The Sheet Metal worker designs, fabricates, assembles, installs and repairs sheet metal products. With fabrication work, sheet metal workers lay out and measure pieces to close specifications. They use tools such as power shears, press brakes, drill presses and computerized cutting equipment to cut and shape material. They assemble and join the pieces with various techniques using mechanical fasteners and welding. Sheet metal workers work from verbal instructions or blueprints or design small jobs themselves.

 

They will work with many different types of material such as black iron, galvanized steel, satin-coated steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper, brass, nickel, tin plate and other alloys. Some may also work with fiberglass, ceramics, plastics and other metal substitutes. Parts and materials may be laid out and cut in the shop and assembled on construction or industrial sites.

 

Sheet metal workers may specialize in onsite installation, shop manufacturing, or servicing and maintenance of installed equipment and systems. Those who work in installation may specialize in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, boiler lagging / vessel cladding, roofing products, architectural sheet metal, custom metal products, food service products, secondary systems for environmental projects, pneumatic conveyance or signage.

 

Hazards are extremely high within this trade working with sharp metal pieces, at heights, around excessive noise and vibration, as well as exposure to heat and fumes. Sheet Metal workers would normally obtain the required knowledge and skills through completion of a Journeyman Sheet Metal Program together with related experience.

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Industry Changes

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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 renewable energy technologies such as solar powered panel systems. Over the next ten years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified Sheet Metal workers and the expected increased retirement rate in this trade over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs.

 

Employment for Sheet Metal workers is expected to increase. Turnover in this field is high, so many openings occur each year. Demand should also be high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field. Many Sheet Metal workers are employed by sheet metal, air-conditioning and heating contractors. A few are self-employed or work in shops with related trades. Some are employed by roofing contractors to install flashing and coping as most sheet metal workers work in the construction industry. Experienced Sheet Metal workers may become specialists in design and layout work or in estimating the cost of installations. They may advance to supervisory positions or go into business for themselves.

 

Safety

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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.

 

Sheet Metal workers are trained to work safely and wear special equipment such as safety harnesses to protect themselves from falls and other injuries. 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

• Building

• Custom or small run fabrication of a variety of sheet metal items

• Dairy, brewery and laboratory equipment

• Drilling

• Estimating required materials and costs

• Erecting

• Fasten with bolts, screws, cement, rivets, adhesives and solder

• Flashing, coping, troughing and roof drainage systems

• Framing

• Hand and power shears and snips and light metal-working equipment to cut, drill or punch, bend and shape sheet metalLay out, measure and mark dimensions and reference lines on sheet metal according to drawings or templates

• Heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems

• Installing, repairing or replacing roofing systems

• Installing and repairing metal roofs using hand and power tools

• Installing scaffolding to provide safe access to roofs

• Laser or plasma cutting equipment, numerically-controlled or computerized equipment

• Metal showcases, display neon and metal sign equipment

• Metal cabinets, custom built tables, counters and fixtures for hospitals, kitchen equipment and items for the food service and beverage industry

• Metal shelving, lockers, window frames, metal doors and frames, toilet partitions

• Metal cladding of insulated piping and equipment on industrial sites

• Monitor and replace weather stripping

• Perform minor electrical repairs

• Pollution control systems, dust collecting and control systems, air-slide, grain spouting, material blowing, air-veyor and other air systems

• Roofing

• Scaffolding

• Siding

• Solar heating and cooling systems and all integral equipment

• Stairs

• Supply, install, service and repair air handling equipment, furnaces, fans and air terminal devices

• Trim work

• Welding

• …and much more

 

Tools

• Air compressor

• Adjustable wrench 

• Anvil block 

• Anvil stake 

• Ball peen hammer 

• Bent bit tongs 

• Blow horn stake

• Bolt tongs 

• Box thongs 

• Brake press 

• Caulk gun 

• Chalk line

• Chisel 

• Circular saw 

• Closed mouth tongs 

• Combines funnel and side stake

• Cross peen hammer 

• Crow bar 

• Drills 

• Framing square 

• Fuller 

• Funnel stake 

• Glue 

• Grinders 

• Grooving stakes

• Hack saw 

• Half-moon stake 

• Hammer 

• Hatchet stake 

• Hallow bit tongs 

• Ladders laser level

• Levels 

• Measuring tape 

• Metal siding power shear 

• Mini pipe cutters 

• Needle nose pliers 

• Open mouth tongs 

• Oval horse stake 

• Pencil 

• Pipe stake 

• Plumb bob 

• Pry bars 

• Punch 

• Reciprocating saw 

• Riviting hammer 

• Roofing hammer 

• Roofing hatchet 

• Roofing jacks 

• Roofing tongs 

• Round bottom or canister stakes 

• Rulers 

• Safety harness 

• Saucepan belly 

• Stake 

• Screw driver set 

• Semi box tongs 

• Shapers

• Side stake 

• Side tongs 

• Side bit tongs 

• Siding gutter cutter 

• Slater axe 

• Slate cutter 

• Slate hammer 

• Socket set 

• Straight peen hammer 

• Tin snips 

• Tinman`s mandrel 

• Tool belt 

• Vice grips 

• Wrenches 

• Wire strippers 

• ...and much more 

 

Skills

• Analytical Thinking 

• Able to lift heavy objects and equipment

• Ability to visualize a finished product from drawings

• Critical Thinking 

• Decision Making 

• Mathematics adn Geometry 

• Mechanical Aptitude 

• Numerical 

• Problem Solving 

• Oral Communication

• Reading Blueprints and schematics 

• Working with others 

• Writing

• Computer Knowledge

 

General Wages

• Average -   $23.50

• Minimum -  $16.75

• Maximum - $34.40

 

​Sample Q&A

 

1. When using light gauge material, which of the following 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

 

2. Which of the following should be done if a metal sheet partially cuts and then bends during the shearing operation when using a power shear?

a. adjust the blades for clearance

b. remove and sharpen the blades

c. replace the blades

d. reduce the rake angle

Ans. A

 

3. When setting up air carbon arc cutting equipment for gouging, how must the electrode and ground be configured?

a. Connect the electrode to negative and the ground to negative.

b. Connect the ground to positive and the electrode to negative

.c. Connect the ground to positive and the electrode to positive.

d. Connect the electrode to positive and the ground to negative.

Ans. D

 

4. 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

 

5. Which of the following devices is used to enable the constant feed of stock during a coil to coil weld cycle?

a. drooping pit

b. accumulator

c. dwell roll

d. intermediate take up roll

Ans. B

 

6. Which of the following shearing operation cuts a shape out of raw stock or a coil strip?

a. piercing

b. blanking

c. drawing

d. extruding

Ans. B

 

7. How long should the rivet head stick out beyond the back surface of the metal when selecting the length?

a. 1/8inch

b. twice the diameter of the rivet

c. one and a half times the diameter of the rivet

d. same as the diameter of the rivet

Ans. C