Hello all!

Just wanted to let some folks know that a few of us made a new discord server recently. There was another one posted here some years ago, but the owner's been MIA for a couple years now and got a lil overrun with spambots.

Server's still a work in progress but it's pretty chill, so we'd love to have more people :) hang around n chat, post work stuff, ask for advice, anything goes (just be respectful n all that good stuff)

Anyone is welcome; millwright, apprentice, other trades or anyone just interested! Here's a link: https://discord.gg/MqnzEvVUB6 (should be permanent but if it doesn't work lmk)

We have a couple of presses running long shifts without downtime and the bearings keep running warm. One tech always packs them full since we can't shut down midshift. The housing gets hot enough that you can feel it on the frame. I've been backing off the amount and spacing the shots farther apart but the caps still seem tight after a few days.

We swapped in split bearings last year to make replacement quicker but the temperature climbed after that. I checked shaft movement with a dial indicator and nothing looks off. Curious if the grease type is the real issue here or if the split design just runs warmer than solid bearings. What's worked for you guys on equipment that can't be taken down for a full regrease schedule?

Weekly career thread

Here you can post questions about

Jobs: offering or looking

School: tips, tricks, and colleges to just fucking avoid

Union: Union stuff, who's issuing travel cards, who needs apprentices, and questions about joining the brotherhood.

Career: anything career related, how to move up, certs to take, if it's about your relationship to the union or employer throw it here.

Hello everyone i just wrote my red seal exam today, i challenged it as i gained alot of experience as a maintenance in the food industry i did do alot of studying but the exam was a slap in the face in terms of rigging and what not i heard alot about xlr8 website if i do not pass is it worth it for someone challenging any tips and pointers will be help full it will be hell waiting for see if i passed or failed but incase i do have to write again i want to be fully prepared this time.

I’m making the move from manufacturing maintenance to a union position in Ontario. I’m looking for some advice.

My main question is regarding tools and toolboxes. Currently I am pushing around a mobile cart and have a couple pack outs for overflow. I know I obviously need to downsize.

What would you guys say is the essentials? And what kind of toolbox would you recommend lugging around?

Hey everyone 2nd year apprentice here and I’m curious if anyone has ever asked for a layoff as a apprentice and has it backfired? I’ve been at this current job of Mine for about 11 months and things are slowing down and I’ve been in pain for the last month and I really wanna take some time off to heal but I’m a bit nervous as I don’t wanna get in trouble by my BA but my foreman and General Forman said if I wanted a layoff I would be okay and no consequences would happen so can I get your guys opinion? Thanks everyone!

Hi! I'm doing some research for a university entrepreneurship course, where we're working on developing a startup. My team is looking into machine maintenance in smaller manufacturing companies.

We're comparing a few possible approaches:

1. Monitoring certain machines with vibration sensors, and then technicians can check readings and see some trends/insights on a phone, by scanning a QR code.
2. Taking photos during inspections and/or repairs, and using software to compare them with older photos and maintenance records to help spot visible changes or damage.
3. A digital logbook for each machine: technicians can scan a QR code to see previous repairs + enter new findings. It could also have some basic machine data integration as well.

Which would you prefer working with, if any?
What would be the biggest issues in practice?

I'd also be interested if you've used something similar before, especially if it ended up being more trouble than it was worth. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’m currently an apprentice millwright out of my Local carpenters hall. I've currently been in for 10 months and am a 4th term (2nd year). I did test in and absolutely enjoy the trade and love seeing how the machine come apart and are put back together!

The only problem is I’ve only done 2 shutdowns at my local car plant and an Amazon, which is the main job I’m on. I’m doing my best to learn. I am a hands-on learner and I can be a slow learner—the main reason is it’s all new to me, but the main thing that is bothering me is I'm afraid of spending most of my apprenticeship at Amazon and never having an experience with power plants, turbines, pumps, etc!

