Welcome to /r/pipefitter!

I’m thinking of getting into the trades and like the work of power engineers and the earning potential. I’ve read it’s in the $250k range with experience. But apparently power engineering is hard to find a job as a 4th or 3rd class. What’s pipefitting like? Can you earn $250k a year after experience and are there entry level jobs? Edit: Canadian context would help.

Local 440 question!!

Hello people, I am currently working towards getting into the 2025 2026 apprenticeship program for the local 440 in Indianapolis., any advice is much appreciate I have my aptitude test coming up this November and I was wondering if anyone has taken it yet or can give me any advice on how hard it is going to be. I am very nervous for it as this is a huge opportunity for me and I do not want to fuck this up for myself, any advice is much appreciated

Been on the job for roughly 4 and a half months and have had 2 weeks of school and still feel super lost a lot of the time, and it’s been stressing me out quite a bit. I know pipe fitting is a complex and technical trade, and I’m really trying hard to understand things, it’s just so much info being tossed at me at once and it’s hard to digest all of it. Thanks!

Wanting to get into the trades at 44yrs old.

Been an Office drone for too long. Can’t stand the worthless work being done my most tech workers.

Originally, I was dead set on Electrician. However, now that I understand a bit more of the scope of the union work it doesn’t seem to have the diversity of skills that may come with the UA apprenticeship programs.

My thought is, I would like to get into HVAC and pipe fitting, but realize I may have to only choose one, which is discouraging.

It would be nice to learn about Homestead and off grid living subjects as well as building structures.

Anything I am missing?

Lastly, I like the idea that after I journey out, being able to work 712 hour shifts at powerplants and then having some time off in between contracts to be able to do side work and learn the other trades as well.

Appreciate all your help

How much will I be paying a month at local 250 ?

Hey I'm only in my first week in trainingnand having a hard time remembering the formulas for offset travel and rolling offset is there some sort of cheat sheet or card with the formulas that I can keep in my wallet or something

Yall ever get used to lifting 40 foot pipe with chainfalls or do I just need to work out more? Lol I'm not a small or weak guy by any means but holy shit.

I’m 18 yrs old straight out of welding school and I’m was looking to get into local 250 as my first “job” and place to prefect my craft in welding, I seen that I need to take a math test (no problem) but I talked to my school instructor he said if I at least had my stick cert i wouldn’t really have to take the test but idk if that’s true or not. I need a little more help in info about this union someone explain please?

hi yall I'm a recent high school graduate. I was recently denied from the navy and was thinking of joining my pipefiiting/plumber union over in Waco. I have an osha 10 and a d1.1 certification if that helps at all? but my main questions are how often do yall get to travel? can I jump locals if I move states is it possible to work out of country? also if yall can give any advice in advance it's would be super appreciated!!

Most of my work has been semiconductor if that helps.

I’ve been interviewing with the Local 32 in Seattle for the past two years and just had my fourth interview last week. The new ranking isn’t out yet, but I was #27 before (for the Steamfitters). This morning I got a call from the apprenticeship office for a long term helper position with a contractor who sat in on my interview and wants to hire me. I’ll be getting more details soon when I sign the paperwork, but what is it that you actually get to do as a helper? I’ve heard different things, one being that the only tool you can use is a drill and all you’re really doing is clean up. I’m totally willing to put my time in and do that, but how long should I expect to be one before finally getting in to the actual apprenticeship? Any advice on how to stand out and quickly advance as a helper? Thanks.

I just got my assignment this week after a long process doing small jobs pipe fitting with a respected PM. I’m coming from residential carpentry and I’m over the moon about the opportunities I now have for my family and my career. Any advice would be appreciated. You can AMA if you like about my process to get in so far but I don’t know shit about fitting 🤣

Hey everyone,

I’m in a stable office job that’s easy, has a lot of downtime, and doesn’t put much wear and tear on my body. I’m considering switching to pipefitting for the higher pay, but I’m still on the fence. I’d love to hear your stories—

how is your work-life balance? Hows the wear and tear on your body? How does the trade impact your personal life? And overall, do you feel it’s worth it?”

Trying to make wise decisions moving forward for myself and my family. Thank you.

Ok so I'm an engineer not a pipefitter, so I have a question for you guys with way more experience than me.

