[MindBomber]

A thread for tradespeople to discuss the industry, tools, and maybe even network. NOT a thread for DIY'ers to seek help, sorry.

so, who works in the trades on RS?

[finbar]

A carpenter since 1986.

Networking is the essence. It has kept me busy over the years.

I've learned so much from those around me the best way to thank them is to carry forward to the apprentices, who, by the way, have taught me much.


What's your trade Mindbomber?

[MindBomber]

I've been an insulator since 2006.

Long-term, I plan on leaving construction or I'd be looking to become a carpenter.

What type of work do you do; multifamily, customs, commercial?

[meme405]

Welder/Millwright checking in.

No longer on the tools however. Although most days I find myself wishing to go back.

[604nguyen]

Electrician - FSR Class B

Still in the industry, but no longer on the tools.

[finbar]

I've been an insulator since 2006.

Long-term, I plan on leaving construction or I'd be looking to become a carpenter.

What type of work do you do; multifamily, customs, commercial?

Commercial, I specialize in doors and hardware (the gravy). Mostly schools, hospitals, prisons, public works stuff with an occasional office building.
If you are good at twisting wrenches you'd make a good door guy.

Go with the apprenticeship programme and get the ticket and the network.

[Chuckz]

Power Engineer.

[Devastator]

Machinist

[underscore]

I know not everyone considers it a trade, but Electronic Technologist here.

[Matlock]

Electrician: Red Seal, FSR Class B

I've been working since 2005. Way back when, I started off apprenticing for my father who is an electrician with over 30 years experience.

I've been doing residential for most of my career. Now, I get to work on ridiculously high end houses half of the time.

[finbar]

Now, I get to work on ridiculously high end houses half of the time.

I got to work on one of those, had to sign a non disclose or be buried in the pyramid with the king.

Totally fascinating job, I'll never see one like it again.

[snowball]

.

[blue_noise]

electrician FSR class A. working at surmount 2 in fort mac right now as QA/QC

[MindBomber]

I've done a good bit of unbelievably high end work, including a private island off the coast of Bowen Island with a particularly high profile owner.......

[Gsxrghostrider]

Production Machinist for VAE Nortrak ( Plant closure June 26th 2014)

enjoying my time off.

[E-40six]

I think I'm a trade haha

Painter since 2006 and then I branched off into Demolition and Disposal

[smarv]

Metal Fabricator: Bcit/Ita Certified

[Puck Luck]

Honda technician since 1990. days remaining may be numbered though :whistle:

[quasi]

I do Estimating and Project Managing for a mainly commercial Structural and Light Gauge Steel Stud Framing, Drywall, EIFS, Acoustic Ceiling, Acoustic Panel and Wood Ceiling Contractor. We do some high end houses and condo's but generally speaking mostly Schools, Hospitals, Tilt Ups, Retail Stores and Mall Tenant Improvement work.

[meme405]

I do Estimating and Project Managing for a mainly commercial Structural and Light Gauge Steel Stud Framing, Drywall, EIFS, Acoustic Ceiling, Acoustic Panel and Wood Ceiling Contractor. We do some high end houses and condo's but generally speaking mostly Schools, Hospitals, Tilt Ups, Retail Stores and Mall Tenant Improvement work.

Do you have a trade?

[quasi]

Do you have a trade?

Wall & Ceiling installer but I am not on the tools anymore haven't been for a long time. Now I just read blueprints and specs most the day but if someone had a question I could answer it. BTW if anyone was thinking of doing this job don't, it sucks shit all around unless you get out of the field.

WALL AND CEILING INSTALLER | BC Wall and Ceiling Association (http://www.bcwca.org/trades/wall_and_ceiling_installer)

[meme405]

Wall & Ceiling installer but I am not on the tools anymore haven't been for a long time. Now I just read blueprints and specs most the day but if someone had a question I could answer it. BTW if anyone was thinking of doing this job don't, it sucks shit all around unless you get out of the field.

WALL AND CEILING INSTALLER | BC Wall and Ceiling Association (http://www.bcwca.org/trades/wall_and_ceiling_installer)

Oh cool.

Yeah I can see that kinda being repetitive.

Part of the reason I love millwrighting, its different shit everyday.

Estimating is a different sort of pain in the ass.

That moment you learn you are low bid...

That moment you have to price a last minute addendum.

Or that fucked up moment when you receive a post tender addendum...Lol

[Gucci Mane]

i pound sand for a living. srs.

[quasi]

Estimating is a different sort of pain in the ass.

That moment you learn you are low bid...

That moment you have to price a last minute addendum.

Or that fucked up moment when you receive a post tender addendum...Lol

My first reaction when I find out I'm low bid is, "oh fuck my life what did I miss?". I'm sure it's the same for most trades but the margins are so low in the lower mainland right now it's tough to get decent work with any money in it. If you go East to Alberta or Sask the margins are much much higher but now you're dealing with manpower issues. It's like you're dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

[GLOW]

My first reaction when I find out I'm low bid is, "oh fuck my life what did I miss?".

http://memestick.com/images/0048_MAG_KNOWFEELBRO_BRIGHT.jpg

or when you get asked a details on something specific specific 6 months later and/or if you allowed for it.

