
Bit of a choker about Lynda the Mod though
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Bambergaspipe
corgiman said:
MOD...favourite saying....I have a delete button, you don`t. She handed in her resignation, we all were really gutted..Not........
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