I know I don’t know you but I’m proud of you man! Keep your head up and keep ascending!
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
I definitely appreciate it, honestly I feel blessed from what I’ve went through and what I’ve achieved, I want to see other people win, if the path I took can help someone else, that is definitely something to make my life mean something I can be proud of
@howlandexcavating
4 ай бұрын
The best advice I can give you for your specific trade is protect yourself. My father was a union pipe fitter. He didn’t smoke, and lived a fairly healthy life. Although he protected himself, it wasn’t enough. I am sure there were times he would pick up a grinder or weld a joint without a respirator. He retired at 58, but didn’t get too many years after that. He was given 3 to 6 months to live at 59. He was tough, he got strong enough to receive a long transplant, but only lived three more years. The metals you guys work with in pipefitting are pretty nasty. Stainless steel, Inconel, etc. That stuff will F you up quickly. Much worse than an iron worker dealing with mild steel in open framing (no closed walls) Wear a mask religiously. The years of exposure will creep up on you quickly. I am a tradesmen myself. I own an excavation business, but also a welding shop. I am 51 now and get winded walking up a flight of stairs. In full disclosure, I’ve never been one to wear a mask. But I also was never exposed to the exotic metals. You guys grind and weld on daily.
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
For the most part I work with mild steel and stainless, the contractors I’ve worked for are big on safety, but I appreciate the concern, I’m not one for respirators eather, the worst thing I really worry about is silica from drilling, that stuff will mess you up if you breath it in also
@howlandexcavating
4 ай бұрын
@@stirlingheaton8205 Yes, I just seen your channel, it looks like you are mostly in the oil field. Probably a little healthier than what my father did being you are outside. He spent most of his career in powerplants. And actually most of them nuclear. That type of pipingin these places are pretty nasty from what I understand. Also, he would go on these shutdowns and the piping would be radioactive. They were only allowed to work a certain amount of time based on the radiation they were being exposed to. I remember as a teenager he got pretty F’d up at 9 mile 2 nuclear power plant. The dosamater Malfunctioned and he got nuked pretty bad, He had to stay in the on-site hospital. I remember him saying the best part was a good looking. Nurse. Had to shower him as part of a process to get the radioactive particles off him. My mother wasn’t very impressed lol Protect your lungs either way. I wish I had did a better job, the damage is done now.
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
@howlandexcavating yeah most of what I do is hot water and steam pipeing, a lot of copper and mild steel, some stainless, I don’t think I can work in the nuclear plants due to my record, but there’s still plenty of work
@FmTrini
Ай бұрын
Good Info to think about man thanks lol think I’ll pursue the electrical path instead
@howlandexcavating
Ай бұрын
@@FmTrini I have did a lot of conduit excavation for them over the years. The IBEW has a great apprenticeship program. Journeyman union electricians make a great wage and have a nice benefit package from what I’ve been told. It is certainly healthier than welding and grinding.
@SenseiIceman
3 ай бұрын
nice story every body has ups n downs im joining the union this month
@stirlingheaton8205
3 ай бұрын
I highly recommend it , best career choice I ever made
@kevinhughlett1175
17 күн бұрын
Wish I would have found this message before I retired from teaching last May. Many of the seniors in my class needed to hear this. For many of them, male and female, school is not their thing and even though I was working hard to steer them into a trade, to have heard it from a guy who lives it would have been better. Thanks for this message, and keep hanging tough brogther! You're doing a great job!
@stirlingheaton8205
17 күн бұрын
@@kevinhughlett1175 I appreciate the support, my goal is definitely to spread the message, the trades are a great career that I feel are overlooked by the youth now days
@anthonyfazio9979
4 ай бұрын
Keep working bro. Well worth the sacrifice
@CesarNostradamus-wj9uq
4 ай бұрын
All my tools were stolen after a girl had me illegally evicted. Thanks for sharing God bless you.
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
Plus side of a Union job, contractors supply the tools, but the tools you lost were material, the tools you obtain from life lessons, you will always have
@Pleebian94
Ай бұрын
@@stirlingheaton8205 Everything can be taken but knowledge and experience as well as life lessons will always be accessible.