[quasi]

http://memestick.com/images/0048_MAG_KNOWFEELBRO_BRIGHT.jpg

or when you get asked a details on something specific specific 6 months later and/or if you allowed for it.



Absolutely I have some stories regarding battling scopes of work after the fact, the worse the drawings the more arguments but I try and cover myself as best I can with tender clarifications. We bid a job earlier this year that had 15 other contractors bidding the same scope, now we weren't low but I'm just imagining how shitty it would have been if we were. I do not want any job where I beat out 15 other guys, there is no way there is any money in it, hell I don't want a job with half as many bidders.

[MindBomber]

edit: nvm.

[meme405]

Absolutely I have some stories regarding battling scopes of work after the fact, the worse the drawings the more arguments but I try and cover myself as best I can with tender clarifications. We bid a job earlier this year that had 15 other contractors bidding the same scope, now we weren't low but I'm just imagining how shitty it would have been if we were. I do not want any job where I beat out 15 other guys, there is no way there is any money in it, hell I don't want a job with half as many bidders.

Lol my page for what I have allowed for on a given job is usually just that, 1 PAGE.

My clarifications and what I havn't allowed for, usually like 5+. Bigger jobs could be like 10 or 15. LOLOLOL

I had some guy speaking at a seminar start off by trying to tell the audience that you should only bid jobs with the drawings that are 75%+ complete. Needless to say I just got up and walked out.

Sorry but if i'm only bidding jobs with documents that are 75%+ complete, not only would I only be bidding like 2 jobs a year, statistically I wouldn't win either of them.

Just set a good contingency value and I do your best to cover your ass as much as possible.

I just recently got beat out on a job where I had cut my rates by quite a bit. I mean I really gave them a LOW number (and on top of that I was given the incorrect price of some specialized valves which made my number another $35k low). In the end I still got beat out by another company. I was utterly shocked. I wish them the best of luck as I am pretty sure they and the owner are going to need it.

I can't believe owners just keep accepting ridiculously low numbers like they do, their just going to keep wrapping projects up in ridiculous litigation and change orders because the estimator missed a bunch of stuff during the tender phase. The industry is headed down a dangerous path now more so than ever, soon we will be just like the US where the first thing that happens after you sign the contract is that you run down to the land titles office and file a Lien on the property.

[quasi]

Lol my page for what I have allowed for on a given job is usually just that, 1 PAGE.

My clarifications and what I havn't allowed for, usually like 5+. Bigger jobs could be like 10 or 15. LOLOLOL

I had some guy speaking at a seminar start off by trying to tell the audience that you should only bid jobs with the drawings that are 75%+ complete. Needless to say I just got up and walked out.

Sorry but if i'm only bidding jobs with documents that are 75%+ complete, not only would I only be bidding like 2 jobs a year, statistically I wouldn't win either of them.

Just set a good contingency value and I do your best to cover your ass as much as possible.

I just recently got beat out on a job where I had cut my rates by quite a bit. I mean I really gave them a LOW number (and on top of that I was given the incorrect price of some specialized valves which made my number another $35k low). In the end I still got beat out by another company. I was utterly shocked. I wish them the best of luck as I am pretty sure they and the owner are going to need it.

I can't believe owners just keep accepting ridiculously low numbers like they do, their just going to keep wrapping projects up in ridiculous litigation and change orders because the estimator missed a bunch of stuff during the tender phase. The industry is headed down a dangerous path now more so than ever, soon we will be just like the US where the first thing that happens after you sign the contract is that you run down to the land titles office and file a Lien on the property.

LOL, it's funny because it's true. I had a walk through budget last year for a restaurant reno, it's a company we do quite a bit of work for. His drawing consisted of a sketch of the floor plan with nothing on it as far as new work. He walked around and told me what they were doing sort of and wanted a budget so I gave it to him. Down the road actual drawings come out but I'm to busy to bid, the other estimator here does it and he's 60% higher then my budget because they added a shit load of work he never told me about. I get an email back with my budget, my co-workers price and all it said was, "what the fuck!!!".

He goes with this shitty company that is like 1/2 our price. 3 months into his 4 month reno he calls us and is begging us to come on site and help this other company out because they don't know what there doing and everything is getting fucked up. We tell him if he kicks them off site we'll come and finish it T&M but we aren't going on there jobsite. He agrees and lets just say our T&M is more then our quote and on top of that he had paid the first company a bunch of money as well. Will he learn his lesson? I'm guessing no, this isn't the first time this has happened with his guy.

[meme405]

LOL, it's funny because it's true. I had a walk through budget last year for a restaurant reno, it's a company we do quite a bit of work for. His drawing consisted of a sketch of the floor plan with nothing on it as far as new work. He walked around and told me what they were doing sort of and wanted a budget so I gave it to him. Down the road actual drawings come out but I'm to busy to bid, the other estimator here does it and he's 60% higher then my budget because they added a shit load of work he never told me about. I get an email back with my budget, my co-workers price and all it said was, "what the fuck!!!".

