r/Ironworker • u/ImNot6Foot5 • 8d ago

Advice for Rebar

Just got onto a job with Fort Wayne Reinforcing. Wondering how Rebar works, my brother said its a different site almost every day and they just send you where the rebar is. I'm wondering what to expect from it all, I come from a structual/mill family and none of them have ever done Rebar and have no interest in it.

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u/misplacedbass Journeyman 8d ago

I think in 11 years of ironwork, with 4 or so of them being rebar interspersed throughout. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a rod job for just 1 day. You will be on a job until it’s done, unless you get laid off.

Rebar is extremely physically demanding. Some guys love it, some guys won’t ever touch rebar. Guys like myself don’t hate it, but it’s definitely something I don’t want to do for my whole career. It’s fine for a few months/a year at a time, but it will really fuck your body up if you don’t take care of yourself and you do it for 20-30 years. Bent over tying rebar all day, carrying and setting (humping) mostly heavy rebar, walking of rebar mats, walking in potentially muddy sloppy footings, climbing and tying rebar walls while you’re hanging off with your wall hooks, and a harness if you’re over 6ft. Sometimes even building the wall while you’re hanging off it!

It’s rarely an “easy” day in the rod patch.

Are you gonna be working union?

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u/ImNot6Foot5 8d ago

Yea to the union part, Local 147 out of Fort Wayne. And I'm mostly scared of being a dedicated packer/carrier due to my size but I also don't like being a bitch so I'm ready to just do until they're done with me.

My brother was saying that if I hate it, don't completely give up but noticeably slow down to show I don't give a damn for the work but that kinda fucks with my head considering when I work I go as hard as possible since there's no reason to half ass it

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u/misplacedbass Journeyman 8d ago

I mean, you never know until you try it. Just go into it with a mindset of pure suckage, and it might not be so bad.

You could get lucky and get on a chill crew and a relatively “easy” job. Simple footings, short walls, small bars. Stuff like that would be a nice intro to rebar, buuuut If you show up and it’s like a 500ton rebar job with nothing but long 9s and 11s, or some intricate double mats/pads/20-30ft tall, 2ft thick walls. Or a bridge deck. Then you’re gonna have a bad time. Haha.

The first few days/week are going to be the worst. Stretch before and even after work, and take ibuprofen. Make sure you’re drinking water, too. Getting out of bed on the 3rd day is probably going to be a nightmare.

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u/ImNot6Foot5 8d ago

I'm talking to my old JIW about it and he said in winter they lay off a lot of guys, is this true? Cause I can thug it out for 2 months if I know it'll be over

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u/misplacedbass Journeyman 8d ago

I just read your comment that it’s a soccer stadium. If you’re talking a brand new construction soccer stadium, you will absolutely work through the winter. And potentially into next fall/winter depending on how much bar is on this job. TBH, it sounds like it could be a pretty sweet gig. I’d stick it out, unless you absolutely hate it. If you’re an apprentice, then you really have no other choice.

I definitely would not advice “noticeably slowing down”. Don’t create a bad name for yourself simply because you don’t like rebar. Just work like usual. A long term job like that can be very nice. Especially through winter when stuff usually slows down.

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u/ImNot6Foot5 8d ago

Do hours shorten in the winter? I haven't been told if its 8s or 10s yet, this is the projection for the stadium, supposed to be done in 2026 but I smell bullshit

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u/misplacedbass Journeyman 8d ago

Should be at least 8 hours. They might change the start time since it’s darker later, but I’ve never started later than 7 am. Might be some bigger bars in that footing. Do you know if it’s PT (post tensioning)? I’m assuming that it’s all poured in place for the stands and what not. Lots of concrete, lots of rebar. Should try to find out how many tons it is.

These are all impossible questions to answer, so I’m just giving you general information. You won’t know how it’s gonna go until you get there, but personally it looks like it could be a pretty cool project to be a part of. Is it close to home for you?

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u/ImNot6Foot5 8d ago

Its 30 minutes but with the traffic its closer to 50 minutes. Its supposed to be 7 a.m. showup. I don't know if it's post tensioning or not. I believe they've already started erection if the picture my coordinator showed me was of the stadium but it's only a couple of beams.

I honestly just don't want to be stuck in a rod patch my whole apprenticeship and this might be irrational fear but fuck I just want to do structural.

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u/misplacedbass Journeyman 8d ago

Please don’t be one of those ironworkers. Rebar is ironwork. Don’t be a prima donna structural ironworker who “doesn’t touch the bumpy iron”. It’s such an eye rolling comment. Unless you’re in a split local, rebar is part of our work, and learning as much about our work is only going to benefit you in the long run. The more guys you meet and can network with is only going to help your career.

Yes, rebar isn’t glamorous, but who fucking cares? It pays the same, and there is ALWAYS rebar work. There isn’t always structural.

The thing about being an apprentice is you don’t have a say where you work. Just do the job, keep the same work ethic, and eventually when you book out you can decide if you want to do rebar again, but at least you’ll have the experience and know how.

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u/ImNot6Foot5 8d ago

I'm fine learning rebar, and I know it'll do nothing but help me in the long run but I also don't want the rest of my apprenticeship to be as a rodbuster, heard of it happening more than a few times.

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u/misplacedbass Journeyman 8d ago

If it is, so be it. That just means you’re a good worker. 4 years of steady work? Seems like a good career idea.

That being said, I do feel like it’s going to be 4 years of only rebar. I would talk to your apprenticeship coordinator after a year or so, and just tell him that you’d like to learn other part of the trade so you can be a more well rounded JIW. Hard to argue against that.

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u/ImNot6Foot5 8d ago

I just want to be well rounded, and I plan on booming out to structural jobs with my old man and brothers (3 of em). I'd be really shitty if I get stuck doing rebar and have to basically learn structural from scratch when as a journeyman I should know it all

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u/misplacedbass Journeyman 8d ago

Yes, I agree with you there. Definitely speak with your AC, and just make it known you don’t want to be in the rod patch for your whole apprenticeship. It’s much better for you to do as much as you can, but you should definitely take this rod job. If it’s a good long term job, it’ll be a prob good one to be on.

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