Sheila Sadler

I am a sheet metal Journeyperson. Sheet metal is metal that comes in thin, flat sheets. The sheets come in different sizes and sometimes in rolls. Sheet metal comes in different thicknesses depending on what it will be used for. The sheet metal that I work with is not very thick as it is used to make pipes that are part of building air conditioning and circulation systems. Some sheet metal is thick enough that it is used to construct buildings such as metal, industrial buildings.

There are two different sides to the sheet metal trade; field and shop. In the shop, we make the metal fittings and parts that will be used in the field (i.e., on the job site). We make these items by cutting them on a machine and then we run the cut pieces thru other machines. These machines add bends to create the metal product needed.  In the field, other sheet metal workers take what we have built in the shops and install it in the building.

There is sheet metal in all buildings. It is in the air conditioning or air circulation systems. The ducts and pipes that move moves air around a house or workplace are all made from sheet metal. Sheet metal workers sometimes do welding as well. We also have to be able to do ladder work, some lifting, and use hand tools. In this trade there is a lot of teamwork involved. As a Journeyperson, I work with apprentices who are learning to become sheet metal workers.