Originally Posted by zEn84

Hey BVF,
I am a journeyman plumber. Been in the field for 6 years. I didn't know what to do after I graduated so I took up plumbing for a back up plan. I took this last year off from plumbing to webmaster though fulltime since I had been doing that as a hobby on the side while serving my apprenticeship over the years. In Canada, it actually takes 4 years to get your plumbing ticket. The training a plumber goes through here is actually on par of what a mechanical engineer will receive in Europe or the states.

As far as the field goes, it definitely has its pros and cons. There are a lot of ways to make money in the field like residential, gas, steam, industrial, chemical.. I personally hate dealing with clogged toilets and that type of shit, but its a great way to run a business on your own. My buddy clears 800 a day just from doing house calls using his own van. But whats nice about getting a plumbing ticket, you have the option to do all of the above like steam, gas etc. But if you just get a steam ticket, thats all you would be allowed to do.

Most of my experience has been in the industrial sector which I love just because its more interesting and challenging. 80% of my work has been at breweries running stainless pipe (1/2" up to 30") which is awesome because its clean and you work along side of a tig welder so you can chat all day. If you work a shut down, there's usually plenty of hours to work if you want, all the over time is double time. The last shut down I did was at the kokanee beer plant in Creston, BC, and I was pulling 20k a month easy, so the money is there if you want it.

The shitty thing about the job is dealing with stupid fucks in the field. Since it is a labor job, there are a lot of guys you work around (not just plumbers, all trades) who are just shleps and annoying as fuck, makes you almost feel depressed because you wonder why they get paid the same as you. If you have a good crew and boss it makes all the difference.

All and all its still a good job, you will always have work. Just remember shit flows downhill and payday is Friday.

Originally Posted by Angry Jew Cat

Something tells me BVF is moving somewhere where building codes aren't gonna be all that strict, hehe.