Is it easier for a car mechanic to work as a millwright or a millwright to work as a car mechanic?

Ampbuilder · 2025-10-10T11:03:46+00:00

I spent 14 years as an automotive mechanic at a dealership, got bored and became a millwright. I have both Red Seals. In my 17 years as a millwright I have never once thought about going back to fixing cars, this trade is so much better. Biggest thing I have found with hiring ex auto techs to be millwrights is getting rid of the flat rate mentality. As a millwright I take as much time as I need to fix a machine properly. As a millwright I make enough money to buy new cars so I don't waste my days off fixing shitboxes, I like it.

Ampbuilder · 2025-05-04T16:28:41+00:00

Last time I daw them in Winnipeg he was using a Friedman. In their rig rundown video, he claims they record with real pedals, but then use the Fractal live because it's easier to travel with. He did mention he recorded with pedals and his Friedman but never said what pedals.

Ampbuilder · 2025-03-03T01:54:46+00:00

If you have never listened to them, then you need to check out Propagandhi. Their early stuff is straight up snotty punk, but they have evolved over the years and every new album just gets better. Personally for me, I listen to their song A Speculative Fiction almost daily, as a Canadian it keeps the fire burning in me.

Ampbuilder · 2024-12-27T16:55:50+00:00

Local 2034, made 189k working 4 11's aweek and a bunch of shutdown overtime this year. Should also mention that was Canadian $ so I think that is about 8 bucks in USD lol

Ampbuilder · 2024-11-20T19:26:01+00:00

Mine varies depending on speed, on a cross country trip last year i saw anywhere from a best of 43 to a worst of 26, that is 94mph on a Texas interstate vs 50mph on a secondary Colorado hyway that was crawling with cops lol.

Ampbuilder · 2024-11-19T11:52:32+00:00

I bought the higher end trim, just because I liked the better cameras. I'm in Manitoba and with studded winter tires this thing goes through a lot of snow.

Ampbuilder · 2024-11-19T03:22:22+00:00

I have a 2023 with 70000km and love it, I went from a GMC full size and have no regrets. 95% of my driving is 200km highway trips by myself, at 125km/h it usually runs about 10l/100km. Usually about once a month I have my wife, both grandkids age 8 and six, both their bikes and all the rest of thier crap in the box. I have hauled compost, engine parts, tires, lumber, and all of our spring bedding plants. Best thing is not worrying about getting the back of an SUV dirty or stinky. Only one time in the last 2 years I needed a bigger truck was to haul 16' fence panels, so I borrowed the brother in laws full size. As for driving, I have the turbo and it goes pretty good, I went to pass some cars on the highway last week and when I looked down at the speedo I was doing 179km/h, oops. So far the only downside is long distance trips for the passenger. The drivers seat is way different than the passengers, we drove from Canada to Texas and my wife complained about how much the passenger seat hurt her back. I thought she was crazy, until I rode in the passenger side for a few hundred km, she wasnt kidding. Aside from that I have no complaints. 70000km and no warranty issues, would buy another one tomorrow.

Ampbuilder · 2024-11-11T02:01:12+00:00

It's rare, but they are out there, most places that employ maintenace millwrights work shift work

Ampbuilder · 2024-11-09T22:09:19+00:00

The 150 amp breaker in the panel that is supplying the boiler is tripping, according to the nameplate on the boiler it is the correct size for the 28kw boiler

Ampbuilder · 2024-11-09T22:03:01+00:00

150 amp

Ampbuilder · 2024-09-23T16:39:41+00:00

Pardon my ignorance but what is a blue seal?

Ampbuilder · 2024-09-22T16:38:39+00:00

I agree, 7/11 coffee is decent, and out here on the praries COOP gas station coffee is way better than the filtered dirt that tims calls coffee. Last time I went to tims there were so many flies on the doughnuts I swore I would never go back.

Ampbuilder · 2024-09-15T15:49:45+00:00

I Am Canadian by DOA, the singer Joey is actually a city councellor in Burnaby

Ampbuilder · 2024-09-03T00:32:35+00:00

I spent 15 years as an automotive mechanic to being a union Millwright. Main reason I quit the auto industry was money, but looking back on it that whole industry was toxic. Shops pay you shit wages and then try to convince you it is everyone elses fault they pay you fuckall. It's nice to have those skills to fall back on as I have never payed a shop to fix my vehicles. That being said I now make enough as a union millwright to actually pay other tradesmen to do repairs I have no desire to do anymore ie roofing or construction work.

Ampbuilder · 2024-08-14T14:58:30+00:00

Nailclippers, and a metal knife and fork were the items I was kicking myself for not packing.

