Copper profession. Coppersmith courses. Occupational diseases of coppersmiths

The coppersmith is one of oldest professions associated with the processing of metals, and has a thousand-year history. The name coppersmith comes from the word copper. The professional focus of the coppersmith is the processing of copper alloys (copper, brass, bronze) by locksmithing and soldering methods.

THE ART OF THE COPPER

“I've been told more than once that I am an endangered species,” says Dennis McBain, the only coppersmith on the staff of a distillery in Scotland. Own work way Dennis started more than fifty years ago at the Balvenie distillery - he followed in the footsteps of his father, who also worked there at one time.

Coppersmith is a very rare profession that requires special skills. This craft is one of five unique craft preserved at Balvenie Distillery. Carefully preserving these unique skills, The Balvenie Scotch Single Malt Whiskey acquires its complex flavor with its characteristic honey notes.

Initially, when Dennis McBain tripled at the distillery in 1958, he was working in the malt industry. His "professional look" began to take shape a year later, when he became an apprentice to Willie McLachan, a coppersmith who was famous in the Scotch whiskey industry at the time. At 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's salary - and this is, no less, one penny per hour more than before. Willie McLacan retired in 1978 and handed the reins of power to his apprentice, who, 22 years after joining the distillery, became The Balvenie's staff coppersmith.

While much of the business that Dennis McBain is doing has remained the same as in the old days, something has changed over the past half century. The most notable changes affected the heating system of the cubes: when Denis just started working as a copper worker, they were heated with coal, now - with steam, which means a significant reduction in the time and physical costs of their maintenance. Still, coal is a larger amount of dirt and abrasive particles. In addition, until 1972, cubes were made directly at the distillery. So, for example, the bottom of the recently replaced mash distillation apparatus number two was once part of a cube that Dennis made entirely and completely himself over thirty years ago. That cube had thick walls, was very strong, and served faithfully for more than forty years.

The cubes used at the Balvenie distillery are unique in both size and shape. Their unique 'Balvenie Boil Ball' design maximizes the surface area of \u200b\u200bthe machine, making the spirit taste and aroma sweeter and richer.

Dennis's task is to monitor the state of the distillation stills - who else, if not 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 to "put in order" copper devices. Among them are metal and wooden hammers different sizes, shapes and weights, various soldering irons for forging copper and shaping it.

“You have to have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bhow the finished product should look like in your head. You don't just have to pound on copper with a hammer and hope that what you need will come out of this, ”says Denis McBain about his work.

The profession of a coppersmith implies that he regularly checks the condition of the distillation stills, how worn out, whether they will leak in the near future - then they will need to be repaired. When Dennis walks around the rooms in which the cubes are standing, he always talks to the ferrymen, who promptly inform him about possible problems in cubes, if any.

In addition to repair and maintenance cubes, Dennis also oversees the distillation process: he has extensive experience in the distillery and knows exactly what happens at one time or another in a still or condenser. He has developed a special instinct that allows him to accurately assess the progress of the distillation process.

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

"Of course, we cannot do without science in our business, but what I am talking about gradually becomes second nature to you, and one day you start working based on intuition, which has been honed to mastery, like everything in the profession after fifty years."

In addition to the usual routine procedures that the tinker does 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 Balvenie coppersmith: 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," but he is convinced that this ultimately gives the whiskey a special taste.

Another procedure is called "cork on a rope". It helps the coppersmith to 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 methodwhich Dennis McBain recommends to all his colleagues. And one more proof that the traditional craft continues to live.

Denis with a smile talks about yet another, informal tradition. “In ancient times, the distillery masters had a so-called 'dog', which was a piece of copper rolled into a cylinder, which could be lowered into a barrel and scooped up some whiskey. Such a construction was called "dog", since the copper cylinder hung on a chain, just like on a leash, and, of course, was best friend man! "

“When the manager was not around, they filled this cylinder with whiskey, hid it in the leg - and so, 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 trouser leg, you will be instantly fired. "

Dennis says that his love for his work and the people around him at the distillery helped him stay in the profession for all these many years. He also has a great 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.

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

There were various professions in Russia. Some have already disappeared and remained only in old books, some still exist today. And there were those whose names - kiselalnik, kryuchnik, osenya and others - are currently known to few, and cause surprise.

The kissing man who did not kiss, but demanded money

The profession with such a romantic name belonged to the financial field. Taxes and execution judgments - these are the main directions for which the kissing man was responsible. He was also entrusted with settlements and areas for police supervision.

The Tselovalnikov were elected. 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 in which the kissing man was to take an oath of loyalty and honor and kiss the cross. This is where this name came from.

