/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>2583100
Electrical. you work after the roof is on and the windows are in. Plumbing is just hard.

>>2583100
>I dropped out during COVID because my mom got sick and I am her only family. I had to take care of her as she recovered, and assist her with things since she also has rheumatoid arthritis.
cope

>I had wanted to drop out for a long time
the real reason

>blacksmith and jewelry designer
make an Etsy store and get to work, better to learn these skills from your mom before the arthritis renders her unable to do any of it

>landscaping
minimum wage work, not a career unless you own the company

>carpentry
lowish pay and not a lot of room for growth

>plumbing and electrical
high pay and if you play your cards right you can run your own company

>>2583191
i like hard desu, i dont mind digging trenches and getting dirty but yeah i hear how its really intensive shit. i think i would like electric but im worried bout the math
>>2583200
i think of it more as a happy accident (besides my mom getting sick) but yeah i want to make jewelry and make knives under her tutelage. with landscaping, i make &25/hr but i want more especially since i want a start a family at 30 with my fiancee. is carpentry really that low paying? would it be as low paying if i did carpentry AND landscaping AND something else? but thanks for the feedback and tips

>>2583191
The answer is always electrical because if you're intelligent your upward mobility is near endless. If not, you've still got a decent gig as an inside wireman. Go electrical.

>>2583100
Electrical.
You are needed for sooo many things, tools are mostly compact/able to fit in basically any car, and you can fuck off to any part of the country.
T.HVAC guy

Big union trades:

Carpenters: Kicked out of the major union org. They speak of themselves as "builders" compared to "trades". Many are carpenters until their body gives out, then they become general contractors. Commercial carpenters are typically those who build the concrete formwork or they erect metal studs. Resi carpenters do custom home builds with actual wood.

Subfield of Carpenters: Drywallers, Mudders, Tapers. Huge part of carpentry. Hack work typically although some guys better than others. Work can be found anywhere.

Ironworkers: Workers who install field for high rises. Good union in my area. Hard work, especially rod busters. Also involved with rigging.

Electricians: Trade which stays on the job the longest. Pretty much the "brother" of plumbing, from the varied materials encountered, the scheduling on new construction. Mostly new construction. Can't figure out what works? Demo and install something new.

Concrete workers: Hard as hell, pay is better now, work in teams.

Mason workers and bricklayers: Hard as hell, pay is not great. Work can be aesthetic.

Linemen: .

Painters: Overhead spraying everyday

Operators: Good pay, operate heavy machinery

Plumbing: The prototypical trade. Very similar to electrical work. Sees more type of work in service, residential.

HVAC and Duct Workers (Sheet Metal): Primadonnas on the job. There's two types. Those who install in the field, and those who work in the shop. Much of the work in the field is pulling measurements and installing prefab. They typically dominate overhead work and ignore other trades. They don't do underground work, they typically don't do slab on grade work. HVAC is refrigeration which can be separate, but all encompassing in running copper line set, and huge part of them are controls, startup, and building automation

Fine Carpentry: Many fields. Could be door guys, cabinet makers, or just installing trim. They're in the field as much as they're in the shop. Delicate, fine, detailed work.

>>2583289
Electrical is on it’s way OUT.
t. Cordless tools user

>>2583100
Are there ANY trades that not break you down and isnt full of retards, crazy rednecks and boomers?

>>2583405
Very niche electrical jobs. Specifically working in a maintenance role in manufacturing. Usually indoors, higher pay than ibew scale, most places run solely on control logix so most of your t/s is done on a laptop. I enjoy it.

