Metalworking Career?

[cianh91]

Started off as a hobby when I was 11 then at 16 got offered an apprenticeship doin structural steel got layed off 2 1/2 years later spent a while doin repairs and gates started where I am now over 4 year ago running lasers cnc press breaks and stainless and mild fabrication and welding also ended up doing spraying powder coating factory maintainence and lorry repairs do a lot with cars in my own time aswell

 

[Gavin_d]

Yes I do. I currently build things like this.

We build from chassis up. Each person does one whole job themselves. Fabrication, welding, wireing and hydraulics.

 

[Jim_gingertash]

Hi all

Put down professional welder(general) although I would class myself as more of an "intermediate" always learning , I build watersports/bike trailers for a small family firm and absolutely love my job, got the buzz of welding when I used to work at the scrappy cutting up heavy machinery, here's a pic of the most popular trailer we build

 

[Maker]

Welcome to the forum Jim.

 

[Jim_gingertash]

Welcome to the forum Jim.

Cheers Maker

 

[mpats]

I've gone maintenance engineer, its probably the closest for me. I'm a B1.3 licensed engineer (gas turbine, rotary wing) so don't do any welding at work, it's a hobby/handy thing to be-able to do.
Next step for me is a mig welder (only arc at the moment) plus lathe and maybe milling machine once the house is finished and the garage sorted as a workshop! Might be a while!

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I just got a job in the Astronomy dept at Edinburgh University designing electronics systems, when I was there for interview I got to see round their huge machine shop, I was told I could use it anytime (after some training), I'll be like a kid in a sweet shop!

 

[Burdekin]

Fitter, machinist and welding apprenticeship many moons ago and then a couple of years working in mines in Oz. Then uni and now I do asset integrity which is quite boring in reality. Enjoy making stuff so always have a project or two. Am lucky to have a fantastic wife who let me buy my workshop and fill it with stuff.

 

[NickyEng]

I'm other too. I am a Marine Engineer and undertake all Manor of boat and small commercial vessel repairs. (welding & fab. as part of above) Also mobile hydraulic hose replacement.

 

[black bandit]

Retired car/hgv mechanic spent many an hour sticking mot failures back together.
Also became very proficient at welding scotch mist and platting fog after a 12 month spell at a certain tyre/exhaust garage (don't by their lifetime Guarantee on the exhausts they sell)

 

[squazy84]

probably maintenance engineer also,im a cat b1 licensed aircraft engineer fixed wing...hobby ballbag messer welder, knife maker, also proprietor of a garage fixing everything from 747 to a massey 35 to a nissan skyline father to two cats

 

[Crater Creator]

I work on an FPSO in West Africa, I have some welders working with me, and I think it's good to know what they are talking about!
I am not a welder, but would maybe like to be - I am a bit old though, 48 now.

 

[Nick67GT]

Recently retired Operations Manager. Spent the past 25 years working in Oil & Gas on projects involving pipeline repair / diversion / integrity and before that, process gas compressor packages. Spent most of the time in Middle East ~ Africa.

Now have time to settle back into enjoying life and family and trying to finish off my classic car restoration project......

 

[andyclimax]

The guy whose house we bought was in that line (well he still is, Guardian if you've heard of them). Works out well for me 'cos he'd extended the double garage into a quadruple (40 x 19 ft), with 3-phase, 110v ring, 270L compressor with air ring, RSJ with electric hoists, security doors, alarm etc etc

small world. i used to work for him, 10 years i think. we did everything from gates and fencing to construction steel work and a lot in a steel mill in Newcastle. when i first started for him there was only 2 of us staff and the boss and when it was at the busiest we had about 25 full time and 30 agency lads. my pall from school lived next door and i think his dad still dose.

 

[Keith 66]

I ran my own boatbuilding business from 84 to 98 then a break then again up till a couple of years ago, i still dabble! There was always a fair bit of marine engineering involved & over the years i amassed more & more metalworking equipment. Used to make a lot of my own fittings in mild steel & galved, made launching trolleys etc. Got a bit more into the stainless side as time went on. This due to local companies going to the wall & others passing off cheap 304 as marine grade, only way i could get what i wanted was to do it myself sort of thing.

 

[addjunkie]

Marine Engineer in the merchant navy, then a few years in fixed fire fighting systems. Follwed by 25 years in oil and gas, working in both operations and maintenance. Now retired to the small holding.
Started with a stick as an apprentice, and gas for welding my cars, did a lot at sea making up new pipework, made trailers etc too, for various things over the years. Built a few trikes and bikes, currently messing about with an old 500 triumph twin. Now have mig and tig, plus a little inverter thing.
Have the dream garage /shed ( for me anyway) just dont spend as much time in there as initially imagined.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I wonder if this [resurrection] poll was run again from scratch, would the category percentages show the same distribution among Members?

 

[Seano]

Retired marine engineer, merchant navy then seismic exploration, like add junkie I started out with stick as an apprentice, then went to night school welding used to get all the welding to do on board so pretty much anything from pipework to lifeboat walkways, spent my latter years in the mobility industry carrying out modifications to wheelchairs of all types, fabrication, milling, turning, anything to do with metalwork, now retired, but still can't help tinkering.

 

[pressbrake1]

Ive been fired from loads of jobs so all of the above

In all seriousness how many pro metalworkers on here wish they had gone into something more lucrative, didn't need £100k of tools and wasn't looked down on

 

[spaffmonkey]

Other.

Partner in a small welding fabrication business working on narrowboats. Work including machine polishing, bespoke fabrication work to full restorations as well as general welding work.