Painting is a profession that is really diverse. There are many categories in it. First, we can tell you the types of painting. There are house painters, wood painters, metal painters, and auto painters. All these types of painters work in various fields. House painters work on construction fields and do maintenance work basically. And wood painters are the ones who paint furniture. Metal painters are responsible for doing paintwork on metal structures. All the same, auto painters do paintwork on vehicles. Anyway, we hope to focus on metal painters in this article. You will get to know how to be a metal painter if you go through this.
What do Metal Painters do?
Before we get to know how to be a metal painter, it would be really useful to know what metal painters do. Of course, a metal painter is technically different from a traditional house painter. So, it is really worth considering this in detail. Sometimes, it would be a coating task. And it might also be a painting task. Also, it can even be a spraying task as well. Perhaps, a metal painter would have to perform these types of tasks on a variety of metal or steel structures.
This would perhaps be with a metal structure of huge construction. However, for the ease of your understanding, let us tell you a few types of such structures. It can be pedestrian fences, metal bridges, water towers, metal railings, and so on. All these metal structures require a very good finishing. Because of this fact, there is a really good opportunity for metal painters to succeed in this career. This is due to the very good demand for this profession. Needless to say, the world would never run out of the need for these types of structures.
Meanwhile, we can take a look at the scope of work of a metal painter. Well, first a metal painter would have to start things by cleaning the particular metal surfaces. This way, the grime, and the grease can be removed efficiently. Then, metal painters would have to remove the rust as well as the loose paint if any. Afterward, it is the process of applying the metal primers. The procedure finishes with the applying of the paint. And this would perhaps be an enamel paint.
Steps to be a Metal Painter
Okay, now we are going to focus specifically on how to be a metal painter. Yes, this is the main part of the article. You would have been curious. And now you can read all about the steps. So, here they are.
- Get a high school or GED diploma
- Complete a structural painting apprenticeship program
- Get work experience
- Earn certifications
- Advance as a professional
No doubt, you would like to know about each of these steps in detail. And we are surely willing to tell you. Keep reading! There are lots of important facts.
1. Get a high school or GED diploma
Most of the time, you would not specifically need to have any formal educational requirements to be a painter by profession. But, if your ambition is to become a metal painter, you would need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent. By an equivalent, we referred to GEDs or General Educational Development tests. This formal education would not directly be useful for your professional career. But in fact, it ensures that you have all the necessary skills and abilities that you would need to have specifically for a profession of this sort.
You would actually need to have the most basic mathematical skills for a profession like this. But that does not mean that you would have to be an expert in maths. It is only that you need to have the most basic knowledge. Perhaps, you would have to make certain simple calculations in the field. That is why you need to have basic knowledge like this. Yes, it is just to ensure that you have a basic understanding.
Anyway, it is after you join the trade that you will be able to master all the necessary skills and excel in it. Mainly, you would be able to learn everything that you would need through the apprenticeship programs that you would follow.
2. Complete a structural painting apprenticeship program
Perhaps, this is the most important and vital step of all. You need to complete a structural apprenticeship program if you wish to excel in this field. During this time, you would have to work under the guidance of a journey worker. And you would not be able to work alone during this time as well. You would always have to work under your senior journey worker’s supervision. That is because you do not have the competence to perform tasks on your own at this time. And you may perhaps make certain mistakes. If you do, there is no one to take the responsibility for that.
Typically, an apprenticeship program for structural painting would last for about 3 to 4 years. And this includes both classroom studies as well as on-the-job training. In terms of the on-the-job training that you would get, it would probably be about 2000 hours in total. In classroom studies, you would learn all the theoretical facts. And when you are in the field for the training, you would be able to learn all the practical skills. So, ultimately, you would end up becoming a professional in this field.
However, the good thing about an apprenticeship program is that you would get very good pay even during the apprenticeship. So, you would not have to worry about your income even if it takes a few years. But after you become a journey worker, you can make more money, no doubt.
3. Get work experience
Okay, so we are telling you how to be a metal painter. After you complete your apprenticeship program, you can technically call yourself a metal painter. However, that does not mean that you are a professional. It is because you need certain certifications. But in order to get the certifications, you would need to have work experience. So, you just need to get work experience and then get the necessary certifications.
So, what we have to tell you is that work effectively. That invariably benefits both parties, you and your client.
Communication and Organizational Culture: A Key to Understanding Work Experiences Second Edition
Yes, this is the ideal choice for anyone who wants to know how to be a metal painter regarding getting work experience. The author of this book is Joann N. Keyton, who specializes in group and organizational communication. This is important to understand how things happen in an organization. It is important especially to know how you should deal with other employees within an organization and so. Basically, you would be able to understand the culture of a particular organization through this book. That helps you work efficiently and successfully.