@kellenking5108
28 күн бұрын
I’m 42 trying to join the union to become a pipe fitter. Loved the video inspiring. I need change in my life and ready to work for it.
@stirlingheaton8205
28 күн бұрын
@@kellenking5108 never to late to get in, I’m 43 and a 3rd year apprentice, best decision I ever made💪🏽
@rickm6867
5 күн бұрын
It’s never too late. I’m a steam fitter that can weld pipe Been in and out the system all my life I make 52 $ an hour UA STEAMFITTERS
@Whiteboy19640
4 ай бұрын
I am considering getting into a plumbing apprenticeship. Looking forward to that. If I would’ve known this at my 20’s I would avoid student debt in my 30’s
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
Plumbers are definitely a solid and underrated trade, they make good money for sure, if I would have known about any trades in my 20’s I would be a whole different person, mabie you find your stride when your ready for it, but in general the construction industry is a great career choice, I would recommend you go for it, worst that can happen is you make some money and learn some skills, plumbers also have the advantage of being able to fix their own plumbing at home too so that can save a lot of money
@Whiteboy19640
4 ай бұрын
@@stirlingheaton8205 Most definitely. Stay up bro 💯 look forward to more content!
@bjensen5004
4 ай бұрын
Great words! Been in a the trades 30 years in Minnesota!!
@belovedsandworm
4 ай бұрын
The trades will allow you to live an average life, just like everyone else. Good for you, bro!
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
Depends on your definition of average, I would argue they will let you achieve an above average life, 6 figure pay and 2 pension are not your average these days, also if your motivated, you can move up, my goal is definitely to run work and be a foreman, mabie even a project manager, there’s also plenty of opportunities for travel and I know pipefitters maligning 200k + a year, it all depends on your level of motivation , as with anything in life, you get back what you put into it💪🏽
@jasonkoenig8559
13 күн бұрын
I'm living the average life at 20 running my own mobile welding company. I just started and I'm going pretty good. After all expenses I make about 45 an hr. The guy who taught me owns the other company in town and he makes almost 120 hr after expenses. He has a family of 8 including himself and still has enough money to buy a brand new truck every year, but he doesn't. His welding rig is a 1979 ford f-350 7.3 IDI. He built it up pretty good, you will not find another rig like it, guaranteed. The boss is 45.
@jbird73
4 ай бұрын
Sounds like the Lord has a calling in your life, brother!
@paintball130
Ай бұрын
like most things in life; it is what you make of it
@rodneyfields-ix2vm
2 ай бұрын
I’m 24 from Minneapolis southside raised I just recently graduated summit academy now I’m a carpenter an I think the trades is what all these Black and Brown kids up here need 💯 truly a blessing in disguise I wish I knew about the trades earlier in life
@stirlingheaton8205
2 ай бұрын
Me too I did most my life doing all the wrong things, definitely would have turned out way different if I would have known about the trades sooner, that’s why I try to spread the word so hopefully someone else can make better choices then I did
@gabeishere4990
Ай бұрын
Hey I'm from MN and been looking at Summit Academy how did you like it there? I've been looking at electrical.
@ORIGINALDAJJ
22 күн бұрын
This is real. And I appreciate you giving your word. Respect to you, bro. Subbed up to your channel.
