update

[TheSparkens]

fitterjohn we always have said besides the Elevator guys you guys always have had a strong union. We also joke that you are no longer pipe fitters we call you guys pipe put er together, the art of threading pipe is almost a lost art. I am an electrician and have a large background in industrial work and when I was in the field we never could use unions all the pipe had to thread together. Now if you ask guys to do that there heads will explode. The trades are a great place to be and if you work hard you will never be out of work the only days that I have missed for work are the ones I have asked to.

[fitterjohn]

Shit I am a service tech. I have to relearn the pipe threader every time I need pipe( or let Home Depot do it). But my shop invested in 3 pro press/mega press tools. Much faster than threading gas pipe. Though there will always be a place for the welders. I do lots of ultra low temp refrigeration. And large tonnage equipment with a large amount of electrical controls. I make my money with my brain and meter( refrigerant gauges if I have to) and I the the monkeys put the pipe together. No offense to anyone that’s a real pipe fitter.

We do have a fairly strong union around here especially compared to the plumbers in co and the fitter locals around us. We are also like if of 7 straight line locals around. Stay out of the politics and it’s not too bad.

[Irving]

Gotta plus one this. I?m a college drop out with a 2.8 hs gpa. But I?m also a pipe fitter and clear 80-100k ( before taxes) every year since I was in my early 20s. They start you at a highish hourly(I think 16 and full medical ) on day one, you don?t pay for your education, they find you the job, the raise in pay is late out for you over 5 year apprenticeship, you can do it anywhere and can?t be outsourced, get a pension still, and the medical insurance covers all your dependents and doesn?t come out of your hourly wage. Oh and if your a service tech you take the company truck home with the company gas.

I just found this stuff in my tool box, where do I sign up?!

[jenznat0r]

In other news, today marks the end of an era for me. I've had my fair share of firearms for being a student. Had a safe and all. Sold the safe today in preparation to move in with wife's family....wife said the "embargo" of firearms is in effect until we get established and on our feet for a few years in Colorado. Our 5 year anniversary is on the 17th...almost brought her home a Glock 44 today so she could shoot with me again...just bringing it up almost landed me on the couch. Decided not to buy in the end. Guess I just need to accept where I'm at and get really comfortable with my Glock and 22 bolt action I have left. Kept what I felt was the bare minimum to be responsibly armed. Everything else has been sold off and put towards the moving fund. End of an era indeed.

[MrPrena]

Y'all doing very well doing ~$100k+ profit and etc.

I had only about 6-7 years of studying, and I (personally) made -$1600 last year, and broke even on corp. I am doing substantially better this year, and I expect to make about -$2500 if everything goes the way on acct. It will also be a break even on corp.


Someone just said that said person reported negative for years, and paid $750 on taxes on year 2017?

[fitterjohn]

I just found this stuff in my tool box, where do I sign up?!

We have a few widow makers like that laying around lol. Only used one like that as an apprentice.

[cableguy11]

I think if I had it to do all over again and didn't want to necessarily go to college, I'd try to get on as a lineman with a power company. I new more than just a few guys in the Bailey area that had been with the local power company for 10 years or more and were all making $100k+ per year. Not bad for a job that's all on-the-job training.

Plus no layoffs...and you get paid for bad weather days. Plus you can always move up to what I do which is basically work with the lineman but from the comfort of an office. In fact I watch the guys in Bailey now a days! They make awesome wages and awesome benefits.

[Bailey Guns]

In other news, today marks the end of an era for me. I've had my fair share of firearms for being a student. Had a safe and all. Sold the safe today in preparation to move in with wife's family....wife said the "embargo" of firearms is in effect until we get established and on our feet for a few years in Colorado. Our 5 year anniversary is on the 17th...almost brought her home a Glock 44 today so she could shoot with me again...just bringing it up almost landed me on the couch. Decided not to buy in the end. Guess I just need to accept where I'm at and get really comfortable with my Glock and 22 bolt action I have left. Kept what I felt was the bare minimum to be responsibly armed. Everything else has been sold off and put towards the moving fund. End of an era indeed.

I'm not judging you or what you do with your life. But I'm gathering from your other posts that you're about 32 years old, kind of adrift in life in not knowing exactly what you want to do, have limited finances at the present time and will soon be moving back to CO where you're going to live with your in-laws . Did I read correctly in another thread where it sounded like you were saying you used/were going to use student loan money to buy a gun?

This is just friendly advice from a guy you don't know but who's been where you are at some point in my earlier, much younger life. You need to set a course for your life before you even consider spending your limited resources on guns. I don't know of too many people who will tell you they really enjoyed their married life living with their (or her) parents...especially in their 30s. You're still young but you don't have an unlimited clock on settling into a career and life in general.

It's probably time you and your wife sat down and had a serious conversation about where you want to go with your lives and how you want to get there. I have no idea what your financial situation is aside from what you shared here and that sounds like you have limited means at the present time. I can tell you nothing will strangle your life in general and your relationship, and the ability to do things you want to do in life, like debt. That is a hard truth that many of us had to learn the hard way. Well...I did anyway. Taking on debt is the absolute worst thing you can do when you don't have a job, a house, etc... You're going to regret it.

Sit down with your wife and chart your course...your realistic course...going forward. Then start to do positive things that will allow you to get there and achieve what you've set out to do. I can tell you from personal experience you'll never get there if you have much debt at all.

Please take this advice in the spirit it's intended. I have no skin in your game...just trying to share some of life's little challenges that we've all faced at one point or another.

Good luck with whatever you do.

[hatidua]

You're still young but you don't have an unlimited clock on settling into a career and life in general.

I don't think that can be overstated. The clock ticks along extremely quickly.

[CS1983]

I'm not judging you or what you do with your life. But I'm gathering from your other posts that you're about 32 years old, kind of adrift in life in not knowing exactly what you want to do, have limited finances at the present time and will soon be moving back to CO where you're going to live with your in-laws . Did I read correctly in another thread where it sounded like you were saying you used/were going to use student loan money to buy a gun?

This is just friendly advice from a guy you don't know but who's been where you are at some point in my earlier, much younger life. You need to set a course for your life before you even consider spending your limited resources on guns. I don't know of too many people who will tell you they really enjoyed their married life living with their (or her) parents...especially in their 30s. You're still young but you don't have an unlimited clock on settling into a career and life in general.

It's probably time you and your wife sat down and had a serious conversation about where you want to go with your lives and how you want to get there. I have no idea what your financial situation is aside from what you shared here and that sounds like you have limited means at the present time. I can tell you nothing will strangle your life in general and your relationship, and the ability to do things you want to do in life, like debt. That is a hard truth that many of us had to learn the hard way. Well...I did anyway. Taking on debt is the absolute worst thing you can do when you don't have a job, a house, etc... You're going to regret it.

Sit down with your wife and chart your course...your realistic course...going forward. Then start to do positive things that will allow you to get there and achieve what you've set out to do. I can tell you from personal experience you'll never get there if you have much debt at all.

Please take this advice in the spirit it's intended. I have no skin in your game...just trying to share some of life's little challenges that we've all faced at one point or another.

Good luck with whatever you do.

This. So much, this.