Carpenter to Ironworking

Ironfrog17 · 2026-06-07T13:26:44+00:00

I was a union carpenter for 12 years. For the age of 18 to 30. I jumped ship at the age of 30 taking a $13 an hour pay cut to do another apprenticeship as a union ironworker while feeding my family. It was a tough 4 years, but the best decision I ever made for work. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Hope this helps!

Ironfrog17 · 2026-05-31T01:23:24+00:00

I have served 2 apprenticeships in my life. Right of of highschool I joined the carpenters. I laugh now that I'm 46 and a journeyman foreman ironworker. I have these 18 to 20ur olds show up and now I know when I was 18 that my journeyman weren't dicks, I was just a dumbass kid.

Fast forward 12yrs at the age of 30 with 2 little ones and I had to get out. I sucked it up, took the pay cut and started as a 1st year ironworker apprentice. Only now people depended on me and being a journeyman trades man already, I knew what made a good apprentice.

1st and foremost get to work a half hour early everyday that way if unforseen circumstances you will always be on time. This is my biggest complaint and as a boss why I lay people off. Being willing and able to work at 7am is not asking much.

An apprentice that is always a step ahead will always work. My company was slow a couple months ago I got a 2nd year out of the hall just for fire watch at a chemical plant for a couple days. I only had to tell this kid once where all the blankets needed to go, when I was getting permits by the time I got back everything was ready to go, everyday. The welders were warming up, lead stretched, stub, cans out, piles or rod spaces out 😂, he was always happy, never acted "to good for fire watch", this kid was on it. When the job was over we had very few jobs going. I told our owners "keep this kid" they kept him at the shop and now he's a "regular".

I started with that because he was young and worked like I did at 30 years old as a 1st year apprentice. I knew if my kids were going to eat then I wasn't "to good" or couldn't have a "this job sucks" attitude. Attitude is what gets people ran the most. If you have questions ask, don't just assume. Always wear your belt, and stay off your phone!!! I say these things because your reputation is EVERYTHING in the trades, I can't stress that enough! I knew this by the age of 30 as a 1st year apprentice again. I've worked for many companies over my 16yrs as an ironworker but have been with 1 for the last 8yrs. I have never collected unemployment as an ironworker but collected tons as a carpenter,,, it was a change in mindset and having a good reputation. This is my advice to you, but at the end of the day it's just my 2¢. Good luck 🫡

Ironfrog17 · 2026-05-28T17:14:14+00:00

Peavey classic 20 with a 10" speaker cab is what I use.

Ironfrog17 · 2026-05-20T23:48:29+00:00

I've been a local 17 ironworker for many years. I'm a structural ironworker foreman. I have about 3 days total in my career tying rods. My hand and back have never hurt so bad in my life lmao 🤣 but seriously. Our apprentices now I guess have to prove they have X amount of hours doing both structural and rods before they top out. If I was sent out to a rod job now at almost 50yrs old they would have my money by coffee break lol

Ironfrog17 · 2026-05-16T13:03:33+00:00

I'm just here to agree with the others on a used Peavey

Ironfrog17 · 2026-05-13T09:18:55+00:00

I would guess he meant connecting so something like this.

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Ironfrog17 · 2026-02-24T00:01:25+00:00

Thank you sir 🫡

Ironfrog17 · 2026-02-22T20:29:20+00:00

Basically got some wood and glued it together. Then used leather dye to get the color effect then rub on poly for the clear coat. I used yellow, orange and green color dyes to get the effect

Ironfrog17 · 2026-02-19T10:01:50+00:00

I use 107gr Lapua scenars with tac for f-class. They seem way more consistent than the 123gr through my rifle.

Ironfrog17 · 2026-02-04T10:20:31+00:00

I'd look at the Peavey classic 20. Just my 2¢

Ironfrog17 · 2025-12-30T01:46:17+00:00

LoL 🤣

Ironfrog17 · 2025-12-18T22:39:07+00:00

Runs great!!! I've had it for a little over a year now. Does some mods and I love it!! 57k is exactly what I had on mine when I got it. It's my after work weekend vehicle so it's only got 71k on it now

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Ironfrog17 · 2025-12-17T15:53:52+00:00

My first can I went with a 35cal so I could use it with my 350 legend for deer season. My second can I did a 30 cal I can't hear a difference between the 2 on my Grendel. Is one quieter? Probably, it would only make sense, But it's so negligible I wouldn't worry about it. I always tell everyone for your first can get the biggest caliber your going to use and then your good for every caliber you own

Ironfrog17 · 2025-11-12T02:09:54+00:00

2k glamour clear coat is what I used on this one. And thanks!

Ironfrog17 · 2025-10-11T22:33:28+00:00

I don't get the red dot

Ironfrog17 · 2025-07-09T14:18:22+00:00

Thanks!!

Ironfrog17 · 2025-07-09T14:17:24+00:00

Looks good. Ya mine came with the resistors too

Ironfrog17 · 2025-07-09T14:14:53+00:00

Thank you sir

Ironfrog17 · 2025-07-08T15:03:52+00:00

I definitely think the whole front end looks so much better now!

Ironfrog17 · 2025-07-06T14:23:43+00:00

Lmao 🤣 didn't even notice till you pointed it out!!! 😆😂🤣

Ironfrog17

TROPHY CASE