You’re definitely doing something right if you ended up here to ask your question. The honest answer is, the best way to get the answer is always to ask someone who’s done it.
Find some tradesmen and hear what they have to say. Ask some guys a bit older than you who’ve been in it a while what they think. People are usually willing to help a younger kid by at least trying to impart a few things they’ve learned…like “don’t do what I did.” As the specific questions you’re curious about and then ask what they think you should know. Ask if the job is what they thought it would be…and how different it is from what is advertised. Ask if they like the job, of if they would rather be doing something else. Ask why they’ve been doing it so long.
But you can also find some resources online as well (as you’re doing). You might look for some professional forums…as in online places where these guys might go for industry talk. But there’s also articles like these that give some info and ideas as well…
The Skilled Trades Are Well Worth Investigating### No Degree? No Problem: Four Careers Without a Four-Year Degree### 10 Best-Paid Skilled Labor Jobs### Top Jobs For The Future### The Best High Demand and High Paid Jobs from 2011 to 2020### Getting Educated: Skilled Trade and Crafts Professionals### Browse Average Salary Ranges for Skilled and Trades jobs### Industries to Watch: Skilled Trades
That oughta get you started.