If you like building and fixing things, metal fabrication could be the perfect career for you.
Metal fabricators follow patterns and blueprints to create structures from raw metal. They are skilled craftspeople who assemble structural metal products such as frameworks for buildings. They prepare, cut, screw together using shears, gauges, power saws and screw guns to name a few.
You must use hardhats, gloves, and other personal protection (PPE) to protect you from workplace hazards, if any.
Here are a few traits necessary:
- Able to understand and translate technical instructions
- Interpret engineering blueprints
- Good math skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Good manual dexterity with hand and power tools
- Good troubleshooting skills
- Must lift in excess of 50 pounds
- Detail-oriented
- Measure meticulously and plan well to reduce waste
- Mark cutting lines
- Set up metalwork machinery, including rollers, drill presses, etc
- Grind and finish completed products
- Perform quality checks on completed products
- Follow all safety regulations
- Program robotic machines and computers is a PLUS
Training available with natural building skills and following directions well.