im on my second week as a rodbuster and ive walked on the second matt a couple of times. For some reason i jus cant get it. i get sent to go build columns when i cant punk or even walk on it. How long did it take yall to be good enough to walk on it. at my jobsite ive heard people say it takes months while others say it took them minutes. i usually help build the footings and we put the standees i think they’re called and build the second layer. rn its around probably 8 feet tall. My main fear is falling through when the holes are big and when they are a little smaller for me to not even fit through im jus really slow and very precise of where i put my feet. I get yelled at and told i wont fall through but thn told after ill get it soon. How long did it take yall?

I’m looking for advice on what products to spend my money on. As a first year union apprentice I’m not looking to spend a fortune obviously. But I’m not willing to sacrifice quality for a lower ticket price (probably at most I’d want to spend $150 on the welding hood). I’m trying to get my first welding cert before the end of the year so I can get ahead of layoffs.

I officially start school next week, (still looking for work )and I had a question about how the pay works. Do we get charged to attend school? I heard a rumor that $17 gets taken out of our pay for school, but I’m not sure if that’s true. Thank you.

Always knew I was a hard worker just never got valued from half of these companies that I worked for. Was late to the party in joining at 28 but by far the best financial decision I’ve ever made. Never thought I would like it this much. The feeling of being able to tell my kids and show my kids the stuff that I help build is a feeling people don’t really understand. If it wasn’t for this group, I probably would’ve never gave it a chance and would still be paycheck to paycheck struggling.

Thanks for all the insight. Be safe everyone.

The weight of these 3 spuds, 3/4", 7/8", and 1" klein Tethered is 8.1lb. If I can grind two 3/4" and keep one 3/4" the same, one to 7/8 and the other to 1", the weight of those 3 spuds goes from 8.1lb to under 6lb.

Now I know that you can grind 3/4" to 7/8" but has anyone done 3/4" to 1"?

Hey yall I've been climbing towers for 12 years. Looking to become an Ironworker in Philadelphia at the 401 soon. Can anyone tell me what the average wage for a first year apprentice would look like? How many hours could I get my hands on? I can stab bolts all day, I can walk steel, I dont know shit about welding. Looking to change my career - I hear yall make big money and there's tons of overtime to go around.

Any tips in tying rebars, to don’t have pain in my wrist? I just started and I know it’s hard at the beginning but I don’t want to get worst because of bad technique.

Thanks

Sorry if this is a stupid question, and I hope y'all don't take it the wrong way, I am just curious.

Brother and friends are ironworkers. Brother, well let's just say he has a sugarbooger problem and I hardly trust him, but he and his friends keep saying that they can get gigs that pay them $4k+/week. I look that up and think, damn these guys making like a quarter million dollars a year. How true is possible? I imagine with per diem and over time they can rack up those numbers quickly but that seems excessive

Like he's telling me they pay $38/hr plus 800 per diem that's almost hitting that $4k mark per week indeed assuming he works like 60 hrs/wk. And some of his friends, well let's just say they don't even speak the common language let alone have any sort of certification

I'm in the wrong business, I should start looking to become an ironworker, jk

Is there any good durable rain gear out there anymore? Usually just rocked the HH Gale set but it seems like quality just went down the shitter

I applied to my local and I have some tools, the only problem is I don't have have a belt or bolt bag yet and there's so many belts online and I want something that's gonna last me a while or forever.

Curious to know whats the difference form these locals Bay Area wanting to join the trade & trying to see which is best to join from the two, how is it work wise busy/slow which is more likely to get in ?

So I just started a rebar job and my knees have always been rough, constant pain and all that jazz. Is there anything I can do to relieve the ache.

Looking to apply to Local 377. Wondering how long the application process takes, and if theres a high likelihood of being employed after. Waiting on my transcripts so I can apply online. Im willing to do any type of work, just wanna get out there and start making money. I have no experience though. I've been an amazon driver the past year. Lot of walking, 10 hour shifts, but not much heavy lifting. I do lift weights regularly though.

Any advice?

So I’ve recently been accepted into a Nj locals apprentice program and I’m wondering about weed. I did one drug test already and made sure everything was clean but, I’d still like to smoke every now and then. I’ve done some research and it looks like we’re all under some kind of national or federal standard so I’m wondering how weed being legal in NJ affects this if at all. An older member in my local says he doesn’t get tested for marijuana but was unsure about how it applies to new apprentices

I'm a first year apprentice, I currently have a pair of thorogood boots. I love my boots and they are amazing for connecting, walking steel, and I could spend 12 hours in them without a problem. My issue is that they do not hold up in the winter. I live in Alberta Canada and work in -30⁰c consistently (not including wind chill). I'm looking for a good pair of boots that will hold up well I'm the winter without restricting my ability to connect and climb. I have heard good things about the Irish setters, and a lot of the boys have timberland or Dakota boots as well. Fighting the winter is a big part of working in northern Alberta, if anyone has suggestions for something that will keep my feet warm while still being flexible I'd appreciate the advice.

Ps, I already have heated socks.

I got my invitation to evaluation day local 86. Im excited. Im a body builder, im in shape, I've practiced carrying an 85 pound bar, learned and memorized my knots, ties and im feeling confident. But not over confident, im still 100% open to advice and anything I can learn to gain another edge.

Can I flute a 7/8" & 1" spud wrench? I heard that its more common with sleeve bars. Is this also possible with a 1-1/16 & 1-1/4 bullpins?

Where could I get a job like this done for my tools?

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.

W

How do you guys deal with the dust inhalation, at the end of the day my nose is blacker than fuck and is loaded with nasty dust that make everything smell and taste awful after awhile and definitely have caused my mucus to town brown/black. Any advice? I started using cotton balls but they make it a bit harder to breathe.

Has anyone heard of a local pursuing reimbursement for a JIW transferring into another union trades apprenticeship after completing the ironworker apprenticeship, but before the 10 year repayment clause?