Boilermaker Metal, Machinery & Related Trades Workers
SaveWhat Does a Boilermaker Do?
Boilermakers operate a variety of equipment and machinery to create, repipe and retube hot water and steam boilers, producing them in all steps of the production process. They cut, gouge and shape the metal sheets and tubes for the boilers to size, using oxy-acetylene gas torches, assemble them by shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding or gas tungsten arc welding, and finish them by the approprate machine tools, power tools and coating.
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Where Do I Start?
Manufacturing Of Heating Equipment
The manufacture of electrical ovens and water heaters by metalworking processes.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Boilermaker
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialManufacturing Of Heating Equipment knowledge
The manufacture of electrical ovens and water heaters by metalworking processes.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialMetal Smoothing Technologies knowledge
The various technologies used for the smoothening, polishing and buffing of fabricated metal workpieces.
Recommended Books
2 books -
EssentialFuel Gas knowledge
The various qualities, hazards and applications of gaseous fuels, such as oxy-acetylene, oxy-gasoline, oxy-hydrogen and others.
Recommended Books
1 bookA Practical Manual of Oxy-Acetylene Welding and Cutting, with a Treatise on Acetylene and Oxygen -
EssentialQuality Standards knowledge
The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialTypes Of Metal knowledge
Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialFlammable Fluids knowledge
The behaviour of liquids and gases that represent a serious explosion and fire danger, and their appropriate handling systems and effective storage.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialApply Arc Welding Techniques skill
Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of arc welding, such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding and flux-cored arc …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply Precision Metalworking Techniques skill
Comply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEnsure Correct Metal Temperature skill
Ensure the necessary, usually constant, temperature of processed metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEnsure Equipment Availability skill
Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Precision Measuring Equipment skill
Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Soldering Equipment skill
Use soldering equipment, such as a soldering gun, a soldering torch or a gas-powered iron, to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Welding Equipment skill
Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel; wear protective eyewear during the working process.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPerform Test Run skill
Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialRead Standard Blueprints skill
Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialRecord Production Data For Quality Control skill
Keep records of the machine's faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSelect Filler Metal skill
Select optimal metal used for metal joining purposes, such as zinc, lead or copper metals, specifically for welding, soldering or brazing practices.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSmooth Burred Surfaces skill
Inspect and smooth burred surfaces of steel and metal parts.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialTroubleshoot skill
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWear Appropriate Protective Gear skill
Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Gas Cylinders skill
Grip gas cylinders in a safe manner and ensure they are compliant with safety and health regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Oxy-fuel Cutting Torch skill
Operate a cutting torch fueled by oxyacetylene gas safely to perform cutting processes on a workpiece.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 24 displayed)
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OptionalCutting Technologies knowledge
The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalManufacturing Of Steam Generators knowledge
The manufacture of steam or other vapour generators, the manufacture of auxiliary plant for use with steam generators: condensers, economisers, superheaters, steam collectors and accumulators. The manufacture of nuclear reactors, …
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalCasting Processes knowledge
The various practices used in the casting of metal, plastics and other cast materials, including mould filling, solidification, cooling, and others, all relating to varying approaches in case of different …
Recommended Books
2 books -
OptionalMetal Forming Technologies knowledge
The variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.
Recommended Books
2 booksForming Processes of Modern Metallic Materials -
OptionalFerrous Metal Processing knowledge
Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalRivet Types knowledge
The various types of rivets used in manufacturing, such as solid head rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets, semi-tubular rivets, oscar rivets, flush rivets, and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalTypes Of Metal Manufacturing Processes knowledge
Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalRiveting Machine Types knowledge
The various types of machines used for riveting purposes, their qualities and applications, such as the impact riveting machine, radial riveting machine, orbital riveting machine, rollerform riveting machine, and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalTypes Of Drill Press Oils knowledge
Types of oil such as (sulphurarised) cutting oils, WD-40, 3-IN-ONE and others used in the drilling process to function as a lubricant that facilitates a smooth drilling process, keeps the …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalConsult Technical Resources skill
Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDispose Of Cutting Waste Material skill
Dispose of possibly hazardous waste material created in the cutting process, such as swarf, scrap and slugs, sort according to regulations, and clean up workplace.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalKeep Records Of Work Progress skill
Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Automated Machines skill
Continuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Gauge skill
Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalOperate Drill Press skill
Operate a semi-automated, semi-manual drill press to drill holes in a work piece, safely and according to regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Machine Maintenance skill
Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Product Testing skill
Test processed workpieces or products for basic faults.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSet Up The Controller Of A Machine skill
Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSpot Metal Imperfections skill
Observe and identify various kinds of imperfections in metal workpieces or finished products. Recognise the best fitted manner of fixing the problem, which could be caused by corrosion, rust, fractures, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSupply Machine skill
Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSupply Machine With Appropriate Tools skill
Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCast Metal skill
Pour liquid metal into the hollow cavity of a mould, which contains the future product's desired shape, place it into a furnace and then cool it and let it solidify.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRepair Heating Equipment skill
Repair boilers, heat exchangers, fired heaters, tanks, reactors and other pressure vessels by use of welding techniques applied to cut and formed metal sheets.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalTend Punch Press skill
Tend a punch press, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.