Over here coal is a dirty word.
most mines were closed over a decade ago.
It’s amazing when we have so much coal, but no one wants to do anything with it.
China is still buying it like crazy. The could give a shit less about carbon. Coal will bounce back. Energy is too valuable to sit in the ground un-used.
Electrician.
Worked for the local utility BGE in gas construction for 35 years and have a small home improvement business.
I have own business installing custom window treatments. This is my 14 th year in business and still huge demand. So I use a ton of tools all day everyday also. I have tried for years to find the right young person to learn my trade and expand my scope. Most young kids have no tool or materials experience at all. It is kind of sad. But demand will eventually provide supply. I find the kids who were heavy into shop classes in school are not as focused as my field requires. I think we need to change thinking that an uncertain office job is somehow better than a skilled trade job
PT Custom wrote:
I have own business installing custom window treatments. This is my 14 th year in business and still huge demand. So I use a ton of tools all day everyday also. I have tried for years to find the right young person to learn my trade and expand my scope. Most young kids have no tool or materials experience at all. It is kind of sad. But demand will eventually provide supply. I find the kids who were heavy into shop classes in school are not as focused as my field requires. I think we need to change thinking that an uncertain office job is somehow better than a skilled trade job
I will never ever work in an office and at a desk, i have to be working with my hands outside.
For a living i work for public utlity..electric water wastewater natural gas… use to firefight and some medical issues threw a wrench in that career..tools used or use..hydraulic rams/spreaders/cutters..axes..halogan toolswhich are bad ass for demo work..now pretty much typical tools..multimeter , wrenches, sauldering, nothing fancy….nothing like running trains
Im a … Was in the Navy, worked on advanced weapon systems and did some VBSS stuff (board ships, hunt pirates and drug smugglers). Had a job a lot like myth busters, a testing facility.. Even operated a centrifuge, my job was to break stuff. I worked as an industrial maint tech at Behr paint. Worked on their robotics and manufacturing lines then went on to a medical company that made IV bags and cancer drugs (B.Braun Medical) worked on more robotics. Recently I went back to school, studying embedded engineering, Electronics and Computer Engineering at Cal Poly.
I tutor electronics, PLC, and microcontrollers, do consulting for product design. I developed stuff for K2CNC, smart watches, and a few other projects. I’m still going to school but I work full time at SpeakerPower, I fix and design audio amps.
On the side I do CCTV’s and wireless coms with a friend, big jobs, city wide installs. Also the normal handyman stuff and wire up office buildings for phone/cable/network
I’m a very busy guy, never have any money… It all goes to my wife, dogs, and tools. Trying to build up a woodshop, enjoying my Ridgid R4512!
Electrician
Maintenance mechanic. Spent most of my life working with machinery and building maintenance for the bowling industry.
Kato wrote:
Maintenance mechanic. Spent most of my life working with machinery and building maintenance for the bowling industry.
I worked as a maintenance mechanic/electrician for many years. Everyday was something different.
EEtwidget wrote:
I worked as a maintenance mechanic/electrician for many years. Everyday was something different.
The joy of that is that when you do it long enough, it gives you a ton of skill in a lot of different areas.
It sure does. I can fix anything, and I have added embedded engineering to my “tool box”, so now I design some cool stuff.
My first maintenance mechanic job was at Behr Paint. Yep, I used to fix the robotics that makes the paint many of you guys buy. I learned a lot about paint, the first thing.., paint is something you do, it’s called coatings … Not paint. 🙂
My grandfather was a Maint Mech for coke, guess it runs in family
EEtwidget wrote:
It sure does. I can fix anything, and I have added embedded engineering to my “tool box”, so now I design some cool stuff.
My first maintenance mechanic job was at Behr Paint. Yep, I used to fix the robotics that makes the paint many of you guys buy. I learned a lot about paint, the first thing.., paint is something you do, it’s called coatings … Not paint. 🙂
My grandfather was a Maint Mech for coke, guess it runs in family
Sounds like a pretty cool job
Regional Maintenance manager for a chemical company. Some office work but still on the tools everyday.
mustang347 wrote:
Regional Maintenance manager for a chemical company. Some office work but still on the tools everyday.
