Types of copper works and their purpose. Copper courses. How to get trained

Coppersmith is one of the oldest human professions associated with metal processing, and has a thousand-year history. The name tinker comes from the word copper. The professional orientation of the coppersmith is the processing of copper alloys (copper, brass, bronze) by metalworking and soldering methods.

THE ART OF THE COPPER

“I have been told many times that I am an endangered species,” says Dennis McBain, the only tinkerer working on staff at the distillery in Scotland. Dennis began his career more than fifty years ago at the Balvenie distillery - he followed in the footsteps of his father, who also worked there at one time.

Copperhead - very rare profession requiring special skills. This craft is one of five unique ones preserved at the Balvenie distillery. By carefully preserving these unique skills, The Balvenie single malt Scotch whiskey develops its complex taste with characteristic honey undertones.

Initially, when Dennis McBain tripled at the distillery in 1958, he worked in the malt industry. His "professional image" began to take shape a year later, when he became an apprentice to the well-known Scotch whiskey tinkerer Willie McLachan at the time. At the age of sixteen, Dennis began training in this amazing profession, which lasted six years. After passing the exam, in which he had to demonstrate all the professional skills he had acquired, he could begin to receive a specialist salary - and this is, no less, one penny an hour more than before. Willie MacLacan retired in 1978, and handed over the reins to his student, who, 22 years after joining the distillery, became a full-time coppersmith at The Balvenie.

While much of what Dennis McBain does is the same as it was in the old days, some things have changed in the last half century. The most noticeable changes affected the heating system of the cubes: when Denis just started working as a coppersmith, they were heated by coal, now they are heated by steam, which means a significant reduction in the time and physical costs of their maintenance. Still, coal is a greater amount of dirt and abrasive particles. In addition, until 1972, stills were made directly at the distillery. Thus, for example, the bottom of the recently replaced mash distillation apparatus number two was once part of a cube that Dennis made entirely himself more than thirty years ago. That cube had thick walls, was very durable, and served faithfully for more than forty years.

The stills used at the Balvenie distillery are unique in both size and shape. Their unique design, called the ‘Balvenie Boil Ball’, maximizes the surface area of ​​the machine, making it sweeter and richer in flavor and aroma.

Dennis's task is to monitor the condition of the distillation cubes - whoever but he will notice that it is time to replace this or that cube. In the arsenal of the master there are a number of tools that help him "put in order" copper devices. Among them are metal and wooden hammers of different sizes, shapes and weights, various soldering irons for forging copper and giving it a certain shape.

“There should be a clear idea in the head of how it should look ready product. You don’t just need to hammer on copper and hope that what you need will come out of it, ”says Denis McBain about his work.

The profession of a coppersmith implies that he regularly checks the condition of the stills, how worn they are, whether they will leak in the near future - then they will need to be repaired. When Dennis walks around the premises where the cubes are, he always talks to the distillers, who inform him in a timely manner about possible problems in the cubes, if any.

In addition to repair and Maintenance stills, Dennis also oversees the distillation process: he has extensive experience in the distillery and knows exactly what is happening at any given moment in the still or condenser. He has developed a special flair that allows him to accurately assess how the distillation process is going.

“When you work day after day and improve your professional skills, a certain inner feeling develops, a flair that tells you what is what. Talk to other distillery workers - they will tell you the same thing"

“Of course, we can’t do without science in our business, but what I’m talking about gradually becomes your second nature, and one day you start working based on intuition, which is honed to mastery, like everything else in the profession after fifty years”

In addition to the usual routine procedures that a coppersmith performs every day, there are those that Dennis resorts to, as they say, on occasion. One of them is called "sweetening the cube" in the language of the coppersmith of the Balvenie distillery: before the main distillation process begins, a handful of finely chopped juniper twigs are placed in the cube. As Dennis himself says: “There is no science here,” but he is convinced that this gives whiskey a special taste in the end.

Another procedure is called "cork on a rope." It helps the coppersmith determine how much foam has accumulated inside the mash distillation apparatus. Dennis swings a rope with a cork at the end, it touches the cube and by the tone of the sound he determines whether there is a lot of foam inside. Simple but effective method, which Dennis McBain recommends to all his colleagues. And one more proof that the traditional craft lives on.

