How do you see this industry shift? Where can I build a better career?

[Sam_colt88]

I currently work in a workshop that manufactures water treatment machinery. 95% of the work is stainless steel and TIG welding. I have been offered a job in a heavy machinery repair shop (excavators, bulldozers..)They pay better, it's closer to home, but the hours are worse.

 

[frank horton]

go to Ozz like everybody else.....
have done the heavy machinery thing ....I loved it but it make old bones early.....
really depends on management but thats the same everywhere.....
My daughter will be finishing her training soon......she cant wait to get back to Perth....

 

[winchman]

Its a difficult choice, we have a few companies in the UK who make water treatment plants but some just give the work to a contract manufacture and have no staff of there own, so the work can be very sporadic. You have to decide which you would prefer doing, would the new job teach you new skills you could use in future?

 

[Erie Fred]

I currently work in a workshop that manufactures water treatment machinery. 95% of the work is stainless steel and TIG welding. I have been offered a job in a heavy machinery repair shop (excavators, bulldozers..)They pay better, it's closer to home, but the hours are worse.

Clean work inside a nice shop, regular hours.

Outside, various locations, working hard, variable hours, more money.
would you be welding in the heavy equipment shop ? or wrenching ?

 

[Gritineye]

I did a couple of years in Contractors Plant maintenance, good money at the time but it was rather brutal, I moved on!

 

[Sam_colt88]

Clean work inside a nice shop, regular hours.

Outside, various locations, working hard, variable hours, more money.
would you be welding in the heavy equipment shop ? or wrenching ?

The current work is quite clean (as long as you don't go to repair machines). The bad thing is that when installations are done, you travel very far and spend about a week away from home.

The job they're offering me is mostly in the workshop, they told me, but there are outings to do repairs at quarries, earthworks, and other places where they have machines working. These are more local sites, so you would always sleep at home

 

[Gritineye]

there are outings to do repairs at quarries, earthworks, and other places where they have machines working. These are more local sites, so you would always sleep at home

Sorry to be negative, but in my experience these outings will always turn out to be time critical, it's jiust the nature of the beast.

Ok, so you've managed to get back in your own bed, but getting to sleep is another matter.

With me it came to a stand off after three urgent on site so called "maintenance" jobs in a 18 hr day which I fixed, I turned up half an hour late next day which got me a b*****king.

Walked out never went back.

 

[minimutly]

The current work is quite clean (as long as you don't go to repair machines). The bad thing is that when installations are done, you travel very far and spend about a week away from home.

The job they're offering me is mostly in the workshop, they told me, but there are outings to do repairs at quarries, earthworks, and other places where they have machines working. These are more local sites, so you would always sleep at home

Have you ever lain under a 360 tracked machine, in a puddle of mud, with hydraulic oil dripping on you, torch in your mouth, trying to fix it? Well I have, once, and once was enough....

 

[Erie Fred]

The current work is quite clean (as long as you don't go to repair machines). The bad thing is that when installations are done, you travel very far and spend about a week away from home.

The job they're offering me is mostly in the workshop, they told me, but there are outings to do repairs at quarries, earthworks, and other places where they have machines working. These are more local sites, so you would always sleep at home

Do the hard things in life.
Do them well.
Don't complain about getting dirty.

You'll be better for it.
And you'll gain experience and respect.

You think you can start out and get the top paying and best jobs ?

As you get older, take the clean inside jobs.

 

[gaz1]

I currently work in a workshop that manufactures water treatment machinery. 95% of the work is stainless steel and TIG welding. I have been offered a job in a heavy machinery repair shop (excavators, bulldozers..)They pay better, it's closer to home, but the hours are worse.

are you happy where you are ?

do you think your job will last the test of time ?

will it last until you retire?

is that job better for you from what your saying no its not

might be better pay, closer to home but its ackwards hrs

will it last a long while ?

last in first out comes to mind if work goes slack

have you talked with other employees and got there input whats there saying on the job does it apear that they go through workers often

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Mirroring others, plant is hard, dirty work. My personal worst was replacing a track motor hose on a 360 theyd bogged on a landfill. Had to tunnel under the turntable to get access. I stripped off on site and drove back home in a pair of tyvek overalls, my other clothes stayed on the landfill. I could still smell it days later. It’s always, without fail rush work as well, and no matter how quick you are, you’re never quick enough not to get whinged at

 

[frank horton]

yes pretty much to all the above....welding overhead or vertical up a ladder if ur lucky in pouring rain with a hurricane blowing on a cold moor is not fun at all....
forget the plant work....

 

[addjunkie]

I currently work in a workshop that manufactures water treatment machinery. 95% of the work is stainless steel and TIG welding. I have been offered a job in a heavy machinery repair shop (excavators, bulldozers..)They pay better, it's closer to home, but the hours are worse.

As a retired industrial prostitute……they dont pay big money for nothing. More is normally paid, as more is expected, time pressure, work conditions are pants. Grass isnt always greener on the other side, quite often its brown and sticky!

Do your homework before you jump, going back isn't always possible!

 

[8ob]

Not so sure welding in a sweat shop could be regarded as a career, its more of a wage/salary. Loads of better paid welders out there on £600 plus a day working as pipeline/pipe fitter welders, for a lot of the reasons above its a young mans game.

Bob

 

[Dilkris]

The job they're offering me is mostly in the workshop, they told me, but there are outings to do repairs at quarries, earthworks, and other places where they have machines working.

Believe me, you will be outside in quarries and such "MOSTLY" - machines don't break down in workshops.
AND - winter is coming...
Stay put or look for other alternatives.

 

[Gritineye]

Have you ever lain under a 360 tracked machine, in a puddle of mud, with hydraulic oil dripping on you, torch in your mouth, trying to fix it? Well I have, once, and once was enough....

The only time I've ever had claustrophobia was laying under a dozer taking the belly plate off to get at the duff starter.

Starter comes out easily from above but operators always will leave the arms down at any sign of trouble, so they get a longer break while they watch you struggle underneath.

It was orrible, my legs started kicking and I had to scramble out and calm myself down before going back under.

Then there's the dozy dozer operator who insists on diving along the sloping pebble beach, instead of up and down like he was told to do. Cos his tracks are set loose to stop pebbles jamming them up.

Predictably gravity dictates that he drives out of both tracks just as the tide's coming in.

 

[pedrobedro]

A friend of mine had a business cleaning machinery on site using an old fire engine for water and a pressure washer pump. I went out with him on a few jobs It was usually cold, wet and dirty and only done to prepare for repair work which had been left too long so it was desperate. I know I wouldn't have wanted to be doing it on a regular basis.

 

[Onoff]

They pay better, it's closer to home, but the hours are worse.

I'd read that as it could be potential dangerous and definitely dirty and cold if on site. You'll get home knackered, grumpy & too tired to interact with your kids or be falling asleep reading them a story.

 

[Mick Annick]

Have you ever lain under a 360 tracked machine, in a puddle of mud, with hydraulic oil dripping on you, torch in your mouth, trying to fix it? Well I have, once, and once was enough....

You forgot to mention ‘in the depths of winter’

And that’s why I packed in being a mechanic for Ready Mixed Concrete.

 

[jenki]

I can't offer direct experience like the majority of replies, just an observation I used to live 'out in the sticks' where the main employment was forestry I have never seen an industry for turning young men into old before their time, and that includes being born into a family who were miners in previous generations. I would suggest you look at your work collegues are they a decent and trustworthy bunch do you get on well? Being 'on call' and going to remote sites on your own even if its indoors and comfortable can be demoralising.