>>2583100
Youve certainly worked harder than me but I relate to you a lot on the college front. I was born to immigrant hispanic family so I always had some sort of internal pressure I gave myself to not end up like them, I got accepted to good unis after HS but just did CC at my mothers request to avoid debt that would fuck me over since I didnt know what I wanted to do. Godlike advice because it turns out while I do well for myself in school what always happens is I lose my interest a quarter or halfway through and want to leave, teachers, students, and course material is all perfectly fine too I just dont see a purpose to all this. Throughout the entire time I was always working a job though from starting as a cashier to Fedex, nothing stuck but I did that far more consistently. Recently started a electrician apprenticeship and liking it so far though its barely even started. Sorry for giving my life story here but what Im saying is that if you like working hard definitely give electrician a shot especially if you like learning things, Im not experienced in terms of knowledge on other trades but if youre more the type that likes making stuff maybe something like carpenter is your speed but Im not sure. Either way I'd say choose one of those unless you have a big interest in some other one. Also see it as an investment, for example I want to have my own business one day working on electronics of all sorts, electrician doesnt directly help with working on computers but it helps giving me a valuable skill and gives me a new perspective on how computers and other electronics work, so look at your future goals for help in making the decision. In any case from what my co workers tell me pivoting between trades isnt too hard anyway. Just remember Im a rookie though this is just my two cents

>>2583100
Go with carpentry. No on call or after hours work and no emergencies. Fuck plumbing and electrical and a/c

>>2583269
how intelligent? i am slow with math and could probably fine tune my mental math skills. thanks anon
>>2583289
thanks, it definitely seems versatile and needed. i also do indeed hear how tool wise, you’re not lugging around as many tools. electrical seems so cool too. i would love to be able add on an addition to a home, wire it up, and then build a patio or walkway around it
>>2583388
thank you for the in depth reply anon, that is really helpful. with the subfields of carpentry and fine, am i wrong to think this kind of work i would be able to cultivate on the side while doing other stuff? painting too? with electrical vs plumbing, im leaning towards being an electrician but it gets so highly reccomended that i worry it’ll be like lawyers where its so overcongested with them
>>2583455
sounds like you have done lots of hard work man and dont apologize for the life story, its helpful! thank you for the response and like you i would always sort of tap out a quarter way into things especially school. for the first time in my life i am really applying myself instead of just coasting off of being able to wing it and all. im glad you are enjoying electrical work, it seems like a really rewarding profession and skill that can be applied to so much. i do enjoy hard work for sure, and also just using my body. all my hobbies like boxing and bjj and climbing involve it. building stuff and fixing it though has totally enthralled me so in a way i am feeling confident that as long as its one of these then it’ll be a good time
>>2583687
i will admit, doing maintenance as a landscaper can be really boring. edging, leaves, mulching, etc. i like new construction mostly so i do think about that when considering these jobs. thanks man

>>2583687
>WAAAAAAAAA DONT GIVE ME BUSINESS DURING MY SPA TIME AND BEAUTY SLEEP
you sound like a huge faggot

>>2583100
Check my HVAC thread OP. We continuously mog and cuck all the other trades. IYKYK

>>2583746
>so desperate he needs to go into other threads.

>not good at math
Time to get good. You don't need high level math to do this shit. As you learn the trade, you will learn the type of math you need to use. The more you do it, the easier it will be. For carpentry and plumbing you will mostly be making measurements for h/w/d and angles. Electrical has its own math involved, but again you can learn that and being "not good at math" is a cope.

>>2583746
my buddy is in HVAC and also speaks to its advantages. i will look more into it, but it just doesn’t scream to me like the others do. thanks man
>>2583932
ok gotcha thank you, good to know its not too advanced. i was thinking about looking at khan academy and shit like that again like back in hs to refresh myself. theres a small company in my city that does a “trade math” workshop i was thinking of doing too

>>2583100
machining trades. specifically aerospace

>>2583388
>Subfield of Carpenters: Drywallers, Mudders, Tapers. Huge part of carpentry.
lol no. These guys know fuck all about carpentry. Most of them besides the foremen are crack addicts and can't use a circular saw properly

>>2583405

Low voltage technician. You literally run Cat5e/6, troubleshoot networks and work on phone systems. Super easy, super chill, pays easily 65/hr depending on experience/clients/projects.