I’m the first person in my family not to work in the chemical industry
It’s all right Travis. I’m the first in my line to do what I do. Mom’s not too crazy about it either! But my Dad is one heck of a cabinet maker and I hope I can do what he does when I retire in five.
Conductor562 wrote:
I’m the first person in my family not to work in the chemical industry
I’m the first person to work for a chemical company. Both my brothers work with there hands though. One works on bank safes and the other does construction. They have more of a 9-5 M-F schedule.though. They think I’m crazy for the hours I work. Call outs at all hours of the night…….
Due to the wonderful cold weather here in the Midwest I came in with another one of my guys to get the Semi’s running and keep them running all night. The plan was to stay till midnight and then go home get some sleep and be back at 6 AM. Com ED had another plan for us, multiple power outages last night. I’m headed to my truck now to try and get some sleep.
Most of my family worked for Union Carbide and a little company called Fyke Chemical that died off in the early 80’s. My dad worked with the train crews that came in the plant and when I’d go to work with him I’d get to ride around on the train. I knew right then the railroad was where I wanted to be.
Conductor562 wrote:
Most of my family worked for Union Carbide and a little company called Fyke Chemical that died off in the early 80’s. My dad worked with the train crews that came in the plant and when I’d go to work with him I’d get to ride around on the train. I knew right then the railroad was where I wanted to be.
Funny you mention getting to ride on the train and the effect it had on you. Last year we had a bunch of snow and I was out clearing the rail switches that are on our property. One of the BNSF guys yelled over and asked if I could help them with there’s outside our fence line. Of course I was willing to help, grabbed my weed burner and propane tank and trekked out there. After I was done I started the long walk back to our property. They said hop on. Coolest thing ever!!!! I stil jump on and visit with them if I have time. Nothing like standing outside on the stairs on a train engine….
When you’re in the cab you’re riding high. Eye level is around 12 ft. in the air. It’s like anything else, you get used to it, but the first few months it was unbelievable to me that they actually paid me good money to ride around on a train, lol
I’ll get in on this…
Mechanical Engineer who does remodeling work on the side. I have worked construction since I was 15 and no matter what path I try to take to stray away it always circles back to tools.
I need to figure out how to post pics to show some of my work…
Brien wrote:
I’ll get in on this…
Mechanical Engineer who does remodeling work on the side. I have worked construction since I was 15 and no matter what path I try to take to stray away it always circles back to tools.
I need to figure out how to post pics to show some of my work…
If you click on the more reply options button it will give you more options and you can the attach files to your post.
Land surveyor, CAD drafter, sometime IT wonk.
The first task mostly requires a pocket tape and a BFH, the second a comfortable chair and mouse, the third, a couple of Phillips drivers and infinite patience…
Actually, I got into surveying because of all the cool toys you get to play with…
BK13 wrote:
Actually, I got into surveying because of all the cool toys you get to play with…
I can certainly relate. The day I hired on the RR the Trainmaster asked us why we wanted to work on the RR. Most guy came back with something about pay, benefits, etc. I told them “I just wanted to blow the whistle”, lol.
I’m a plumbing and hvac tech. My company specializes in large industrial process piping, but we take everything that comes our way. My day could start snaking a drain and end welding pipe on a steam boiler, then go out and run oil burner emergency service @ night. It gets hectic in the winter months but it puts food on the table and keeps the lights on.
I’m an electrical contractor, work on commercial and domestic premises doing electrical, fire alarms, intruder systems, access controls, AV, data and CCTV. Works pretty varied, I work in the uk and Europe.
