Mechanical engineer or a carpenter/joiner

ianb1992 · 06-09-2010, 22:40

unmoors iv got the choice at to do either these 2. Just want some advise on what road to take i know what your all gonna say, you should follow your heart but i cant decide between the 2 id like to know which 1 would be best financially and nugges facts if any 1 has any

Allen · 07-09-2010, 00:15

I'm not sure what you are asking?
What's unmoors?
Why only two choices?

If you are asking advice regarding a trade I'd forget both of them.
Go for plumbing or an electrician......both highy paid once qualified.

ChrisT70 · 07-09-2010, 09:39

mechanical engineers or electrical engineers have always earned more in industry than joiners/builders historically.

truman · 07-09-2010, 09:42

Do you mean a proper mechanical engineer or a car mechanic?

TimmyR · 07-09-2010, 09:58

In order to become a mechanical engineer you need to complete a 3-4 year study course at a university such as sheffield. Then you will receive a degree in mechanical engineering, either BEng or MEng. If you're so inclined you can then go on to become chartered with Institute of Mechanical Engineers. If that is what you mean then fair enough! A mechanic is totally different, if that is actually what you mean.

As an aside, for some reason the term "engineer" is misused in this country. A broken washing machine is fixed by an "engineer" rather than a technician. In europe an engineer is seen in the same light as a doctor or an architect.

ChrisT70 · 07-09-2010, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyR

In order to become a mechanical engineer you need to complete a 3-4 year study course at a university such as sheffield. Then you will receive a degree in mechanical engineering, either BEng or MEng. If you're so inclined you can then go on to become chartered with Institute of Mechanical Engineers. If that is what you mean then fair enough! A mechanic is totally different, if that is actually what you mean.

As an aside, for some reason the term "engineer" is misused in this country. A broken washing machine is fixed by an "engineer" rather than a technician. In europe an engineer is seen in the same light as a doctor or an architect.

very true! you even see adverts for "sales engineers" ! lol

in answer to the question posed, a garage car mechanic working for someone probably wont earn as much as a contract mechanical engineer willing to travel to earn the best buck, but a highly skilled race mechanic (ie f1, touring cars etc) might earn £40k+ in the right team.
contract electricians were earning £35-40k a few yrs ago but the market is crap at the mo and many qualified guys are willing to take any low wage to keep income coming in.

truman · 07-09-2010, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisT70

very true! you even see adverts for "sales engineers" ! lol

You do know what a sales engineer is don't you......

ChrisT70 · 07-09-2010, 16:02

i can think of a few descriptions! lol

Bulgarian · 07-09-2010, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisT70

mechanical engineers or electrical engineers have always earned more in industry than joiners/builders historically.

and they can work all year round, building is very seasonal (in this country anyway)

Cyclone · 07-09-2010, 16:56

Given the style of the OP, I'd go with carpenter. A masters in mech eng is a difficult degree it's going to required a GCSE in English to start with, and then 4 decent A levels.

ianb1992 · 08-09-2010, 10:57

sorry for the message i posted i wernt drunk or anything, i just wanted to know whick course i should take at coll it was either a carpenter/joiner or an engineer where you fix industrial machines. Anyways iv picked the engineering option im doing a nvq lv 1 then ill do my diploma after

steveroberts · 09-09-2010, 06:50

This thread raises an interesting point and this is the title of Engineer. In Germany, you cannot call yourself an engineer unless you are degree qualified, whereas in this country a house cleaner can be called a "domestic engineer".

For example, my first job was with a multi national test and measurement equipment manufacturer as a sales engineer. The reason I had the title engineer was because I was a graduate in Physics; without my degree, I would not have got the job and would not have got the job title either

We need to re establish the title of Engineer to the same status as Dr. That way, we may encourage more of our bright young people to pursue careers in Engineering.

