I know there is a few posts about this here and there and I have messaged/talked to a few people via pms on here.

I think maybe this is will give some more insight.

I can fabricate some stuff, maybe not the best because of my limited tool supply. But I manage.

But to the point. Im looking at getting a ticket in either of these fields:
Welding, Machining or Mechanics.

Now I see the benefits of each for fabrication and custom 4x4 builds.

Im leaning towards machining because of the precision and getting a welding ticket down the road too if time is there.

Which of these paths do you think would be the most helpful for becoming a fab shop?

Im pretty mechanically inclined already. I have done drive train swaps, gearing, transmission rebuild, wrenching on just about anything. I really despise wiring though lol.

I can weld decently. I haven't had a weld crack or break on me. 2 years on the road now. But maybe I don't beat on my junk hard enough.

I think thats enough for some responses, if you need some more info ask and I will post up!

Without a doubt, machining is your best path. I've been a machinist for 20+ years and yes I have welding certs and am a self taught welder aswell. Not a pro by any stretch of the imagination but I do well enough for me, Hope to always improove though. Self taught fabricator aswell. I went to machine trade school and cnc machine trade courses too. You can get a good job anywhere in the world with a machinist back ground if you know your stuff. While learning machining you can lear welding on your own at home. After taking machining trade school then go for a welding class. You will learn fabrication along the way.

Now with that said, I'm no longer a machinist for a living, I still do machining at work from time to time but not for my main job. There are better ways to make money. But I wanted to learn it for the skill more then anything for myown use. I have machined millions of parts throughout my machining career. From kids toy parts to parts for NASA and satalite parts that have gone into outerspace. I have learned incredible things along the way while machining. I WILL own myown cnc mill and or lathe someday just for myown hobby use, and yes to make cool parts for cash. It will happen at some point. Working towards that now actually.

From a fabricator without a lot of machining experience, I'll agree and suggest some machine training as well. I really wish there had been some machinist classes available when I was in school.

Just a little note though. Spending the time to really learn your craft will get you much farther than any certs or "tickets". I've NEVER had anyone ask a single question about welding certifications, I just make sure that my work speaks for itself as much as possible. I'm pretty much self taught since high school, with mainly just a lot of talking, observing, etc. with people I know that have more experience. When it comes to welding IMHO having a lot of time under the helmet does much more for you than any piece of paper.

Iv had some work in school but it was minimal. But I have learned plan it out. It will always turn out better than if you have no plans. (Specifics are helpful)

I am pretty efficient with welding, I have a 180c mig welder, that does a great job with flux core. However I would love to get gas one day... I just don't do enough welding to justify the cost.

I have used a lathe. All minimal. Machining is usually not something you can learn to at home. The machines are expensive Unlike welding or wrenching.

I will look into taking like a 2 week welding course. And completing a machining ticket I think is what I plan on doing. Atleast if I have the ticket I have something to fall back on.

I guess you need to look at your long term plans .The more you learn the better off you are . But I have found if you have the aptitude you can pick these skills up real quick. If you don`t you can still learn but it is just not the same.

I have seen a few schools that offer a course in Industrial Maintenance Mechanic It gives you a Good base in Machine Shop, Welding, Industrial Electric, And some other things Like pipe fitting and Hvac

It is one thing to build and fab things for yourself It is a whole different world when it gets to be your job. Day after Day the bad with the good . The fun with the boring.

You have to pay your dues one way or another .

Good luck

IME machining is a dying trade. When I went to school the entire machining program (semesters I thru IV) totaled less enrollment than welding by far. The auto tech program was HUGE.

You could consider this good - less competition in the job market. Or you could consider it bad - a sign of the times w production moving overseas and now a machinist is just a "cnc operator" = push the green button.

I decided to go with machining because it struck me as the "M.D." of the fab world. I don't mean that to sound elitist, more that it takes a fair amount of specialized training to gain sufficient knowledge.

That said there's minimal demand for machining around me unless I was willing to work in dark, dirty job shops for the oil field getting paid 1/2 what I'm worth.

