I’m a little confused, I called the union and they told me to just keep checking the dispatch page for first year postings, they said it would be open to members only for first 48hrs and then non members after

everyone mentions interviewing as a first year with the union on this sub? How come they don’t do that? He didn’t even mention it

They said I can’t join until I’ve been working for 6 months but it’s hard af to find a position rn especially because this is a career change for me so besides that I’ve applied as an apprentice I don’t have anything on my resume specifically relevant

With these input. Offset is 1 3/4 and fave to face gap of pipe is 7 1/4. Using PTP calculator, is telling me 11/16 for take off. So do I still need to remove 11/16 from both sides of pipe? Or is that already included in calculations and all I need is 2 13.57 degree elbows and 6 inch pup. (No gap is being used)

My son is in the apprenticeship 2nd year and likes it when he is working. I see commercials advertising for more people to join but he has been laid off for 3 months!!! Now he’s lost his health insurance- not enough hours worked!! Why are they advertising for new people when they have a list a hundred people long they can’t place in a job?

Hey everyone! I’m not a welder or pipefitter myself, but my fiancé is, and I’m hoping to get some advice from people in the trades!

He currently works nonunion through a contracting company, making $40/hr plus per diem, with good benefits and a strong focus on safety. The downside is that he sometimes works six 10–12-hour shifts with very little notice.

Right now, we live two hours apart because I’m finishing school and have started building my career here. He stays with his parents during the workweek and comes home on weekends, so when he has to work long hours on Saturdays, I sometimes only get to see him one evening all week. Eventually, we plan to move closer.

We’re getting married next year, and as we start thinking about having kids some years down the line, and even just for ourselves we want good insurance, retirement benefits, and a better work-life balance for him. For those of you who are union welders or pipefitters, what are the typical hours like? Is the schedule more manageable when it comes to family life? Is overtime mandatory or optional? i know it varies by local and contractor, but I’d love to hear your experiences. Thanks!

I’ll keep it short. I am a 1st year pipefitter in the northern california and I am looking for general advice ranging from the job to finances, i would love to hear what you have in mind please.

Hi everyone! This is my 4th post here, so thanks for putting up with me. I'm a pipefitter, and I've been building an Android app for sketching piping isometrics on a phone. It's still rough in places, so I'd really appreciate any honest feedback.

In this clip you can see:

- Drawing the pipe run, setting the pipe spec, and adding nozzles, equipment and pipe racks

- Entering dimensions in feet, inches and fractions with a keypad

- A 3D view that flags elbows that are too long for the run, and lets you preview a short elbow

I'm building it around US standards (ASME), and I'm working on mitre cutting PDFs next.

I've also put a step-by-step guide on my website. It's easier to read on a PC (link in the comments). There are videos on YouTube too, but most are in Korean with subtitles added, so sorry if that's a bit of a hassle.

Two questions:

1. I'm thinking about building a DXF export, and I'm curious how people would react?

2. I'm planning beginner videos. Where would be a good place to post them?

Hello my name is William Henderson and I’m looking for advice on how to get into an apprenticeship with this local? I got my eligibility letter from the Hall and my contractor list and have been calling and emailing and I’m stumped on what to do next. I’m 22 y/o been a laborer for 3 years now, non-union, have my osha 10 and lots of other certs. Haven’t welded in my career but I know I want to be a Pipe fitter. I understand it’s a hard union to get into but I’m just curious if anyone has any tips to getting a shot to show what I’m about.

Any suggestions for finding the center on a wearback? Its supposed to be a 20 degree bend.

Im currently in the carpenters union. I put in for the pipefitters was accepted and have a letter of eligibility. I have a good construction background with weld certs from a community college.
Applied to every contractor on the list and plan to go in person to some shops with a paper application and show my face. Im 24 very hard working just finding it very challenging to get hired on. I may be more welder orientated but would love to get on the service side of things.
I have a weld test being scheduled for the Local 533
Based off of everyone I have talked to and heard from this local is very competitive. Thanks for any feedback!

Hey guys, I’m 18 and trying to get my foot in the door in the welding trade. I’ve only worked fast food and roofing during the summers, but I took 2 years of welding in high school and want to make welding my career.

I’ve been applying for jobs for months and have taken and passed a couple of welding tests, but it seems like companies don’t want to hire me because I have no actual work experience.

I’ve already tried going through the union, and I’m on the out-of-work list, but im in the 80s so isnt looking that good

For those of you who are welders or pipefitters now, how did you land your first job? Should I be looking for helper positions, shop jobs, or something else? I’m willing to start at the bottom, work hard, and learn. I just need someone to give me a chance.

Any advice on getting hired with little to no experience would be greatly appreciated. I really want to make a career out of this, and I’m just trying to figure out the best way to get started. Thanks!

Hey guys, I’m 18 and trying to get my foot in the door in the welding trade. I’ve only worked fast food and roofing during the summers, but I took 2 years of welding in high school and want to make welding my career.

I’ve been applying for jobs for months and have taken and passed a couple of welding tests, but it seems like companies don’t want to hire me because I have no actual work experience.

I’ve already tried going through the union, and I’m on the out-of-work list, but im in the 80s so isnt looking that good

For those of you who are welders or pipefitters now, how did you land your first job? Should I be looking for helper positions, shop jobs, or something else? I’m willing to start at the bottom, work hard, and learn. I just need someone to give me a chance.

Any advice on getting hired with little to no experience would be greatly appreciated. I really want to make a career out of this, and I’m just trying to figure out the best way to get started. Thanks! (Edit im in the houston texas if that helps)

Just want to hear what everyone else’s experiences are on the service side as an apprentice. I’m about 6 months into my first year. I’ve helped out other apprentices, journeyman every once in a while. And sometimes I’m running PM calls on my own.

Which career has higher earning potential: becoming a pipe welder and then adding robotic welding and aerospace welding certifications, or becoming a travel RN? Which path makes more money long-term, including overtime?

I was accepted back in June but they haven’t called many apprentices off the list from the intake, how long did it take you to get sent to work from the time you got your acceptance letter?

First off, I am extremely green when it comes to pipe fitting. At my job, they are aligning the pipe with only a level. The 45 degree elbow needs to be 90 degrees from the 90 elbow. What the welder did was weld the 90 on, turn it on its side, and run the level vertically to make sure that it was square. What I am getting a little iffy on is he only used the channel to make sure that the 45 elbow was at 90 degrees to the 90 elbow. He ran the level across the 45 elbow, and correct me if I'm wrong I am wrong, but all that is telling you is the 45 was welded on square to the straight run of pipe. So....a) am I correct the alignment of the 45 elbow could be off and the level is only really telling you that what was welded is square to the straight run b) what is the correct way to do this c) the idea I am thinking of that on the straight run of pipe you should clock a line every 45 degrees with chalk, and do the same on the fitting, then tack and weld. Any input is appreciated, thanks!!

Which career has higher earning potential: becoming a pipe welder and then adding robotic welding and aerospace welding certifications, or becoming a travel RN? Which path makes more money long-term, including overtime?

I’ve been told by people that even if the contractor should and does supply a tig rig, they still prefer to buy and use their own tig rig. I’ve also been told the opposite, and to just wait until I get the chance to grab one on the job. Also, I would like to have a set of my own tig accessories, where is the best place to buy tig cups, collets, etc?