The Way to Work: How to Facilitate Work Experiences for Youth in Transition Second Edition
In terms of getting work experience, you need to read a little bit of this if you have certain physical disabilities. Of course, you need to know the right employment practices. And you need to know how to work with passion and dedication at your workplace. If you read a book like this, you would be able to know how to adjust to the situations at your workplace. The author of this book Richard Luecking is an expert in this. Through this, high school students and young adults with certain difficulties can indulge in the professions they like. And of course, anyone with a physical disability who wants to be a metal painter can read this and get inspired. Even a normal person wanting to be a metal painter can read this and get an idea.
4. Earn certifications
And here it is. You need to earn certifications to make yourself a professional metal painter. Perhaps, you may have the requisite knowledge. And you may have all the necessary skills as well. But it is only you who knows it. You need to make other people aware that you have that level of knowledge. This way, you can get a good job from a good company. But for that, you need to earn the certifications.
Most of the time, you need to have work experience after finishing your apprenticeship in order to get a certification. That is why we asked you to get work experience first. But after that, make sure to earn the certifications.
There are a few certifications. For instance, we can suggest the protective coating specialist credential. You can get this certification from NACE International which is the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. With such a certification, you get a good reputation for your profession. And you would be able to get employed in a well-reputed company as well.
5. Advance as a professional
You wanted to know how to be a metal painter. And we told you how to be a metal painter. The remaining part is totally yours. And perhaps, you must definitely advance as a professional. Your life does not possibly end here. And there is a lot more to go. So, how can you advance?
Basically, with work experience, you can advance to positions such as supervisors. Also, you may sometimes be able to join managerial positions as well. But this totally depends on how much commitment you have. With a lot of dedication and commitment, you can become a marvel in this field without any doubt. So, whatever you do in life, you must do with your maximum effort and commitment. In a profession like this, you can particularly succeed if you have that level of commitment.
Sometimes, you may start your own business. You can surely form your own company and hire employees. Then, you would be able to develop it to an extent that you would not have to work for anyone else. You would be able to make a lot of money out of it.
Qualities that you need to have
Professional competence matters. Besides, there are certain characteristics that you need to have if you wish to become a successful metal painter. Without these particular qualities, you would not be able to achieve high goals in your profession. Alright. Let us make a small list to start with.
- Ability to work at heights
- Physical strength
- Communication skills
- Physical stamina
Of course, you would have an interest in going through each of these in detail to get a good understanding. Okay, so let us take a look.
1. Ability to work at heights
This is the most important characteristic out of all. You must specifically have the ability to work at heights as a metal painter. This might not be pretty important for someone like a wood painter. But this is significantly important for a metal painter. A metal painter would have to work at heights. You would have to work at high metal structures to paint them.
So, if you cannot stay at heights, you are in trouble. Of course, it is pretty important for you to have this ability. Basically, if you have acrophobia you would not be able to stay in a very high place and go ahead with your work. So, always make sure that you have the potential. For that, you need to have this ability. If not, you would have to choose a different occupation.
Perhaps, it is just that you are scared and afraid. Always make sure that you never lose to your fear. Win yourself first. Then, you would be able to work at heights fearlessly.
Professional Rope Access: A Guide To Working Safely at Height 1st Edition
Just as knowing how to be a metal painter, you must know how to access heights following the correct safety protocols. This book by Loui McCurley specializes in rope access in the main. This book has all of the necessary information and the guide for accessing great heights. And it explains in detail how to perform a variety of rope access maneuvers that can help you operate safely at heights. The distinctions between rope access equipment and fall arrest, positioning, and restraining equipment are also in this book.
Falls from Height: A Guide to Rescue Planning 1st Edition
It always is necessary to take precautions than waiting for something disastrous to happens. But it is necessary to know what to do in case of an emergency. Let us assume that a metal painter falls down to the ground from a height. Having a basic knowledge of what to do in such cases is vital. So, just as knowing how to be a metal painter, we suggest you read this book. It would help you get a fairly good idea of rescuing anyone who falls from heights while working.
2. Physical strength
The second most important quality that you must have is physical strength. Painting is not an easy job. And metal painting is much tougher when compared with house painting. It is because, in metal painting, you would have to work in high structures and that possibly requires physical strength.
