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bigdom86 |
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bigdom86 Traffic Copper
Joined: 17 Jul 2015 Karma :
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Posted: 14:51 - 08 Jan 2019 Post subject: Learning a trade |
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Hi All
Always wanted to learn a trade as this will always be in demand and would be useful to have the skills, could also do extra odd jobs here and there as know quite a few people in construction.
I am edging towards electrician or gas engineer as I have a background in science (biochemistry) so think I would quite enjoy the technical side of things.
was recommended a place in crawley called trade skills 4u, just need to see if I could do the course over weekends for a year.
I am 32 now so wondering if I am too old now to re-train into a new career as if I really enjoy it I may try and go self-employed in a trade.
Any input on pros/cons of each trade or things to steer clear of or shall I just steer clear full-stop? |
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DrSnoosnoo |
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DrSnoosnoo World Chat Champion
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M.C |
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M.C Super Spammer
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 17:28 - 08 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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If you plan to stay in the UK, learn the necessary skills to run a food bank? ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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DrSnoosnoo |
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DrSnoosnoo World Chat Champion
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grr666 |
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grr666 Super Spammer
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
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iooi |
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iooi Super Spammer
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DrSnoosnoo |
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DrSnoosnoo World Chat Champion
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Posted: 10:42 - 09 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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grr666 wrote: | Takes a physical toll though after years of doing it. Wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries are common and then you can't
work. Respiratory problems from ALWAYS being in either damp or dusty environments are common too. You end up lop
sided over many years on the trowel as you will naturally work favouring your dominant side. Make no mistake, it's proper
hard graft too amongst the cold and the wet. You'll know what I mean the first time you skim a large ceiling. Also,
to be competitive, you'll need to learn to be pretty fast on the trowel without sacrificing quality of finish and get to that
standard pretty quickly if you want to earn well. One of my best friends is a plasterer, he's fully apprenticeship trained
not one of these bods that's done a 7 week course. And I'd rather pay him when I need a spread than learn how to do it
myself, and have mediocre results when I do. |
And I don't disagree, I know some very good, time served plasterers and my mother's ex partner was/is a lecturer, worked with the WCofPlaisterers in the art form.
I thought of the OP talking of the extra jobs on the side so not a full time profession. So dirty mouldy lungs might not be as big a worry for him.
My plasterer of choice is about 6 ft 7, prefers ceilings, and he can spread a wall in about 3 passes of his trowel. He can reach everywhere! ____________________ I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R |
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Diggs |
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Diggs World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Karma :
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Posted: 10:55 - 09 Jan 2019 Post subject: |
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My plasterer of choice is a 5'6" bloke in his 50s called Brian. He plasters in shorts and sandals to northern soul... ____________________ Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting... |
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mentalboy |
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mentalboy World Chat Champion
Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 04:14 - 10 Jan 2019 Post subject: Re: Learning a trade |
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bigdom86 wrote: |
I am 32 now so wondering if I am too old now to re-train into a new career as if I really enjoy it I may try and go self-employed in a trade.
Any input on pros/cons of each trade or things to steer clear of or shall I just steer clear full-stop? |
Never too old to become a sparky, most of them have a toolkit that would fit in the average sized lunchbox and it's one of the few construction trades a nine stone weakling can manage.
Setting up as self employed is simple enough but do you have the kind of social network/ contacts that can get you off the ground and keep you in work for long enough to build up a healthy reputation/ customer list? Referrals used to be everything in the trades but now any oick can sign up to 'I can does building.com' and gullible twats are easily parted from their money, which makes setting up slightly easier nowadays.
If you do a course make sure that it includes Part P ( or whatever the modern equivalent is) if you plan to go self employed - hopefully the certification side of things has settled down a bit as I seem to recall the regs changing every five minutes when I was building in the UK.