It is a sad fact that when young people were surveyed about famous engineers; top of the list was Kevin Webster off Coronation Street

Mayfield · 13-09-2010, 22:26

I always advertise myself as an electrical contractor rather than an electrical engineer, although many definitions would say that I am an engineer.

Engineer - One who is trained or professionally engaged in a branch of engineering.

Engineering covers a vast range of jobs, but I do agree with some of the points mentioned earlier - 'sales engineer' & 'cleaning engineer'.

I have also met some degree 'engineers' who just don't have a clue.

TimmyR · 22-10-2010, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveroberts

This thread raises an interesting point and this is the title of Engineer. In Germany, you cannot call yourself an engineer unless you are degree qualified, whereas in this country a house cleaner can be called a "domestic engineer".

For example, my first job was with a multi national test and measurement equipment manufacturer as a sales engineer. The reason I had the title engineer was because I was a graduate in Physics; without my degree, I would not have got the job and would not have got the job title either

We need to re establish the title of Engineer to the same status as Dr. That way, we may encourage more of our bright young people to pursue careers in Engineering.

It is a sad fact that when young people were surveyed about famous engineers; top of the list was Kevin Webster off Coronation Street

Just returning to this thread long after it finished! The word engineer has the same root as the word ingenious not engine which is maybe why the discrepancy has come about. I presume people who fixed engines became know as engineers and so people who fix washing machines did too (tho they should be called washing machinineers by that logic).

So to the OP, the job you're looking at should be a machine technician not engineer. The engineer would design the machines not fix them.

And is all this why engineers in the UK get paid a lot less than they do on the continent?

TimmyR · 22-10-2010, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayfield

I always advertise myself as an electrical contractor rather than an electrical engineer, although many definitions would say that I am an engineer.

Engineer - One who is trained or professionally engaged in a branch of engineering.

Engineering covers a vast range of jobs, but I do agree with some of the points mentioned earlier - 'sales engineer' & 'cleaning engineer'.

I have also met some degree 'engineers' who just don't have a clue.

I think the important thing in distinguishing an engineer is the applied use of science and mathematics. That doesn't cover someone who fixes a boiler.

Mayfield · 22-10-2010, 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyR

I think the important thing in distinguishing an engineer is the applied use of science and mathematics. That doesn't cover someone who fixes a boiler.

Someone who fixes boiler is an engineer by you own definition. A heating engineer will use science and mathamatics to adjust the mixture of gas and air to enable a boiler to work efficiantly.

As with most engineering jobs, science and mathamatics play a crucial role if not seen or understood by others.

TimmyR · 22-10-2010, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayfield

Someone who fixes boiler is an engineer by you own definition. A heating engineer will use science and mathamatics to adjust the mixture of gas and air to enable a boiler to work efficiantly.

As with most engineering jobs, science and mathamatics play a crucial role if not seen or understood by others.

Thats not applying science or maths thats just following a taught procedure.

Mayfield · 22-10-2010, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyR

Thats not applying science or maths thats just following a taught procedure.

A taught proceedure - isn't that what science and maths is? I imagine, as I am not a heating engineer, that gas pressure varies from premises to premises, thus requireing some calculation to set the boiler up properly. A plumber/ heating engineer will need to calculate heating loads, possible solar gains, thermal effects, insulation, pipe sizes/runs etc. to ensure that the system is capable of heating the desired rooms effectively.

Cyclone · 23-10-2010, 09:13

If they can derive the perfect gas laws from first principles, or explain them even, then I'll believe that they understand them and are applying science. If not, then they're just plugging in the numbers where they were told to do so without a real understanding of what it means.

Mayfield · 23-10-2010, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclone

If they can derive the perfect gas laws from first principles, or explain them even, then I'll believe that they understand them and are applying science. If not, then they're just plugging in the numbers where they were told to do so without a real understanding of what it means.

A Gas Safe Plumber/heating engineer will have to demonstrate an understanding of what it means.

As I mensioned earlier in a post an engineer is defined as 'One who is trained or professionally engaged in a branch of engineering'