Denis tells about another, informal tradition with a smile. “In ancient times, the masters who worked at the distillery had the so-called “dog”, which was a piece of copper rolled into a cylinder that could be lowered into the barrel and scooped up some whiskey. They called this design a "dog", because the copper cylinder hung on a chain, just like on a leash, and, of course, was a man's best friend!

“When the manager was not around, they filled this cylinder with whiskey, hid it in the pant leg - and now, at home in the evening there was something to drink. This, of course, is a little risky, because if you are caught with such a “dog” in your pants, you will be instantly fired.”

Dennis says that the love for his work and the people around him at the distillery helped him stay in the profession for all these long years. He also has an excellent sense of humor. One has only to see his work gloves, on which the word "Menace" is written, which means "danger", and you understand that he is the keeper of such a valuable and rare craft that he does not take himself seriously.

Michael Weber.
I thank the press service of William Grant & Sons in Russia for the materials provided.

In Russia there were a variety of professions. Some have already disappeared and remained only in old books, some still exist today. And there were those whose names - kisser, hooker, ofenya and others - are currently known to a few, and are surprising.

The kisser who did not kiss, but demanded money

A profession with such a romantic name belonged to the financial field. Taxes and enforcement of court decisions are the main areas for which the kisser was responsible. He was also entrusted with settlements and areas for police supervision.

The kissers were chosen. This position was first mentioned in the Judicial Charter of 1497, and it existed until the 19th century, when it began to be called "bailiff". After the election, an appointment ceremony was held, at which the kisser had to take an oath of loyalty and honor, and kiss the cross. That's where the name came from.

In fact, these were officials who worked under the supervision of zemstvo chiefs. However, strict requirements were applied to their work, in addition, unlike modern employees, kissers were fully responsible for their actions. The main requirement that had to be fulfilled was an increase (or, in extreme cases, invariance) in the amounts of duties, taxes and arrears compared to the previous period. Less money - if you please, lay out the arrears from your pocket, otherwise you will be in debt to the treasury. This is how the government provided the flow of finance.

The saddler who "dressed" the horses

Today, the adjective "blinkered" is used quite often. They mean by this a person who is distinguished by stubbornness, an inability to perceive and adequately evaluate people's opinions that differ from their own. In fact, blinkers are an element of a harness, namely special eyecups. They were intended to cut off the view - the horse had to look ahead and not be distracted by what was happening to the left and right of it.

Thanks to blinkers, the name of the profession in demand in Russia appeared - a saddler. Such craftsmen made not only blinkers, but also bridles, saddles, and stirrups. It was a responsible and difficult task, as the horses were treated with great attention, they tried to keep them properly so that they would serve as long as possible.

Today saddlers still exist, but, naturally, they have become much less. They make harnesses for expensive thoroughbred racehorses, so the requirements for them are corresponding.

The hooker, who received a disability by the age of forty

So they called in the XVIII - early XX century a hired worker who was engaged in the transfer of weights. For this, an iron hook was used, which served to lift the bag or sack. The load was held on a saddle, which was a support with canvas straps worn on the back.

Workers had to endure weights that only trained weightlifters can do today. The weight could reach two hundred kilograms. Naturally, such loads did not pass without a trace - due to the wild muscle tension and pressure on the spine, hernias formed in people, the supporting apparatus suffered, and severe chronic pain arose. There were frequent cases when the hooker lost his balance and fell, including into the water (when unloading cargo ships), which led to injuries, concussions, and injuries.

Such work led to the fact that by the age of forty the hookers became "ruins", and many received disabilities.

Why did people choose this profession despite the risk? It was all about money, because with vigorous activity and favorable weather conditions, the hooker's earnings were very high and reached 5 rubles a day. Unfortunately, when it was raining, a snowstorm or a gale-force wind was blowing, that is, the weather was not suitable for loading and unloading operations, the hookers spent their time in taverns, where they safely drank their hard-earned money.

Coppersmith, welder's ancestor

Naturally, the name of this profession comes from the word copper. The coppersmith was engaged in the processing of alloys from this metal, using various metalwork methods and soldering. For the manufacture of objects from copper, special skill, professional skills and considerable physical effort were required.

Coppersmiths were also called tinkers, solderers, they gave a start to the development of the welder profession. Their work was in demand, and there were always plenty of orders - household items wore out, required repair or replacement.

