More of a de-introduction (outroduction?)

Good luck, my dad was a fitter and turner I didn’t want to do the same so became a Patternmaker whilst my bro an Electrician.
My son is a sparky and I think that is the better of the trades currently.
Foundry Patternmaking is dead here although you can go into many other areas.
You will have a good range of skills at the end.
H.

Hope everything goes well for you. Thanks for all the very helpful and informative posts on this forum !!

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Originally Posted by ian

If the later I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the long term future of fitting and turning. The impression I have is that CNC has made more inroads into fitting and turning than it has into cabinet making.

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It certainly has, I think mainly out of necessity. The complexity of the parts being made, the tolerances required and the quantities ordered are impossible for human operarors to achieve with any sort of repeatability or economy.

Fortunately, I've found a place that still has a significant manual machining/job shop side as well as all the fancy 5-axis and production run stuff.

There will always be a place for manual machining in one-off/low-volume production, I'm just happy to get a foot in the door while there are still people around who can pass on the old skills

....and it's the one-off/low-volume production stuff that still has good margins. Not a bad place to park yourself ! :2tsup:

Enjoy the new direction.

Ross

If you visit less it’ll be a shame because, like someone said above, always enjoyed your commonsense approach.

Nonetheless I understand where you are coming from. I’ve almost given up hobby woodworking because I know I’m never going to be able to control the dust. Sick of the mess, sick of worrying about my lungs, tired of things that want to chop my fingers off.

Enjoy your new role, but choose carefully.

Cheers
Arron

I won't be here less, just can't keep working in the industry without serious future problems and I don't get paid nearly enough to put up with them

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Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Kryn, I picked up the same book at the last HTPAA sale and am finding it really good.

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Elan, which volume did you get, I managed to get Vols 1, 2 and 3 for $45, plus postage $15.
Sing out if you'd like to read any you didn't get. Volume 3 gets pretty heavily into gear cutting, a lot of mathematical jargon involved. Hope you're good at maths???
Kryn

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Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Elan, which volume did you get, I managed to get Vols 1, 2 and 3 for $45, plus postage $15.
Sing out if you'd like to read any you didn't get. Volume 3 gets pretty heavily into gear cutting, a lot of mathematical jargon involved. Hope you're good at maths???
Kryn

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It's the 1988 edition, they combined all 3 into one book. I had a cursory glance at the gear sections and decided to leave them alone until I actually need them; it's not too far above my current level, but it's definitely too much thinking just for fun :p

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Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Bob, there's no welding where I'm going, I checked out one place a while ago and could smell the fumes as soon as I walked in and I didn't want a bar of it. I'm tipping that coolant would keep most of the grinding and honing dust contained too.

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Yes coolant should will make a big difference during the process. Some problems arise later when wet grinding dust sits on surfaces and the coolant evaporates and not all grinding uses coolant. TC tip sharpening is a potential hazard although that's only been clearly identified as a hazard in factories that manufacture TC rather than users of TC products.

Anyway, good luck, I'm all for people looking for a better working situation that suits them. My son was 33 before he finally found his niche and he loves what he does.

If you are interested in "precision" in manufacturing then try a general book called "Exactly" by Simon Winchester, which Anorak Bob put me onto - thanks Bob. It's the history of how the industrial revolution and beyond relied on developments in precision engineering. I only got the book on Monday and have read about 1/4 of the book so far. Because of other books I've read and that I used and taught the maths behind this stuff at uni, so far there's not much new in the book for me, but it's still a good/easy read and I recommended for all aspiring and active and retired machinists. BTW I don't consider myself a machinist - I'm more of a blue and white apron wearer.

BobL,
Ha Ha! Too true...if you have not already, Homemade Tools forum is a cracker, and yea some guys do some AMAZING things in metal. Cheers
Jim
30 yr expat in AUS

Enjoy the change...
At lest as a mature age apprentice you've got a head start on the young blokes; yep; you know what the broom is used for & how to work it...
Don't forget the joys of woodworking and use it as a relaxing hobby..
All the best sport, cheers, crowie

Good luck on your new direction elanjacobs. I don't envy you starting a new career but I do appreciate your reasons for it. Go for it and enjoy it!!