It’s Sunday night. The snow is falling gently at a steady pace in my small town just north of Toronto.
Something in the air has triggered my mind to re-conjure up images of HVAC and trade-related tattoos; actually, that’s complete bullshit, I purposely sat down to write this article.
It really is snowing, though….
The word tattoo is derived from the Tahitian word “tatu,” which means “to mark something.”
The history of the tattoo is a very deep one.
Many cultures throughout time have used tattoos for various reasons. Check out proverbs.com for a history lesson.
In modern times, we have all heard the cliché that tattoos are only meant for bikers and inmates, poppycock, I say!
There are a large number of people that wear regret within the ink they chose to land on their skin, and there is no denying that.
Today’s tattoo enthusiast uses their skin as a canvas to represent meaning in their lives.
A life-changing event, a family member born or lost, an unforgettable moment and ah, yes…HVAC.
Over the last year, I have seen many HVAC and trade-related tattoos over social media, and I have also seen many being taunted for posting them.
Listen, HVAC is not just a job; it’s a career that requires skill and time to acquire that skill.
Over many years, HVAC and other trades have put food on the table, paid the bills, and allowed us to provide for ourselves and our families.
If a tech waltzes into a tattoo parlor and requests a set of gauges on their back, more power to them.
Tattoos are a form of expression, the meaning behind them could vary.
The dude that puts a pipe wrench on his arm may have learned to use a pipe wrench from his father when he was ten years old.
His father may have recently passed, and that’s his way of remembering him.
Be mindful before tagging in your bud to check out a tech’s tattoo that you want to beat down.
Maybe ask what the meaning behind the symbol represents; it might just blow your mind or humble your ass real quick.
Here are some HVAC and trade-related tattoos I have collected over the last few months.
If you chose to go forward and brand your body with a slick tattoo that represents the great trade of HVAC, do your homework and find a great tattooist and put intelligent thought into the image.
The result will be a forever reminder that you were a bad ass HVAC technician.