>>2583723
>how intelligent? i am slow with math and could probably fine tune my mental math skills. thanks anon
you need to be able to remember a lot of little things, it's very detail-oriented and if you make a mistake you could kill people or break things, and by "things" I mean "entire buildings"

>>2583388
>Pretty much the "brother" of plumbing
wouldn't that be pipefitting?

>>2583100
I'm a pipe layer and loves it. It keep me in shape, pays well and I spend my winter out of wagecucking and do project for myself. It's like a plumber but we do man things.

>>2583910
Can't help it's the slowest board in the history of the internet.
Also, mogged.

>>2584209
Realistically, I wouldn't look at anything other than HVAC, plumbing, or electrical. I did shit tier trim carpentry and cabinets for about 6 years and that trade is a dead end unless you really enjoy it IMO. There's definitely opportunity but from my experience on average it's an underpaid field. Can't speak much for the other trades. HVAC has a massive shortage of workers. Average age of an HVAC service tech is like 57 years old. And although I joke about it, we really do a little bit of everything. You'll deal with electrical every day. Some people weld/braze every day. We do simple plumbing with drain lines. And install has basic carpentry cutting in shit. Highly recommend it.

>>2583100
I went carpentry because I enjoy it. Trying to go more cabinetry now because its more satisfying. I was dog shit in math during highschool so I was worried when I went to college for it but the math can be worked out easily. If you really struggle get help and practice the worksheets but you'll only really need fractions and angles for the most part both things I was bad at but time plus experience.

>>2584426

IT is essentially a trade, you also won't break your body down as hard as the other trades. Being an electrician is fucking hard on your hands and back, constantly going up/down ladders and stripping/splicing romex. There also the possibility of getting... electrocuted.

Plumbing involves turds. HVAC involves dust, more dust, lots of dust, did I say dust? Dusty musty ass basements, fridges, etc,

>>2585072
>Being an electrician is fucking hard on your hands and back, constantly going up/down ladders and stripping/splicing romex. There also the possibility of getting... electrocuted.
there's many different types of electricians, not all of them are running romex through a house every day

>>2585072
>There also the possibility of getting... electrocuted.

Just don't touch the hot wires dummy it's literally that easy

>>2584351
i have pretty good memory, it could be better though. thanks man
>>2584414
thank you, i will look i to it. i am good at laying pipe
>>2584426
thanks for the feedback bro, i will absolutely look more into HVAC.
>>2584711
i really love the carpentry i have done so far, and i don enjoy woodworking. i like it so much in fact that i would almost take a paycut to do it. i have this shaky dream rn where i do carpentry, smaller scale landscaping and hardscaping, bladesmithing, and jewelry. a little art and also a little bit more technical shit. with electrical experience i would love to wire up my own shit and build houses or even tiny houses

>>2585204

>just don't forget that you switched the breaker off for the 5th time when troubleshooting

>>2583200
land scaping is certainly not minimum wage, maybe depends how many spics are around

>>2583100
Aircraft mechanic. I only know about police. They make good money, very specialized work and you can not fuck up or you'll kill at least 2 very expensive Officers and at least 2 support crew, but the work is very chill most of the time. But you need a strong mind, washing some mangled kid blood and gut remains takes a toll in your mind.

8/10

>>2585558
Got any pictures anon?
That sounds bitchin

>>2585487
in my mind this is the same as saying "don't suddenly jerk your wheel while going 80 mph on the highway and crash into the opposite lane"
like...yeah, I know, thanks

>>2585247
If you like water and hard work you could become a diver, wich I am studing right now. Working conditions are though; cold, low visibility, dangers... so it must be something you really want to do.

