When I was in the Air Force stationed in Korea, I was in aircraft maintenance trained as a welder. The welding shop and machine shop shared the same building, so I was always in the machine shop working on projects collectively, and learned to use many of the lathes and en mills. The sheet metal shop was next door, and I also worked with the tin knockers, and learned a lot of valuable skills. When I went stateside to a missile base in Missouri, it was a similar situation, with all the trades in the civil engineering squadron in close proximity. I again worked with machinists and tin knockers to further my experience. These skills helped greatly when I was hired as a welder by Morrison Knudsen in their Mountain Top facility repairing and re-manufacturing locomotives. I was again exposed to several of the trades involved. When I worked in the maintenance department at a school district, I had access to all the different machines in the shop classrooms, and used my machining skills to produce miniature scale turned "porch" posts to use as supports for my outdoor shelf layout. I used my welding/soldering skills to fabricate an open deck girder bridge made of steel. These skills were also used in the restoration of a composite mine car, and a mast signal that are on display at historical society's park. These skills will soon be used during a restoration project on a 0-4-0 steam locomotive used in local mines that we recently acquired. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to learn any technical or trade related skills.
|
|
