Plumbing Tools of the Trade
They are becoming ever more sophisticated. Peek inside a plumber’s toolbox and you’ll likely find a number of hand tools common to every trade. These include hammers, saws, screwdrivers, pliers, files, chisels, levels, tape measures, flashlights, caulkers, etc. You also would be certain to find more than one size of pipe wrench, the tool most […]
What Do Plumbers Do?
Service plumbers work with their brains as well as the tools. Almost every home owner has a few essentials tools on hand to cope with plumbing emergencies. Most bathrooms will have a plunger nearby to take care of a clogged toilet or slow drain, and many home owners have a pipe wrench on hand […]
Have Wrench, Will Travel
Trade work is wherever you find it. A skilled trade career offers many rewards. One that may or may not appeal to you is the opportunity to live and work in a place other than where you are now living. Good news about trade work is that very few people in our society live […]
Character Counts For Trade Workers
Service work especially demands a clean background. Life is tough for people who end up in prison. It can be even tougher when they get out and have to fend for themselves when it comes to providing their own food and shelter. Job opportunities are very limited for those with a criminal record. The […]
What’s It Take To Be An Electrician?
This trade is more critical than ever. Skilled electricians always have been in high demand, but the trade is becoming more critical than ever because of the abundance of electronic systems being installed in homes and commercial buildings nowadays. So-called “smart homes” feature a array of automated systems to control lighting and appliances by […]
What’s It Take To Be An HVAC Technician?
HVAC jobs entail much responsibility. HVAC is common industry shorthand for Heating-Ventilating-Air Conditioning. Sometimes you’ll see the acronym as HVAC/R, the R standing for Refrigeration. Refrigeration is quite similar to Air Conditioning in technology and training, so for the sake of simplicity I’ll refer to HVAC with the understanding that it also encompasses refrigeration. […]
What’s It Take To Be A Plumber?
Plumbers protect the health of our nation. The plumbing trade is worth exploring by anyone interested in a job that will never become obsolete or be outsourced to another country. A favorite slogan of the plumbing trade is: “Plumbers protect the health of our nation.” In a very real sense that is true. Plumbers […]
How To Recognize A Good Apprenticeship Program
Is it really training or just cheap labor? In choosing an apprenticeship program, you have some basic decisions to make. Do you wish to pursue union employment or nonunion? Are you more intrigued by construction or service work? Most union-run apprenticeship programs are renowned for stressing top-notch craftsmanship. However, some may be hard to […]
Apprenticeship In The Service Trades
Most formal apprenticeship programs neglect service work. In my last article I described traditional apprenticeship programs established by contractors, unions and nonunion companies for the construction trades. Some of the plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians who fix and maintain those systems in your home may have learned their trade through these apprenticeship programs, but […]
What Is Apprenticeship?
It combines classroom instruction with hands-on work. Apprenticeship dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe as a way for master craftsmen to pass on their knowledge and techniques to younger generations. The craftsman would employ one or more young people at minimal wages in exchange for teaching them the craft. Typically apprentices would […]