You are so nice, i hope you have it good in life whatever you do

>>2583739
Or a real man wanting to spend quality time with his family on regular basis. Back to discord you absolute tranny faggot also you have to be over 18 to post here

>>2583100
>which trade to choose?
HVAC or plumbing
>verification not required

To be honest, look at the companies that offer around you and find the one where the boss and the colleagues aren't faggots and who do the most interesting "reach of work".

You can work in a shit HVAC company that and in a great carpenter company and the other way around. Just get started in something, you can't go wrong as experience will always help you out.

Electric work (putting in cables into construction sites, preparing fuse boxes, connecting lamps) is boring in my opinion. HVAC/plumbing can be very hard and complicated but its rewarding if you like that kinda shit. Woodworking is something neat if you have company that does shit like furniture or unicum shit lik custom built kitchens.
Building walls and plastering is exhausting but you can keep working like on a assembly belt.

Just get started, the only thing you can do wrong is starting in a shit company that makes you waste your time for cheap labour. But if you get a semi decent or good one every experience will be worth its weight in gold.

t. finished 3 years certified apprenticeship car technician mechanic and electronic systems and almost finished 3 years HVAC, there's nothing I can't fix

>>2583687
Commercial electrician and I've never done a service call

>>2585893
>t. finished 3 years certified apprenticeship car technician mechanic
Did you just walk up shop and asked them for a position like the boomers or did someone introduce you?

>>2585964
The first shop was shit and I left it as soon as I passed tests for certification. Back then I sent letters and shit because I was inexperienced. Now I walk up straight with my documents and ask them if they hire. When the boss is a slave-owner or the shop is unprofessional I notice it first hand and scratch them off my list.

Want to make some real money? Get yourself a cdl class A and become a lineman

>>2583723
Algebra II and basic trig. I failed algebra in high school and college and still managed to get a meter/relay gig after working my way up. If you're actually retarded you'll probably be stuck as a narrow back but if you can learn you'll be fine. Even braindead linemen have to use trig every once in awhile.

Become a plumber. Here's your first assignment, unclog my toilet wagie... If you do a good job I'll give you a 5 dollar tip...but you'll have to work for it

I'm a plumber/heating technician and I love my job.
Very white also at least here in Germany. Browns all go into drywalling or electric work(shudder)

Quick question for people recommending electrician, lineman or inside wireman pros and cons. I'm thinking inside wireman but I've worked in bad weather and don't mind it. Does lineman have a higher mortality rate?

>>2583413
how the fuck do I get into that?
t. commerical electrical apprentice for a non-ibew company (I hate slab guyz)

>>2583191
I'm very business minded and am on the way into the ibew, or into the elevator guys union. I know elevator guys pay more, but I want to fuck off from Toronto to Alberta and not live in the city. I also want to start my own business and make a lot more money, and genuinely make it a huge good company.
I still plan to make online businesses, but my irl cashflow has to be either commercial electrical as an apprentice in either high rise or low rise, or just become a high paid elevator guy with no side work or chance of starting my own company...

which way should I go?

t. commerical non-union electrical 1st year

>>2588306
if you are autistic and like to be indoors and work at the same place everyday i would recomend switchboard electrician. its basically lego with wires.

plus you are in demand everywher. i found myself stranded in norway at the start of covid (from australia), i blindly sent 30 resumes in english across the country and got offered a dozen or so jobs within a week.

this was my last board i did there.

this is the last board at my last job. a little control board for water pumps on a ship. sexy stuff

Being a lineman is fun because usually you're also a trained arborist ( side hustle). The hydro one guys in Ontario work a lot, but unionized, get to ride snow machines in the winter, helicopter rides, big heights, climbing trees.

>>2584329
Sure, but branch out into everything - compressed air, vacuum, fiber optic, etc.

>>2585072
>lots of dust, did I say dust?
Yeah, one of our electricians got a cyst on his dick from transferring itty bitty splinters from the dusty working environment onto his dick from his hands when he went to take a leak.