He goes with this shitty company that is like 1/2 our price. 3 months into his 4 month reno he calls us and is begging us to come on site and help this other company out because they don't know what there doing and everything is getting fucked up. We tell him if he kicks them off site we'll come and finish it T&M but we aren't going on there jobsite. He agrees and lets just say our T&M is more then our quote and on top of that he had paid the first company a bunch of money as well. Will he learn his lesson? I'm guessing no, this isn't the first time this has happened with his guy.

Owners/Developers need to learn that T&M, or cost+ doesn't mean that I am going to dawdle around just to screw them. I have enough work to keep me busy. I get in, do what I need to charge out, and move to the next one. The fact that I am lump sum or T&M makes no difference, our goal is to complete the work efficiently and to the best of our abilities and go home safe at night. If I can manage to do that every day I know that I can make a good living.

More contracts need to be run on T&M/Cost+. This lump sum shit is just asking for trouble.

[GLOW]

when we get outbid by some stupid amount, we usually say that they were bidding a different job :lol

[MindBomber]

He goes with this shitty company that is like 1/2 our price. 3 months into his 4 month reno he calls us and is begging us to come on site and help this other company out because they don't know what there doing and everything is getting fucked up. We tell him if he kicks them off site we'll come and finish it T&M but we aren't going on there jobsite. He agrees and lets just say our T&M is more then our quote and on top of that he had paid the first company a bunch of money as well. Will he learn his lesson? I'm guessing no, this isn't the first time this has happened with his guy.

I've been called in to complete/fix another company's work on a job we had bid on after they failed their inspection multiple times. The T&M was also more than our original quote due to the amount of time consumed pulling their work out. We thought the contractor would learn better but nope. We bid another job for him against said company and they won. Not worth it to work with him any more. We have enough work to be selective about who we deal with.

[jepho]

Red Seal Welder

[Gumby]

I've been called in to complete/fix another company's work on a job we had bid on after they failed their inspection multiple times. The T&M was also more than our original quote due to the amount of time consumed pulling their work out. We thought the contractor would learn better but nope. We bid another job for him against said company and they won. Not worth it to work with him any more. We have enough work to be selective about who we deal with.
Wow, your client went with the shitty contractor AGAIN? That's unbelievable.

I would hate to go in to clean up someone else's mess, regardless of the extra profit.

[MindBomber]

Which power tool brand do you all like best?

I've been very happy with Milwaukee but they don't offer a table saw, which is what I'm looking for at the moment. I was thinking of going with Bosch. Any thoughts?

[pingu81]

I prefer Milwaukee (mainly for their hassle-free warranty support).

[E-40six]

I prefer Hilti, Makita, Milwaukee, and Bosch

I refuse to buy anything dewalt

[meme405]

Hilti. No time wasted on screwing around, our rep will warranty just about anything, and the gear is really tough, and high quality.

I do have a bosch hammer drill, which I do like a lot and it has been very faithful to me.

I also have had some makita stuff previously, a palm sander, a belt sander, and also a corded drywall drill. Never really had a problem with any of their stuff either.

[badboy]

Do you guys consider trades a good route to get into at this time? I know BC is in deep demand for trades people but I feel like its gonna die down after this housing boom and pipelines construction dissipates.

[MindBomber]

The demand for tradespeople will always exist and be high, especially if you have the right perspective on workmanship to develop real skill at your trade.

The trades are not limited to only the construction industry, and even only a relatively small portion of it is driven by the "housing boom" and large projects.

[Hondaracer]

If I had to look back I regret not becoming an electrician.

At 28 I'm still young relatively speaking but I've basically got my foot in the door for super/management so I've kinda pigeon holed myself

If I had been an electrician at least your field is so broad your opportunities are endless

[badboy]

I feel like I need to get the ball rolling in my life right now and I'm thinking of switching into the trades from the BBA program. They say the market is saturated with degrees and I feel I won't be able to find a job after graduation let alone enjoy the work that I would do. I keep looking at welding for some reason and it looks it could be pretty fun.

[Hondaracer]

welding is a good spot to be as well because it can branch out to so many areas

[MindBomber]

Welding requires a specific breed of person; it's very repetitive, especially in manufacturing environments. at least that's my experience with it.

I'm sure there are some welders here that would be able to advise you on it.

[Prolowtone]

I did production welding in Richmond for almost a year, i had to give it up as i got sick at the time. I didnt mind the work but the company and their management were pretty bad with benefits and raises and trying to cut time.. it got to a point where i took pics of my time cards and showed them that i was aware they were screwing me over. glad im out of it. Welding is not a bad gig if you land in the right spot but i got tired of the fumes and noise and shitty positions.

Im a first year pipefitter now, have 4 years experience with this current company but only signed my papers this summer. im an idiot people, sign your papers when you start and do your schooling!

[alex.w *//]

Low voltage tech/installer
Alarm TQ
Alarm FSR
Home Automation (Control4)