Taking the Plunge

[Paveway]

For decent tools, try Cromwell tools (www.cromwellindustrial.co.uk). Screwfix (www.screwfix.com) do some reasonable kit as well and I get a lot of my copper and brass fittings (and other stuff) from them. Their plastic wastes (P traps, bottle traps etc) don't seem as good to me as those my plumber's merchant sell.

For books, try 'Plumbing, Heating and Gas Installations' by R J Treloar. For Public Liability insurance, Northcott Beaton brokers in Exeter are good.

Think hard before you cut a pipe that's had water in it. What will you do to stop it if it still has. Have the necessary stop ends, towels etc to hand BEFORE you make the cut!

Don't smoke in the customer's house, don't have the radio on, use a dust sheet, turn up on time or ring to let them know if you'll be late (even if it's only going to be a quarter of an hour).

I got all these tips from folks on here early last year when I gave up my secure civil service job as a mechanical engineer and became a plumber.

The result - work for usually 3-4 weeks in hand, enough cash to pay the bills (including the taxman) and a bit more besides, and a much happier chap!

Don't forget to practice on your own plumbing at home, your mates, your family etc.

And one you've been going for a while, consider joining the Institute of Plumbing. I did, and it is a useful reassurance for customers used to 'cowboy plumbers from hell' programmes on the box.

Good luck.

Cheers,

Joe.

[TCPlumbz]

Hya [b]"L" [/b]... you've certainly stirred up a hornets nest here... Some of the comments are valid.., others are simply idiotic and typical of some stereotypical hairy arsed builder types.

I'm an advanced craft City & Guilds Certificate holder with certificates in welding also. I did a total of 4 years in technical college (day release).. thats 1 sometimes 2 days a week. The rest of the time I was in work gaining valuable on-site training and tuition by my 62 year old mentor who himself had been in the plumbing industry since he left the Desert Rats after WW2!

I'm 40 now and have my own successful plumbing business in Liverpool and must agree with some of the lads who posted stuff here that you do seem to be approaching this with rose tinted spectacles! It's hard graft matey and if you want to do it.. it's worth doing it right. Why don't you chuck the book away (I haven't seen a decent one on plumbing yet!!) and enrol on a City & Guilds Basic Foundation Course in Plumbing & Sanitation.., just one day a week and see how you get on. It's worth it matey!

It can be frustrating though... cos as you learn.. you'll want to put your knowledge into practice but can't get the opportunity to cos no employer would give you a chance because you have no experience.. (or tools! haha!)

On the tools thing... be prepared to spend... A LOT! I've been at this game since I was 16 yrs old and I'm STILL buying new kit to help me do the job more effectively.. it never ends. Just stupid things like diamond core masonary hole cutters.. (to put neat holes through brickwork for your 4" soil outlets etc...) can set you back anywhere upwards of £200!! Dont even think about gas! (ACS.. Elements... CORGI etc!! hahaha!)

Anyway... Good luck fella!

Cheers,
Tom.

[learner]

Thanks for the advice Tom oh yeah and I now have a decent selection of tools.

[JAH]

I agree with ticket, whats the big deal on plumbing, it's a ******* of a job nearly all the time and very demanding physically, why not joiner, roofer, plasterer, bricklayer, electrician, car mechanic.
When I started at 15 years old there was about 30 lads at college, after about a month there was about 20, second year about 15, third year about 10, by the last year doing city and guilds there was about six of us, that was 34 years ago, bearing in mind the I want NOW mentality
society we live in and how hard plumbing/heating is, I find it difficult to believe anyone is genuine in wanting to get into this game other than mistakenly thinking they are going to make easy money.
In reality everyone wants to sit and push buttons nowadays.

[thescruff]

JAH, after 45+ years in the trade I would still do it all over again.

The personal satisfaction one gets from a good job or a problem solved more than compensates for the bad days.

Minus 12c and blowing a gale last week, working in a building with no windows, perhaps I could change my mind.

scruff

[hawkieboy]

Hi all

I couldnt help read over my previous threads (yes i was previously learner), the change of name is not suggesting i have stopped learning as with the rules and regs always changing it is not possible to ever stop learning. The only reason i am posting this is to say thanks to the people who gave good sound advice and apologies to those who saw this as a wind up. reading it back now with 3 1/2 years work experience perhaps i did seem a bit well how can i put it THICK however saying that I have now regrets on the way I did things and was lucky to find an employer who took me on and kept me on (i must have done something right). I am growing in confidence all the time and am often left to my own devices. Anyway just thought id say thanks to those who helped.

cheers
hawkieboy(learner)