What the heck is a Millwright??

             A Millwright in short is a "mechanic" who basically performs maintenance on machinery within a industry setting such as Pulp and Paper, Mining, and Oil and Gas. You will perform work on pumps, chains, belt drives, fabrication, paper machines, rock crushers, etc. In Canada it is a 4 year apprenticeship with college training and hands on training included.

            The Certification......You must be licensed in order to practice your trade in your province or state. I am licensed as a Millwright in the province of Ontario. I also currently hold Inter-Provincial ("Red Seal")certification to perform my trade in other provinces in Canada. It is another exam to write on top of writing your trade exam in the province you wish to work in. Not sure of the way things work in the U.S.A. but I would imagine it would be much of the same. The U.S. may require you to write another exam in the state you wish to work in as well.

            The tools......We require a wide range of tools. Most may be purchased at your local industrial supply, or Home Depot. We also make alot of our own tools too. Some tools we make ourselves we use for heavy duty service. My suggestion would be to purchase tools that have a "lifetime warranty" so if they are broken you can get it replaced. Alot of workplaces will be able to help with the cost of the initial purchase of tools, some do not. Something to be aware of when going to work for these employers.

           If you were ever going to think about becoming a Millwright as a career there are a few things to consider.....Your physical fitness would be one of them. It is very important on the job, to maintain your physical health in order to perform the duties assocciated with being a Millwright. You must be able to perform heavy lifting, therefore have good back health!

          You must be mechanically inclined. If you do not know what a wrench is used for or have never seen a nut and bolt (not the kind you eat)....look for another career.

          It is not a trade for the faint of heart. Because you work mainly with your hands, you are subject to cuts, blackened finger nails, muscle strains, etc. If you cannot handle getting cuts and bruises....again....look for another career path to succeed in.

         The pay is very good in the trades nowadays. We get paid well, we deserve it and work hard for it. In Canada if you are inter-provincially certified you are now a hot commodity in the work environment.

        I instruct and develop Millwright Apprentices in Ontario. I develop programs for the trade along with hand outs. If you are interested in becoming a Millright for your career, please contact me using the contact info on my ebay user name.