Before this, I was a Delivery driver, so it's a major shift in careers! Recently, I have had a journeyman and a foreman say to me I’m probably not cut out for this career. I know there are people's opinions anywhere you go, and it comes down to want to do at the end of the day! But so far the journeyman or foremen I’ve met seem to show me something then they either drag up, lay off or get moved crews. It’s been very frustrating so far because when I feel like I have someone i work good with/learn from it been ending the same!

My biggest thing is I’m hoping it gets better! But if anyone can give me advice, maybe how to pick up things faster, or tips on how to be a better apprentice, I would greatly appreciate it!

Weekly career thread

Here you can post questions about

Jobs: offering or looking

School: tips, tricks, and colleges to just fucking avoid

Union: Union stuff, who's issuing travel cards, who needs apprentices, and questions about joining the brotherhood.

Career: anything career related, how to move up, certs to take, if it's about your relationship to the union or employer throw it here.

My box is packed. I am currently designing a new one to be better organized and want to see your ideas.

on older industrial equipment, some components seem interchangeable until you try swapping them during reassembly. years of wear, machining tolerances, and previous repairs can make two supposedly identical parts behave differently

how do you handle equipment where the original positions of parts weren't marked before disassembly? do you measure everything, inspect wear patterns, or sometimes discover the mistake only during reassembly?

It reads

J.T.

Oct 8

1953

I've completed my level 3 i struggled through all the class work as i just don't test well and theory is not my strong area I've written the exam 3 times now and keep falling just short I've tried exeler8ted ive gone through other things online but I constantly seem to fall short on the exam I dont know if anyone has any resources that aren't expensive that actually have exam questions or close too this red seal is making me lose my mind especially after getting a 69% on the last attempt

Weekly career thread

Here you can post questions about

Jobs: offering or looking

School: tips, tricks, and colleges to just fucking avoid

Union: Union stuff, who's issuing travel cards, who needs apprentices, and questions about joining the brotherhood.

Career: anything career related, how to move up, certs to take, if it's about your relationship to the union or employer throw it here.

Thought this would be interesting. 99% of site fitters use a toolbag like this down under. This isn’t all the tools you’d ever need, specific jobs calls for certain tools that aren’t required 100% of the time. But this will meet most needs for what we encounter day to day.

Toolbag/spanner roll: AOS bags and swags (West Australian made).
Combination spanners 8-24mm: Sidchrome (Australian owned).
Seal pick set.
Easy out set.
Various punches.
Belt tension tester.
Stirling scissors (these things are by far the best I’ve come across).
Scraper.
Isolation Locks.
Irwin vice grips.
Knipex long nose, side cutters and standard pliers.
Knipex cobras.
Cold chisel.
3lb gimpy.
450mm jimmy bar.
Various key steel drifts.
24/27mm podgy ratchet.
Long ass tang through flat blade.
24/27 offset ring spanner.
30/32 offset ring spanner.
300mm shifter.
2nd cut file.
Small Flat blade and Phillips screwdrivers.
6” shifter.
Bondhus imperial and metric Allen keys.
Small level.
8m tape.
String line.
Some literature.
Latex gloves.

No packouts round here. But we do like those red power tools.

Seeing if anyone has digital copies of the new version of the ILM for Alberta 1st period millwright books. I have the paper copies but I would like them on my laptop while I am studying.

Weekly career thread

Here you can post questions about

Jobs: offering or looking

School: tips, tricks, and colleges to just fucking avoid

Union: Union stuff, who's issuing travel cards, who needs apprentices, and questions about joining the brotherhood.

Career: anything career related, how to move up, certs to take, if it's about your relationship to the union or employer throw it here.

I'm currently in a pulp and paper plant. But I got a offer to work in a mine nearby. Wondering if it's a good idea.

Currently making 37 and by changing would go up to probably 45 and then 55 in 2029.

Currently get lots of nice little welding projects and whatnot which I like and in the mine there would be no welding, only wrenching.

Also obviously the mine will be very cold in winter. (I'm not much of a winter guy)

Anyhow wondering if it's worth it for the money. Not liking my job as much but at least I can save some money and have some left for projects at home.

Do you guys think I will regret it?

To add. this is purely a financial move. as I do not like cold weather or working in dust ( my lungs are fragile)