My initial training was given to me 27 years ago officially. I had received unofficial training in machining, welding, casting, etc starting at the age of 9.
Worked on the farm welding up broken equipment, casting and machining replacement parts, among other duties like feeding the animals until hit by a car at 16, finished school in a hospital bed, hit the ground running as soon as I was on my feet in NDE/Heat treat.
Had a gentlemen tell me in my first 40 hour UT class that his career advice is to always seek out the old and greys. The people who stuck with the business as they will have invaluable knowledge to draw from. I can remember thinking at the time he was full of bovine excrement and was more than likely tooting his own horn. 5 years later, I had realized the wisdom and was volunteering for work just for the experience. RT at night, UT in the day, MT, PT, VT, LT, and the sporadic heat treat and welding gig. Saw home all of two weeks the following 5 years, especially after jumping in with ET. Various industries, crappy jobs, anything and everything to hook up with the old experienced hands to pick their brains. The last 8 years it's been very hard to find those guys. Most were well into their upper 60's and 70's and retired. There's a handful out there in the interim age between mine and that, but not many of them are left. 58 countries and 49 states later, he people who gave my initial training, and many others I've meet and learned from over the years, are now dead and gone.
I was talking to my wife the other day about this, when she asked me if I'd looked in the mirror lately.
Greying/turning loose hair, almost fully grey beard... and a good sized case of chester drawers to go with it. When the hell did that happen???
Broke out the contacts book, one in four people dead or dying out of it. Over half of them retired and out of the business. For an inspector I sure missed the hell out of the indication that I was turning into one of those old and greys. Makes me feel like I need to be lead out to pasture...
Anyone else feel the same?
George, All this is very true. Not sure about the rest of you but I can remember when I realized I was getting older. I was 46 and jumped off a dumpster on a job. I climbed in it to get coupons for my helper who wanted pipe to practice on. As soon as I jumped off that dumpster I can remember saying to myself that was stupid old man, lol. Today I take my alieve every morning to make it a little easier to crawl around the pipe. On another note has the rest of you noticed that these young hands now days breaking out are pretty arrogant, we weren't like that were we, lol
Old and Grey uh? Not sure how old you are Gerald but I can assure you that getting old beats the hell out of the alternative. Personally I just get old and bald.
Every time that I teach a class, or on a job with people willing to learn, I try to impart as much knowledge and experience as I can. Every time that I meet someone with more experience or a different welding technique than I know, I soak up as much as I can. I know that when I started, I asked a lot of questions and some of them were show me so that I actually know and understand.