I've curious to hear your opinions on the different manufacturers of grooved pipe fittings. I know Victaulic is the gold standard, but there seems to be a few competitors out there at much more competitive costs.

For a standard 2 bolt coupling, why would I want to go with a Victaulic 005 when I can spec a Smith Cooper Cooplok for 1/5 the price? The project I'm working on is not a fire protection system, its a low pressure dielectric oil cooling loop for a data center.

I've been a UA Local 170 member since April now. I'm a year 1 Steamfitter with around 800 hours and my exam completed through union school. I've been bidding on jobs through my union app for around 6 months now and still haven't had much luck getting employed, my referral list number has been going down slowly which I hope are bettering my chances of getting employed but everytime I call dispatch they tell me to just go "knocking on doors" and everytime I knock on doors they tell me they get their new hires through dispatch. I've completed all my certifications which are needed to work but at this rate it seems like its going to be a very long time till I land a union job. Has anyone else experienced this as well? If so any tips or tricks on landing a union job quicker?

Will be getting my sprinkler ticket soon and was wondering if it’s worth while to start on a ticket for pipe fitting ? How’s the career like ? Out of town / camp jobs easy to find ? Long term out look after doing it for a while ?

Im a first year apprentice and I've only been in the field for a couple of months. After we finished an outage I was told I was gonna be sitting for a little bit. Is this normal?

I am not sure if this is the best place to post this, but here I am.

I work in automation/controls. We have an oil tank (10k gallons) that we pump in to and out. We also have a heat exchanger that pulls product out, warms it up, and sends it back in. We have to warm this product up in order to move it around.

We have been finding blown fuses on the heat exchanger pump, and the product pump that pumps the oil out. Friday when I changed the fuses on the heat exchanger and checked windings, I energized the motor and it turned on just fine. A few minutes later a blending personnel yelled at us and asked what we did because their pump just quit working. They were using the product pump at the same I turned the heat exchanger pump on. This time the fuses in the pump blew.

I had to assume running these two motors at same time is causing some type of pressure imbalance, so I locked the product pump out until I can find solution. Can anyone explain this? Is it a vacuum issue created by pumping out/in at same time? What can I do to prevent this besides preventing the motors from being on at same time? Can a simple valve prevent this from happening? I could program a valve to open if these two motors need to run simultaneously.

Hi, I’m an electrician and just bought a house. When I demoed the ceiling in my basement I noticed that almost none of my radiator pipes are supported from the joists. Most of them are just resting on top of each other or flapping in the breeze. I’m really used to supporting my pipes so this jumped out at me. What are the rules for supporting hot water pipes? Does it vary by pipe diameter? I’m in Chicago if that helps.

As a first year what are some things i should have learned by the end of the first year?

Has anyone tried higher end pnw boots like Nicks, Whites, or JK? I've been thinking about getting a pair and I just want to know if they hold up better than the USA thorogoods or redwing I have used and if they are worth the price.

Also do you guys use safety to or soft toe on your boots?

Has anyone gotten their acceptance letter in the mail yet , took my test last month on the 27th , from what I’ve seen and heard people usually get their letter of not next month then December for the January classes.

I got my letter from the union hall and I ranked 40 on the labor list! I did better than I thought I did. I’m considering applying for a pipe tradesman position to help better my chances to officially get accepted.

Does anyone have any insight on what a day in the life of a pipe tradesman is like? Anything would help!

I have a upcoming interview for the apprenticeship. I'm wondering if I should be ready to take the aptitude test on the same day as the interview or will the aptitude and drug tests be at a later date after the interview.

I have a upcoming interview for the apprenticeship. I'm wondering if I should be ready to take the aptitude test on the same day as the interview or will the aptitude and drug tests be at a later date after the interview.

Attempting to see how far off the schedule company has our work schedule and never estimated or welded out 42” etc.

In your opinion how long would it take to fit up and weld out a 42”joint .375 wall pipe. 6010 root 7018 out visual inspection only. Also the same for 36” Would be on stands no rolling.

Does anyone know how to do a 33 degree rolling offset from a 90 degree angle? Other wise known as “the impossible”

Does anyone have any info on the BA for Kalamazoo? Or, any information on the work at Palisades?