Over Sea Plumber

[Rorlegger]

Hi..

As title, im a over sea plumber. From Europe - Norway.
Ive been working as a plumber for 4 years, and had my "plumber papers" (to prove that im a prof. plumvber) for a little over a half year now...

With that said, i got a bunch/some questions reguarding plumbers in the US.
I have an insane urge, to move to USA. I just love the country and everything. (Mostly) So, i realy wanna move to the US.

But, then i need to get a job. So, finaly, i were wondering about what kinda tools, water systems, drain pipes, sewer... Everything about that.. In Norway we use mostly mm. on the pipes and stuff like that. And " inches on most parts..

I would be greatfull for all answers :)

Thanks,
Thomas

[drtyhands]

What brand of torch do you use?

It's all the same physics.No reason you should not pick it up fairly quickly.

Welcome to the forum.

Adam

[Rorlegger]

Thanks :)

Torch.. For jointing copper pipes and stuff?
If so, we use cylinders filled with propan.. :)

My biggest concern about american systems is the " inches :p
Most parts we use is as mentioned " inches, but we have some in mm. too..
we use mostly 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 and stuff.. Not 5/16 and so on :p
Couse you do use inches on the copper pipes and so on? We use mm on copper pipes, plastic pipes of all sorts..

Common here in Scandinavia is plastic water pipes in new build houses..

But, im sure i'll get some more info about different things :)

[drtyhands]

What do you use to run waste.

Are you really worried about measuring scale?
You'd be able to pick it up and run in a few minutes.Perfect it in a few days.You're a plumber for goodness sakes you are mechanically inclined.
:D

[HVAC HAWK]

if you have a good work habit you will pick it up ok

[plumberscrack]

Your english seems pretty good so already you are better than half of my team :)

Where are you planning to land?

Faster Blaster Bill

[ToUtahNow]

Hi..

As title, im a over sea plumber. From Europe - Norway.
Ive been working as a plumber for 4 years, and had my "plumber papers" (to prove that im a prof. plumvber) for a little over a half year now...

With that said, i got a bunch/some questions reguarding plumbers in the US.
I have an insane urge, to move to USA. I just love the country and everything. (Mostly) So, i realy wanna move to the US.

But, then i need to get a job. So, finaly, i were wondering about what kinda tools, water systems, drain pipes, sewer... Everything about that.. In Norway we use mostly mm. on the pipes and stuff like that. And " inches on most parts..

I would be greatfull for all answers :)

Thanks,
Thomas

I have never met a European plumber who was unable to make the transition to US plumbing. As Adam posted the basic physic of plumbing are all the same. The measurement thing should be easy as well as your tape measure will be in inches not mm.

Mark

[HVAC HAWK]

and im sure your poop goes down hill the same as it does here :D

[NHMaster3015]

One of my guys comes from Wales. Took him about months to get the hang of things. But other than the metric to inches thing, crap flows down hill, pay day's Friday. :D

[NHMaster3015]

Oh yes. Cold's on the right. Hot's on the right and don't chew your fingernails.

[NHMaster3015]

Woooooooops Left
:eek:

[gear junkie]

One of my guys comes from Wales. Took him about months to get the hang of things. But other than the metric to inches thing, crap flows down hill, pay day's Friday. :D
Just to add; crap rolls downhill because the a$$hole is on top.

[JCsPlumbing]

Just to add; crap rolls downhill because the a$$hole is on top.

First plumber I knew added, "and the boss mans an S.O.B"

He's gone on now. Pouring primer on the ground for you Jimmy.

[Bogart]

Come on over, we need immigrants with mad plumbing skills. Husker Du?

[JCsPlumbing]

But for sure you WILL need a Lufkins Plumbers Rule.:wave3:

J.C.

[gear junkie]

Buy a metric/standard tape measure. Best thing I had when in europe. No math needed, just look at the tape.

[ozplumb]

You can come to Australia pal and you wont have to worry about converting measurements!:)

[plumberscrack]

Oh yes. Cold's on the right. Hot's on the right and don't chew your fingernails.