I am a Carpenter. I can do pretty much anything but paint and carve in the cabinet industry, I even know how to use Cabinet Vision, AlphaCam, I can also use SCM, Busselato and Biesse CNC machines 😉
stone mason
I install custom window treatments. Plantation shutters and blinds. Etc. Work all over Chicagoland for decorators and designers. Use woodworking tools everyday as well as lasers for measuring / leveling 13 years in business on my own
Mike Hoover wrote:
stone mason
How much real stone do you use these days?
regopit wrote:
How much real stone do you use these days?
none, the company I work for actually manufactures their own stone veneer and thats the majority of what we lay. We also do synthetic stucco “eifs”.
I manage a ready mix concrete plant as my main job. I also handle the two way radio maintenance needs for the company.
My name is Kelly I’m a Glazer I install windows and doors and panels as well as mirrors been doing it for about 4 yrs off and on i did some painting as well when we get slow in the winter. Some of the tools I use are Milwaukee fuel combo kit, Bosch hammer drills,mallets,pry bars, hex keys, JLG lifts biggest one i’ve been on was 135 footer we also use swing stage.
I’m an property maintenance technician. Every day can be something different from electrical, drywall/paint, plumbing and etc. I prefer working anything computer or electricity. So far have my HVAC certification and currently working on my electrician apprenticeship now
Same here K.C, everyday is different and u learn alot in that field… I’m tired if it now because my main interstate is hvac, that’s where the real moneys at… waiting for my wife to Finnish her medical degrees, so I can go for my class A… eventually. I want to open my company for fabrication of major chiller systems for skyscrapers… hopefully I can be up and running in 10-15yrs top pulling some good net…
Yeah I’m also looking at boiler and chilling certification, but my work is providing it. We have several old style steam boilers and it’s getting harder to find good mechanics.
I’m a plumber and electrician.
I live in rural Nebraska. The company I work for does a lot of dirt work as well. We bury irrigation pipe and wire as well as land tiling.
K.C wrote:
I’m an property maintenance technician. Every day can be something different from electrical, drywall/paint, plumbing and etc. I prefer working anything computer or electricity. So far have my HVAC certification and currently working on my electrician apprenticeship now
That sounds like a pretty awesome job KC. I’d love to own a bunch of rental property and spend my days maintaing it.
Joiner..
Im a machinist by trade.
Did do some construction work when I was younger. Love tools and working with my hands.
Have a degree in low voltage electrical.
Eric J wrote:
I agree people with technical and building skills are undervalued. What scares me is they are eliminating these things from high schools. I know my local school took away autoshop and woodworking. I took both those classes in High School. Can only imagine what is happening across the country.
Not to mention that there’s no F.F.A. program in high schools around here.
I’m a small engine tech. I work on anything that’s not a car, truck, van, etc. I work a good 26 hours a week mainly because i still have to deal with school. This is a current project that I have been working on since October. It is another Ke100 (I was going to use it as a parts bike but i decided to fix it up.) note:gas tank is on my work bench.
Electrician, apprentice to be more accurate… My employer focus mostly commercial and some solar, either way as long as I’m learning I’m happy!
I’m an auto mechanic for Honda. Been doing it for a little over 20 years.
I’m a plumber- gas fitter and some time sparks in the UK. My preference is new build work as custards can be a big pain the rumpus.
What’s a Custard?
I think its slang for a retarded customer. It took me a second to figure it out too Conductor 🙂
I’ma Governmental facility lectrizian by trade but I’m an information junkie. Being an electrician, especially service electrician at times, I’m basically forced into being a handyman doing everything from drywall to plumbing and trim carpentry. Which bodes well for me because I try to learn as much about everything I can.
I’m certified in generators (Air and liquid), Tankless water heaters (Gas and electric), gas certified, OSHA certified, CPR, and unofficially certified in demolition 😀
I have well over 4,000 hours in heavy machine operation, including but not limited to; High-lifts, Lull’s, Mini-Ex, heavy demolition and extendo-boom excavators. Many types of man-lifts, Combo’s, front loaders, etc.
My main areas of interest are construction trades but I dabble in law, automotive mechanics, woodworking (general, custom and trim), IT and whatever may peek my interest.
I know a lot about everything but proficient in nothing 😀