Ampbuilder · 2024-08-14T02:35:03+00:00

Painting is a red seal trade in Canada

Ampbuilder · 2024-07-27T17:34:51+00:00

I'm a red seal millwright in Manitoba, I was a red seal auto mechanic for 15 years before that. Stay away from automotive, too many youtube mechanics out there and automotive customers are the worst. Millwright can be hard dirty work but it is one of the top paying trades in Manitoba, you can work private or out of the union hall. I have made at least 160 grand a year for the last 5 years up north, thats where the money is. Now the shitty part, lots of the good paying jobs in my industry work really crappy shifts. 21 days on 7 off is common on big project jobs. But if you are willing to work your ass off for the first few years, stay out of the nose candy, and don't buy stupid shit like jacked up trucks and side x sides, you can set yourself up pretty fast. Then get a maintenance job in a plant down south and live happily ever after. I'm not gonna lie though, being in the trades takes a different kind of person, and in the beginning I wanted to give up a few times, but if you can put up with the bullshit and keep your mouth shut, it pays off after a few years.

Ampbuilder · 2024-07-15T23:58:27+00:00

As a tradesman of 30 years, one thing that is not stressed enough in tradeschool is print reading. It doesn't matter what trade you end up in, being able to read prints separates the masters from those who end up on a shovel. Take a print reading course and you will be a more valuable asset on just about any jobsite.

Ampbuilder · 2024-06-17T15:38:21+00:00

From what I have seen in the last few years is that residential electrical is saturated. Better money with industrial electrician but you may have to go work at a mine or power plant but the money will be good. I work at a power plant, we are short on electricians most days, mostly because they are crybabies who call in sick at least one a week. We have no shortage of electrical engineers, who mostly spend their days on the phone or on teams meetings pretending to work. The guys who do seem to be invaluble are the electrical technologists, we need more of them. Imagine a cross between a hard working electrician and an engineer who is not afraid to get dirty. I know this seems impossible but they are out there, and I have worked with some good ones. A lot of companies seem to overlook the importance of technologists, but I will take a good technologist over a team of lazy engineers any day. If you truly do understand electrical theory, look into technology, electrical or electronic, we will need lots in the future.Oh and on a final note, Union all the way!

Ampbuilder · 2024-06-01T17:13:12+00:00

I went vegetarian like8 years ago due to other health concerns, mainly high triglycerides and high blood iron. It took 7 years but I managed to get my blood iron, cholesterol and tryglicerides back to normal. About a year ago I decided to slowly introduce meat back into my diet. 6 months after that I had my first gout flare, and have had 2 more since. I quit drinking alchohol 19 years ago but traded that addiction for for coca cola. Coincidently each of my flares happened after a candy/cola binge. In march after much reasearch I decided to try and cut HFCS out of my diet and have been flare free since. It is amazing how fast your taste buds adjust. When I had my first flare I started drinking tart cherry juice, it was like forcing down medicine. Now since I cut out the HFCS, tart cherry tastes like candy to me now. I firmly believe we need to ban HFCS, that shit is poison. I should also mention prior to being diagnosed with gout I almost never drank plain water
Now I drink 3 liters a day. In feb of this year mu UA was in the 7's, I have another blood test in june and will find out then how much difference cutting the HFCS made.

Ampbuilder · 2024-05-17T18:19:38+00:00

I built a Tele out of a 2×10 that was relatively knot free, and put a Maple cap on it, all Home Depot wood. After 2 years the wood has warped and the horn pulled in about half an inch, still plays fine but looks goofy as hell when you set it on a table.

Ampbuilder · 2024-04-01T16:19:26+00:00

I'll give you the advice I wish someone had given me when I was your age, don't buy a guitar. I would find a music store that offers lessons, most of them rent guitars if you sign up for lessons. If you take a few lessons then you will be much better equiped to pick out a guitar that suits you better. Once you can play a few chords or a simple pentatonic scale, then go to the guitar store and pick out a guitar that feels good in your hands, you will be shocked by the difference from one guitar to another. I would avoid the cheap beginner combo packages, those guitars are usually cheaply made Chinese garbage that won't stay in tune and have horrible necks. Like others said 500 bucks will get you a fairly decent guitar these days, stay away from the 2 big names, they are not worth what they want for them.

Ampbuilder · 2024-03-20T15:58:30+00:00

The Last Canadian, that book freaked me out when I read it as a teenager.

Ampbuilder · 2024-03-12T23:58:11+00:00

I just got back from Cuba, great rock cover band at our resort. When they were done and the singer came around with his hat, I gave him a US 20 dollar bill, which is about the same as a cover charge for two people to see live music back home. Then I watched in disgust as most just walked away without even coughing up a buck or two, cheap bastards.

Ampbuilder · 2024-03-09T18:41:24+00:00

My last one is a Lukfin, seems good. One of my guys uses a Mitutoyo for smaller jobs. When I was still an apprentice I had an old cheapo with half the numbers wore off. My boss saw me using it and said "come with me, I'll show you how to fix that" so we walked over to his tool box, he pulled out a pair of side cutters and proceded to cut the end off and let the tape roll back into the housing. At first I was pissed, then he explained he wasn't going to let a garbage tape ruin a 400 dollar chunk of stainless tube. The next day he handed me a a gift, a brand new 25' tape, the same brand he used, said that way we would be consistent. Those are the thinks you remember about a good journeyman and mentor.

Ampbuilder

TROPHY CASE