r/pipefitter

Hello,

What's the best nitrogen piping?
Is it ok to use the double ferrule fittings and pipes?

I am looking into 1" piping.

Thanks.

I have almost no experience, have a degree in psychology, I am a woman, I am a rugby fullback, I am eager to learn, and my dream is to make my own business in HVAC someday.

Would it be a good idea to tell them I want to make my own business someday? Will that show that I am dedicated or will that show I am going to leave them someday?

Are pipefitters constantly traveling or has anyone managed to snag a job close to home? Applying for the UA in Dayton, Ohio currently.

I’m a 2nd year union pipefitting apprentice and honestly feeling conflicted. I joined expecting to learn more welding through the apprenticeship, but most of the people excelling already had outside experience from Tulsa or welding school before joining, leaving the rest behind. We really only get about two welding classes before we’re expected to certify in 3rd year, and it doesn’t feel like enough.

I don’t mind fitting, but I really want to weld more and actually be good at it. I want pride in my trade, and right now I’m worried this program isn’t preparing me the way I hoped.

Would it be stupid to leave, go to a dedicated welding school for a year, and possibly go non-union just to build stronger skills, even if the pay is less?

I don’t want to throw away a good opportunity, but I also don’t want to end up undertrained making shitty welds. Thanks.

Everyone I work with is great besides one guy who seems to wake up and try his hardest to make me miserable. I’ve never really been bothered by people being hardasses I just figured it was part of the job, but this guy specifically has a hard on for me. he has a bit of a reputation for being a character but everyone else seems to like him and he dosent act this way towards other people as far as i’ve seen. I stopped working Saturdays cause I was just sick of dealing with him 6 days a week. Do I just keep trying to ignore him? I tried just continuing working and assumed he’d eventually get bored of no reaction but it’s like he lives for this shit.

Hi! My husband is a sprinkler apprentice (he’s finished his 1st year) with a non-union company. He’s always heard that it’s bad being in a union but never can get answers as to why. At first glance, to me at least, union sounds like it has good benefits! I was looking into 669 district 18 for him, but also we aren’t sure how it all works and if there’s different unions around?
He currently makes $21/hr, he does get overtime frequently and has been working a lot of weekends. He does pay for health/vision/dental/life insurance for him and our daughter, and just vision and dental for me. It’s about 100 per paycheck (weekly) for those benefits. He does get 401k benefit matching and does also get put onto scale pay jobs sometimes. I’m not sure how these all compare to what union benefits run.

I guess my question basically is should he wait until he finishes the apprenticeship schooling and gets a license and then think about moving over or should he try now? Are there good non-union companies in that area? His company now is kind of falling apart and it’s honestly just stressing all the fitters out. He knows dry systems, plastic, steel, (probably more I’m not sure about). He prefers commercial jobs not residential. Has osha10, lift, and cpr certifications.

ETA: he currently just has to provide his own hand tools (levels, tape measure, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc) (which do occasionally get stolen off the jobs and he has to replace them out of pocket). He also has 3 years experience on the job, just 1 year of the schooling.

Just wanna hear some wild stories.

My husband is trying for his third year in a row to get into the pipefitters union; the first 2 times, nerves got the best of him, and he failed the math test due to extreme anxiety despite aceing the practice test. This time, he practiced and worked on his test-taking anxiety and passed with flying colors so he is moving on to the interview! Not just that but he has a ton of points this year, has taken 3 welding and welding inspection classes, has his HVAC-R certification, and has been working in a manual labor management role for the past year. I really think this year is the year he has a great chance at getting in.

He got a little sheet with some example questions for the interview and we are practicing his answers together. One that is tripping us up is

"Imagine a scenario where your foreman or journeyman tells you, 'You're wrong, ' but you disagree, what would you do?"

His answer is that he is working under their license and trusts them that they have the most current, up-to-date information, and that ultimately, he is the trainee and they are the mentor, so he will follow their instructions.

I said maybe it's a trick question to see if you would have the "brass" to have a reasonable disagreement with your superior if they are asking you to do something out of regulation or that compromises safety, and now we both don't know what a good answer.

What would your answer be? Also, I am handy, but I am not in the trades, so I could very well be totally wrong on my interpretation of the question, you won't hurt my feelings if you say so lol.

I’m 19 and trying to get into pipefitter or really any construction at this point, and everyone keeps telling me to try the unions. I’ve already gone for electrician, iron worker plumbers. I passed all the tests, got the interviews, and then got told no. When they brought up if I have any experience and I tell em no you can kinda feel the whole vibe change in the interview when that comes up. I’m just at a point where I don’t really know how to start or what I’m supposed to do next.

Currently in trade school in the south pipefitting and notice all the hiring companies want 3-5 years experience. After my school is done what would be my best step to start gaining experience while making as much as I can. I have my osha and will have all nccr certs.

Hello! I’m going to the local 597 tomorrow to apply and was wondering what the drug testing is like if hired? I haven’t smoked pot in awhile but saw they possibly test hair follicles so just seeing if I need to shave all my hair off if I get that chance lol. Sorry if this is asked often, thank you!

Hello I need help I got two different unions looking at me and I don't know which one to choose I want to know more insight into how the jobs are in the field working?