Millwright Question

[HillHunter]

Im guessing there are many Millwrights on here. Have any of you done your millwright schooling online instead of going to the class? If so how was it?

thanks,

[sheephunter]

There was no online when I did mine....lol Didn't even know it was an option today.....I feel old.

[elkhunter11]

There wasn't the option when I took my millwright apprenticeship, but when I took my electricians apprenticeship, we did our theory by computer, although we still had to show up at school to do it.The people that can teach themselves did well and completed the work ahead of schedule, but the people that need to have someone show them, didn't do as well, and fell behind. Eventually they went back to regular classes with instructors because too many people were falling behind.

[HillHunter]

Yeah you can do your 1st and 2nd year so far online, just have to go to the college for the final exam. Was just curious if anyone has taken that option.

[300-510]

Wow that would be awesome to do online,alot of guys say you learn more in school.I know that in northern areas nait would go to some mills to train employees.I know you can still challenge journeyman with appropriate hours and employers permission.

[HillHunter]

I have another question.

I was thinking of leaving the company im with but the boss said hed apprentice me as a Millwright as its one trade you don't need to have a J-man working with you, you just have to be doing the work. I am doing the work so I figure if I could get a trade that would be awesome, especially since my boss would keep my at the wage im making! Now what would it take for him to signe me up? is it just some forms?

[winged1]

No one had computers when I did my Millwrighting. Microfiche was advanced. During my Electrical we had resources online, but no course material.

I took correspondance to upgrade highschool, but found it quite difficult. Not the material as much as the discipline. These days I find excellent learning materials online for just about any technical query I have.

[ROBO]

I didn't do it but a couple of co-workers have. If you have the discipline to do correspondence then it is OK. One big problem with it is your level of exposure to all of the subject matter. For example in 3rd year there is alot of hydraulics. If you don't know anything about it you will have a hard time. That is an example of where the hands on experience at school is very valuable.

[verminator]

I have another question.

I was thinking of leaving the company im with but the boss said hed apprentice me as a Millwright as its one trade you don't need to have a J-man working with you, you just have to be doing the work. I am doing the work so I figure if I could get a trade that would be awesome, especially since my boss would keep my at the wage im making! Now what would it take for him to signe me up? is it just some forms?

Just wondering were it was you read or whom told you that that a millwright apprentice doesn't need a journeyman working with you? I couldn't find it anywhere.

[HillHunter]

Just wondering were it was you read or whom told you that that a millwright apprentice doesn't need a journeyman working with you? I couldn't find it anywhere.

I called the apprenticeship board and also have a friend on the board who told me. They can apprentice you and you do not need to be with a journeyman

[Triple Threat]

I called the apprenticeship board and also have a friend on the board who told me. They can apprentice you and you do not need to be with a journeyman

who signs your blue book if you don't have a jouneyman?

[HillHunter]

who signs your blue book if you don't have a jouneyman?

your employer, says right on the forms

[elkhunter11]

I called the apprenticeship board and also have a friend on the board who told me. They can apprentice you and you do not need to be with a journeyman


An apprentice working without a journeyman might be okay on some jobs, but on other jobs, I see the apprentice being set up to fail.

[HillHunter]

An apprentice working without a journeyman might be okay on some jobs, but on other jobs, I see the apprentice being set up to fail.

I work with all trades, they don't work for our company but we work on the same site and im always helping them which helps me in the long run.

[lugeboy]

"Millwrights,,, Learning one phone number to a real tradeperson" LOL

[sinawalli]

"Millwrights,,, Learning one phone number to a real tradeperson" LOL

LOL! Just remember "lefty loosey, righty tighty"!! And you'll need a big hammer too!:)

[lugeboy]

A cellphone with service is a millwrights best friend

[lugeboy]

A cellphone with service is a millwrights best friend

All joking aside, contact your apprenticeship board they will have the right answer for you.

[HillHunter]

A cellphone with service is a millwrights best friend

Actually some Millwrights I know could show all other trades a thing or two.

[lugeboy]

Good to know I'm not sure how to set speedials on my phone LOL
Nah I have met alot of good MW's but have come across alot I had to kick of the job. Dumb as a post. But it's hard to find the good ones but man they got some neat tricks!!!!!

[catnthehat]

Actually some Millwrights I know could show all other trades a thing or two.