Working for myself the money seems to be in general welding and fabrication - handrails, trailer repair, steel fences, etc. Still for that kind of work you don't need to go to school. It's still really nice to have my machining background and oftentimes it's incorporated in ways the client never sees or understands, such as slotted holes or custom couplers for handrails.

I think two of the most important considerations you have are:
1)what type of work is most in demand in your area?
2)what do you WANT? By that I mean do you want to simply be able to go into a high paying field right away, or are you more concerned w increasing your skills and knowledge simply for the sake of having a well-rounded skill set?

IME machining is a dying trade. When I went to school the entire machining program (semesters I thru IV) totaled less enrollment than welding by far. The auto tech program was HUGE.

You could consider this good - less competition in the job market. Or you could consider it bad - a sign of the times w production moving overseas and now a machinist is just a "cnc operator" = push the green button.

I decided to go with machining because it struck me as the "M.D." of the fab world. I don't mean that to sound elitist, more that it takes a fair amount of specialized training to gain sufficient knowledge.

That said there's minimal demand for machining around me unless I was willing to work in dark, dirty job shops for the oil field getting paid 1/2 what I'm worth.

Working for myself the money seems to be in general welding and fabrication - handrails, trailer repair, steel fences, etc. Still for that kind of work you don't need to go to school. It's still really nice to have my machining background and oftentimes it's incorporated in ways the client never sees or understands, such as slotted holes or custom couplers for handrails.

I think two of the most important considerations you have are:
1)what type of work is most in demand in your area?
2)what do you WANT? By that I mean do you want to simply be able to go into a high paying field right away, or are you more concerned w increasing your skills and knowledge simply for the sake of having a well-rounded skill set?

I think the most work in demand here is labourers. Need little to no schooling.

But I think machining is in good demand. My friends dad started a shop last year and has been busy since.

What I think I want is to get into a field that will allow me to make/think anything through wether than being a simple bracket or some complex adapter to axle shafts. Learn some metallurgy, and so on so forth.

I want to learn everything I possibly can, but obviously I would be in schooling forever if that was the case.

I could go into engineering at U of A in Alberta here, but I think something more hands on would serve me better. (Someone tell me better but this is what I think.)

The trade school I plan on going to is NAIT (Nait.ca) It's the closest school to me, and has a good rep.

But from what I heard the experience you get with precision from machining is good to have even if it ends up just being a background thing.

I am going the engineering route because I can handle the work load to get through school and because I have learned from being a prototype machinest for a bit that most engineers know the books but not much of how things go from print to product. Since I have hands on expirence with machining, welding, fabing, and troubleshooting real world stuff I am hoping that I have an edge on the rest when it comes time for the engineering job.

That being said, since I do have all the manual labor expirence I can always count on making money, maybe not a fortune, busting my ass in a shop. But what I am hoping is that I can bust my ass in an office on a computer and save my body for my own personal projects. Plus if I do get the desk job with the nice paygrade, I am going to invest it in tools and machines so that one day my dad and I will have a shop of our own.

One other thing to look at is if you have an engineering degree just add a couple welding classes and complete a certificate program in machining and the whole time keep building stuff on the side as proof of your fab skills and you will have plenty of options for a job. Atleast thats how I look at it. But make sure you are up to the workload of the classes you have to take to get the engineering degree. Its not for everyone.

There is also a Egineering Tech degree that you can get that isn't a bachlors but what I was told at some engineering fair is that it is more like a go between between the engineers and the production teams. So they are more hands on but understand enough about engineering to figure stuff out. But I haven't looked into it.

Edit: Also be careful turning your hobby and passion into your job. Make sure it is something you can and are willing to do. It can be rough sometimes and can take the fun out of your hobby real quick.

I am going the engineering route because I can handle the work load to get through school and because I have learned from being a prototype machinest for a bit that most engineers know the books but not much of how things go from print to product. Since I have hands on expirence with machining, welding, fabing, and troubleshooting real world stuff I am hoping that I have an edge on the rest when it comes time for the engineering job.

