r/millwrights

Hey guys, I’m sorta kinda making a change in my career. Was a mechanic for one of the equipment rental companies for over 15 years and well I’m ready to get out of the rental industry. Just burnt out on it. Just took a job for a millwright helper and they started me out really well due to my mechanical knowledge and ability. With all that being said, with all the knowledge I’ve obtained working with equipment and fixing them throughout the years will that help me with this switch? Thanks.

honestly nothing beats the comedy of watching plant managers panic.

We had a main drive shaft shear right in half yesterday afternoon. Of course its on a legacy machine where the OEM is based in germany and quoted us an 18 week lead time for a replacement. 18 weeks lol

They literally expected us to just patch it together with hopes and prayers. We ended up just pulling the broken chunks, taking the measurements while absolutely covered in hydraulic fluid, and sending it out to lowrance machine shop to just reverse engineer the damn thing so we aren't down for a quarter of the year

It just blows my mind how these massive facilities will run critical equipment 24/7 but absolutely refuse to keep basic spares in the tool crib just to save a few bucks on their quarterly budget. Penny wise and pound foolish I swear. anybody else dealing with zero spare inventory lately or is my plant just specially run by accountants?

Was in the military as a jet engine mechanic for 5 years. Worked as a data analyst for a large European airliner manufacturer when I got out. Didn’t work out so I went back to working in airplane engines. I Love the job but want something bigger. Literally. I want to work on big machines. They have me at $30 taking apart old gas turbines, but in this economy I can barely scrape by,

Hello I’m 22yo with a gf and 3 month old daughter. I’m working at a plant right now making 30 an hour but capped at 40 hour weeks. My buddy claims he uses trillium and is making bank? Any one have any input. I’m thinking about quitting my stable job and seeing if I can make it as a millwright.

Hey everyone,
I have some electrical experience, but work has been really slow lately and I recently got laid off.
I’ve been hearing that Millwright is a more stable trade with better long-term opportunities, so I’m thinking about making the switch. I recently applied for the Millwright pre-apprenticeship program at Humber College.
For those already in the trade:
Is the Humber pre-apprenticeship worth it?
Was it helpful in finding an apprenticeship?
Does anyone know of any companies in the GTA or surrounding areas that are willing to take on a beginner?
I’m willing to travel anywhere in the GTA and start as a helper or labourer if that’s what it takes. I have a strong work ethic and I’m serious about building a career in the trade.
Any advice or leads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hey everyone,
I have some electrical experience, but work has been really slow lately and I recently got laid off.
I’ve been hearing that Millwright is a more stable trade with better long-term opportunities, so I’m thinking about making the switch. I recently applied for the Millwright pre-apprenticeship program at Humber College.
For those already in the trade:
Is the Humber pre-apprenticeship worth it?
Was it helpful in finding an apprenticeship?
Does anyone know of any companies in the GTA or surrounding areas that are willing to take on a beginner?
I’m willing to travel anywhere in the GTA and start as a helper or labourer if that’s what it takes. I have a strong work ethic and I’m serious about building a career in the trade.
Any advice or leads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi, as the title says my company is sponsering me, now im registering my apprenticeship through STO. What is the best school or top 3 to attend for the best hands on learning for 433a millwright?

Im out of high school, taken some time off to work here and there and have decided not to go to uni like my parents did, and the more I look into it the more the job description of a millwright catches my eye. To put it simply i love working on mechanical things, cars, machines, etc., they're really my passion and being an industrial mechanic would in that way satisfy me. It's 100% where my interests lie and im always trying to learn about stuff, I love cnc machining, welding, electronics, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, and most of all tinkering and optimizing them.

Im in central Alberta, Canada, what does job opportunities look like. I dont know anyone in the industrial trades so not sure how easy it will be to find apprenticeship training. Any advice would be appreciated.

Sorry if this is not allowed.
Hey everyone, ive been hunting for a career change and really thinking about going union, and millwrights are something that stood out to me. Im a heavy duty diesel mechanic so im not new to the dirty or heavy work. My question is, how does everyone like it? Is it actually fulfilling and worth your time and hard work?

