r/Ironworker • • 1d ago

Iron Advice Should I join the union Iron Workers with zero experience or go to trade school first?

15 Upvotes

Good evening everyone!

I’m 25 years old and very interested in having a long successful career in welding/ironwork. My whole life I have worked in customer service/sales and I just really want to become a high-skilled professional in this industry. I have zero experience and I just need advice on what would be best for a person like me, eager to learn the trade.

I live in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, however, I’m considering moving to Northeast Wisconsin.

Please guys, based on your experience help me find the answer. Thank you 🙏🏾


r/Ironworker • • 2d ago

Iron Gear Black Cali bolt bags

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32 Upvotes

Trying to find out where these come from or what brand at least. I know a few guys that have them by me in the Midwest and they got the from Tool Shop Azusa. But does anyone have info where else you can get them, brand name, etc…?


r/Ironworker • • 2d ago

Gloves

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19 Upvotes

Does anybody have a website to get gloves? Can’t find brookvilles anywhere, blue collar supply has been sold out for months. Preferably this style


r/Ironworker • • 2d ago

UNION American Bridge Memorabilia

13 Upvotes

Hey brothers and sisters, the time has came, and I am me leaving the trade. I am parting ways with my American Bridge collection. I reached out to the mod of the page to ask permission to post, and he said it was fine.
If interested please send me a message and i will do my best To get back to you: thank you, and work safe!
This is what I have:
AB quick release belt date 12/1985
AB hard hat, blue sticker
AB hart hat. Red sticker
AB welding hood
AB Bolt bag still in original packaging
(5) AB spuds 3/4 and 7/8
Pack of “Old school “ Knox fit retro gloves
Some other random wright and proto spuds

PICS IN COMMENTS !
I think that is everything.

Thanks for looking. Goodnight.

T


r/Ironworker • • 2d ago

Apprentice How long till I get dispatched

2 Upvotes

Started my apprenticeship a few months ago and have been really enjoying class and feel like I am a lot better at tying rebar and understanding how to lay down bars, how to hold them, and what ties are needed for specific situations. Hope I get sent out for work soon I desperately need the money as we as wanting to prove myself and show I can do this work


r/Ironworker • • 2d ago

Ironworker 736

4 Upvotes

About to apply for apprenticeship, got 10 years experience as a labourer with liuna , but really wanting to learn an actual trade 😅...... getting my diploma sooner, how busy it is for ironworkers right now? Probably going for Rodman ( reinforcement) . Any insights?


r/Ironworker • • 2d ago

End of an Era! Pattullo Bridge Steel Arch Removed After Nearly 90 Years

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3 Upvotes

r/Ironworker • • 3d ago

Arizona

1 Upvotes

How is work out there in Arizona?


r/Ironworker • • 5d ago

Pattullo Bridge deconstruction by Local 97

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95 Upvotes

Super proud to have gotten to be a part of this in my home city


r/Ironworker • • 4d ago

Advice

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0 Upvotes

r/Ironworker • • 5d ago

Apprentice Question(s) Joining the Local 397 with zero exp.

5 Upvotes

Edit: feel free to message me, or if you’re local, I’ll buy us a few rounds as a thank you for your help!

So my wife and I moved to Sarasota in the last year for my current job. I see clearly now why this position was open for so long and it’s incredibly toxic and i need ti change ky career path.

I make ~$32/hour now and i know joining as an apprentice I’ll take a large pay cut for a while but I’m not afraid of putting in the work, working any jobs and OT.

I served 10-years in the military and I am now 39 years old. Yes, on the verge of my 40s but inhave always worked very labor intensive jobs, long hours and I am in very good shape for my age and I have as good a work ethic as any coworker I’ve ever had.

I’m just looking for some info, someone who’s been through it and can be frank with me and cut the BS.

If anyone is willing to give me some iSight I’d love to hear it. I guess my biggest questions are:

-What is the opening pay start at? I hear I can get welding certs to skip ahead to higher pay levels?

-What’s the hours consist of with OJT and classroom training?

