Need some advice for someone new to the field/sheet metal union

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I graduated from Tulsa welding school back in march, since then Ive been working as a pre apprentice with the sheet metal union here in florida.  I havent been sworn in or anything yet, so im still looking for something else to come along possibly.  Well a few days ago I was told about the sheet metal union in south carolina that will give you a journeyman card if you pass their weld test.  They supposedly have 10-20 years of work and are in desperate need.  Its 5 hours away, and nobody in the union is telling me what their test consists of, all the ******* on the phone said is "it could be mig, tig or stick, depends on what they feel like giving".  My best bet is to just drive up there, show up and try and pass the test.  All i know is that since its sheet metal, its obviously no pipe and a thicker gauge of stainless steel.Heres my dillema, if I had some time I would practice a little bit back at tulsa and then drive up there and test.....that was my original plan.  But today I found out that May 21 is the day I get sworn in here, so I would be stuck here in florida for the 5 year apprentice program.  Ive been working 6 days a week, and it just seem that ill have no time to practice.  I dont want to drive 5 hours, fail the weld tests and just waste money and look like a fool.  Maybe Im just venting, but im stressing at what I should do.  Right now Im making 10.60 an hour, and a journeyman here makes 19 or 22 an hour, im not sure.  I could make 24 an hour in South Carolina.  Maybe just some advice might make me feel better about it.  I just dont get the point of not telling people what the weld test would be on.  PS- sorry if some of this doesnt make sense, I am typing on my phoneRead my welding blog:http://weldeveryday.wordpress.com/
Reply:5 hours away isn't worth $2-3 dollars an hour IMO.Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:never heard of the union breaking you out just because you can weld, I have my LA City certs and I'm an apprentice, welding is only a smal portion of the sheet metal trade, to be turned out just because you can weld doesn't sound right, you can maybe buy your card but from what I've seen people who buy their cards are kinda frowned upon unless they are good and know what they are doing, trust me knowing how to weld is good but it doesn't warrant getting bumped to journeyman status...there's more to it than welding....22 bucks an hour for journeyman is kinda low....maybe its just a lower cost of living there, here in so cal journeyman get like 42 an hour with a total package close to 60...good luck brother"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal"   -Henry Ford
Reply:well might as well use my first post for this..Im a journeymen SMW in the Gary, Indiana area..They wont just give you your card for passing a test, you will have to buy in..here to buy in is $100 for every $1 on the check...its $4116 or some change here..It might be different there...Be prepared to pay to get in...Ill tell you one thing..got thru the program, you will be happy in the end...Who knows it might be an IW classification or something, just do the program..then you can move anywhere and get the top rate. Also just cause someone says there is a ton of work......that doesnt me a ton for you, got me? Do your program then move anywhere.
Reply:one more thing, not telling you what test it is.....thats gonna depend on the job..might be tig job, mig job, depends on the job your going to. Or here to get hall certified its the basic, the job will make you test out to their standards.
Reply:that point about not a ton of work for you is a good one....if you bought your card you'd essentially be buying your name on the out of work list.....if you went in as an apprentice your odds of working would be a lot better...best advice I could give you is to remain a pre apprentice/ classified worker and just try your hardest to get into the program, use your welding, and hard work to help get yourself there, i don't know what or how often your upgrades are where your at but for me it seems to be moving by fast"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal"   -Henry Ford
Reply:Thanks for all the replies, never knew there were that many sheet metal union guys on here! The wages elsewhere are so much better than here in Florida.  My original plan was to do the 5 year program here then move out west.  Journeyman here start at $19 or $22 , not quite sure, 1st year apprentices start at 11.50 an hour.  Obviously **** wages, but with my girlfriend working we can get by, Im making $10.60 an hour right now as a pre-apprentice.  I look at other non-union welding jobs, and I just think being in the union is my best bet, especially with the benefits and pension.  Los Angeles journeyman wages are 40+ an hour!? Thats awesome, though I have lived in LA before and know that cost of living is a **** ton higher than here in Florida.  Another question I have is this: Has anyone ever done their apprentice at one local, than moved to another local sometime later?  Are you treated any different than someone who did their apprenticeship in that local?  Id like to, in the future move to Colorado, California, New Mexico or Oregon and am wondering if different things are taught in different schools in different areas and dont want to move somewhere and feel like Im way behind the curve or something.Read my welding blog:http://weldeveryday.wordpress.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by Nightman_ComethThanks for all the replies, never knew there were that many sheet metal union guys on here! The wages elsewhere are so much better than here in Florida.  My original plan was to do the 5 year program here then move out west.  Journeyman here start at $19 or $22 , not quite sure, 1st year apprentices start at 11.50 an hour.  Obviously **** wages, but with my girlfriend working we can get by, Im making $10.60 an hour right now as a pre-apprentice.  I look at other non-union welding jobs, and I just think being in the union is my best bet, especially with the benefits and pension.  Los Angeles journeyman wages are 40+ an hour!? Thats awesome, though I have lived in LA before and know that cost of living is a **** ton higher than here in Florida.  Another question I have is this: Has anyone ever done their apprentice at one local, than moved to another local sometime later?  Are you treated any different than someone who did their apprenticeship in that local?  Id like to, in the future move to Colorado, California, New Mexico or Oregon and am wondering if different things are taught in different schools in different areas and dont want to move somewhere and feel like Im way behind the curve or something.