The profession of a coppersmith is very ancient. Its representatives worked with thin sheet metal, which required an accurate eye and skillful hands. It is interesting that even today such work is very difficult to automate, because real craftsmen who understand the line between craft and art are highly valued.

Ofenya, who invented the picaresque language

It was such a funny name for wandering merchants, of whom there have always been many in Russia. They walked around the villages and offered the population fabrics and pictures, books and jewelry, household items and other goods.

It cannot be said that the peasants were very fond of the ofenes, since they managed to make a colossal margin on goods. However, having heard the loud cry of the merchant (and the ability to invite buyers and “suck in” something was considered the key to success in this profession, which was passed down from generation to generation), people rushed to him. The point was not even in baskets and trays with goods, but in the fact that ofenya could bring interesting gossip and news. Why not modern radio? With jokes, jokes, telling about incidents, amusing buyers, ofeni skillfully sold goods from their hands.

They even had their own society, a kind of charter and their own slang, which was called fen. Today, many people use this term, considering it to be prison, although it was invented by cunning merchants. If you recall Vladimir Dahl, he spoke of Fenya as a language for picaresque meetings of traders. Some words are still used today, for example: to make - to do, to busat (thump) - to drink, pohanya (converted to godfather) - the owner.

To date, there has been a clear trend of the revival of working specialties, which are becoming more and more in demand and popular. Despite the widespread use of an automated method for implementing production process, manual labor is still relevant. There are a huge number of professions on the labor market, where professional duties are beyond the power of any robot or automated system, since only a person and only manually. Such specialties include the coppersmith profession, which can be acquired, for example, at coppersmith courses. Training in this profession is not particularly difficult, since in almost all regions of our state, including the capital, there are a large number of educational centers that provide training services for working specialties. In addition, you can learn the specialty of a coppersmith as part of professional retraining, which has become incredibly popular in recent years. The areas of application of this profession are very versatile and diverse, since a specialist can find a job, starting with car services and ending with workshops for repairing wind instruments, at aviation enterprises. In addition, in terms of employment, we can consider such industries as machine-building, as well as metalworking.

Many training centers that provide training services for coppersmith courses are interested in the quality of training, since their success and longevity in the labor market directly depend on this. Such centers usually attract for cooperation highly professional specialists with teaching skills, as well as masters for vocational training. It should be noted that the coppersmith's course consists of two stages, in the form of a theoretical program followed by practical training. One stage is not possible without the other, since the importance of each is difficult to overestimate. In the course of theoretical training, future specialists acquire the knowledge necessary for this profession, and within the framework of practice, specialists learn to apply the acquired knowledge and skills. Such courses involve training within a given specialty, which correspond to the professional level of the second qualification category. You can improve your qualification level after appropriate training in advanced training courses.

How to get trained

To sign documents

Based on the application, we will prepare a contract

Pay bill

After signing the contract, we will issue an invoice for payment

Get trained

Complete training, Obtain a certificate of the established form.

Full text of the article

The coppersmith course includes a program that includes the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the processing of metal parts and structures, as well as skills in the repair, installation and manufacture of metal fragments or structures of varying complexity. In the course of performing his professional duties, a copper specialist uses various templates, samples and drawings. The skill of such a specialist includes applying necessary information on the diagram, as well as skills in relation to reading diagrams.

The coppersmith of the second qualification category makes simple parts using sheet metal or pipes; anneals sheet metal, pipes or blanks; engaged in weeding, tinning and soldering products using soft solders; is engaged in soldering shells on vessels using lead, fills lead pipes that are not used for work under pressure; deals with hydraulic and pneumatic testing of everything related to vessels and fittings; is engaged in tinning and soldering of products, the configuration of which is not considered complex, using an autogenous torch, during which tin solders are used; manufactures complex products, and this process is led by a more qualified coppersmith. A copper specialist of the second qualification category must know how the serviced equipment is arranged; what are the most common devices intended for, as well as working and measuring tools that are used in the work of a coppersmith; know how simple copper works are performed; all about basic mechanical properties, which the processed metal possesses; with what sequence technological operations are carried out; in what ways is the marking of simple products carried out; what temperature is used for heating, annealing, and soldering; according to what rules are the seams for soldering prepared; all about the composition of the solder used; what are the main properties of the acids and alkalis used.