:finger:

Bring some Scandinavian women with you. There seems to be a shortage here :D

[jan_vb]

I would be greatfull for all answers :)

Thanks,
Thomas
Hi Rorlegger,

You can always get your answers from www.ridgid.eu ;) or contact your local representatives in Norway. Or are there any problems with that?

Greetz

[PLUMBER RICK]

Hi Rorlegger,

You can always get your answers from www.ridgid.eu (http://www.ridgid.eu) ;) or contact your local representatives in Norway. Or are there any problems with that?

Greetz

thanks, you just added 48 new ridigid forums for me to join:eek:

rick.

[jan_vb]

thanks, you just added 48 new ridigid forums for me to join:eek:

rick.
where did I do that? :eek:
thing is though that we Europeans will take over soon :itsover:

[Rorlegger]

Hi folks :)

To: drtyhands (http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/member.php?u=14213), HVAC HAWK (http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/member.php?u=8737) , plumberscrack (http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/member.php?u=14791), ToUtahNow (http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/member.php?u=7653), NHMaster3015 (http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/member.php?u=17611)
And the rest :)

Just wanna say thanks for the answers.. Ive been away this weekend :)
Tryin to get the head title in a race here :p

But again, thanks for answers :)
Well, reason why im concerned about the scales is becouse of my young age. im turning 23 this august. But i tend to pick up things pretty fast. So if you guys says it no big deal (after a few days) then i sure got the confidence. ;)

The place i wanna move to would be either NY (or some were close there), Miami or DC... I know that those placec are proberly a bit different from eachother.. But, those places are my destinations :)

Hope my english is fully understandable..

-Bogart; You know some norwegian? hehe..
I love the work and everything with it. :)
So i really wanna go asap, but im struggeling with some traveling papers atm.
But in a half a year, i shall have no problem :)
And beside that, i need some more information about immigrating. Couse after what i heard,
i can only stay in the US for like 3 months or so.. But, that ill just have to check out with the american ambassy.

Again, thanks for all answers :)

[NHMaster3015]

The place i wanna move to would be either NY (or some were close there), Miami or DC... I know that those placec are proberly a bit different from eachother.. But, those places are my destinations :)

They are all a bit different, but they are good places to get mugged.:D

[Rorlegger]

Hehe.. Yeah, i understand what you'r thinking of :p
Thats exactly what i've heard of, about those places.

Im working with an jamacian/amercan at a building site. He were borned in jamacia, but later raised in Bronx. So when we talked about me moveing to the US. I mensioned the 3 places i could prob enjoy moveing to.

Ofc, he had diffrent things to say about them, but he also said that it aint all that bad that televison/movies and such are telling you. :) I personaly always thought that Bronx was a though place, but he said that brooklyn were worst.

Im not the guy to express my self about places, as i havent been to any of them. But, i love traveling and think i could adapt to the US community. :)

Btw..
JCsPlumbing said that i would need an Lufkins Plumbers Rule.. What that?
Do i need to take some kinda degree or something?
And a really silly question.. :p Hehe... Ofc i dont know any streets anywere over there.
But if i move over (as i would) it will hold with an gps, to navigate through the streets and such? hehe..
I've seen some roads from the US on movies.. Damn, they'r big and many exits :p

[plumberscrack]

They are all a bit different, but they are good places to get mugged.:D

Hey don't scare him off. It's been over 3 months since I was last mugged here :smash:

Miami might be quite a climate shock for someone coming from above the Artic Circle.

You should come to DC. We even have the Royal Norwegian Embassy here :) Rent out a room or a basement apartment in nearby Georgetown. It's very European. If you bring some tools I'll try to find work for you.

Best of luck

[Rorlegger]

Hehe.. :) Its alot more people living in the Us then Norway. So, the mugging and such would be abit higher over there at you guys. :)
That i understand.. :)

But plumberscrack.. Lets say i choose my destination to be DC.. :)
You dont happendt to know how apartment rent price, buy price are?
I just bought myself an apartment here in Norway. But its no problem to rent it out.. Main thing i proberly whould consider is taking a "long" weekend tripp over, to just check out things. Think it would be a good idea for me to do that. Before i deside to stay permanently. :)

Is it standar to bring your own gear? Just wondering, couse here in Norway. We get a new firm car, gas card, cellphone, tools, clothes all that.. :)

And a couple of other questions.. :p
You dont happend to know what people usualy get paid pr hour?
And, plumbers in ths US, is it standar to know gas jointing?
Here in norway, it requires a special lisence to be abel to work with gas pipes to houses and such..

