Craftsmen Who Work With Their Hands

[300UGUY]

no degrees from the recognized institutes ... although I have my EMERITUS form the SOHK ...

learned most things from books ( remember those? ) and a lot from the trades people by asking questions when I was a lot younger ... then doing things myself .

when was the last time you saw someone change a tire on the side of the road ? ( or even put their snow tires on themselves? ) change their own oil ?

outside of a few gearheads and some of the folks here , they are few and far between ....
delving into the wiring of their machine ... fewer headcounts
hydraulics ... few still
welding ... well most can count them on one hand

people today don't want to get their hands dirty ... why wold I do "that" when I can pay someone to do it ...
or "my time is money" even though they are not at work ...

they pay someone to cut the grass with their push mower , then go to the GYM to run on a treadmill ....
pay someone to stack wood , then go to the gym and lift weights ....
take the elevator , then go to the gym to do "stairs" ...

at high school , they should list the pay scales for each trade as well as the salaries for those with degrees ... and the amount of time for the apprenticeships / degrees.

remember , "knowledge based" jobs in the high tech / engineering are very portable and can be outsourced easily ....
but fixing the pipe in someone's house or repairing their car isn't ...

No offense, but you Canadians have no idea how screwed up the US is. The folks in Canada enjoy a higher standard of living, and a lot more security than we do. We are to you what Mexico is to the US. Btw, I have cousins in Windsor.

 

[mbohuntr]

Some of you guys talk about getting a apprenticeship - how does one do that? In my experience, getting a apprenticeship is harder than getting into a very good college. The only apprenticeships I've seen are union jobs, and they are pretty scarce these days. I can't think of a single non union job with a pension, unless it's a elected position. You never hear of a non union company that has job training. And the taxpayer's aren't real keen on setting up vocational schools.

A very good question. I tried that route for years... I had two years in trade school, several welding certs, and years of expierence. No luck. However, today, many union members come from non union shops, and their skills and expierence are credited as journeyman level. If you have expierence, call your local hall and ask them.

 

[JLwoodworks]

My apprenticeship was through the local carpenters union. There was a test and interview, but we're finding fewer and fewer applicants these days. I know there are a lot of arguments for or against unions, but around here in construction you'd be working with little pay and no benefits. So I suppose it outweighs the greedy management

 

[2LaneCruzer]

While I have more than my share of college hours, and a couple of degrees, I for one, have a great appreciation and respect for skilled craftsmen. My father was one of those; he could fix or design and make just about anything he set his mind to. I always admired my father for those skills; he could also operate just about any piece of machinery or drive any vehicle he ever saw...he also taught school when he was younger. I am sorry to say that I do not have those skills, at least to degree than he had, but I do like to do a little woodworking and manage to produce a useful item once in a while.

I also have a great respect for academic accomplishment, especially when it's coupled with ability and common sense. I think, however, that academics often do not understand or appreciate the combination of intellect and skill, not to mention experience, that it takes to make a good craftsman. It is a crying shame that this country is run by a bunch of bottom line college brats instead of craftsmen who know that a dollar out has to be offset with a dollar+ in.

 

[TripleR]

As mentioned, we need both types of people and I hate to see either looked down on or devalued as it seems some do. I don't really care if my doctor, nurse, lawyer, CPA, financial planner etc. can change a flat or their oil nor do I care that my plumber, home builder/carpenter, truck/car/tractor mechanic etc. is familiar with anatomy, psychology, philosophy, literature etc.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

As mentioned, we need both types of people and I hate to see either looked down on or devalued as it seems some do. I don't really care if my doctor, nurse, lawyer, CPA, financial planner etc. can change a flat or their oil nor do I care that my plumber, home builder/carpenter, truck/car/tractor mechanic etc. is familiar with anatomy, psychology, philosophy, literature etc.

Agree. It's been my experience, though, that skilled practitioners are often not as narrow as one might think, and have a much broader interest and knowledge base than one might suspect.

 

[JLwoodworks]

True tripleR, it's more about the balance between the two.

Have to love Mike Rowe

 

[Gator6x4]

Automobile Dealerships are finding it harder and harder to find "Tech's" to work in their Service Departments. A good automotive tech can make $80,000 plus per year plus benefits and are in great demand. To be a good tech one must constantly study and train on new automotive advances and diagnostic equipment. They also must not be brain dead from excessive weekend mary john use when reporting for work on Monday morning.

 

[TripleR]

Agree. It's been my experience, though, that skilled practitioners are often not as narrow as one might think, and have a much broader interest and knowledge base than one might suspect.

Oftentimes yes, but oftentimes no, depend on where you are. I've known both kinds over the years.

True tripleR, it's more about the balance between the two.

Have to love Mike Rowe

I'm a big fan of Mike Rowe and John Ratzenberger. I agree that a balance is good and my family is a mix of trades people and college educated. At our family gatherings one would be hard pressed listening to the conversation who did what and if you needed oil changed, flat fixed etc., you would get plenty of help. It seems this is becoming less and less common though. It would take too long to explain why I think this is true and be pretty boring.

 

[k0ua]

Automobile Dealerships are finding it harder and harder to find "Tech's" to work in their Service Departments. A good automotive tech can make $80,000 plus per year plus benefits and are in great demand. To be a good tech one must constantly study and train on new automotive advances and diagnostic equipment. They also must not be brain dead from excessive weekend mary john use when reporting for work on Monday morning.

Now, now Gator, I thought the majority (of at least the potheads) had established that MJ was harmless and might actually be good for you.

Years ago, having worked with some of the types that indulged in that usage, I was left with the impression that they were as Bill Cosby calls it "dain bramaged"