Sheet Metal ApprenticeshipsSheet metal workers fabricate, assemble, install, and repair ductwork systems for heating, ventilation, & air conditioning. They also install and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as control boxes, drainpipes, ventilators, and furnace casings, according to job orders or blueprints. Sheet metal workers:
- Select the gauge and type of sheet metal according to the product being fabricated and their knowledge of metals and their properties.
- Set up and operate fabricating machines - such as shears, brakes, bending rolls, and punch and drill presses - to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal.
- Shape metal over anvils, blocks, or forms, using a hammer.
- Set up and operate soldering and welding equipment to join together sheet metal parts.
- Smooth seams, joints, or burred surfaces using files and portable grinders or buffers.
Entrance Requirements
Sheet metal apprentice applicants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and must meet required norms on aptitude tests. Instruction in high school classes such as mathematics, mechanical drawing, and industrial arts is helpful.
Working Conditions
Sheet metal workers who fabricate sheet metal work in shops for long periods of time. Those who perform field installations do a considerable amount of bending, lifting, standing, and working off of ladders and lifts.
Wages
Sheet metal apprentices enjoy an excellent benefit and compensation package.
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