25 years a plasterer, ended up doing it for work experience at 15 was fascinated by it. Jumped on at the local college straight after school. Still love it now as I did the day I started. Worked on some lovely jobs over the years, anybody has any problems. I’m all ears.
So what does everyone do for a living?
- Thread starter BiTurbo
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Always like watching a good plasterer at work - the process is transformational for any build and the pros make it look so effortless (which, by my own abortive efforts, I know it's anything but).
Like anything really, bit of practice and you can soon pick it up. Everyone will have their own levels they reach, that’s down to your own “that’ll do” you could become good at skimming in 6 month but not have the speed or cleanliness. Try to teach a young gun today is like pulling teeth. To be a good all rounder, float and set, render and screeding takes years and seriously dying breed.
I wasn't inspired to practice further when my initial efforts resulted in more on the floor than on the wall.
Its a form of art!
My lad (16) has just finished his first term at the local college doing Electrical Installation and is loving it. He gets up on his own and out before 7am to catch the bus for the 1 hour trip. Hasn’t missed a day.
He has just secured a placement (he has to complete 21 days per year on the job training to pass) with a local electrician after he ‘cold called’ lots of companies nearby. Early days but so far the electrician has been really pleased with his attitude to work and abilities.
He is adamant he doesnt want to work in an office.
I worked in an office for many years but am very practical. Looking back my parents just wanted me to get any job (apprenticeships were scarce). I wish I’d have got into an artisan type career - car metalwork fabricator, stone mason, bespoke plaster mouldings (coving) etc
We’ll try and support our kids to get into careers that they’ll enjoy and find rewarding rather than just ‘any’ job.
All the youth want to be plumbers or electricians. My eldest is at college doing IT, didn’t want him getting into my trade or go down the self employed route. He’s just had an interview for placement last week so hopefully he gets it. No biggy if he doesn’t.
Yes sorry about that, after a long bumpy wall you’ll be glad to hear I’m off the easi fill now.The plasterer we used to use would come in at weekends to sand down his work before anyone saw it
Not like Triggers Broom is it Mick ?If you used a decent trowel you wouldn’t feel so down beat. My trowel I use daily is about 18 years old. It even come to my wedding since it helped pay for it.
No all original, struggling to get one to match it. Tried breaking a few more in but nothing comes close to it.
I work in a chemical plant on shifts earning a high rate of Hazard pay. It's the only way i can finance my T6 habit and run a family. The job will likely not last past 2030 though...
At 45 I feel too old to retrain and am a bit stuck. I have a lot of skills (plumbng, carpentry, home renovation) but am a master of none. Don't have the confidence to start a handy man business. Meh
I left school and built climbing walls all over for 15 years. That was the best job ever.
At 45 I feel too old to retrain and am a bit stuck. I have a lot of skills (plumbng, carpentry, home renovation) but am a master of none. Don't have the confidence to start a handy man business. Meh
I left school and built climbing walls all over for 15 years. That was the best job ever.
You said it. You have a lot of skills and every one knows there is a skills shortage. A change of direction can be the best thing ever, so look forward to an opportunity to use your skills. Good luck 
Exactly the same as me. 15 years experience as a Sparky, along with a full house renovation under my belt. My current job role is maintenance engineer at a hospital, which I hate. Used to love it, but they employed a younger lad with no actual certificates to back up his qualifications and boss us around, telling me how to wire stuff. He even had the cheek to put a spirit level on my sockets.
Im 40 in January. Too old (imo) to train to do anything else, mainly because I'm also the sole provider in my home.
You're never too old! Well at least at 40. You have got to do what you need to to make yourself happy now or you will end up a grumpy old man.
I watched my dad do this to be honest. He worked in retail and earned good money until his 40s then he kind of hit is celling, he was for a number of reasons stuck for the next 20 years hating it more and more each year. Ended up defining him for a while. Luckily he made the choice to buy a van and got his spark back before it was too late.
I guess the point I'm making, working 40 hours a week doing something you hate will just grid you down over time, you've got to make a change for you. If that means dropping some cash, missing out on things for a while. Do it now and in a few years it will all be worth it. You've mentioned about your other half and van spending, but also that you are the sole provider. Doesn't quite seem aligned but that your private business.
Just remember partners, parents, friends and family can all advise you want to do but you need to make the right choice for you most importantly because if you're not happy you can't make anyone else truly happy.
I'm head of support at a web development agency. Love it. Been in the field for 22 years now. Staring out as a php developer and moved through various roles to where I am now.
Very lucky in that it gives me everything I want in terms of flexible, enjoyment and more importantly enough cash for the family and the van!
My only skills are shooting people or hitting them with a stick, and my technical degrees are effectively obsolete by virtue of being 30 years old and having never kept current through either research or work in a related field, so at 56 I pulled up the drawbridge and gave up trying.
I'm now 60 and quite happy doing nothing now, beyond the odd bit of music depping or very occsional session work.
I'm now 60 and quite happy doing nothing now, beyond the odd bit of music depping or very occsional session work.
I worked in IT for 30 years but always been practical, got paid off in 2017 at age 52, thought I would set up a handyman biz, never looked back, really busy but I can control what work I do, keep records on an excel spreadsheet and HRMC stuff is dead easy if you get an accountant as a customer. I mainly put stuff on walls and do little fix jobs that normal tradies won't, seriously give it a go Badjamin, there's loads of work out there for your skills you'll always be in demand, best of luck
I think the early years of retirement are probably as good as it gets for those of us who never had a job they loved however I see a possible use of your skills as an hitman if we connect you with @TheGrapeEscape above and let you sort out his gen Z supervisor for a modest fee.
OT and I haven't seen that yellow Mini but after a week of no skip on the radio the DX God has seen fit to return conditions so pretty well all yesterday sat talking all over the world on my dream catcher.
I could really go for shooting people for a living. I can spin a stick in quite a varied an elaborate way too. Some minor adjustments and am sure I could get it to hit someone
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