When I grow up

Apparently googly-foo has decided for me???
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Another vote for commercial MEP trade. Can’t go wrong with either one and If you’re smart and driven the skies the limit for what YOU want to do with you’re future in a trade.
 
When I left the service a few years too early (should have stayed til I retired like you are) I found a job beginning as an assembly mechanic on drill rigs. Everything from little water well hole pokers to bigass multi-million dollar oil/gas drillers. Along the way, I got my welding certification and was a structural welder. Damn good trade, damn hard/hot/sweaty/REWARDING work. Overtime out the ass if you’re into it. I was at that point.
 
If your interested in plumbing, HVAC, commercial or residential and wanna try and do your own thing. GET YOUR GAS PIPE LICENSE. Let me say that again GET YOUR GAS PIPE LICENSE. Every propane dealer in WNC that I’ve dealt with in the last year doesn’t do any piping at all not from the tank to the house or inside the house. I have 3 guys that I call and all of them are back logged 6-8 months.

You could get your gas license and sub to fireplace stores and propane places and make a killing
 
Loganwayne said:
If your interested in plumbing, HVAC, commercial or residential and wanna try and do your own thing. GET YOUR GAS PIPE LICENSE. Let me say that again GET YOUR GAS PIPE LICENSE. Every propane dealer in WNC that I’ve dealt with in the last year doesn’t do any piping at all not from the tank to the house or inside the house. I have 3 guys that I call and all of them are back logged 6-8 months.

You could get your gas license and sub to fireplace stores and propane places and make a killing
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This is very interesting!!
 
Get your cdls and your hazmat certs. Drive a propane truck. Easy work and get to drive and see the sights. Buddy of mine that runs a gas company lost a few guys to the big gas companys lately, $50/hr to pull a tanker. Had me considering a career change :lol:
 
skyhighZJ said:
What do you enjoy doing? What do you want out of life? I enjoy being busy and seeing the fruits of my labor

Do you want a big house and the latest gadgets and a wife with the biggest ring on the block? The wife and I are actually thinking about downsizing into a very simple container style house and making our best attempt to go “off grid/ minimalist”

Do you want a quiet plot of land and to be left alone? YES!!!

Do you want to travel the world? Not really, way too much I’ve never seen right here in America.
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Based on this, I'd say look for something you can do working for yourself. You like risks, get some tree climbing gear and learn the ropes of that field. Buddy if mine is a Charlotte firefighter "full time " (which is like 2 days a week) and does tree work the other days, and makes more doing tree work than being a full time firefighter. The FD takes care of retirement, insurance, etc. And honestly that mix might be a good fit for you too. And ironically he's the red headed guy from Michigan that I asked if you might be related to :laughing:
 
What about a container home fabrication business?

It’s something I’ve thought about. A nice quiet plot of land, a large barn. Some basic tools and supplies and a couple containers to build your own house as a demo and learning curve.

Then do it for others. I’m willing to bet that we’re about to have an influx of containers with 80+ shiploads sitting out side of each port in the US right now.

I’ve seriously considered this and how viable it would be. I think they’d make great jokes along the coasts were hurricanes hit, or in the Bahamas and Caribbean.
 
My best friend in school has his own buisness and does commercial HVAC/electrical.He has a 20 something son that does most of it now and he just sits back and spends the cash.They race a limted late model,spends 8-10 K on a derby car engine.has a huge shop,SXS's w every thing imaginable done to em and from what I hear he has a F350 thats around a 1000HP. Yeah he might be in debt for all of it but he's making the payments some how.
 
I am a career welder fabricator turned maintenance professional. Read doer of a lot of things master of none, LOL. But seriously how old are you? Welding as a career has its rewards BUT.........
To make good money in welding you need to do it in the manner of a few different pursuits. One be self employed or specialize. Two work somewhere in a production atmosphere (read young mans game paid by the piece) Three be willing to travel and work in a the field. Traveling usually means you also have a trade specific field you service. Pipe, red iron, boiler repair and so forth for the traveling bit.
Welding at this point could be a talent or feather in the hat. Like me and my machining, mechanical, and electrical background it has become another credential.
I personally wish I had pursued some more electrical training to stay in the field I'm in. I have reached a point however I need to decide on pursuing self employment or stick to my current grind and pick up more related know how in the industrial controls and wiring.

Welding is perishable in a sense. You either age out due to the physical rigors and eyesight hand eye coordination or like most just burn out. Its not for everyone and as a career pursuit. Too often welding is glamourized by the young bucks and social media. Welding isn't just buggy fab and Insta shots of stacking dimes. I had a good instructor friend in the pharmaceutical welding trade who left and went into industrial maintenance because of travel and most importantly the lifestyle of folks it attracts.

Lots of welding work is also out and available, but sadly it does not pay what popular perception portrays. A lot of it in this area of the US will land you in a broad range of pay scales, most often sub 20 dollars an hour for folks with years of experience running one primary process. Its not uncommon to see the help wanted adds demanding a broad range of measure, fit, prep, and finish bragging about all the work available for 15 dollars an hour. No wonder they can't fill slots.
 
To add: I’ll be turning 41 as I retire. Travel for work isn’t really in the cards unless it was limited due to my wife and I have a small hobby farm that I’m a critical role in.
 
Industrial maintainance.
I know where I work they can't keep them. AND they pay them very well.
A variety of skills and something different to look at every day, even if it's in the same plant/company.
 
I know if I had it to do all over again I would pick something that is not an emergency trade. Nothing sucks more than getting sit down with the family for supper and the phone ring. I absolutely despise this. Even when you go on vacation you have people calling you. Its like you can never get away. Definitely not what I would want with retirement. I told my wife the day I retire I'm taking my phone to the nearest bridge and chucking it as far as I can!
 
Lizooki said:
Industrial maintainance.
I know where I work they can't keep them. AND they pay them very well.
A variety of skills and something different to look at every day, even if it's in the same plant/company.
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We are crippled in this area as well. Almost zero applications to. Any idea on rates of pay? I am currently gathering details for comparisons. I had a meeting this morning discussing the lack of applicants, retention and then pushing for me to take over the entire department.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
We are crippled in this area as well. Almost zero applications to. Any idea on rates of pay? I am currently gathering details for comparisons. I had a meeting this morning discussing the lack of applicants, retention and then pushing for me to take over the entire department.
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It's bad everywhere. My OEM's are having trouble finding field techs. Every tech I've had in a long time has been 60+. The money is good, but younger folks don't want to get their hands dirty or travel.
 
awheelterd said:
It's bad everywhere. My OEM's are having trouble finding field techs. Every tech I've had in a long time has been 60+. The money is good, but younger folks don't want to get their hands dirty or travel.
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This....
 
It's not terrible working on small engine equipment. It's not clean, but decent work. We're down a tech, and I'm about to resign here soon and will enjoy only working for the FD after always having a part time job since 2009. Just depends on where your motivation is.
 
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