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#15922 11/01/02 10:49 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Like most of us on the ECN Forums, I undertook an Apprenticeship, to acquire the skills that I now have.
I am inviting comments from members, on what they thought about their own training,
(Re the poor wages, nasty jobs and mistakes made during your training).
Don't worry we've all been there, don't be scared now.
[Linked Image]

#15923 11/02/02 05:44 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 112
G
Member
well, i'll begin this thread then, i guess. i spent the first few years bending rigid pipe with hand benders, building and installing unistrut "trapezes", (crawling around 20-30 ft. in the air, hanging from bar joists) and cranking away on the handle of a ridgid hand threader. [Linked Image] the "grass certainly looking greener" on the residential side of the fence, i asked, after a couple of years in industrial, if i could "branch out". but, the old-timers" in the industrial division apparently liked the idea of me carrying their tools for them, loading and unloading the truck for them, and soaking up all that excess cutting oil with my clothes, for them. [Linked Image]

ahhhhhh!....those were the days......back when "men were men, and a good helper was certainly worth his $1.10 an hour".... [Linked Image]

#15924 11/02/02 07:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,457
E
Member
First year mostly residential with a really great company. First big commercial job was wiring a new "alternative lifestyle" bar in Boston's "combat zone" late nights on that job were really odd for a young 18 year old. Spent another year wiring a 67 unit apartment building. All old work and lived in apartments. Thats where I got my excellent wire fishing skills. Did some more commercial for a while, got license and went solo. Mistakes as a helper, drilled through new roof, drove ground rod through dishwasher, (long story), backed van into boss's truck, ran over sprinkler on lawn, broke VERY expensive crystal chandelier. Thats enough I'm starting to think I'm a dope. All that for five bucks an hour.

#15925 11/02/02 08:11 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
Myself, i've worked a good mix, with every possible boo-boo with the exception of the DW {could be a good story E-Scott..... [Linked Image]}
in my defense, i had no knowledge of any safety practices until i got on line ....

I'm left with the notion that a large majority of the trade has little respect for a true 'apprenticeship', what obligations really exist here except 40 hrs & possible tuition reimbursment?

By the latter, what comparision can be made to the "old days", or that of the term 'appenticship' out of the US ?

My sense is a good difference...... [Linked Image]

#15926 11/02/02 01:50 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 597
E
Member
Dishwasher?!!! Ground rod through!!!! ROTFLMAO
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

I started my apprenticeship in the summer between my 2nd and 3rd years of college. I'd figured that some hands-on wiring would help me with my electrical engineering studies. By pure luck, I was hired by Paul Denny, Denny Electric, Fremont, Nebraska. I don't think I could have had a better Master! I worked side by side with him. He tolerated my cocky engineer questions with good solid practical answers, and only occasionally got irritated with me. I helped with a lot of new residential construction, adding AC outlets, and smattering of just about everything else.

Thanks Paul!!! [Linked Image]


Al Hildenbrand
#15927 11/03/02 07:25 AM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 31
F
Member
When I started back in '81 I apprenticed for a man that got his card in 1936.He made me learn things the hard way (or so I thought at the time)I learned not only a trade but respect for the trade and how to take care of my employers tools (without them the job doesn't get done)A lot of the apprentices I see today think that once they finish 4th year and get to top scale the education is over.I have almost 22 years and still try to learn as much as possible (that's why I visit all of the different sites on a daily basis)and always remember the three rules of electrical contracting. the GC only yells at you because he loves you,
the longest slab feed is most likely to get broken
and the more expensive the equipment the easier it is to let the smoke out

[This message has been edited by fedup (edited 11-03-2002).]

#15928 11/03/02 08:05 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
H
Member
I started out in the trade in 1975 working for an alarm company. We installed alarms, burg. and fire and hold up stuff. Liked the work but hated my boss. Quit that job and went to work for an electrical contractor. We did everything, res., com., ind., etc. I learned a lot, however my old boss was not too keen on the code. To my advantage he made me look up the codes when ever we had to do something different. It was good for me but bad for him. He never stuck his nose in the code book after getting his lic. He made me do it. I worked for him for more than 8 years and I left at $7 per hour in 1984. I got my own lic. and went on my own.
P.S. My brother worked for my boss, but when I got my own lic. my boss fired my brother.


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