I'm a toolmaker/machinist which is why I make custom parts in my garage on the side. My dad taught me the trade and my brother does the same thing too. But it's a dying trade since a lot of manufacturing has left the country, so it's getting harder to find good paying jobs in this field.

Computer controlled machines (CNC) have also contributed to a decline in the demand for toolmakers. Fortunately for me I do know how to program and run them but the pay is usually less than what a toolmaker makes.

Last week I started a new job in a place that produces surgical tools for operating on the spine/hips/knees, so for the first time in about 10 years I'm making good money plus I have excellent benefits. It's also close to home so I'm saving a lot of money at the pump, so hopefully in the near future I'll be able to afford more mods for my car.

 

I thought you were successful and nobody else in here was - wouldn't you already have ample money that you could spend on the car?

 

I was unemployed recently and it set me back, but I pulled through it when things were tough. Fortunately I didn't lose anything but I came close to selling the harley a couple times.

 

 

you too!

 

Wow! It must be hard to be that successful. I guess I need to raise my standards of what I call success.

 

I went to school to do what you do RedHotG8.


Really only one or two good paying jobs in my town for manufacturing and I work for the biggest one.

 

This... I no longer want to be like him when I grow up.

 

lmfao

 

wait, he machines parts out of his own garage that he "has a website for," yet he's been unemployed....yup seems legit.

i find it funny that he seems to think the price tag of a vehicle shows how its better than another. this guy is so full of it.

i also find it hilarious that he feels the need to talk down to people when asked a simple question such as "what does your car run?"

since price tags matter so much, i guess my $1500 s-10 pick-up with an LS7 will be junk then too. oh well, at least i have my engineering career to fall back on.

 

Pretty average

 

yeah it is average. not everyone can sit back, collect unemployment, and bs on the interwebz about since this car costs more, its gotta be better...

 

What do you do where you work and what kind of training do you have? I've been doing this for 30+ years so there's really nothing I can't do that's related to the trade.

When I first started the pay was excellent and there were an abundance of jobs available. But over the years both have declined which is sad since it's a great trade to be in.

I see you're another one that can't comprehend what you read. Making parts in my garage is a little side business I have and I was unemployed from my full time job as a toolmaker.

I don't enough orders to do it full time because I have basic machines and I'm limited to what I can make. If I had a CNC machine there's nothing I couldn't produce. As they say, it takes money to make money.

 

I did manual machine work at my first job and then moved up to CNC running and then programming. Got another job that was in the Aerospace industry running CNC machines and then changed up in the same company and now run a specialty machine. Making the same money with a lot less responsibility.

 

I'll stick to my Finance/Accounting stuff

Can't wait to graduate and GTFO of here

 

Knowing manual and CNC machines gives you some flexibility in a wider area. Plus if you're making parts for aerospace they have tight specs so you're getting a lot of experience in close tolerance work. That's the way my new job is, they want it done right and it must be perfect or it's unacceptable.

 

yeah, then i'd put the $30k i saved on another rental property. That car does nothing for me. sorry a little boring, a little long in the tooth now..


I do own Ford stock and i have to say, picking it up @2.54 was a great investment looking at where it is now (although it's down $6 from the peak last year).. GM stock killed me... It's painful to want Ford to do better than GM lol..