In fact, these were officials who worked under the supervision of zemstvo bosses. However, strict requirements were applied to their work, in addition, unlike modern employees, kissing people were fully responsible for their actions. The main requirement that had to be fulfilled was the increase (or, in extreme cases, the invariability) of the amounts of duties, taxes and arrears in comparison with the previous period. Less money - if you please put the arrears out of your pocket, otherwise you will have a debt to the treasury. This is how the authorities ensured the flow of finance.

Saddler who "dressed" horses

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

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

Saddlers still exist today, but naturally they have become much smaller. They make harnesses for expensive thoroughbred racehorses, so the requirements for them are appropriate.

Kryuchnik who was disabled by the age of forty

So called in the XVIII - early XX century a hired worker who was engaged in carrying heavy loads. For this, an iron hook was used, which served to lift a bag or cooler. The weight was held on a saddle, which was a support with canvas straps worn on the back.

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

Such work led to the fact that by the age of forty the kryuchniks became “ruins”, and many received disabilities.

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

Coppersmith, ancestor of the welder

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 locksmith methods and brazing. Making copper items required special skills, professional skills and considerable physical effort.

Coppersmiths were also called tinkers, plumbers, they gave a start to the development of the profession of a welder. Their labor 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. Interestingly, even today, such work is very difficult to automate, therefore true craftsmen who understand the line between craft and art are highly valued.

Ofenya, who invented the rogue language

Such a funny name was used by itinerant merchants, of whom there have always been many in Russia. They went to 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 women, since they managed to make a colossal mark-up on goods. However, having heard the loud cry of the merchant (and the ability to call buyers and "sniff" something was considered the key to success in this profession, which was passed down from generation to generation), people rushed to him. It was not even about baskets and trays with goods, but about the fact that he could bring interesting gossip and news. Isn't it modern radio? With jokes, jokes, talking about incidents, amusing buyers, ofeni skillfully sold off the goods.

They even had their own society, a kind of charter and their own slang, which was called fenei. Today many people use this term, considering it a prison term, although it was coined by cunning merchants. If we recall Vladimir Dahl, then he spoke of Fenya as a language for rogue meetings of traders. Some words are still used now, for example: tinkering - doing, busat (plump) - drink, pohan (converted into godfather) - the owner.

APPROVED:

________________________

[Job title]

________________________

________________________

[Name of company]

________________/[FULL NAME.]/

"____" ____________ 20__

JOB DESCRIPTION

Tier 5 Coppersmith

1. General Provisions

1.1. The present job description defines and regulates the powers, functional and official duties, rights and responsibilities of the 5th grade coppersmith [Organization name in the genitive case] (hereinafter - the Company).

1.2. Coppersmith of the 5th category is appointed and dismissed from office in the established labor legislation order by order of the head of the Company.

1.3. The 5th grade coppersmith belongs to the category of workers and reports directly to the [name of the position of the immediate manager in the dative case] of the Company.

1.4. The 5th grade coppersmith is responsible for:

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

1.5. A person with secondary vocational education in this specialty and work experience of at least 1 year is appointed to the post of a 5th grade coppersmith.

1.6. IN practical activities the 5th grade coppersmith should be guided by:

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

1.7. The 5th grade coppersmith should know:

• the constructive arrangement of the serviced equipment, fixtures, instrumentation and instruments used for copper work;
• the device of complex heating equipment;
• methods and techniques for manufacturing, assembling and installing complex products;
• rules for cutting and building complex sweeps of geometric shapes and their calculation;
• mechanical properties of the metals used;
• technical conditions for assembly, high pressure testing of complex assemblies and installations.

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

2. Job responsibilities

The 5th grade coppersmith performs the following labor functions:

2.1. Performing complex medical work using all kinds of equipment, fixtures and tools.

2.2. Bending pipes with a diameter over 100 millimeters.

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

2.4. Soldering of 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, rectification columns hydrogen-helium liquefiers.

2.6. Installation of separating oxygen apparatus.

2.7. Layout and cutting of complex sweeps of curved shapes.

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

2.9. Manufacturing of templates for inspection and production of complex parts.

2.10. Hydraulic and pneumatic testing of vessels and fittings.

In the event of an official need, a 5th grade coppersmith may be involved in overtime duties, in the manner prescribed by law.

3. Rights

The 5th grade coppersmith has the right:

3.1. To get acquainted with the draft decisions of the management of the enterprise concerning its activities.

3.2. Submit proposals for improving the work related to the responsibilities provided for in this job description for the management's consideration.

3.3. Inform the immediate supervisor about all identified in the process of execution of their job responsibilities shortcomings in the production activities of the enterprise (its structural divisions) and make proposals for their elimination.