But first, what is physical strength? Well, physical strength is basically the measure that tells you how strong you are. It would not be easy to engage in a profession like metal painting if you are not strong enough. So, always make sure that you have that strength if you wish to enter this profession. If you are not strong enough for a profession of this sort, then you can choose to be some other professional that typically would not require much hard work as this would.
Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength Hardcover – June 10, 1999
As we told you, it is of immense importance for a metal painter to have physical strength. And if you think that you do not have physical strength enough, you surely must do something to improve your physical strength. Here is our solution. You can refer to this book by Bill Phillips and engage in the exercises and workouts it suggests. This book has received many positive reviews on Amazon. For you to get an idea, here is one. “After completing the 12-week program, I not only achieved my physical goals, I rediscovered passion in my life. This became the primary driving force behind my success. I’ve become the person I’ve always wanted to be.” — Russell Simpson, M.D., age 47 Physician; Huntsville, Alabama
Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training, 3rd edition 3rd Edition
And here is another suggestion from us. This book, written by Mark Rippetoe and illustrated by Jason Kelly provides you with really good exercises and sessions for you to enhance your physical strength. This book has influenced lots and lots of people who showed enthusiasm in strength training all over the world. They achieved their goals eventually and could pursue their dreams in terms of strength training as well. So, we are not hesitant in recommending this book for you in order to enhance your physical strength to make you fit to be a good metal painter if you are not physically fit enough.
3. Communication skills
Of course, you would need to have communication skills as well. If you do not communicate with your clients effectively, you would not get to know what you have to do. Everything must happen as a result of proper and effective communication. So, make it a point to engage in proper communication whatever you do. And this is really important in a profession like this.
4 Essential Keys to Effective Communication in Love, Life, Work–Anywhere!: Including the “12-Day Communication Challenge!” Paperback – May 14, 2017
So, anyone reading this article on how to be a metal painter should probably understand that effective communication plays a significant role in the field of construction. Consequently, this is pretty important for a metal painter. This book by Bento C. Leal is a great suggestion for anyone who has a keen interest in this. Of course, this book tells you how to build effective communication skills at any place. So, it can help anyone who wants to engage in effective communication in the workplace. Almost all the ratings this book has gotten are 5-star ratings. “Wow! It really can be a simple thing to communicate effectively…”, says a reader of this book.
Good T.A.L.K. Great Sales: The Radically Different Sales Process and Business Communication Skills of Top Producers: Audible Audiobook – Unabridged
The author of this audiobook is Robert Paolini. This book mainly focuses on how good communication can attract people in the business world and increase sales. Notwithstanding, this is an ideal book for any professional as well. Professionals can learn how businesses go on. It is according to that way they have to work in their workplaces. Moreover, this would be very vital when you decide to start a business on your own.
4. Physical stamina
Physical stamina is also a very important factor. In fact, physical stamina is the ability to go ahead with some sort of work continuously. A metal painter would have to continue with the same work continuously. So, if you lack consistency in your tolerance, that would be a problem. You must have physical stamina.
And needless to say, painting is a repeated process. For the entire day, maybe it is totally the same thing that you would have to do. Therefore, it is then again physical stamina that matters. If you have physical stamina, you would not have to worry about becoming a metal painter. Yet, if not, it would be much better to opt for some other profession. That would be a better idea.
How to Increase Stamina and Cardiovascular Endurance: An Essential Guide for Enhanced Athletic Performance Kindle Edition
Of course, it is indeed important for a metal painter to have good physical stamina for a metal painter. And here is a suggestion from us. You can read this book by Ashton Temple. This is ideal for improving stamina as well as cardiovascular endurance. People from all around the world have purchased this book and used tried its exercises. In fact, they have received significant improvements because of this as well. So, we can suggest you read this book and engage in the exercises that it explains. This would help you increase your stamina.
30 Minutes to Fitness: Strength & Stamina with Kelly Coffey-Meyer
For metal painters to increase stamina, here is another suggestion from us. This book helps you increase your physical strength as well as stamina with the experiences of Kelly Coffey-Meyer. The workouts in this book are really valuable and they help you pursue your dreams of increasing your physical stamina. As fitness levels are of immense importance for a professional like a metal painter, we suggest you read this book and engage in its workouts. You will gain good results through this if you think that you have to increase your physical stamina.
Conclusion
We told you how to be a metal painter. And we told you how to advance further even after becoming a professional metal painter. With these kinds of advancements, you can make yourself pretty successful. And if you have the interest to know about the pathways to become certain other professionals in the field of construction, you can perhaps read about becoming a plumber, electrician, HVAC technician, ironworker, solar installer, masonry worker, glazier, boilermaker, and so on.