A coppersmith of the third qualification category manufactures and assembles products of medium complexity, during which sheet non-ferrous metals are used; deals with flexible pipes, the diameter of which does not exceed 50 millimeters; knocks out and flanges spherical shapes; is engaged in soldering with the use of lead everything related to the joints of parts, the thickness of the plates of which does not exceed 1 millimeter, in addition, soldering ceiling seams of various devices and structures; seals lead pipes with which they work under pressure; composes simple pickling solders; builds sweeps of figures, the complexity of which is medium; is engaged in hydraulic and pneumatic testing of everything related to vessels and fittings. In volume professional knowledge copper specialist of the third qualification category includes knowledge of how the serviced equipment, fixtures, pneumatic devices and tools are arranged; according to what professional methods copper works are performed, which are distinguished by medium complexity; according to what rules are manufactured products heated using furnaces, gas burners and electrical appliances; in what ways cutting is carried out and sweeps are built, which are distinguished by medium complexity; know everything about the recipe and methods according to which simple solders and etchants are made; how pressure vessels are tested.

APPROVE:

________________________

[Job title]

________________________

________________________

[Name of company]

________________/[FULL NAME.]/

"____" ____________ 20__

JOB DESCRIPTION

Coppersmith of the 5th category

1. General Provisions

1.1. real job description determines and regulates the powers, functional and official duties, rights and responsibilities of a 5th grade copper worker [Name of organization in the genitive case] (hereinafter referred to as the Company).

1.2. A coppersmith of the 5th category is appointed to the post and dismissed from the post in the established current labor law by order of the head of the Company.

1.3. The 5th category copper worker belongs to the category of workers and reports directly to the [name of the position of the immediate supervisor in the dative case] of the Company.

1.4. The coppersmith of the 5th category is responsible for:

• timely and high-quality performance of tasks for their intended purpose;
• compliance with performance and labor discipline;
• observance of labor safety measures, maintenance of order, compliance with fire safety rules at the work site (workplace) entrusted to him.

1.5. A person with an average professional education in this specialty and work experience of at least 1 year.

1.6. AT practical activities coppersmith of the 5th category should be guided by:

• local acts and organizational and administrative documents of the Company;
• internal labor regulations;
• rules of labor protection and safety, ensuring industrial sanitation and fire protection;
• instructions, orders, decisions and instructions of the immediate supervisor;
• this job description.

1.7. A coppersmith of the 5th category must know:

• constructive arrangement of serviced equipment, fixtures, instrumentation and tools used for copper works;
• arrangement of complex heating equipment;
• methods and techniques for the manufacture, assembly and installation of complex products;
• rules for cutting and constructing complex sweeps of geometric shapes and their calculation;
• mechanical properties of the metals used;
• specifications for assembly, high-pressure testing of complex units and installations.

1.8. During the period of temporary absence of a coppersmith of the 5th category, his duties are assigned to [name of the position of the deputy].

2. Job responsibilities

The coppersmith of the 5th category performs the following labor functions:

2.1. Performing complex copper works with the use of all kinds of equipment, fixtures and tools.

2.2. Bending pipes with a diameter of over 100 millimeters.

2.3. Manufacture of complex parts, assemblies and products for oxygen, hydrogen and helium plants of various capacities with a large number of associated assemblies and with the installation of fittings.

2.4. Soldering seams operating under pressure over 2.5 MPa (25 kgf / cm 2) and under vacuum, with refractory solders.

2.5. Manufacturing and installation of complex heat exchangers, condensers, distillation columns for hydrogen-helium liquefiers.

2.6. Installation of separation oxygen apparatuses.

2.7. Marking and cutting of complex developments of curvilinear figures.

2.8. Production of spherical, figured products of large dimensions by hand according to templates with a deep punch of a sphere, with the intersection of convex and concave surfaces in a cold and hot state.

2.9. Making templates for the control and production of complex parts.

2.10. Hydraulic and pneumatic testing of vessels and fittings.

In case of official necessity, a coppersmith of the 5th category may be involved in the performance of duties overtime, in the manner prescribed by law.

3. Rights

The coppersmith of the 5th category has the right to:

3.1. Get acquainted with the draft decisions of the management of the enterprise related to its activities.

3.2. Submit proposals for the management to improve the work related to the responsibilities provided for in this job description.

3.3. Notify the immediate supervisor of all identified in the process of fulfilling their official duties shortcomings in production activities enterprise (its structural subdivisions) and make proposals for their elimination.