[Bogart]

rorlegger,
I don't know any Norwegian. Husker Du was a game that was imported from Norway sold on TV in the states. A punk/thrash band adopted it as their name.

[plumberscrack]

It's been 15 years since I needed to rent an apartment but there is no shortage. You could even rent a room in a group house with people in similar situations on a short term basis. Check the classified ad in www.TheWashingtonPost.com (http://www.TheWashingtonPost.com) Look under Rentals.

Getting around in DC is fairly easy. We have excellent mass transportation. Buses, subway, cabs, bicycle lanes, car pools, Zip cars. We drive on the right here (mostly;)) With a GPS getting around is no problem.

I'm not your mother so I won't be clothing you, giving you a car, gas and cell phone just for coming to work :p Some basic hand tools would show me you are serious about your job. The power tools probably won't work with our electrical grid :confused:

Forget everything you learned about the metric system. You are in the USA now. You do it our way :poke:

You better not be coming here just to steal our American women with your chiseled good looks and wavy blonde hair :kiss: It's been done before :angry:

I know exactly what workers get paid here but without knowing your skill level it's hard to say. What kind of plumbing do you like to do?

[Rorlegger]

Thanks, ill check it out when i get home from work..

Hehe.. :p Didnt mean it like offencive.. If it came out like that. Just wondering.. Thats what we in norway usualy get.. Thats common in all firms over here. :) Atleast for firms bigger than 5man..

Our electric tool run on 230v.. Yours 400v? We drive right lane over here too :p So i dont consider that as a problem :)

Hehe, chisled good looks and wevy blond hair.. hmm.. The chisled good look i cant argue about :p but the wevy blond hair.. nahhh, not me.. i got kinda dark blond/darker hair.. So, im not 100% up to that description :p

Here in norway i get payed 185 NOK pr hour atm.. Thats fairly ok..
With the american dollar currency atm; 185 NOK = 37 dollar

Prices pr hour for an plumber vary from 185-220 NOK = appx. 37-44 dollars
And we pay taxes equal to/from 34-50% tax depending on how much income you have pr year..

Plumbing i like..
I usualy do services. That also include ripping/rebuilding bathrooms, laying sewer pipes and water from main pipes, into houses.. That kinda things.. Where i work, we have alot of vart things. But an insane amount of bathrooms with a 10year no-leak guarantee.. We do all from radiators, floor heating, water/sewer pipes, hot water, heeat system, cooling system ++

[plumberscrack]

Wait!..What?...NO!... you are 22 years old, doing plumbing only 4 years and you make $37 per hour? :scratchhead:

Forget coming here....I'm going there :outtahere:

34%-50% tax bracket...OUCH! :eek:

[ToUtahNow]

I hired a couple of Russian brothers back in the 70s right off of the boat (family of a friend). The Russian governmeny took all of their tools as they left Russia so they basically had clothing and that was it. Within 5-years they had their own shop and are doing well to this day.

Mark

[Rorlegger]

Thats something to look up to. Gotta say, they sure made it.. And fast to :) Good to hear..

Hehe... Yeah, thats the hour price that i earn atm.. :p hehe
But, as u see.. we pay 34-50% tax, depending on how much income we have pr year. Over in the US you pay 3% or so?? But then u have the health insurace aswell.. We dont have that.. We have free hospitals and alot more :)

Im 22 now, turning 23.. Earning 37$ pr hour. I get my pay check every 2nd week. And that pay check is for about 3170$, so 6240$ a moth i get.

Every 2nd week i pay around 1070$ in taxes. So pr month thats comes up to a total of 6240$ earnd money and 2140$ in tax.. Then i get approx. 4100$ payed out to me every month.. After taxes. :)

But, if your a owner of a car and such.. You have several fees to pay there every 3rd month and year.. So owning a car here is expensive. The prices for a car here, is about twice as expencive as in the US.. :) Alot of custom taxes when you buy a car here :p