That being said, since I do have all the manual labor expirence I can always count on making money, maybe not a fortune, busting my ass in a shop. But what I am hoping is that I can bust my ass in an office on a computer and save my body for my own personal projects. Plus if I do get the desk job with the nice paygrade, I am going to invest it in tools and machines so that one day my dad and I will have a shop of our own.

One other thing to look at is if you have an engineering degree just add a couple welding classes and complete a certificate program in machining and the whole time keep building stuff on the side as proof of your fab skills and you will have plenty of options for a job. Atleast thats how I look at it. But make sure you are up to the workload of the classes you have to take to get the engineering degree. Its not for everyone.

There is also a Egineering Tech degree that you can get that isn't a bachlors but what I was told at some engineering fair is that it is more like a go between between the engineers and the production teams. So they are more hands on but understand enough about engineering to figure stuff out. But I haven't looked into it.

Edit: Also be careful turning your hobby and passion into your job. Make sure it is something you can and are willing to do. It can be rough sometimes and can take the fun out of your hobby real quick.

Hmm, Something for me to think about. Only issue is I won't have any money to do projects while at school. I will be paying rent and living probably on a part time job If I go into engineering. Which is an issue.

Machining I get to work most of the year and have 2 months off at most but you can continue to do work and school at the same time if needed.

Another thing is I didn't quite get the marks needed for engineering. I would have to take equivalent courses for the first year and not a 100% accept into school for the 2nd year. And your GPA is dropped based on taking easier courses...

I think the most work in demand here is labourers. Need little to no schooling.

But I think machining is in good demand. My friends dad started a shop last year and has been busy since.

What I think I want is to get into a field that will allow me to make/think anything through wether than being a simple bracket or some complex adapter to axle shafts. Learn some metallurgy, and so on so forth.

I want to learn everything I possibly can, but obviously I would be in schooling forever if that was the case.

I could go into engineering at U of A in Alberta here, but I think something more hands on would serve me better. (Someone tell me better but this is what I think.)

The trade school I plan on going to is NAIT (Nait.ca) It's the closest school to me, and has a good rep.

But from what I heard the experience you get with precision from machining is good to have even if it ends up just being a background thing.

If you are wanting to create from nothing, I feel welding and fitting would be a better primary path.

There's a lot more to welding than just burning parts together. Being able to anticipate and plan for distortion takes experience. Even with experience there will always be odd parts that just don't do what was expected. Being able to correct these situations is also a valuable skill.

Whatever you do, I would recommend working for a job shop for at least a few years. There will be enough variety to keep you thinking and learning, not just building thousands of Widget X. Learn milling and lathe operations either on the job, or see if your future employer will pay for additional schooling. I wouldn't bother learning CNC operations unless you're planning on becoming a career machinist, and in that I see things lean towards having separate programmers and button pushers.

School will teach you the basics. Essentially you are being taught up from down, and how to get through a day without injuring yourself. Never turn down an opportunity to learn something new, even if you already think you know how it's done.

I have been to schooling on machining and welding. Welding is pretty straightforward. Lots of technique, practice, and approach at different scenarios and types of welds.

Machining is a complex set of skills and tasks. There is a lot more to learn in machining than there is in welding.

You would be 10x the fabricator with machining skills + welding than just welding. If you are just planning to build cages and etc, welding is fine. If you plan to do custom parts, etc, than machining is a must. And a course is a must. There is a lot to learn. Its more than just sticking a part in cnc machine and then taking it out 20 minutes later.

PS. I am an engineer (Software). I do this stuff (machining/welding/fab) for kicks. But an engineer makes 4x as much money as a machinists. Stop f-ing around and get an engineering degree.:bender:

IME machining is a dying trade.