Reply:Nightman, To avoid any future possible regrets, my advice is to call in sick and drive the 5 hours to see what opportunity presents itself to you. Dont leave any stone unturned. Dont  be a 40 year old man with a family counting on you, wondering what might have been!Safety 3rdGump
Reply:SC is CHEAP to live in unless you insist on picking a specifically expensive location. Over 20 bucks an hour can go a long way. That's why I retired here, and I'm comfortable. I couldn't afford a cardboard box under a bridge back in North Jersey.It ain't that long a drive, give it a shot. Even if you choose differently or bust the test, it's more knowledge you have for the future.The domestic SC workforce (no GOOD workers need be offended at what I'm about to say) are pig-ignorant (apologies to pigs) which is why there are often openings for motivated people. The bar is low here. Businesses are expanding (tire plants like Michelin and Continental) and SC is on track for steady growth. The locals may not see much employment out of it, but we have some hard-core morons and a useless education system (you can't polish a tvrd anyway) so that's openings for out-of-state workers.
Reply:I agree with farmall. Go take the test. If you fail, that's just a piece of life experience under your belt that will help you next time around. If you pass the test, then you can make the choice about whether to leave or stay in Florida. Right now, you have no choice.PapaLincoln Idealarc 250 (circa 1962)Lincoln Weldpak 155 w/Mig KitLincoln Squarewave TIG 175
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallThe domestic SC workforce (no GOOD workers need be offended at what I'm about to say) are pig-ignorant (apologies to pigs) which is why there are often openings for motivated people. The bar is low here.
Reply:It's the nuclear industry and you would also have to pass through a lot of background checks which means different kinds of paperwork to fill out and junk.  They're called taking street people even though you're union apprentice you won't be considered "one of the boys" until you do five years without trouble.  Also you won't be finalizing your apprenticeship and you won't be able to do the layouts and other needs of the trade when the time comes.  They will not put you on a journeyman's job after the welding spikes down which it often does due to budget cuts in the fiscal year.  Then the guys with seniority on the out of work list will be sent to those jobs that needs trained layout and specialty guys who have done full term apprenticeships.They will test you on 2g, 3g, 4g Smaw, Fcaw and Gmaw.  1" CS and SS.  Then same on 10 ga. With and without backing. Depends on the contractor.  The tests are several days long and after you pass the test outside the facility you are to pass it again with the contractor they put you with.You're expected to set your own machines properly and just because you can weld does not mean you will qualify.  I've seen lots of ten year or more welding veterans bust out because there's a lot more to know about welding than just laying a pretty bead.  They will bend test and some visual.The BM there just had a conference with the international and a few other people and was told to stop hiring off the streets.  Now there are 22 on the out of work list with no skills to do sheet metal work as they can't weld good enough for the facility.  Not trying to dissuade you just pointing out some facts.  That little bit of a few dollars an hour is eaten up by just missing a week's worth of work.  A 50 hour week means 150 bucks more a week at $3 more an hour.  Miss a week at 22 would set you back 1100.  So turtles win the race.  Stick with what you have for now and don't count on long term high paying work as it's too often a layoff here and there.  That's the industry of construction.  Been there, done that a lot so I know.  Good luck to you.Last edited by Simonsays; 09-02-2012 at 05:09 PM.