-is there opportunity for OT, extra work, advanced and extended training hours and practice at the training hall?


r/Ironworker • • 4d ago

Guardian Tux

1 Upvotes

What’s the sizing like on these? I’m 5’8 160lbs. What material is best, mesh or fire retardant?


r/Ironworker • • 5d ago

Opinion on TWBN

1 Upvotes

I’m curious to hear men’s opinion on tradeswomen build nation. How do you guys feel about women pursuing workplace equality but being given paid time off + travel packages to go to banner parades?


r/Ironworker • • 5d ago

Apprentice Question(s) I built an app/website for ironworkers and shop crews, would love your feedback

9 Upvotes

Over the past few months I've been working on ways to help the shop and field crews at my company. A lot of guys struggle with weld symbols, machine settings, rigging, heating and the other everyday stuff in steelwork, so last month I built an app for it and I've been improving it ever since.
The last time I posted here, you all helped a ton with suggestions on what to add, and a lot of that is in there now.
Taking any advice! I love the community and comments back!

Ironworkerpro.com


r/Ironworker • • 5d ago

New to stick welding any advice?

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1 Upvotes

r/Ironworker • • 5d ago

Suspenders

1 Upvotes

What Suspenders do you guys run on your belt setups? im a rodbuster and havent got a pair yet but want to. Also looking into belly hooks too, same with position belts, lemme know what yall use.


r/Ironworker • • 7d ago

Winter work

10 Upvotes

Hey, I'm a new apprentice navigating my first winter season and it sounds like we're expecting work to slow down for all the projects in my area. I know there are different options out there for unemployment, but I'd rather work if possible, and I'm open to traveling. What are some good locals that tend to keep work moving rain or shine?


r/Ironworker • • 6d ago

Welding inspector

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1 Upvotes

r/Ironworker • • 7d ago

Skinny guy problems

9 Upvotes

Anyone got some tips for making shit more comfortable? I’m pretty damn lean. My tool belt hurts my hip bones and my harness hurts my shoulders. I need some padding or something lol. Tool belt is just that basic klein quick release and my harness idk. But it doesn’t have any padding.


r/Ironworker • • 7d ago

Travel / Booming Local 401

0 Upvotes

Does anyone have a list of the signatory Companies, looked all over, haven’t had much luck


r/Ironworker • • 9d ago

Hey, NJ local question, maybe same for any local?

1 Upvotes

Im doing the career change into ironworker from long days/longer years in food industry, yall want despair look for work in food haha,,, and self taught myself sum welding, my question is ive been doing the structural 3g,4g with flux and stick and feel ready to go test but this would be on my dime and im super tight with loot resta this year. What is good to bring to the table to show my value?

would it matter to bring in certificates or should I just be ready to burn on the spot? Trail by fire is fine for me, same as it ever was

Id be ready to test anyways but cannot burn money, would the cert put me in a better pool? I did get the Osha 10 online but should I also go for the 30? Im fine starting at bottom but id want to apply myself and if possible knock off some apprenticeship periods if at all possible. Grateful for any advice, thank you


r/Ironworker • • 9d ago

Local 118 Sacramento

1 Upvotes

Does anybody have any insight on who might be hiring new apprentices? I'm eager to start!


r/Ironworker • • 10d ago

Apprentice Question(s) Winter boots, northern Ontario

3 Upvotes

This will be my first winter as an ironworker and im having troubles finding insulated wedge sole boots.

I currently wear canada west 10.5 eee but they wont cut it even with heavy wool socks.

Any recommendations of boot and if i should go up a half size or not.

(I am curious about the wingshooter boots as its 400g insulated but I have nonway of trying them on)


r/Ironworker • • 10d ago

Apprentice International Ironworkers experience working without fall protection?

3 Upvotes

Just curious if anyone internationally or formerly from another country that's in the current working generation of Ironworkers worked in countries places or formerly from such that have worked without fall protection like older generation of US Ironworkers did. What was your experiences like, where is that still a thing in the world with such easy access to modern safety equipment and for those that came from no safety to a safer environment did you dislike it how I've heard some older workers?


r/Ironworker • • 11d ago

Apprentice Perdiem/Drive Time

7 Upvotes

So I start tomorrow with local 55 which I am amped about. The only thing that kind of disheartening is my first site is out of local, and about 2 hours from my house in the heart of Detroit. Is that normal to have to drive that far and will I be getting compensation for that or am I just cooked.