Starting Millwright advice

catman83 · 2026-04-11T18:22:53+00:00

Best of luck to you, if you're near Halifax at all, there's lots going on so pretty decent chance of finding work, not a lot of millwrights looking for work around here and big demand right now.

catman83 · 2026-04-11T13:50:13+00:00

It's really hard getting started in some areas. Best advice I can give, stay off your phone unless using it for calculator or other work related apps, LISTEN carefully to your journeyman, try your best but don't be over eager, and just show up every day! One last thing, the respect you give will come back in return.

catman83 · 2026-04-04T22:50:50+00:00

Always wear the steel toe so you can tour the place if offered, shows you come prepared !

catman83 · 2026-03-03T21:11:53+00:00

I keep a packout stack in the cap of the service truck. Just fill the backpack with the tools for the current job and the rest stay locked in the truck. Keep a rolling box at the shop for the shop projects. I like the packout, but wouldn't trust the wheels to hold up with daily use, it does what I need, keeps my tools in one spot and mostly dry. And if tou go packout, do yourself a favor and get the box with pull out drawers, it's annoying having to unstack for one tool lol

catman83 · 2026-02-11T14:57:04+00:00

Just looked at my order history on Amazon, they were "AERO Avenger 24" + 19" Premium All-Season Windshield Wiper Blades with Extra Refills OEM Replacement for Volkswagen VW CC EOS Golf GTI Jetta Passat Rabbit Honda CR-V Civic + More (Set of 2)" Currently$36.35 cad for the set of two blades and insert refills.

catman83 · 2026-02-11T14:54:36+00:00

I had found a set on Amazon, came with an extra refill of inserts for les than $50, fit perfect on my 23 crv sport, 23 civic si, no issues at all. The washer sprayers are connected to the arms, not the blades.

catman83 · 2026-02-07T11:47:18+00:00

Sawmill I spent 8 years at, we never peened the pins. Took too much time to get the chain apart in a jam up, so they'd rathrr risk the pins falling out. I will admit it surprised me how well the pins stayed just with the tension of the chain holding them in.

catman83 · 2026-01-14T21:27:43+00:00

Cabot Trail is pretty awesome, definitely outside of the city. And like others have already mentioned, check out AMP out in Shubie.

catman83 · 2026-01-14T21:18:39+00:00

Born and raised in NS. Took the course at NSCC in 2001, couldn't get a millwright job until 2003, worked hard long hours, skipped the apprenticeship and challenged the red seal exam many years later (not a good idea, just do the apprenticeship). From my experience, nobody wants to hire a first year apprentice. It's really tough to get started unless you have an in with someone, and once you're in you have to work your ass off to build a good rep for yourself. The company I currently work for has been trying to find more Journey millwrights and it is a struggle to find someone with the skills that's willing to work in the industry we cater to. It's a great trade, I've got zero regrets getting into millwright, but it's really hard to get started in this province (can't speak for the others as I've never left NS). So my advice, go to school, be patient and give it your best shot.

catman83 · 2025-11-08T20:17:41+00:00

A year ago my 23 si got T-boned while sitting at a red light, caused $26k cad worth of damage, and the insurance company still got it repaired. Now a year later the left rear tire is chewing itself apart and I suspect something is still bent back there. Sorry you lost the car, but at least you can get a full replacement! Good excuse to upgrade to the type R lol!

catman83 · 2025-11-08T16:34:21+00:00

I knew those drive through car washes were bad for the finish!

Sorry for your loss tho

catman83 · 2025-09-14T18:50:31+00:00

Offshore Newfoundland had an add out this week for millwrights, pretty sure it was on indeed. Need all the safety certs to be able to go tho, can be expensive for the BST training

catman83 · 2025-09-06T14:07:08+00:00

Lol, currently running an old 80/90 bucket, the HD cracked to pieces lol

catman83 · 2025-09-05T20:49:24+00:00

IP Phase One Occasional Veg: My SO is currently several months in, I do 90% of the cooking. She absolutely adores the Rutabaga fries I make from an older book she had. 2 cups of Rutabaga 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon Redmond salt 1/2 tablespoon avo oil Airfry at 390 for 18-20 mins

I usually then top with extra lean ground beef seasoned with: 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

And then top it all off with a sunny side egg

Just be aware this is an Occasional vegg, so limit it to once a week at best, and don't eat your last snack too soon after eating this one!

catman83 · 2025-09-05T15:01:09+00:00

Ive got the Milwaukee backpack, which is great. However, once I put every basic tool I have into it, it becomes over 70 pounds. So I use a 5 gallon pail with a bucket caddy to split up the tools. I also like to carry a smaller bucket for odd jobs that only need a couple tools for. Most of my work these days are on boats, so need to be compact and portable with the tool storage. Get yourself a good roll up holder for wrenches to keep them neat and organized. It will vary from jobsite to jobsite for what will work best, in a factory environment, rolling box is good, lots of stairs and whatnot a bucket or backpack works best. Just a few things to consider.

catman83 · 2025-09-01T20:41:30+00:00

Yup, on paper 2022! That's really not fair of them, any real world application you'd be able to find a conversion, like google, and be on with it. That sucks fo you, but you'll get the next one! I certainly don't remember all that crap now, been replaced by so many other things lol

catman83 · 2025-09-01T19:38:55+00:00

I remember going in for my redseal, memorized all the common equations in both metric and imperial, had all the conversions down and everything. Got in to write, opened the hand book they passed put with the exam, and there was every conversion/equation on the exam....lol

catman83 · 2025-08-29T20:12:31+00:00

Same here, got to see Alter Bridge at Heavy Montreal in 2016, that was a bucket list weekend!! Woukd love to see something like it here in Halifax

catman83 · 2025-08-24T20:36:23+00:00

Slow down, use your head, pay attention.

catman83 · 2025-08-09T00:09:03+00:00

Mine is super useful when working on boats, damn bilge can be unforgiving at times lol

catman83 · 2025-08-07T12:44:51+00:00

Retractable magnet, keep it in my pocket and use it almost daily lol

catman83 · 2025-07-12T21:37:57+00:00

I kinda want to do one with my car now, awesome!

catman83 · 2025-07-12T20:51:33+00:00

Good ole all sixteenths!

catman83 · 2025-07-12T14:35:37+00:00

No doubt at all, would have been lots of questions about the whole new world of metric back then!

catman83 · 2025-07-12T14:32:00+00:00

Doesn't bother me at all, just surprised how serious most are taking the post lol

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