Questions from and for fitting and turning apprentices.
My boss says I can lean towards fitting or machining. Which one should I pick?
Think about where you want to work in five years, not just what looks fun now. If you want mine sites, FIFO money and shutdowns, lean towards fitting. Mines mostly hire maintenance fitters, and the jobs are stripping and rebuilding pumps, conveyors, gearboxes and crushers. If you love making things, getting a part spot on and working on CNC, lean towards machining. Good machinists are hard to find and a top CNC operator or programmer is worth a lot to a workshop. Here is the thing though: the best tradies can do both. A fitter who can turn up a sleeve or a shaft on the lathe saves the whole crew waiting days for parts, and a machinist who understands how the part fits into the machine makes fewer mistakes. So pick your lean, but do not let the other side go. Ask your employer which electives you will do at TAFE, and get as much lathe time as you can in your first two years while you still have someone checking your work.
Answered by a qualified tradieQualified fitter and turner
Is it worth chasing a mining apprenticeship instead of taking the job at the local workshop?
Maybe, but be honest about why. Mining apprenticeships with the big companies are well paid, well run and you often get a full tool kit and a structured program. But they are competitive, a lot of them are FIFO on long rosters, and at 17 or 18 that can be tough on your mates, your relationships and your head. You can also end up doing the same type of work on the same plant for years. A good local workshop can teach you more variety: machining, fabrication, breakdown work, a bit of everything. Plenty of fitters do their time in town and then go to the mines once they are qualified, when they are worth more and have a trade behind them. If a mining spot comes up and you are ready for the lifestyle, take it. If the workshop is a good outfit with tradies who will actually teach you, that is not a bad option either. The worst move is turning down a solid apprenticeship now to wait for a mining intake that may never come.
Answered by a qualified tradieQualified fitter and turner
I'm 28 and thinking about starting a fitter and turner apprenticeship. Am I too old?
Not even close. I had blokes in my TAFE class in their 30s and they were usually the best apprentices in the room. They turned up, they listened and they did not muck around. The big worry for most mature-age people is money. The Manufacturing award has adult apprentice rates, which are higher than the junior rates, and if you are on a mining EBA it can be better again. Check the Fair Work Pay Calculator for your actual figure rather than guessing. Some employers, especially miners and bigger maintenance contractors, actively look for adult apprentices because they are reliable and often already have a licence, a car and some life experience. If you have done mechanical work, welding or worked in a factory, tell your employer and your TAFE, because you may be able to get some units recognised and finish quicker. The hard part is the first year when you are on lower pay and doing the cleaning and fetching, so have a budget sorted before you start.
Answered by a qualified tradieQualified fitter and turner
What tools do I actually need to buy in my first year?
Less than you think. Wait until you start and see what your employer supplies, because it varies a lot. Mine sites often give apprentices a full kit, while small workshops might expect you to have your own hand tools. The first thing worth buying is good measuring gear: a decent set of calipers and a 0 to 25 mm micrometer. Look after them like they are gold, because a dropped mic is a useless mic. Then a metric spanner set, a socket set, allen keys, screwdrivers, pliers including circlip pliers, a hammer, some files and a lockable toolbox. Buy mid-range brands to start, then upgrade the tools you use every day once you know what you like. Do not buy big power tools or torque wrenches straight away, as most employers supply those. Keep every receipt, because tools you buy for work can be claimed on tax, and check whether your award or agreement pays a tool allowance.
Answered by a qualified tradieQualified fitter and turner
I don't want to be on the tools forever. What can I do after my trade?
Heaps, and that is one of the best parts of this trade. The most common move is into maintenance planning. Planners take the work orders, work out the parts, labour and isolations, and schedule the jobs, especially shutdowns. Every mine and big plant needs them, and fitters make good planners because they know how long a job really takes. The other common path is supervision: leading hand, then maintenance supervisor running a crew. For that you will want some leadership training and plenty of experience. If you want the technical route, do further study. The Certificate IV in Engineering, the Diploma of Engineering - Advanced Trade and the Advanced Diploma of Engineering are all in the MEM training package, and they can lead into reliability, condition monitoring, drafting or engineering associate roles. Some people go on to a uni engineering degree. Others specialise in CNC programming, hydraulics or rotating equipment, or start their own machine shop or contracting business. Get a few solid years on the tools first, though. Everyone respects a planner or supervisor who has actually done the work.
Answered by a qualified tradieQualified fitter and turner