I know machinists making 38+ an hour. Top machinist make awesome money. It totally depends on the type of machining and company. I was making $25.16 just running conventional mills & lathes at my last shop.

trialsintrigger mentioned his engineering future. The schooling for engineering hasnt been better than it is today. Decent courses in machine tool technology and machining pre-requisites really help engineers become more effective. Machining knowledge can really give you an edge on a fabication career if you plan on using the said type machinery. The fabrication side of things is as much art as it is science and to teach creativity in this area is very difficult. To get good at either machining or fabrication you will need to develop the skill set through experience. Get a job doing what you would like to do and see how it goes.

trialsintrigger mentioned his engineering future. The schooling for engineering hasnt been better than it is today. Decent courses in machine tool technology and machining pre-requisites really help engineers become more effective. Machining knowledge can really give you an edge on a fabication career if you plan on using the said type machinery. The fabrication side of things is as much art as it is science and to teach creativity in this area is very difficult. To get good at either machining or fabrication you will need to develop the skill set through experience. Get a job doing what you would like to do and see how it goes.

Well I did plan on doing engineering at one point but never got there. I could do engineering and a co-op program at u of a. Maybe I will just have to do machining first than engineering or vise versa. It could be a good combo having the knowledge of an engineer into fabrication.

It's still something I need to think about. If I do as I want to I would be in school until im 31... (20 now) Engineering 4 Years, Machining 4 years, and welding 3 years.

You shouldnt need more than 2 years for machining and 1 year for welding. The 2 years of machining will get your toes wet and experience will come from there...same as welding. Doing both under a wing is a great start but until you fly the coop you wont really learn the hands on and variables that will pop up. It all depends on what you want to do. Do you want to become a good employee or do you want to learn these skills to make your own parts.

If you can't get into an engineering program, machining may be too intensive for you as the math requirements (the main reason for folks not being able to make it in engineering or engineering technolgy) can be pretty serious.

I'll be the first one to say that I turned my hobby into my job and I rarely consider it to be a job, but I also spent almost 20 years in jobs where I was called an "Engineer".

I consider myself to be a self-taught fabricator, welder, machinist, and mechanic, but I've had formal education in machine tool technology and welding, but have had no formal education in fabricating, auto mechanics (NIASE certified since 1981 though), nor electrical work (but I have an Extra class amateur radio license). In my shop, I have to be able to do it all, from making parts or tools to fabbing pieces, to welding sheetmetal for rust repairs, to heavy engine/suspension work.

I make minimum wage, work long hours, but I work from my home and have a lifestyle that I will find very difficult to give up.

I would go with an engineering technology 4 year degree that way you can start out at a company that'll let you get your hands dirty and work your ass off when you're young. Then as you get older, you can shift more of it to the hobbyside and keep to the engineering/management side as you choose. I have a lot of friends that I went to school with at Purdue that are in engineering or technology. The people I know in tech who were more ambitious about the ladder, rose into the engineering/management side pretty quickly (if they wanted to) and the ones that like doing the hands on...still do it and love it.

Edit: Sure, engineering or engr tech have a little more math and I think tech has a thermo class but as long as you have your head on straight and work hard/get help when you need it, the 1 year of calculus (i'm sure it depends on the school) tech requires shouldn't be that bad.

Find a school and work part time at a shop nearby if you can. Start low and you'll likely learn more from the cratchety old asshole running the machines about welding, turning parts, and whatnot then you would being stuck in a classroom (not to knock on the fundamentals because i'm sure they're important).

I'm not a machinist or engineer by trade nor a certified welder but i can run a lathe, mill, tig, mig, etc. well enough to get stuff done.

Figure out what you want and stick to it. The I'm gonna go to school for 4 years for this, then 2 for that, and then another 3 for something else just isn't too realistic IMO. I remember being in high school feeling like i could go to school forever, then college came around and i decided i liked having some fun and a life, now I'm halfway through med school and it's pretty depressing that I have to study all the time, make no money at all, and my day to day life is still, at least partly, dictated by a curriculum.

I guess the point of that is long years of schooling wear on you even if you like what you're doing. So pick the option that allows you the most flexibility to change your lifestyle without having to start over or take a paycut if you change jobs or fine tune the day to day duties. With engineering technology, if you get hurt or have to move you can get into more of the deskwork , technical management, etc. but still be involved in the technical side. Or if you want to work physically everyday find a smaller shop where you can handle all sides, design, productionish stuff, managerial, fabwork, etc.