@stirlingheaton8205
22 күн бұрын
Definitely appreciate the support, I wanna see everyone win, that’s the mission
@ORIGINALDAJJ
22 күн бұрын
@@stirlingheaton8205 There's value in what you're doing. I rock with that 💯
@stirlingheaton8205
22 күн бұрын
@ORIGINALDAJJ one of my biggest pet peeves is wasted potential, I feel like everyone has the potential to be great but sometimes they just need to find their direction, I wanna help people find options, might not be that the trades are for everyone, but definitely should be an option to explore, I appreciate your support 💯💯💯
@faraz4692
8 күн бұрын
Did 10 years in prison looking to get into to the nion not sure which trade your videos are helpful 💪
@stirlingheaton8205
8 күн бұрын
So for me the pipefitters was the best option as in Minnesota they have the best pay and benifit package, I took welding class when I was in the feds, so I had that as a skill and it helped push me towards pipefitters, but electricians make good money, plumbers make good money, sheet metal workers make good money, insulators, iron workers, 49ers, all make good money, just depends on what your interested in, concrete workers and roofers tend to be A little more seasonal and they don’t tend to have as long of an apprenticeship, but I also don’t think they make as much for how hard they work, millwrights tend to have weaker contracts, laborers I don’t think make as much but they usually have a ton of work and if you make it through their apprenticeship they tend to have fully funded pensions, there are plenty of options bro, first step is to start callin around seeing when you can put in an application, the sooner the better, the trades don’t care if you are an ex con, if you can work and take it seriously, you can really excel 💪🏽 good luck bro
@Kevin-lb8ev
Ай бұрын
💯
@Asphaltmafia1
Ай бұрын
As a native I'm looking in to this
@stirlingheaton8205
Ай бұрын
I definitely recommend it bro, we have a few natives on my crew, then again we working on a casino job rn so they were looking for natives, but the two brothas that got me into this trade were also native, it’s good work
@shrek1914
2 ай бұрын
Good video brother. Just keep recording we’re watching 👊🏾
@stirlingheaton8205
2 ай бұрын
Definitely appreciate it bro 💪🏽
@alexandraperkins7023
Ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing your experience. This will help my 17 year old learn the pros of the job. Now to know any cons.
@stirlingheaton8205
Ай бұрын
The cons are, you have to work for it, to succeed and advance how you work has a lot to do with how far you will get, these are times when you will be laid off, but if you are known as a good worker, you won’t be laid off much, I’ve been laid off for 1 week in 3 years, then there are people in my class who have been laid off for months, if you really put your all into it you have a lot of opportunities, I wish I would have gotten into it when I was 18, the pension would be pretty substantial rn, for any youth thinking of getting into the trades, my advice is get in while your young and build that pension
@hollow9126
Ай бұрын
@@stirlingheaton8205 I started working as an Ironworker helper at 21 and now at 24 I'm the proud owner of a herniated disk I definetly chose the wrong job, being 5'6 w 120lbs.
@dacoldest3896
24 күн бұрын
Man this oceancorp underwater welding training ad keeps popping up with that bald guy. I heard they make alot of money
@stirlingheaton8205
24 күн бұрын
I heard underwater welding does make a lot of money but also heard that is something you really can’t do for long, it’s hard on the body, think they said it’s something you can’t do for more then a couple years, I don’t know that much about it but I’m more of an above water kinda guy😂
@Phantastischphil
4 ай бұрын
Hey brother, congratulations! Listen to the audiobook “Richest Man in Babylon” . Books are another great way to learn! Thanks for there inspiration. I’m trying to join my local UA. I just smoked the math test wish me luck on an interview! It would be life changing to join!
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
Keep at it, took me couple years of trying to get in, stick with it it’s worth it!💪🏽
@Chsoxrk
4 ай бұрын
I've been saying for years the quickest way to fix up the inner city's is drop a trade school in the middle of the roughest parts and give people the skills to get payed to fix up their neighborhood. College is a waste of time for kids that are just trying to survive but if you teach them the skills to make clean money in the trades they already understand hustle growing up in that environment.
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
I absolutely agree, schools push college as the only option, for most people this is just a setup for failure, learning a skilled trade and making better then average money opens a lot of doors that would normally be shut tight on kids in the city, I reached out to someone with contacts in the local school districts, so I would really like to spread the word, the next generation will make or break us, it’s eather complain about the youth or try to give them tools to succeed, I’m thinking it can’t hurt to show these kids that anything is possible, if I can do it, they definitely can💪🏽
@Chsoxrk
4 ай бұрын
@@stirlingheaton8205 100% agree. The problem with teachers is that most of them don't know anything but school so they don't see any other way for students to be successful. Keep up the good work man!
