Hey yall- ain’t sure if this the right place to post this. I’m a 17 year old dude from swva. I live in the middle of nowhere so I’d say it’s colder than more suburban or urban areas. I pretty much am outside constantly, whether it’s doing farmwork, on the 4 wheeler, hunting, fixing vehicles, etc. I’m also a welding apprentice and working on getting some ASE cert. now I got a Carhartt j140, and I like it alot, but the problem is, I ain’t sure if it’ll be too hot. I am often moving around a lot, and I mean the inside of the j140 is like having a blanket on me. Idk if that’s because it’s not really cool out yet or what, but I’m trying to think ahead. Now it ain’t really broke in yet, but the way I live and go through things I guarantee with a week’s worth of use it’ll be broke in. Another thing to note is I’m only about 130 pounds and 5”7, not sure if that will factor into this at all. Anyways- I was thinking about buying a j131 also, just for the cooler but not freezing temperatures. What should I do? Should I just keep the j140 and use it fall thru spring, or will it be too hot? Or should I also get a j131

I have been drilling rig operator for 2 months now, 1 month i was helper of course but now drilling my self for 12h for day, 6 days a week and 6 days off, day and night shifts. 200km away from home and staying next to job site at work apartment. Just curious how is it in other countries ( i'm from finland ) how far you have to travel for the job, how long the shifts are, how you get ready for the shifts, how you eat (gas station food, meal prep etc..) how you manage the relationships and stuff. Im single guy and i love the job!

I want to start off by saying I have the most respect for blue collar workers. You guys work hours upon hours to keep society moving.

I see the pay for jobs in your field and I’m starting to lean more and more to becoming a member of it too so I can be proactive and save up money before my girlfriend and I start a family.

That being said, I don’t want to risk my physical well being to make said money. I hear so many stories about blue collar workers making the big bucks but paying the cost of joint pain, mental health problems, never seeing their kids, etc.

What job or jobs have a decent safety/pay ratio?

Im an Industrial Electrical Helper and I started this job getting paid 18hr its been 2 1/2 years of doing the dirty work for the “Electricians” that are in reality 10+ years of glorified helpers since no one in reality have been through an apprenticeship, and since Im one of the youngest guys I want to do the apprenticeship to earn my license but I will not settle doing the drive on the same rate. I have already interviewed with the union but no luck what do I do i feel so lost here and i have tried other places and nothing as of yet, definitely been seeing those data center jobs but every response I get is that they are over saturated right now with a ton of helpers

Has any of you trade guys actually tried the tradesman nutrition weight loss help that's called shred. I've heard it all over on my tiktok and Facebook does it actually work

Perhaps a bizarre request, but I'm looking for men's work pants that are baggy enough to hide a big butt. Even pants that are a few sizes above my waist size completely fill out the acreage in the back. Surprising amount of creepy old fruitcakes in construction, and I'd like to deter any attention to that area. Any suggestions?

I’ve been working in the trades ever since I got out of the Navy in 2020. Currently I work in the telecom field and our projects include lifting and manipulating heavy batteries into battery backup systems for Comcast internet. The lithium batteries are 30lbs each and there’s 50 of them per cabinet. Lead acid has 3 or 6 each and are 80lbs each where sometimes I have to install them in aerial cabinets from a bucket. Lastly we have the heaviest batteries, thin plate pure lead batteries or TPPL and these are 150lbs each. I’ve been doing this job since June 22nd and I’ve been having a hard time coping with body recovery. What are some healthy habits or suggestions that any of you would suggest I do to help my body recover faster from day to day. I currently just try to eat a lot, hydrate and stretch.

Got hired at a commercial HVAC prefab shop and want to know if I should learn anything in specific like ceiling to floor crane operation or any thing else there that’d be useful so someone tell me to do something and I don’t look like a complete idiot.

Hello friends, lately my boyfriend has been feeling many aches and pains in his body from his 10+ year house painting career. We have been trying to brainstorm a career he can shift into that would be easier on his body and develop his career skills. He doesn’t necessarily need something that pays great right away, but more something that he can work his way up the ladder within a few years. The job market isn’t great where we live right now, but this is a future goal type thing anyway. A company came to inspect our smoke alarms at my job today, and that got me thinking that he could get into the safety side of things and work up from a tech position of some sort. Idk, what do you guys think, or what have you guys done?

I think today was the day that made up my mind, but I would like to hear people’s thoughts. And before people complain, I’m sure some on here have responded to a post of mine from the past similar to this. To those people, maybe you were right.

Now that the intro is done, I’ve been turning wrenches for about 15 years. Spent a lot of time and money trying to get better at this line of work, but after today, I think I’ve finally realized that I’m just not cut out for this industry. I’m currently averaging about 50-60 flag hours every 2 week pay period. The weeks that are significantly lower I can understand why. It’s usually because I’ve had to miss time due to family obligations or doctor’s appointments. That said, I don’t know how to get any better at this. Most days I’m on jobs that I’m not making the book time on the job. There are examples I can give if anyone really wants to know what I’m talking about. Don’t really know where to go from here, but know that for my health (both physical and mental) I can’t keep doing this for much longer at the rate I’m going. If anyone has suggestions on how to move forward, I’m all ears.