1. Whats your day to day life like? Is there good work life balance?
2. What kind of hours do you normally put in?
3. What sort of things are you working on/where?
4. How long was your apprenticeship?
5. And of course, how is the pay? My local would be 1529, stl mo area. Can anyone give me a general idea of what i would be making to start and journeyman wages? I cant find much info. Thanks

Delete if not allowed

Currently working in manufacturing, and honestly making pretty good money compared to the general public. But honestly I'm looking for a maintenance technician apprenticeship/trainee position. There are several positions open at my current job so I threw my name in the hat but incase I don't hear anything back, I want to look for other options. More for the experience to put in my resume tbh. If anyone knows of any positions like that or you are someone looking for an apprentice, please reach out! I can send my resume upon request. Quick summary, i've worked in manufacturing/production for 4.5 years. Have experience with SAP, have experience with Preventative maintenance, autonomous maintenance, changeovers and such. Located in Chicagoland area. TIA

To keep a long story short, I want to work, it’s been almost 4 months since my initiation and osha training.

When should I be called? Is it just a season thing? Where work slows down in the summer? Is this common?

The “job shaping” lists are empty for millwright work.

The “daily referral” list, had no millwright work that I can tell.

I’m on both the weekday & weekend out of work list.

People say there is work and a lot of it, but where is it? Who do I call? How often do I call them? I don’t want to “pester” anyone for a job as i think that’s rather rude.

All the apprentices that I know , around 15 that I’ve been around and are about as new as me have received no work.

I wanted to hop on the offshore wind training / job but that’s only available to the 2 - 3rd year apprentices.

I can’t get on unemployment until I work a certain amount of hours with the local and training does not count.

And I just payed my dues but a part of me kind of is getting a bit concerned about it being “worth it” I figured I would have been called for a job by now.

Not to mention that I just got a different job just to be told that I have trying on 7/20/26 , i literally got my new job about a month and a half ago. And now I need to tell them that I need to take a week off? I’m going to be let go as I’m under probation, and finding a job is difficult as it is. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices with my past job to go all in on this, so I’m feeling a bit unsteady.

I feel like the answers I’m getting don’t match what I’m seeing and even then no one seems to be able to give me a straight answer.

So I’m genuinely looking for advice. I want to work, I have tools. I’m not good with the “buddy buddy, I know a guy thing” or being a social butterfly, but I am good with my hands and have generally strong aptitude with mechanics, electronics , pneumatics and hydraulics.

Thanks for any and all of your suggestions and advice if any.

Anyone work in potash? Considering making the switch, hopefully to a mill. What are working conditions like? Any health concerns? Hard on the body? Mill vs Underground? Currently doing gas compression in Alberta but wife wants to move closer to family. Thanks

Recently finished my level 3 apprenticeship schooling. and i have accumultaed enough hours to write the red seal exam.

I was told by the school that ministry of labour will mail it to me.

I don't think this is correct. because many of my coworkers who finished their apprenticeship before me never got their Certificate of apprenticeship either.

Does anyone know how you would get it?

UP MI. I've called and texted contractors that I've gotten numbers from friends who are Millwrights. They either haven't responded or don't have work. Some people I've talked to have said you just call and pretty much harass these guys until they give you work which just seems wrong. All the advice I've gotten is just super vague and leaves me feeling defeated and confused. I wanna work with my hands, not be a secretary. I get that it's just part of this lifestyle and I'm willing to make it work but I'm just not good at this part. I've been told to call other locals. Which ones? Do I call the contractors I texted last week that didn't have work once a week? Will they remember you when work does come up? Do I call late in the day, early? I'm willing to travel, sleep in a shitty hotel or the car. I really want this. I need this for my family.

I am very excited and hope this is the start to a long career for me.

I am a level 2 millwright any tips?

Canadian Millwright here.
Got a call for a job out of province
2 weeks on 1 week off.
No travel $ but camp job.
Work is in the middle of nowhere. Closest town is 4 hours away.
Says Saturday is time and a half and I’m assuming Sundays are double but it doesn’t say.

Couple questions.
1- Is it better to drive out there and rent a place for the week I’m off.

2- should I FIFO. Every week? That personally seems like more of a hassle. I don’t have a wife or kids so I don’t NEED to be home.

3- is this job worth it? I’m not hurting for money. But work is pretty slow in Ontario at the moment so having this long term job (6 months +\-) is kind of nice for hours towards my apprenticeship. I’m a fourth year at 6100 hours.

Who here does precision work, such as setting new machines and aligning components using CMMs like laser trackers. I fell into the Niche and was curious what other industries this is popular in.