3.4. To request, personally or on behalf of a direct supervisor, from the heads of the enterprise departments and specialists, information and documents necessary for the performance of their official duties.

3.5. To involve specialists of all (individual) structural divisions of the Company in solving the tasks assigned to him (if this is provided for by the provisions on structural unitsif 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. The 5th grade coppersmith bears administrative, disciplinary and material (and in some cases stipulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation - and criminal) responsibility for:

4.1.1. Failure or improper performance service instructions of the immediate supervisor.

4.1.2. Failure to perform or improper performance of his labor functions and the tasks assigned to him.

4.1.3. Misuse granted official powers, as well as their use for personal purposes.

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

4.1.5. Failure to take measures to suppress identified violations of safety regulations, fire safety 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. Assessment of the work of the 5th grade coppersmith is carried out:

4.2.1. Immediate supervisor - regularly, in the process of the employee's daily performance of his labor functions.

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

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

5. Working conditions

5.1. The mode of work of the 5th grade coppersmith is determined in accordance with the internal labor regulations established by the Company.

5.2. Due to the production needs, the 5th grade coppersmith is obliged to go on business trips (including local ones).

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

To date, there has been a clear tendency for the revival of working specialties, which are becoming more and more in demand and popular. Despite the widespread use of an automated implementation method production process, manual labor is still relevant. There is a huge number of professions in the labor market where professional duties are beyond the power of any robot or automated system, since it can only be performed by a person and only by hand. Such specialties include the profession of a coppersmith, which can be acquired, for example, in the courses of a coppersmith. 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 study the specialty of a coppersmith within professional retraining, which has become incredibly popular in recent years. The fields of application of this profession are very versatile and varied, 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, one can consider such industries as machine-building, as well as metalworking.

Many training centerswho provide training services for the courses of a copper worker are interested in the quality of training, since their success and longevity in the labor market directly depends on this. Such centers usually attract highly professional specialists with teaching skills for cooperation, as well as masters for vocational training. It should be noted that the training in the courses of the coppersmith involves 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 are supposed to be trained within the framework of this specialty, which correspond to the professional level of the second qualification category. You can improve your qualification level after completing appropriate training in refresher courses.

How to get training

To sign documents

Based on the application, we will prepare a contract

Pay invoice

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

Take training

Take training, get a certificate of the established sample.

Full text of the article

The training at the courses of the coppersmith 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. During the implementation of their professional responsibilities, a copper specialist uses a variety of templates, samples and drawings. The skill of such a specialist includes applying the necessary information to the diagram, as well as skills in relation to reading the diagrams.

Coppersmith of the second qualification category makes simple parts, using sheet metal or pipes; anneals sheet metal, pipes or workpieces; is engaged in weed, tinning and soldering products using soft solders; soldering shells on vessels using lead, fills in lead pipes that do not serve for work under pressure; engaged in hydraulic and pneumatic testing of everything related to vessels and fittings; is engaged in tinning and soldering products, the configuration of which is not considered difficult, using an autogenous burner, during which tin solders are used; makes 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 works; what are the most common devices intended for, as well as the working and measuring tools that are used in the coppersmith's business; know how simple copper work is done; all about the main mechanical propertiespossessed by the processed metal; with what sequence the 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; everything about the composition of the used solder; what are the main properties of the acids and alkalis used.

Coppersmith of the third qualification category makes and assembles products that are distinguished medium difficulty, during which sheet non-ferrous metals are used; deals with flexible pipes, the diameter of which does not exceed 50 millimeters; emboss and bend 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, solders the ceiling seams of various devices and structures; seals lead pipes, which work under pressure; makes simple etching solders; builds sweeps of figures, the complexity of which is average; deals with hydraulic and pneumatic testing of everything related to vessels and fittings. The scope of professional knowledge of a medical specialist of the third qualification category includes knowledge of how the serviced equipment, devices, pneumatic devices and tools are arranged; according to which professional practices copper works are carried out, which are distinguished by medium complexity; according to what rules are manufactured products heated using furnaces, gas burners and electrical appliances; what methods are used to cut and build sweeps, which are distinguished by average complexity; know everything about the recipe and methods according to which simple solders and etchants are made; what methods are used to test vessels, the work of which is carried out under pressure.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Copper - this is one of the oldest human professions associated with metal processing, and has a thousand-year history. The name coppersmith comes from the word copper. The professional focus of the coppersmith is the processing of copper alloys (copper, brass, bronze) by metalworking and soldering methods. It was from the profession of a coppersmith that a later profession was formed - a welder. Other names for the coppersmith are plumber, tinker.