You shouldnt need more than 2 years for machining and 1 year for welding. The 2 years of machining will get your toes wet and experience will come from there...same as welding. Doing both under a wing is a great start but until you fly the coop you wont really learn the hands on and variables that will pop up. It all depends on what you want to do. Do you want to become a good employee or do you want to learn these skills to make your own parts.

The times I gave you are the times to get a full ticket from nait. Not saying i couldn't get it done faster but you need a minimum of so many hours to do the first year ect... I do lots of welding at home, I weld anything I can get my hands or have an excuse to weld LOL. Im pretty efficient at it now, and will continue to improve on it. Same with the fabrication aspect of it.


If you can't get into an engineering program, machining may be too intensive for you as the math requirements (the main reason for folks not being able to make it in engineering or engineering technolgy) can be pretty serious.

I'll be the first one to say that I turned my hobby into my job and I rarely consider it to be a job, but I also spent almost 20 years in jobs where I was called an "Engineer".

I consider myself to be a self-taught fabricator, welder, machinist, and mechanic, but I've had formal education in machine tool technology and welding, but have had no formal education in fabricating, auto mechanics (NIASE certified since 1981 though), nor electrical work (but I have an Extra class amateur radio license). In my shop, I have to be able to do it all, from making parts or tools to fabbing pieces, to welding sheetmetal for rust repairs, to heavy engine/suspension work.

I make minimum wage, work long hours, but I work from my home and have a lifestyle that I will find very difficult to give up.
I don't think I would have any issues with the math in engineering I just didn't get the marks I should have in high school aka slacking off. The marks are possible for me. I am VERY good with math. I have my Math 30 and 31 (Calculus (Univeristy math)) I did this all in high school. Also Have physics 30 and chem 30. Im just under the bar for average. I got around 75-80 in those classes. more because I slacked.

I want to be able to make anything. But i all takes time an experience I will have to try and find a job at a fab shop if possible. There isn't very many up here. Edmonton, Alberta is where I will be located shortly down the road.

I would go with an engineering technology 4 year degree that way you can start out at a company that'll let you get your hands dirty and work your ass off when you're young. Then as you get older, you can shift more of it to the hobbyside and keep to the engineering/management side as you choose. I have a lot of friends that I went to school with at Purdue that are in engineering or technology. The people I know in tech who were more ambitious about the ladder, rose into the engineering/management side pretty quickly (if they wanted to) and the ones that like doing the hands on...still do it and love it.

Find a school and work part time at a shop nearby if you can. Start low and you'll likely learn more from the cratchety old asshole running the machines about welding, turning parts, and whatnot then you would being stuck in a classroom (not to knock on the fundamentals because i'm sure they're important).

I'm not a machinist or engineer by trade nor a certified welder but i can run a lathe, mill, tig, mig, etc. well enough to get stuff done.

Figure out what you want and stick to it. The I'm gonna go to school for 4 years for this, then 2 for that, and then another 3 for something else just isn't too realistic IMO. I remember being in high school feeling like i could go to school forever, then college came around and i decided i liked having some fun and a life, now I'm halfway through med school and it's pretty depressing that I have to study all the time, make no money at all, and my day to day life is still, at least partly, dictated by a curriculum.

I guess the point of that is long years of schooling wear on you even if you like what you're doing. So pick the option that allows you the most flexibility to change your lifestyle without having to start over or take a paycut if you change jobs or fine tune the day to day duties. With engineering technology, if you get hurt or have to move you can get into more of the deskwork , technical management, etc. but still be involved in the technical side. Or if you want to work physically everyday find a smaller shop where you can handle all sides, design, productionish stuff, managerial, fabwork, etc.

I am one to learn stuff my doing it. I like working with my hands. I don't want to be sitting at a desk all day doing calculations. But Maybe engineering is still a good route. I think though some previous experience of a machinist would be good to have to. I have the other end of it with me.

Yea I know the so many years of school isn't good. It wouldn't be all school. Most of it is work, and 2 months of school a year. Only one that is mostly school is engineering. That would be 1 year school than half co op half school.

It's a lot to learn I guess but the more I know the better.

