Shop talk

[Time2Surrender]

Ok,I figured I would try to start a thread.We have "Dream machines" and we have "Tool time" Yesterday we got to talking tools and soon we were talking trades.So,I thought it might be cool to have a place for shop talk.What we do for a living,the tools we use,how long we have done this,Union vs non-Union.Whatever.Or maybe if someone just needs to vent about a bad day at work,or another co-worker.Whatever.I know Ted is an Iron worker.I dont know what Gooch,Doug,Or Dan does.I will go first.I am a Union Painter.I have been a Painter for 22 years and in the Union 9 yrs.WE have been working with out a contract since last April.

[Dan]

Jack of all trades here...
I do have a piece of paper the says I'm a "Certified Master Technician".

Of all the things I've done to earn a living, fixing cars and trucks is what I do best I guess.
I get large satisfaction in taking a piece of crap and making it run smooth.
I have a particular interest in custom exhaust too. My last shop job was a mom and pop front end and exhaust place, where I learned to bend pipe.
The dude running the place was self taught I guess, as most geniuses are.
I saw him design and build a set of headers for a 350 chevy modified with only a picture of the engine to work from.
The things bolted on as if factory, once we got the truck in the shop.
All we had to do was heat up the left side outlet and collector joint, 'cause it was rubbing on the tranny linkage.

So yeah, grease monkey here.
Presently between grease pits

[Time2Surrender]

Thats cool Dan.My passion is cars and trucks.All my friends in AA and na are car nuts too.When I watch American chopper or Monster garage,I wish I had gotten into metal fabrication.But its cool,I love painting.Done it over half my life.

[NOD]

I'm a civil engineer and I work for the town where I live. Design roads and sewer systems, survey and field work.
Whenever I hear someone talking about working on cars I get a little jealous. I can change my own oil, flush the radiator, do the basics. But when it comes to doing anything as far as repairs I'm lost. Has something to do with my hands.......two fingers and eight thumbs. Doesn't mean I can't appreciate a fine ride though. Spent many an afternoon at the auto show. You guys that tear 'em down and put 'em back together are amazing. Love Monster Garage.
Jerry

[Time2Surrender]

Civil Engineer is great.Im sure you worked hard to get there.Come on out to Portland.The highway system here is a joke.Im a Protective Coatings Application Engineer myself.And yes,Monster garage rocks.Jesse James is cool.I like American Chopper too.

[Dan]

Ahem...
My little piece of Canada, and more particularly the city I live in, has the distinction of having two of the ten worst roads in the country.
Portland can wait.
I need Jerry here, should he decide to experience the canadian seasons...
Winter, and the other six months of the year

[NOD]

DDan my friend...........I'll fix your roads if you bring me to a hockey game!

Maybe next year, hey :tissue I'm having NHL withdrawals!

My current gig is small engines, and a wide variety of yard & power equipment...

Before this it was Fire Truck repair, technical rescue eqiupment, and compressed high pressure (6000psi) breathing air.

And there was aircraft repair, industrial air compressors, and auto repair.

Have done sales also. Pays well, but boring.

[ted]

YA,LIKE DOUG AND DAN I'VE DONE A LITTLE OF THIS AND ALOT OF THAT.
I'VE GOTTEN A FEW PIECES OF THEM PAPERS ALSO.
I KEEP THEM AROUND IN CASE WE RUN OUT OF TOILET PAPER
IF THE RIGHT NEW ONE PRESENTS ITSELF,WHO KNOWS.

[Time2Surrender]

I never really have done anything but paint.After 22 years I am just about getting to the point where I think I know what Im doing now.I did do a little landscaping after high school for a couple years.

[larrynboys]

Well I spent most of my life being the best drug dealer i could be.. So Where did that leave me with experience?? not much LOL..I've been most recently running and owning a body shop, but didn't have enough finances to keep the doors open..Prior to that assembling trusses on an assembly line,Landscaping,Hard surface such as vinyl, formica, remodeling, A little of this,A little of that, and not alot of anything,I'm in between Jobs now,But thru my autobody shop I still have my permit for Private Vehicle auctions,so my income right now is buying and selling cars,on a small scale. So there you have it from the sinking ship lol...

[Gooch]

Hang in there Larry ... I'm running real low in the water here too.

[terranboys]

Thanks Gooch... seems i might have figured out how to get the training i need to get the ball rollin again, and with that note I have a meeting here shortly that will shed some light on the subject. I'll let u know how it goes.
OOPS!!! This is larrynboys .. i guess my wife logged in last nite rofl
Not sure how to delete it lol

[best]

Originally Posted by DangerousDan

I get large satisfaction in taking a piece of crap and making it run smooth.