Copper work

• Processing of sheet material by locksmith methods.
• Soldering with low-melting and high-melting solders: boilers, pipelines of refrigeration units, etc.
• Chasing and punching.
• Tinning of products.

Copper instrument

Coppersmiths in their professional activity use the following tools and equipment:

• Soldering irons: electric and oven.
• Files: personal, velvet.
• Hand brushes for cleaning surfaces: simple metal and brushes.
• Mechanical brushes: work on a grinder.
• Chisels: different sizes for cutting metal.
• Pliers, wire cutters, side cutters.
• Metal shears: cutting copper sheets, brass, and solder sheets.
• Brands: branding of some products.
• Embossing tool.
• Anvil: straightening and straightening of workpieces.
• Brushes: for applying liquid fluxes and acids to the surface to be treated.

Equipment:

• Furnaces: muffle, gas, coal forges.
• Oxygen equipment:
• Manual grinder.
• Grinder:

Consumables:

• Fuel: coal, coke, gasoline, kerosene, propane, acetylene.
• Oxygen: for flame processing of metal.
• Fluxes: when soldering.
• Acids and salts: when brazing and surface cleaning (Salt, Sulfur, Nitric acid, zinc chloride).
• Solders: when soldering metals and alloys.

Safety precautions for copper works

The main sources of danger in copper work are - open fire, molten metals and fluxes, aggressive acids. Measures for the prevention of occupational hazards:

• The presence of respiratory protection, arms, legs: overalls and footwear.
• Availability of fire extinguishing equipment.

Occupational diseases of coppersmiths

Copper work involves the use of cutting tools, open fire, molten metals and fluxes, solutions of mineral acids and, if the worker is negligent and insufficiently protected, they lead to the following injuries and diseases:

• Poisoning: Vapors of copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, metal oxides and metal and acid salts.
• Heat burns: Burns by open fire of burners and furnaces, molten metals and fluxes.
• Chemical burns: Burns with hot acids.
• Hand Injuries: Cuts.

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Excerpt from Copper

- Gentlemen, this is nonsense; he will be killed to death, said this more prudent man.
Anatole stopped him:
- Don't touch, you will frighten him, he will be killed. Huh? ... What then? ... Huh? ...
Dolokhov turned around, recovering and again spreading his arms.
“If anyone else will come to me,” he said, rarely letting words pass through his pursed and thin lips, “I’ll let him down here. Well!…
Saying "well," he turned around again, let go of his hands, took the bottle and raised it to his mouth, threw back his head and threw up his free hand for the advantage. One of the footmen, who had begun to pick up the glass, stopped in a bent position, not taking his eyes off Dolokhov's window and back. Anatole stood straight with open eyes. The Englishman, lips protruding forward, looked from the side. The one who was stopping ran to the corner of the room and lay down on the sofa facing the wall. Pierre covered his face, and a faint smile, forgotten, remained on his face, although it now expressed horror and fear. All were silent. Pierre took his hands away from his eyes: Dolokhov was still sitting in the same position, only his head bent back, so that the curly hair on the back of his head touched the collar of his shirt, and the hand with the bottle rose higher and higher, shuddering and making an effort. The bottle was apparently emptying and at the same time rose, bending its head. "Why is it taking so long?" thought Pierre. It seemed to him that more than half an hour had passed. Suddenly Dolokhov made a backward movement, and his hand trembled nervously; this shudder was enough to move the entire body sitting on the slope. He moved all over, and his hand and head shook even more, making an effort. One hand went up to grab the windowsill, but dropped again. Pierre closed his eyes again and said to himself that he would never open them. Suddenly he felt that everything around him stirred. He looked: Dolokhov was standing on the windowsill, his face was pale and cheerful.
- Empty!
He tossed the bottle to the Englishman, who deftly caught it. Dolokhov jumped from the window. He smelled strongly of rum.
- Well! Well done! So wager! Damn you completely! - shouted from different sides.
The Englishman took out his wallet and counted out the money. Dolokhov frowned and said nothing. Pierre jumped to the window.
Gentlemen! Who wants to bet with me? I'll do the same, ”he suddenly shouted. - And there is no need to bet, that's what. Tell me to give you a bottle. I'll do ... tell me to give.
- Let it go, let it go! - said Dolokhov, smiling.
- What are you? crazy? Who will let you in? Your head is spinning even on the stairs, - they started talking from different sides.
- I'll drink, give me a bottle of rum! - Pierre shouted, striking the table with a determined and drunken gesture, and climbed out the window.
They grabbed him by the hands; but he was so strong that he pushed him far away who approached him.
- No, you won't be able to persuade him for anything, - said Anatole, - wait, I'll deceive him. Look, I'm betting with you, but tomorrow, and now we're all going to ***.