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
The plus side with union training is our teachers are all pipefitters so they all have experience in what they teach us
@therealmcgoy4968
Ай бұрын
You will learn skills and you can go into business yourself if you want. HVAC technician here, I work with chillers and cooling towers.
@SLKR-ek9hj
22 күн бұрын
Do you work year round? I’m a water operator I make 51 bucks an hour in CA and I’m 26. My job is now boring to me and isn’t fulfilling I enjoy working with my hands and using tools. I use tools at work but not everyday. Sometimes I feel like my job isn’t worth it and I’m just there for the pay to pay my mortgage. I know starting at a union apprentice will be a big pay cut but I will feel happy and that’s what matters to me at the end. I’ve been considering the local in San Jose CA or electrical any input will help thank you sir
@stirlingheaton8205
22 күн бұрын
I do work year round, there’s plenty of jobs, yes starting out will be a pay cut, but you will also start building a pension and as you progress through the apprenticeship you will earn more every year and you should definitely look into the local union out there, they have one of the highest pays I was talkin to a pipefitter from San Diego and I wanna say he was getting like 75 an hour on the check plus Benifits, but check out the local your thinking about they should have a web page with all their info, as for me, I love going to work, something new and interesting every day, my weekend job that I just weld non union sucks in comparison, but the weekend job is just temporary until I get ahead💪🏽
@SLKR-ek9hj
20 күн бұрын
@@stirlingheaton8205 thank you bro ! Wish you the best carnal 💪🏻
@thudtrades1850
4 ай бұрын
And, Your attitude! on top of work ethic... If you are a pain in the ass in the slightest, directly to the slug list.
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
You are absolutely right, but if you like what you do, and if your proud of your work, I think that has a big impact on your attitude, one reason I really want to spread the word of the trades to inner city youth, if you come from nothing, you tend to be more appreciative of your place when you get the opportunity to make a better life, some of the guys I go to school with are comming from good homes and family’s and they really take for granted what a good opportunity they got into, I’ve seen worse so I definitely appreciate what the trades offer
@hbrotha1866
Ай бұрын
I’ve fucked my life up by making bad decisions. Is it possible if I start now at 30? I need something that will give me purpose so I can stay away from all the destructive tendencies.
@stirlingheaton8205
Ай бұрын
Bro I fucked up my life for most of it, I did over 20 years in prison, got out at 38 years old and started from scratch, took me a couple years to get in the Union but I had a plan and just worked every day to making sure anything I did was something that moved me closer, it’s never too late to start over, never even an option to give up, you got this it’s just your job to take the step
@hbrotha1866
Ай бұрын
@@stirlingheaton8205 Damn 20 years in the slammer is crazy. I’ve been in trouble a lot but nothing like that thank god. Even though I’ve had times I’ve wanted to crash out. I have actually done rebar in the past and I’m still with union technically. Guess I could ask and see if they can get me in as an apprentice. Either this or college, keep doing your thing. You are guiding and inspiring the rest of us. Thank you
@alexandercole8551
25 күн бұрын
Native myself outta 146 in tx I’ve been looking to possibly move out that way do you know if they take Jman transfers?