Il just keep at the fab side of things as long as I can. Improving as I go.

Mechanical Engineering Technology might be a program to look into if they offer it in Canada. I had a couple buddies that majored in it and had some classes with the darn engineers. It's a more hands on engineering program, I believe you are eligible for most engineering jobs out there with this degree.

I went a different route and became a shop teacher. I originally wanted to be a mechanic or an engineer. I couldn't hack the math back then (probably could have if I knew what I know now) and I didn't want to kill my my self turning wrenches. I enjoy it most of the day, I learn a lot as I go, get to work with some great kids, get some grey hair when 15 kids are working with power tools, make a decent living for working 150-190 days a year. The US job market is pretty good though with the down turn in the economy lots more applicants, I got selected out of 15 candidates for my job next year.

Either path you choose get experience while you are in college through an internship or part time job. Try and work during the summers. I worked a couple summers as an "unskilled laborer" and wish I would have done some skilled work during the summers.

Another thing I thing most people will agree on is there isn't much money in 4x4/ automotive fabrication/ performance/ a general off road shop. General welding/ machine shop with with some niche products/ specialties can do pretty good. I worked at a shop that was a general welding job shop with some speciality products mainly for utility companies. They did lots of things including railings, stairs, structural steel (I beams) and had a pretty decent business, I'm not sure how the economy is treating them.

The times I gave you are the times to get a full ticket from nait. Not saying i couldn't get it done faster but you need a minimum of so many hours to do the first year ect... I do lots of welding at home, I weld anything I can get my hands or have an excuse to weld LOL. Im pretty efficient at it now, and will continue to improve on it. Same with the fabrication aspect of it.

Keep in mind that the US guys are not going to have any idea how the apprenticeship system works in Alberta, to get your Journeymen welder ticket you need 3 calendar years of experience, all your hours put in and three, 2 month stints at trade school for technical training. Same thing for a machinist Journeymen ticket except 4 years and 4 trips to trade school.

The only ways I know to shorten up multiple apprenticeships is to have a successful PLA done (at 20 years old not likely to gain you much) and/or have two apprenticeships going at the same time, I managed to get two four year apprenticeship programs done in under 6 years that way.

A Journeyman welder without his Alberta B ticket will get third year apprentice rates with us if we will even hire him.

I have four Journeyman cards in my wallet, machinist is not one of them and I wish it was one of them now...

I have looked into the machinist trades and welding trades here in the states recently and it seems like it would be much quicker to do it here than it would be in Canada. One of our local trade schools offers a 2 year machinist program that goes 6 hours a day 5 days a week. They start you off on the manual machines to learn some basics for your first trimester and try to have you starting into the CNC by your second trimester. There is money to be made with manual machines, but this school tries to focus on our local demand for machinists, which is CNC machinists for the medical field. The remaining 5 trimesters is going to be spent learning to use the CNC machines, designing part, learning mastercam, fixturing, EDM, etc.. There are mandatory projects you have to complete and you can build your own projects as you go as long as you complete the required projects on time.

The welding course lasts a year, same 30 hours a week. They teach you to run the different welding processes, positions and the basics. Then you can try for your certifications.

The goal of most programs in the US are going to be focused on getting you to the point that you are employable. You aren't going to come out of one of these courses being super-machinist or super-welder. You should be able to come out of them with a good foundation, knowledge of the basics, know the math and theory involved and be able to figure out problems on your own. With a good instructor you will get more out of a course the more you put into it.

In my situation, I don't want to be a machinist or welder as my "day job". I have a pretty good gig workin' on the railroad that I'm planning to keep for the next 30 years. But, I'd like to have those machinist and welding skills and be able to have a side business that at least supports itself and puts a little bit of extra money in my pocket. If it worked out, maybe I'd make it a full time gig. My thoughts are that learning how to weld would be the most practical way to start out a side business, of the two, because of the equipment costs involved in getting set up. With $10,000-20,000 worth of welding/fab equipment you could be in the welding business, less if you buy good used equipment. And, it doesn't require that you have a lot of room to do it with either, lots of welding businesses operate out of a truck. Machine tools are big, heavy, expensive to buy, expensive to tool and expensive to move. It's not practical to just have a lathe or just a mill, you need several different machines and the tooling to go with them to make different parts. I've done just enough of both to be dangerous, I do think machining parts is more interesting and rewarding.