>>2588353
Not him, but you just get a job in the maintenance department of a factory. We had a guy that was subcontracting through his company with us for a few years. We finally hired him and he evolved into doing everything - water, compressed air, vacuum, CAT V, coaxial, etc. - all in addition to the commercial electrical that he was originally hired to do. It's a good gig. It didn't hurt that he schmoozed his way in with an electrical engineer and myself, an electronics technician. We walked him through some of the more complex integrations so he never needed to tell the boss man that he needed an outside consultant. He was probably with us for ten years until we closed.

>>2589428
Hey boss do you mind talking me through your average day and your thoughts on doing switchboard work? There is an electrical apprenticeship going in my area mainly building switchboards and would like to know a bit more about it.

Go into either security or low voltage electrical, super comfy and good pay for easy bullshit work

>>2591167
Average wagie washes hands before taking a piss but not after

>>2583207
>think i would like electric but im worried bout the math

reporting from Germany.
trade school/apprenticeship/final exam has some math like calculating resistors 3 phase motors and other shit.
but your allowed to use a trades handbook that contains all formulas and shit. over the 2 years apprenticeship the book gets a addition of you're brain and you find everything during the exam.

Later you will not have to do many calculations. wire sizes and stuff is most likely done by a planner. or you use simple tables where you pick current length and mounting and then select the fitting wire.

>>2583401
this is why in my country you wont become a licensed Electrician you will become a licensed Electronican

>>2583200
>>plumbing and electrical
>high pay and if you play your cards right you can run your own company
Plumbing is the only truth. Electrical is one of the most regulated trades in the US and UK. I left electrical after 15 years for working in IT. I make almost as much money in under a year as year 12 in the the trades. The trades will rob you of your youth and best years of your life. You might like working with you hands now it its less cute in the mid 40s. The trades often ruins the body and by the time you want to leave you are stuck and have a limp. This is true even for union fags. The pension and other benefits aren't worth it when you work your whole youth to spend you elder years having that wealth you generated extracted in medical bills.

Fuck the trades its for people who don't have the skills. I regret not leaving 8-10 years sooner. The trades will introduce you to man made horrors the like of which you will not understand. You will attempt to tell yourself if you can make it another few years you will be a project manager or union card carrying journeyman. But you will be broken or get cancer before 50. I am here typing this out to warn you not to do this. Get a job as a security guard and spend you time taking Comptia A+, Network+ Maybe Security+. You will be safer pay just as much as a fucking 4th year sparky. Realize I made as much money now as I did as a foreman(15 years) resetting passwords, AD DS, Azure and routing and switching. Do not through away your life. Do you understand?

>>2583100
hnggggggg
tfw no cute, trim, wifebeater wearing construction gf with lots of earrings and a gallon sized water bottle

>>2586597
>Even braindead linemen have to use trig every once in awhile.
doing what exactly?

>>2588022
im booked solid for the next 15 months sorry. enjoy living in your own filth ;)

>>2592836
Better yet, go into cyber security, be a defense consultant, and make >$200k before 40.

>>2584329
What kind of low voltage technician? Average wages for low voltage technicians are abysmal.

>>2592836
>spend you time taking Comptia A+, Network+ Maybe Security+

not any other anon, but I'm taking Network+ next and I'm genuinely shocked how fast I can up my earning potential. just quit a blue collar job not too long ago

>>2583100
I did landscaping a few times, it’s really nice to see your hard work.
I did a beginner carpentry program last summer, I helped build 20 8/10 sheds. I had no desire to join the program but I needed a job. I found out my woodworking skills never left me from high school. The math is easy (1+1=2)
I finished the program. I also formed a great relationship with my boss and supervisor which in turn led me to getting my new job which starts next week, I’m a cook by nature.
One conversation between my old boss and new boss led me to get a job. Doing something positive with my life led me to getting into a nice relationship with people who helped me out later.

Who knows what your new path will bring you. Just do your job, keep your head down and stay out of politics.

>>2583687
be poor and a glorified handyman, the post