One of my younger brothers switched from a good job in electro-mechanical engineering to going self employed as a sparky just before he turned 40. Never short of work, although he's morphed into general construction and put on a large roof at Christmas. He's a lot happier now out of the rat race BUT our family have always dabbled in construction alongside our day jobs, some folks just aren't suited to managing their time and working in all conditions.
You can, presumably, always go back to the daily grind if you find you're not cut out for working for yourself.
No idea about gas engineers, but to echo others I wouldn't touch plastering, or any other wet trade, with a barge pole, unless you're built like a gorilla and have a penchant for shitty working conditions. ____________________ Make mine a Corona. |
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WD Forte |
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WD Forte World Chat Champion
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M.C |
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M.C Super Spammer
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chris-red |
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chris-red Have you considered a TDM?
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andyscooter |
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andyscooter World Chat Champion
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steve the grease |
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steve the grease Crazy Courier
Joined: 26 Jan 2018 Karma :
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Posted: 19:31 - 14 Feb 2019 Post subject: |
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I suppose I'm an engineer. I studied engineering at college and did an old fashioned apprenticeship. I hated working in a factory and so I left and I have been working in the motor trade , mostly , ever since. Although I have worked in building for a year or two, doing mostly plumbing and electrics ( it's not that hard lets face it there is only 3 different coloured wires or 2 pipes , H+C or flow and return)
IF ...............I had my time again, for sure I would train in a skill where the skill was in my hands and head. For example , nursing or osteopathy, physiotherapy, counselling . With skills like that you can travel anywhere in the world and someone else provides the infrastructure, a hospital or treatment room .
An electrician isn't so bad a 50kg bag of tools and testers will see you set up. As a mechanic I have approximately 3 tonnes of tools
( seriously) . When did you see a plumber who didn't have a massive big van , down on the springs with a hundred boxes of brass and copper fittings and pipes..
Also bear in mind that as you get older working in an unheated environment becomes very tiring . In my experience a lot of tradesmen are running on empty by the time they are 50 odd, with still fifteen more years to a pension.
Just a thought ......... |
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mentalboy |
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mentalboy World Chat Champion
Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 02:19 - 15 Feb 2019 Post subject: |
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steve the grease wrote: |
An electrician isn't so bad a 50kg bag of tools and testers will see you set up.
Also bear in mind that as you get older working in an unheated environment becomes very tiring . In my experience a lot of tradesmen are running on empty by the time they are 50 odd, with still fifteen more years to a pension.
Just a thought ......... |
50kg?? I wasn't joking earlier when I said the average sparks tools would fit in a lunch box - the buggers are always borrowing odds and sods because two screwdrivers, a pair of strippers and a cordless drill aren't usually enough to finish the job!!
Heated outdoor environment is also a tad tiring!!! 50 and I know exactly what you mean - arthritic fingers, dodgy wrists, iffy elbows, stiff neck, back pain, mullered hips, buggered knees, torn Achilles tendon. In fact, the only thing that isn't fucked is my cock. ____________________ Make mine a Corona. |
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c_dug |
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c_dug Super Spammer
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Posted: 10:02 - 15 Feb 2019 Post subject: |
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Proper construction sites are miserable places in my experience, despite the allure of good money, it's not something I'd willingly go into, I've done the odd day/week here and there, enough to know it isn't for me.
Maintenance and engineering trades in my eyes are a much nicer option, I was an electro-mechanical maintenance technician for a few years before moving into an office based role managing the same work. The same satisfaction of working with your hands and your head, but usually as an employee rather than self employed. Often tools are provided, workshop/van provided, parts and materials provided, you just do the fixing.
That doesn't work so well on a self employed or part time basis, but there seems to be more and more demand for general handyman type work these days, which I'd say is the nearest self employed equivalent. Fewer and fewer people can turn a screwdriver well enough to assemble furniture or change a light switch it seems. Their loss could be your gain. ____________________ I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock. |
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Ribenapigeon |
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M.C |
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Evil Hans |
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Evil Hans World Chat Champion
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Ribenapigeon |
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J4mes |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 5 years, 73 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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