A metal fabricator works with unfinished steel in the fabrication, assembly, repair and maintenance of both moveable and stationary structures. This individual is a skilled worker who prepares the steel for the finished product for further assembly and construction. Metal fabricators (fitters) make and repair metal parts used in the construction of buildings, bridges, tanks, towers, boilers, pressure vessels and other structures and products. They layout, cut and fabricate structural steel, plate and miscellaneous ferrous and non-ferrous metals for use in a wide variety of manufacturing and construction industries. They also assemble and fit metal sections and plates together to form complete units or sub-units such as frames, plates, girders and chutes that are used later in the assembly process. A metal fabricator positions, and secures parts and assemblies according to specifications, using straightedge, combination square, calipers, and ruler. He/she then observes tests on welded surfaces, such as hydrostatic, x-ray, and dimension tolerance to evaluate weld quality and conformance to specifications.

Metal fabricators must have the ability to interpret blueprints, drawings and schematics to accomplish their work. They use tools and equipment such as brake presses, shears, plasma cutters, oxy-fuel cutting torches, grinders and drills to bend, cut, punch, drill or form metal components along with computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment.

They fasten components together by using methods such as tack welding, bolting and riveting. They also use material handling and rigging, hoisting and lifting equipment to move materials and completed assemblies.
The work is conducted primarily indoors, in metal fabricating shops or large factories. Metal fabricators may find employment in sectors including maintenance, shipbuilding, fishing, heavy duty equipment manufacturers, transportation, steel manufacturing companies, machine shops, agricultural equipment, railways, aviation, mining and the oil and gas industry.

 

Industry Changes

​

The Metal fabricator is constantly learning and updating their knowledge. With new technology on the rise in manufacturing, improving metal fabricating knowledge will always be incredibly important.

The government has recently set targets for greater energy efficiency to combat climate change. With further training, you may be able to install and maintain framing for renewable energy technologies such as solar powered heating systems. Some metal fabricators use computers and robots to join metal pieces. Metal fabricators must continue to further educate themselves for higher end technology in automation. With additional training, they can learn to program the computers.

Over the next ten years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified metal fabricators and the expected increased retirement rate in this trade over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs.

Metal fabrication is becoming increasingly complex, so metal fabricators who have had formal training may find the most opportunities. Demand should also be high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field.

 

Safety

​

Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials.

Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

 

Job Tasks

• Assembly and fitting of steel

• Automation

• Beam layout

• Blueprint reading

• Bonds

• Building and fitting of frames

• Building girders, trusses and chutes

• Burn the metal

• Cutting

• Drilling

• Electrical

• Erecting

• Fabricates

• Fit and ream metal to specifications

• Forms

• Framing 

• Heats metal

• Lay out steel for cutting

• Machining

• Making templates: wood, paper and metal

• Measuring

• Pattern development

• Prepare, prime and paint structural pieces and steel plates

• Rigging procedures and precautions

• Rivet, bolt and grind metal

• Saw, cut, shear and punch holes in metal using drills and other power tools

• Shape, form and straighten metal with the use of heat and flame

• Torches

• Weld, with both electric arc and oxyacetylene welding equipment

• Welds buildings and bridges

 

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Allen keys

• Angle grinder

• Ball peen hammer

• Band saw

• Bar clamps

• Beam clamps

• Beam gauge

• Belt sander

• Beveling machine

• Bevel square

• Break press

• Bridge crane

• Chipper hammer

• Chisels

• “C” Clamps

• CNC punches

• Combination square

• Crow bar

• Grinders

• Die grinders

• Digital heat sensor

• Dividers

• Drill press

• Electrical multi-meter

• Face shield

• Files

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Hammer drill

• Hydraulic and manual jacks

• Hydraulic portable punch

• Jib crane

• Levels (torpedo, 2, 4 foot)

• Magnetic drill

• Mandrel bender

• Manual pipe bender

• Measuring tape

• Micrometers, calipers and thickness gauges

• Mig welder

• Needle nose pliers

• Nibblers

• Oxy-fuel cutting equipment

• Pipe cutters

• Plasma cutting equipment

• Plate clamps

• Plate rollers

• Plumb bob

• Pneumatic lift

• Pneumatic riveter

• Punches

• Power rollers

• Radial arm drill press

• Ruler

• Safety equipment (goggles, boots, face shield, welding helmet etc)

• Screw driver set

• Scriber

• Shape/manual die bender

• Shape roller

• Shapers

• Sledge hammer

• Socket set

• Sparking igniter

• Spot welder

• Square

• Steel thickness gauge

• Straight edge

• Tap and dies

• Tig Welder

• Tin snips

• Torches

• Trammel points

• Welder gloves and jacket

• Welder mask

• Wrenches

• Wire rope slings

• Wire strippers

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Critical Thinking

• Decision Making

• Analytical Thinking

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Writing

• Computer Knowledge

 

General Wages

• Average -   $23.50

• Minimum -  $15.75

• Maximum - $35.00

​

Sample Q&A

 

1. A four part bridle sling has a total lifting capacity of 90 000lb and is hoisting at a 45deg angle. What is the working strength of this configuration?

a. 380000lb

b. 550000lb

c. 31815lb

d. 64999lb

Ans. C

 

2. When attaching angle iron to support a masonry veneer on a four story building how is it fastened to the building structure?

a. At the top of foundation wall and at each floor level.

b. At the top of foundation wall and every other floor level.

c. At the top of foundation wall and midpoint of the building.

d. At the top of grade level foundation wall only.

Ans. A

 

3. What is the main reason for using pre-heat on heavy sections prior to welding?

a. To reduce the quenching effect and remove hydrogen.

b. To aid in the formation of the weld bead.

c. To reduce the current setting.

d. To eliminate the need for cleaning.

Ans. A

 

4. Why should oxy-acetylene welding or cutting never be done with the acetylene cylinder lying down?

a. Acetylene will be trapped in the regulator.

b. Acetone will flow from the acetylene cylinder.

c. Acetylene will not flow through freely.

d. Oxygen and acetylene will not mix evenly.

Ans. B

 

5.  When punching holes with an ironworker, what determines the material thickness?

a. Only punch material thickness larger than the punch diameter.

b. Only punch material thicknesses equal to or less than the punch diameter.

c. Only punch material thinner than 1/2 the punch diameter.

d. Only punch material thinner than 3/4 the punch diameter.

Ans. B

 

6. Using light gauge material, what is the advantage of spot welding?

a. increases production speed and lowers distortion.

b. can be adapted to any arc welding power source.

c. gives deeper penetration.

d. does not require a shielding gas.

Ans. A

 

7. How long should tack welds normally be when fitting and assembling?

a. Twice the length as the thickness of base metal.

b. Always make your tacks as long as possible.

c. One half the thickness of the base metal.

d. Same length as the thickness of the base metal.

Ans. D