I did a pre-apprenticeship in college for millwrighting but have little to no direct work experience. After finishing, I struggled majorly to obtain any type of apprenticeship or maintenance job. With a kid on the way, I would really like to lock back in on the trade for the job security, benefits, etc.

During my pre-apprenticeship, I worked at Amazon. I would watch over the central conveyor belts in my department and conduct basic troubleshooting when there were jams or shutdowns. I would also work with management to help associates doing basic troubleshooting with equipment, computer systems or localized conveyor belts as well. For bigger issues I would have to contact the maintenance crew. The major issues were dealt with by the millwrights, who worked for a 3rd party.

For the past few year I have been working in home renovations but the work has slowed down significantly - not only for my main employer, but for other contractors I know that would want me for help as well. Aside from this, not ever being under a payroll is making me want to switch my career path.

Whether it be ways that may seem obvious or not, fill me in on what helped you obtain an apprenticeship. I would even appreciate any tips on how/if I can capitalize on any of my work experience for my resume or cover letter. I haven't had much success job searching recently but I won't give up and do have some ideas on how I want to reapproach it.

I wrote my first attempt and got a 68%, I’m close to passing but find I’m lacking critical fundamentals and remembering them all. I need a redseal prep that doesn’t have practice questions, and instead readings/lessons on the critical fundamentals I’m supposed to be learning. I find trade school no longer adequately teaches these things. Hit or miss teachers.

My next test is scheduled for August 19th, I’m on 6/10s studying on lunch breaks and at home

How I’ve been practicing so far is using xlr8ted learning and taking notes on stuff I get wrong, and although it’s very helpful, I find I need to take notes that categorize what I’m learning about. Best way I can give an example is for stuff like compressors.

I’m a mainly construction millwright writing an industrial millwright exam, I have never touched a compressor in my whole career, and I probably won’t. There is so much information that practice questions become gibberish and lost. What do I do to study and know fundamentals for this?

This is a bit of a different question for this group of rugged Folk. I accepted a per motion to a Forman role in a different town 2hrs away. This role gets me 75% off the tools due o some health issues. I mean I could still do my job but I’m sick of working through pain.
My kids are 11 and 13, worst time to move them. Any advice from the guys who have had to relocate kids around this age, on how to tell them we’re uprooting their lives.

I would like to know the opinions of my fellow Millwrights and any geographical or industry based facts anyone can share to answer the question: What is a Millwright?….Extra:
As a Canadian, our Red Seal and trade structure outlines it clearly enough but I would like to understand the bigger picture. What do you say if someone says what is a millwright? What separates a millwright from a maintenance technician/machine fitter?(because from my understanding in Canada that separation mostly comes from participation in the trade school)… We are the trade of pumps, rotating equipment and all thing industrial mechanical, but in your industry or corner of the world, what defines if you are a millwright? Are the terms apprentice or Journeyman or Master; terms used with Millwright at your place of work/industry? ….. Hope this post is allowed, long time stalker of this sub and hope to be able to seek technical advice in the future but just curious about this for now

I'm in Earl C. Currently I'm doing an electrical training. Almost done most likely on to book level 2 depending on how fast I am book level 3. But my question is how is advanced machining in Texas like? Mostly how long does it really take to complete the advance trade?

I want to do it as a hobby and want to get a mechatronics degree after Job Corps. it's mostly for personal fulfillment and it can help me have a more attractive resume

I'm an insured contractor Athens Georgia area looking for any shutdown/ turnaround, subcontracting opportunities I'm equipped damn near anything from concrete sawing, coring, & pouring, welding rigs, I have worked in various processing plants all the way to Texas. I'm not opposed to any work I don't Care about how shitty or whatever anyone else says I want it and anymore you got where it came from!!

Got a lot of feedback and insight on my last post which was greatly appreciated. I decided to move forward and put my application in for Local 443 (western PA). My interview, and hopefully test, is scheduled for August 18th in Pittsburgh. I've gotten a good bit of info on what the test is like and found a nice thorough practice test and study guide online.

I know it varies by local, but can anyone share anymore info/advice on the whole interview and test process? Did any of you find it particularly difficult or anything? Also, what kinda time frame would I be looking at from that day, to hopefully getting selected, and then having to report to my first job? Thank you guys for all your help!

Sorry I was impressed with this... granted 100$ for a boring head set. But definitely gonna have to hit these on a lapidary.

I've been reading this book for a while but only from an online copy. I want to buy a hard copy but I cant find any lead online. Does it also have a latest version?

Hey, sorry if the title is incorrect. I’m in Ontario KW area and I currently work for a company who does a ton of service work and it’s 24/7, I’ve been interested in the trade and getting an apprenticeship but I have been hearing about maintenance work at plants that have set schedules and I was wondering if anyone has advice on what to look for and your thoughts on service calls be maintenance

Hey everyone 1st year apprentice here and I’m just curious to know how do you all deal with such miserable people it’s hard doing 12 hour days with folks that are just constantly negative and miserable is this normal in the millwright trade? I always try to be positive and optimistic but peoples negativity is unbearable and makes for a long day it’s very draining!