Well let me fill your world with a LARGE piece of satisfaction *LOL*

I have a 93 Pontiac Lemans, 2 door, 4 speed, hatchback.
You can have it...ummm I mean I will let you use it to gain some satisfaction
(whispers) *wonder if I can finaly get someone to take it out of the yard*

Can't get much more a piece of crap then the lemans of later years...unless you find a yugo *LOL*

[best]

Machinist for just over 8 years. Landscaper before that.
Electronics tech cert but finished school just as the industry was laying engineers off. Machine operator/repair tech now for the past 7 years.

[Time2Surrender]

I joined the Navy to become an Advanced Electronics Tech.Come out of boot camp as an E-3,go to school in Orlando for 18 months,and get stationed in Hawaii.They sure do paint a pretty picture.I was almost finished with boot camp when I was told my school had no openings for approx one year.My recruiter scred me.I was givin the opportunity to choose 2 back ups until my school had an opening.Those also ended up full.So,they took it upon themselves to make me an airman apprentice learning flight deck work.I gave it a try,and didnt like it.After a lot of complaining and paper work I was offeres an honerable discharge for breech of contract,or keep doing the flight deck work till my school had an opening.Being 18 and knowing it all,I felt like I was missing something a home partying with my friends.So,I took the discharge.Too bad,in 2000 I would have had my 20 yrs in and could collect a check every month.Now I guess I will paint 13 more years and draw my pension at 55.Oh well.To this day,I still feel like it was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made.Especialy when I watch Top Gun.I gave up a career in the Navy to be a drug addict.All though I was allready an addict and alcoholic at the time and didnt realize it.The Navy wasnt drug testing back then.We were smoking pot and drinking daily.Like they say in the promises of AA"We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it".

[JaySee]

Left school at 16
Contact Lens Technician
Van Driver
Despatch Coordinator
Barman
Milkman
Despatch Rider
Van Driver (again)
Photocopier Salesman (wtf - forgot about that)
Barman (lots)
Taxi Driver
Bus Driver
(went to University)
Database Developer
Project Manager
Various IT contracts
Became unemployable (booze)
Sat in the Bar for two years (mostly) !!
Now in recovery - thank God - awaiting my next adventure when it happens

[Joe90]

That's qiute a list JaySee ...I once had a job lining coffins in a funeral supplies company ..I hated it I was only 18 and surrounded by paraphenailia of death!! ..I also worke as a sewing machinist in a workshop with 25 women! ... Spent last 17 years as a computer systems engineer for a multinational media company ...was made redundant this year ..and quit booze. I'm quite into garden equipment like Doug ..lawn tractor, JCB garden rotovator, petrol powered hedge cutter, chain saw!! (not sure Why), Mig wielder etc I've got em all!!

we're sad!!

[JaySee]

Originally Posted by Joe90

we're sad!!

I'm a bellringer (campanologist) beat that ...

[Dan]

Originally Posted by best

I have a 93 Pontiac Lemans, 2 door, 4 speed,hatchback.

My condolences best.

Kid shows up in the shop one day with one of those.
His first ride. Bondo model.
Says he wants it to sound like a five litre Mustang. Serious.

I hoisted the thing up, cut the converter out and welded in an old Walkerbluebottle we had taken off another car.The thing now sounded like a lawn mower on steroids.
The kid was happy. He asked how much.
I said no charge, it was worth the laugh!
Kid brought us coffees every morning for six months after that.

[Brookie]

Lemme see here:

House painter/sandwich maker/receptionist for university dorms (all while at college)
Fundraiser for environmental organization (lasted two days - made $0.00)
Office mailroom clerk
Reporter for crappy newspaper
Reporter for slightly less crappy newspaper
public relations exec. (hands down the worst job of my life)
(went to law school)
lawer

Never saw a union that would have me. Haven't done an honest day's work since about 1990.

[Gooch]

Originally Posted by Brookie

Haven't done an honest day's work since about 1990.

..... Ya know you take all the fun right out of lawyer jokes...

[Brookie]

Originally Posted by Gooch

..... Ya know you take all the fun right out of lawyer jokes...

I collect lawyer jokes. If you know any good ones, please feel send 'em along. If they're of-color, feel free to PM me.

[mikee]

I got 2 failed business: A/C installation & Landscaping->( Marijuana )
And before that, I flunked bartending school.
I have got to set my sights a little bit higher!!

[Time2Surrender]

Originally Posted by mikee

I got 2 failed business: A/C installation & Landscaping ( Marijuana )
And before that, I flunked bartending school.
I have got to set my sights a little bit higher!!

Been there myself.Lost a lot to alcohol and drugs.But,clean and sober anything is possible.