@stirlingheaton8205
25 күн бұрын
I honestly don’t know how it works but I’m sure you could organize in, probably have to call the hall to find out, I do know we carry more licenses then most locals so you might have to take couple state license tests
@crush9197
4 ай бұрын
I know you guys make money because my sister is a first year apprentice at 38 an hour electrician. Ima sign up for the plumbing and hvac union near me. Until I get in I’ll stay at my factory. I can’t quit without a job lined up. I got bills and family that depend on me. I make Ight money 28.90 an hour overtime 1300 a week but my sister makes the same with no overtime and she’ll end up making up more. But yeah ima just sign up because the economy is crap right now. I can’t afford to just quit because getting a job right now is hard
@stirlingheaton8205
4 ай бұрын
Union kind of got a bad rap because of shady business in the past, but I definitely see trade unions in a different light, we get the best training to be successful, a lot of construction workers are not flashy they drive mediocre vehicles and don’t look like they got money, till you talk to them, most of em have plenty of toys, nice houses, and will retire set for life, me, I came from the bottom so I drive a jag😂, but my toys will come, I’ve never been a hater, I want to see everyone do good, we can all get this money just need to know where to focus our energy for the best results, put in your application for any trade, if you don’t get in first try, try again, took me 3 years to get in, and I took a pay cut when I first started, but now instead of a 50 cent raise a year, my raises are more like 5$ a year plus 3 bucks an hour yearly allocation raise and we have a fully funded pension, go for it bro you will not be sorry, my first week I got in I was using my vacation time from my job I had, lol when that was gone I called and quit my old job
@jerrymartinez2160
3 ай бұрын
im considering joining the pipefitters union. im a certified welder but i i join the union, do i get to weld or do i have to learn pipefitting. im confused as to how the pipefitters union works for welders not just necessarily fitters
@stirlingheaton8205
3 ай бұрын
So I joined as a certified welder, but there’s more to pipefitting then just welding, we learn everything from threading pipe, soldering and brazing copper, layout, gas and oil code, ect… I joined thinking it was just going to be welding, it’s actually a lot more, but the goal of the apprenticeship is to create well trained journyman who can do it all, the more you know the easier it is to stay working, it’s like really you want to have as many tools as possible to be able to do any job that comes up, once you turn out as a journyman you can pick and choose the jobs you work and you can go out as a welder, but you won’t just weld 100% of the time, there’s a lot of other things to do besides weld pipe, also they want you to get ua weld certs which are actually they are way more picky then aws or asme certs, there are a ton of certs, ua 21 is probably the most common which is a 6010 root 7018 fill and cap, 6g gun barrel, one thing is I can definitely say it makes the days way more fun doing multiple things throughout the day, on my weekend job I just weld for 12 hour shifts and it gets boring and repetitive, on my pipefitter job it’s never boring or repetitive lol
@HeatherSomethingSomething
Ай бұрын
What union did you go with? I'm looking to start
@stirlingheaton8205
Ай бұрын
I’m local 539 pipefitter, but most trades have good packages and are better then average opportunities
@exzodius_2578
Ай бұрын
i have no clue how to get into a welding position, i love tig welding bit have no clue how to get started on any welding job
@stirlingheaton8205
Ай бұрын
It’s hard to start out in a tig job, there’s guys with years of experience waiting on them jobs, best bet is take any welding job, move up from there, non union side a lot of the welding jobs around me the temp services have most of them on a temp to hire contract, that would be a good place to start
@FmTrini
Ай бұрын
Electrician or Plumber? Just turned 40 and I’m think about doing a trade instead of college 🙏🏾
@stirlingheaton8205
Ай бұрын
Eather trade has its pluses and minuses, elections tend to make more on the check but plumbers have a lot of work as well , if you want to make money and build a pension, trades definitely have the advantage over collage in my opinion
@lukemcc29
2 ай бұрын
I’m thinking about joining my local Pipefitters/Plumbers/HVAC Techs Union. I’m 25. Is that too old to start an apprenticeship? I don’t have any experience but I want to learn and make really good money.
@stirlingheaton8205
2 ай бұрын
Definitely not too old, I started when I was 41, I did have welding experience and a mechanical aptitude, but it’s never too late to start, there’s a 55 year old man in my class so 25, I wish I would have joined when I was 25 your in good shape better hurry and get your application in
@lfpurpose
Ай бұрын
You're making 40 an hour as an apprentice?
@stirlingheaton8205
Ай бұрын
I was now I’m making 46 an hour as an apprentice 💪🏽
@Makerbreake
Ай бұрын
@@stirlingheaton8205what trade you in?
@stirlingheaton8205
Ай бұрын
Local 539 pipefitter💪🏽
@Miguelkjv
Ай бұрын
How do i apply for a aprrendice in pipefitter
@stirlingheaton8205
Ай бұрын
Idk where your from but your first step would be to see what local is near you, try googling local pipefitters or steamfitters union near me, when you find out what local is near you, find their websight and find out when they take applications, I’m Minneapolis local 539, we only take applications in January, took me a few try’s to get in but it is worth the effort
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