In two weeks I retire. Aged 64.
Vocationaly trained in the 70s.
Paying payroll taxes since 1977.
Ive had enough playing machinist.
Wait – you’ve been “playing” machinist? I seriously doubt you were “playing”…
I suppose your right, but I never found it exciting or challenging. I was a natural from the begining, in 9th grade the shop teacher showed me his mics and I held them correctly and read them immediatly.
Ive worked all parts of the trade, welding, shipbuilding, drawbridge repair, aerospace precision, (space telescope parts and assembly) sheetmetal.
Ive gone from 19th century training to 21st century computers, yeah, Ive had to learn to adapt, a lot.
I ended up being a RF Engineer. As the mechanic putting satellite dishes together I knew I could make them better. I did.
Got laid off by Westinghouse back in about 1975 when the economy turned to shit. Ended up in a program called “Manpower” where you were either trained as a welder or machinist. They put me in the machinist program. I loved it. My favorite part was making tools for the machines from bar stock. There were still no good jobs out in the real world, but I worked full time at a sweat shop during the day and part time at another at night to make ends meet. That only lasted for about a year until I was hired to work in the lab at a chemical company and they paid for me to get a degree at night school. Retired as a chemist. Long story about how that all happened. Anyway, I still enjoy working out in the garage making and repairing things that I never could without the knowledge that I picked up as a machinist. It’s still in the blood…..
Wish I had it.
never went to a school for it. but Dad was one in the navy and he taught me how to do a lot. and there where 2 guys that lived a few doors down that where and they where always teaching us young guys how to do things the right way
picture this, you working on your latest POC ride and 2 old guys in their 50’s
come over because they bored. next you you know, that POS ride is running better and smoother than ever. they show you that a metal file used right is just as good as a milling machine. just tales a LOT longer. those two guys helped me rebuild my first engine way back in 1972. they where the first guys to tell me that slow was smooth and smooth became fast. then the gas embargo happened !
I know that feeling. In 8th Grade, the School had a “Shop Class”. There was a 9-inch South Bend Lathe. The ‘Shop Teacher’ didn’t know anything about it. (he was a Woodworking guy) I went to the School Library, found a 1930’s dated Book about “The Metal Lathe”. I spent the whole semester Teaching everyone else, including the Teacher. In High School, I got and Restored a 9-inch South Bend “Toolroom” High Precision Lathe, that originally had been driven by an Overhead Belt. I made a Motor/Pulley Drive for it. Cleaned Up and the Bearings reset, it holds .00001Tolerance. Still have it, after 45 Years as a Jet Mechanic… That Machine-Tool Knowledge was Invaluable in that Trade, being able to Repair things, make Parts, Tools and Hardware to solve all sorts of problems.
And, yeah, it’s a Mafia, and I “know too much”.
In two weeks I retire. Aged 64.
Vocationaly trained in the 70s.
Paying payroll taxes since 1977.
Ive had enough playing machinist.
Wait – you’ve been “playing” machinist? I seriously doubt you were “playing”…
I suppose your right, but I never found it exciting or challenging. I was a natural from the begining, in 9th grade the shop teacher showed me his mics and I held them correctly and read them immediatly.
Ive worked all parts of the trade, welding, shipbuilding, drawbridge repair, aerospace precision, (space telescope parts and assembly) sheetmetal.
Ive gone from 19th century training to 21st century computers, yeah, Ive had to learn to adapt, a lot.
I ended up being a RF Engineer. As the mechanic putting satellite dishes together I knew I could make them better. I did.
Got laid off by Westinghouse back in about 1975 when the economy turned to shit. Ended up in a program called “Manpower” where you were either trained as a welder or machinist. They put me in the machinist program. I loved it. My favorite part was making tools for the machines from bar stock. There were still no good jobs out in the real world, but I worked full time at a sweat shop during the day and part time at another at night to make ends meet. That only lasted for about a year until I was hired to work in the lab at a chemical company and they paid for me to get a degree at night school. Retired as a chemist. Long story about how that all happened. Anyway, I still enjoy working out in the garage making and repairing things that I never could without the knowledge that I picked up as a machinist. It’s still in the blood…..
Wish I had it.
never went to a school for it. but Dad was one in the navy and he taught me how to do a lot. and there where 2 guys that lived a few doors down that where and they where always teaching us young guys how to do things the right way
picture this, you working on your latest POC ride and 2 old guys in their 50’s
come over because they bored. next you you know, that POS ride is running better and smoother than ever. they show you that a metal file used right is just as good as a milling machine. just tales a LOT longer. those two guys helped me rebuild my first engine way back in 1972. they where the first guys to tell me that slow was smooth and smooth became fast. then the gas embargo happened !
I know that feeling. In 8th Grade, the School had a “Shop Class”. There was a 9-inch South Bend Lathe. The ‘Shop Teacher’ didn’t know anything about it. (he was a Woodworking guy) I went to the School Library, found a 1930’s dated Book about “The Metal Lathe”. I spent the whole semester Teaching everyone else, including the Teacher. In High School, I got and Restored a 9-inch South Bend “Toolroom” High Precision Lathe, that originally had been driven by an Overhead Belt. I made a Motor/Pulley Drive for it. Cleaned Up and the Bearings reset, it holds .00001Tolerance. Still have it, after 45 Years as a Jet Mechanic… That Machine-Tool Knowledge was Invaluable in that Trade, being able to Repair things, make Parts, Tools and Hardware to solve all sorts of problems.
And, yeah, it’s a Mafia, and I “know too much”.