Varsis, I know you are Canadian and Albertan even more so.

I have a bud that is a JM Millwright, they do most bit of everything so look into this as his company sent him back to SAIT for his Welder ticket to boot.

Figure out what you want and stick to it. The I'm gonna go to school for 4 years for this, then 2 for that, and then another 3 for something else just isn't too realistic IMO. I remember being in high school feeling like i could go to school forever, then college came around and i decided i liked having some fun and a life, now I'm halfway through med school and it's pretty depressing that I have to study all the time, make no money at all, and my day to day life is still, at least partly, dictated by a curriculum.

I spent nine years in college getting my two degrees.

I'd do damned near anything to be able to go to law school now and wouldn't mind another three years one bit.

We're lucky to have the educational opportunities we have and we should make the most of it.

I have a close college friend who is an MD/PhD (psychiatry working with eating disorders, makes damned good money). He just bought a milling machine and is whining about having pursued a medical degree and not machine tool technology!

The green grass is right over yonder!

I will take everything into consideration. I think so far Im Leaning for Machining, Than I am going to do Mechanical Engineering which was my original plan but without machining.

I will still look into the millwright trade but i know you can do some of that as a engineer in co op.

I do know though In germany for Engineering you are required to take some trade like machining and than do your engineering degree to be fully certified.

I have no problem being in school for awhile.

As far as machining goes, If you can find a shop that is willing to teach you, you will be way ahead. 2 years in a shop, is better than 2 years in school. The problem is finding somewhere that will teach you. The math will be easy in a CNC shop. The worse thing that you will probably ever come across is figuring right angle triangles to get a dimension a print doesn't show you. The software will do the hard stuff. Now if you want to throw an indexer, a rotary table and a sine plate all on one set-up on a bridgeport, then yea brush up on some math lol. Right now is about the worst time to get into a medical machine shop, its been booming for the last 5 years but has come to almost a halt. Hopefully it will pick up soon. There is good money to be made in machining, in all kinds of shops.

I will take everything into consideration. I think so far Im Leaning for Machining, Than I am going to do Mechanical Engineering which was my original plan but without machining.

I will still look into the millwright trade but i know you can do some of that as a engineer in co op.

I do know though In germany for Engineering you are required to take some trade like machining and than do your engineering degree to be fully certified.

I have no problem being in school for awhile.

I am going for mechanical engineering at Geneva college, i really want to own my own fab shop, i am decent will tools and mechanics. I would like to do the same thing, but my problem is that in my area this is not much of a business for this kind of shop, but that is the best thing about going to college you have alot more options. you going to have a easy time finding a job between all the homework?

Go for engineering, and learn the rest on the side...

I went for a bacholars in mechanical engineering technology(1000X better than straight engineering), and then took at job as a millwright.

Millwright is the trade of all trades.... good stuff.
Not to mention, I make easily 1.5X times the money as a millwright, than i would have made if I took and engineering job.

You would be better off finding a local (or experianced) offroad fabrication shop and ask them if you could eather "enturn" or watch for a few weeks. They may not want you too, I know I wouldn't. But you could offer them some money for the trouble.

I had a guy that was building a truck out of his garauge. He had watched a little to much power block. So he bought a bunch of tools a project and then figured out he had no clue what to do. So he came to me with a proposition, he wanted to pay me to councel him with his build. Basicly when he had a question needed ideas, he would pay me hourly to guide him with his build. It worked well for him and he got to confidently built his truck himself.

You may go about it the way he did... kind of.

I think Mechanical Engineer Is something I will be doing for sure. That is something I will do after hands on. I will either go as a millwright or go into machining. But Im not sure what millwright does up here, or what I would find for work.

Action, There is no fab shops in my small town. I learned a lot from here, and other site. I think I could build a pretty damn decent vehicle now though.