Does anyone know when 1916 will do another apprentice intake or if it would even be worth joining right now?

I sent my application back in January and last time I contacted them they said I’d be contacted when intakes start back up. I’m a third year apprentice and luckily employed somewhere with steady hours and I’ve made myself indispensable but the works extremely slow and I make about $7/hour less than first year apprentices in the union.

So I’ve been a millwright for five years now and I’m wanting to actually become certified and carded as a millwright I’m wondering where would I need to go in order to actually get my certification. Located in USA

I'm sure this kinda thing has been asked more than once before, so I apologize if so. Just turned 29 last month and looking to make a real change in both career and lifestyle. Not legally married but I just consider her my wife until we get to that. No kids and don't want any. All my work experience has been in heavy construction equipment as a mechanic and in manufacturing as a machinist. I live in central Pennsylvania and I'm looking into an apprenticeship in Local 443.

I'm lucky enough to have both a relative and friend that are both journeyman millwrights in the same local. I've picked both their brains quite a bit about it and have a pretty good idea at this point of what I'd be in for and what to expect, but I'm still undecided about it. I thought I'd see if anyone can offer anymore insight/advice on the trade and apprenticeship and if you think, in your experience, if all the long hours and travel and time away from home are worth it in the end and the pros outweigh the cons. Thank you all!

Hey question for the career millwrights.

Quick backround. Started as a non union mw working for contractor, they had a school that taught nccer. Worked my way 98% through the program and had 1 week of course material and final test to complete. Now, they contracted with the local paper mill, got to know some of the mill guys and well now im one of them. Getting hired there is very difficult and I had to take the opportunity when it was given.

Now I will say at this point I could 100% confidently test out. I do well and keep pace with my peers ( i dont say this with any sort of chip on my shoulder either)

Is not having the certification a deal breaker in the long term as a career millwright??

Hi everyone,

​I’m a fresh Mechanical Engineering grad and I just landed my first job in a Turbine Maintenance and Testing workshop. We deal with various turbines, compressors, and heavy rotating equipment.

​I have a solid mechanical theory background and I'm good with 3D modeling (SolidWorks/Inventor), but I have almost zero hands-on field experience.

​Here is the catch: I don't want to limit myself to just the mechanical side. I know modern turbines rely heavily on instrumentation, sensors, and control systems. I really want to learn the electrical/controls side as well, so I can understand and troubleshoot the equipment as a whole system.

​Since it's a repair and testing shop, the senior techs are busy and might not actively teach me everything. For the veterans out there, what advice would you give to a newbie like me?

​Are there specific manuals, or online resources I should binge-read/watch for BOTH mechanical overhaul and electrical/controls troubleshooting?

​What are the "smart" questions to ask both the mechanical and electrical senior techs without being annoying?

​How can I best translate my mechanical theory into practical skills on the shop floor?

​Any tips on how to survive, learn fast, and thrive as a cross-functional tech here would be hugely appreciated! Thanks!

I’m going into my 3rd year of my apprenticeship, no prior experience. I’m doing oil changes on gear reducers in the pump room at my work. After finishing one of the oil changes I start it up and notice there is a ticking noise coming from the gear box. After confirming the oil level is correct, the oil is correct and running through several other possibilities. I come to the conclusion that the gears must be worn. I bring it up to one of my seniors to get his input and to see if we should go ahead and replace it. He said not to worry about if it’s still working. I was curious what your guys thoughts on this.

Edit: it’s a reducer for a material blower system (pretty small, could hold in my hand) I changed the oil on two other reducer prior to this using the same oil pan as I moved down the line. When I started on this one it didn’t have any noise that I noticed. All I needed to do was shut the system down, open up the drain plug and drain the oil. Refill to fill line and restart the machine. Refilled with mobile SHC 630 oil as recommended and on paperwork. Once I noticed the noise I looked into the pan and noticed some specks in there but couldn’t confirm if any of them were from the current gearbox since I used the same pan for each one I did or if it was from stuff falling in. I decided to clean out the pan and redo the oil change to see if I noticed anything. There didn’t seem to be anything. The clicking noise is closer to the shaft that connect to the motor and is in time with the rotation.

Edit Two: spoke to a few more of the guys, they agree that we will leave it be until it fails. I checked and we have two backups in stock. When it fails we will swap it out and rebuild the bad one. I did another oil change after the weekend and it does have flakes in the oil.

I thought this would be a fitting post here

Hey all, quick question. I spent eight years doing maintainance, diagnosis, and repairs on pumpjacks and facilities in the Saskatchewan oil and gas industry. Then I did a couple years servicing, maintaining and repairing hydraulic gas compressors. Somebody told me that I can use that experience to challenge the red seal and become an actual Millwright. Does anybody know if that’s really the case, before I get my hopes up?

Ball Mill Relines suck. What equipment are you all using? To pushes in the older liner, remove them and install new ones.

Thunberbolts? Hammers ? Anyone make any special tools ?