The fact remains that in any trade the bulk of the work is mundane, labour intensive, and not very high profile!!
A carpenter should be able to form a set of stairs for concrete, but most do not use that knowledge these days, same as making roof trusses.
Must of the machining at the bigger plants is outsourced, so many tradesmen are simply taking stuff apart and shipping it.
Same as automotive, there is very little actual repairs done these days but lots of replacement.
Most see a millwright's job as nothing more than glorified labour, but there are times when they need to use their precision skills, such as setting up bearings on turbines, etc....
Cat

[sheephunter]

Most see a millwright's job as nothing more than glorified labour, but there are times when they need to use their precision skills, such as setting up bearings on turbines, etc....
Cat

Hmmm...I'd say more jack of all trades....master of none. Kind of the ultimate trouble shooter I'd say. Put them around anything mechanical and a lot of things electrical, vacuum or pressure and they can fix it. Put them in a machine or welding shop and they'll make something. It was the highest profile job when I worked the power plants in northern Manitoba, albeit that was a few years ago.

[winged1]

Same as automotive, there is very little actual repairs done these days but lots of replacement.
Most see a millwright's job as nothing more than glorified labour, but there are times when they need to use their precision skills, such as setting up bearings on turbines, etc....

I can't agree with this. I will qualify that remark however by saying that I've seen varying degrees of craftsmen put through the program over the years.

When I did my apprenticeship in the 70's, my Jmen were the last of the old time Europeans. We were the new kids on the block, but make no mistake, if you didn't put out, you were out. I took fancy to the 'art' of Millwrighting. For me that was prescribing bearing fits, alignments, specializing in hydraulics and machining. After many years of working out of the Edmonton hall, I turned to private employers to set up PM programs, troubleshoot, and manage maintenance efforts.

Today I have a second ticket (Electrical) and work primarily on PLCs and embedded controls, but I always pull from my Millwrighting experience.

Like many trades, there are subdivisions within. Maintenance and troubleshooting has little to do with construction. One employer mechanics have skills that mobiltiy can't produce and visa versa.

I've also worked with a Millwright that came through the program without a Jman, and believe me, if I was his supp, he'd be gone.

[elkhunter11]

Must of the machining at the bigger plants is outsourced, so many tradesmen are simply taking stuff apart and shipping it.
Same as automotive, there is very little actual repairs done these days but lots of replacement.

Yes things have certainly changed since I left the trade 18 years ago. Back then, we had to diagnose problems, come up with solutions, and then do the repairs, and use dials to align the components. Now at the same company, a rotating specialist diagnoses most problems, and together with an engineer, they come up with a solution. The millwright then changes out the parts, and uses computerized laser equipment to align components.

[300-510]

Go for it,you will learn lots from the millwrights if they like you,its a pretty well rounded trade and the things learned will help you in different careers if you choose something else in future.And dont be washing parts in varsol without gloves.

[ROBO]

He is asking about taking correspondce over going to school. As I said before it makes a big difference on what work related exposure to the different equipment that you get. If you can afford the eight weeks from work I think that the schooling is best. It is too bad that the EI system still sucks in that it takes so long to get a cheque.

[verminator]

I'm a millwright have worked in automotive manufactoring, powerplants, gas plants, mining. I have taken the schooling and not the online as it wasn't availableto me. Personally the schooling would be a better bet and I hope that you would have a jm millwright available to help if needed, as you can get yourself into alot of trouble ( injury) not knowing the proper procedure. In my opion it's no different from automotive as would you really want someone working on your vehicle who took his course online or from classroom training. In the class room the instructor has access to hydraulic test beds, valves, pumps, cylinders...etc that you can be shown and possible take apart during for demonstration. You can learn alot just from that along. The industry is alot safer then in past years but it only takes in mistake to make it unsafe. Good luck and welcome to the "trades of all trades" making the world turn one day at a time*

[coolpool7]

I just completed 3rd and 4th years by distance ed through NAIT. It is a far harder way to do your schooling. My reason for taking this route was too many apprentices at my work, so it was taking forever to complete my apprenticeship. I work in camp so did my studying there without distraction. As others have stated you do not get much exposure to the shopexercises. You do one week of "shop" which focuses on topics people usually have problems with both, includes theory and hands on.

I didn't have any issues passing but was also near the top on my class first and second year.