3.4. Request personally or on behalf of the immediate supervisor from the heads of departments of the enterprise and specialists information and documents necessary for the performance of their duties.

3.5. Involve specialists from all (individual) structural divisions of the Company in solving the tasks assigned to him (if this is provided for by the provisions on structural divisions if not, with the permission of the head of the Company).

3.6. Require the management of the enterprise to assist in the performance of their duties and rights.

4. Responsibility and performance evaluation

4.1. A coppersmith of the 5th category bears administrative, disciplinary and material (and in some cases provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation - and criminal) responsibility for:

4.1.1. Non-fulfillment or improper fulfillment of official instructions of the immediate supervisor.

4.1.2. Failure to perform or improper performance of their labor functions and assigned tasks.

4.1.3. Unlawful use of the granted official powers, as well as their use for personal purposes.

4.1.4. Inaccurate information about the status of the work entrusted to him.

4.1.5. Failure to take measures to suppress the identified violations of safety regulations, fire and other rules that pose a threat to the activities of the enterprise and its employees.

4.1.6. Failure to enforce labor discipline.

4.2. The evaluation of the work of a coppersmith of the 5th category is carried out:

4.2.1. The immediate supervisor - regularly, in the course of the daily implementation by the employee of his labor functions.

4.2.2. Attestation Commission of the enterprise - periodically, but at least once every two years based on the documented results of the work for the evaluation period.

4.3. The main criterion for evaluating the work of a coppersmith of the 5th category is the quality, completeness and timeliness of his performance of the tasks provided for by this instruction.

5. Working conditions

5.1. The working hours of a coppersmith of the 5th category are determined in accordance with the internal labor regulations established by the Company.

5.2. In connection with the production need, a copper worker of the 5th category is obliged to travel to business trips(including local values).

Acquainted with the instruction __________ / ____________ / "____" _______ 20__

Read this article to find out who a coppersmith is and what he does. Women coppersmiths are practically not found in this type of activity, due to the fact that it requires increased attention, endurance and is often associated with danger.

What exactly does a coppersmith do?

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Modern coppersmiths are assigned ranks according to their experience and qualifications. However, they all work with metal - not only with copper, but also with products of copper alloys - bronze and brass. The higher the rank of the coppersmith, the more complex work he can practice.

For example, if a specialist of the II category manufactures simple sheet metal products, is engaged in annealing, pickling and soft solders, then a third-class specialist can be instructed to manufacture and assemble a product of medium complexity, as well as knocking out and flanging spherical shapes.

Coppersmiths of the fourth and fifth categories are engaged in such difficult actions as:

• bending large diameter pipes;
• cutting curvilinear figures;
• production of large and spherical products;
• production and installation of complex heat exchangers and condensers.

The sixth category is assigned to masters of their craft - top-class coppersmiths who assemble experienced unique units and parts, where there is a huge number of associated profiles.

Coppersmiths of the 6th category are trusted to supervise the installation of argon, krypton and helium plants. They also oversee the start-up and commissioning of topics to bring them to a stable work schedule and achieve the performance agreed in the projects for rare gases and oxygen.

We all often come across objects and copper in everyday life. So, it is precisely under the guidance of coppersmiths of various categories that such products as side washers and nozzles made of copper, copper and brass coils, radiator tubes, funnels with chippers and other items needed in the household, although sometimes subtle, are produced.

Copper work is directly related to the use of open fire, aggressive acids, melts of fluxes and metals. As you can see, coppersmiths must be extremely careful and careful, strictly observing measures aimed at excluding occupational injuries.

Careless attitude to one's health can lead to such serious and unpleasant consequences as:

• chemical burns. Contact with any strong acid leads to severe burns;
• thermal burns. One must be very careful with burners, furnaces and melts;
• poisoning. Metal salts, acids, copper fumes, lead, cadmium, mercury and zinc are potentially hazardous substances that can harm the coppersmith's health.

In addition, a person at work can get cuts to a significant extent. In order to exclude all of the listed diseases, it is necessary to take precautionary measures: keep fire extinguishers near the place of work to extinguish a sudden fire, be sure to wear respiratory protection, have special shoes and clothes.

Now that you have read who the coppersmith is, you will probably think that such a profession is not only the most ancient and somewhere romantic, but also incredibly dangerous.

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