- Joined
- Feb 25, 2007
- Messages
- 8,360
viacin,
I was a machinist for 26 years, having been trained in a missile facility as a youngster right out of high school. Self employed for the last 16 of them. When I closed the doors on my shop, it was because of our move to the castle, which was not finished. I expected I'd start the shop once again, but by the time I had the lab up and running, I was so far behind in refining that I never seemed to get caught up again. By then, it came in as fast as I could get it out, and just got better and better. I had no need to machine any longer, and gladly abandoned any plans to do so again. I was disenchanted with the machines by then, and still don't enjoy running them, although I still have a shop full.
I specialized in small work, plus did a great deal of tooling for the aero-space industry (guidance systems for defense). I no longer had anything to prove, and was enjoying refining like you can't believe. For me, it was sheer magic. Still, as time wore on and I found myself ever busier, right down to working on Christmas and New Years, I knew things had to change.
My life has been filled with small rewards, but I must confess, I've earned every one of them. Nothing has come easily for me. I lack education-----but I don't know the meaning of the word NO-----I feel I can accomplish anything I desire----I just have to work at it a bit harder than guys that have an education. I'm also gifted with a commodity that tends to be rare these days----common sense.
Don't let my thoughts change yours. We are not the same person. You may find yourself deeply immersed in a successful refining business and be happy as can be. I had different objectives in mind. I wanted to play a little----to be able to get out of bed in the late morning and do with my time what I damned well please..
Aside from my house building project, I am free to do as I wish. I retired just before I turned 55, and have enjoyed every moment of my retirement.
Good luck with your venture.
Harold
I was a machinist for 26 years, having been trained in a missile facility as a youngster right out of high school. Self employed for the last 16 of them. When I closed the doors on my shop, it was because of our move to the castle, which was not finished. I expected I'd start the shop once again, but by the time I had the lab up and running, I was so far behind in refining that I never seemed to get caught up again. By then, it came in as fast as I could get it out, and just got better and better. I had no need to machine any longer, and gladly abandoned any plans to do so again. I was disenchanted with the machines by then, and still don't enjoy running them, although I still have a shop full.
I specialized in small work, plus did a great deal of tooling for the aero-space industry (guidance systems for defense). I no longer had anything to prove, and was enjoying refining like you can't believe. For me, it was sheer magic. Still, as time wore on and I found myself ever busier, right down to working on Christmas and New Years, I knew things had to change.
My life has been filled with small rewards, but I must confess, I've earned every one of them. Nothing has come easily for me. I lack education-----but I don't know the meaning of the word NO-----I feel I can accomplish anything I desire----I just have to work at it a bit harder than guys that have an education. I'm also gifted with a commodity that tends to be rare these days----common sense.
Don't let my thoughts change yours. We are not the same person. You may find yourself deeply immersed in a successful refining business and be happy as can be. I had different objectives in mind. I wanted to play a little----to be able to get out of bed in the late morning and do with my time what I damned well please..
Aside from my house building project, I am free to do as I wish. I retired just before I turned 55, and have enjoyed every moment of my retirement.
Good luck with your venture.
Harold