Thread: What is your profession or real job?

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Started welding when I was about 16. Took a 2 year course in machine work when I graduated from HS. Worked in a couple of machine shops for about 15 years, before going to work as an operator in a hydro-electric power plant. One of my old machine shops asked me to work part time, so I did another 5 years for them before they closed. Love the fab and machine work, but the money in this area just isn't that good.

Retired A&P mechanic,22 years in the Air Force and 24 years civilian. Worked on a "Gazillion" different aircraft.Refurbished 3 ElCaminos,(65,66,67) and sold them all.Did a 32 Ford p/u with a built flathead, sold it.Still have our 46 Ford with a sbc, Camaro clip, etc. Used to help out a lot of friends when I lived in 'Vegas, wired up a few cars,helped out with mechanical and body work. Still like to lend a hand, but not much interest in North Idaho. We did do a body off on a 37 Chevy for my daughter,(my son in law and myself did the majority, but the daughter did A LOT of sanding). Plus she always did a great cleanup at the end of the day. I'm always available to assist.

Originally Posted by Don Lyon

Retired A&P mechanic,22 years in the Air Force and 24 years civilian. I'm always available to assist.

Well, Don, as one retreaded career service man to another (I was 20 years USN) I'd gladly let you come to Iowa and assist me with my truck as soon as this 14 inches of snow we got today melts and the temps get above 45 degrees. Just kidding about you coming here.

Originally Posted by Don Lyon

Retired A&P mechanic,22 years in the Air Force and 24 years civilian. Worked on a "Gazillion" different aircraft.Refurbished 3 ElCaminos,(65,66,67) and sold them all.Did a 32 Ford p/u with a built flathead, sold it.Still have our 46 Ford with a sbc, Camaro clip, etc. Used to help out a lot of friends when I lived in 'Vegas, wired up a few cars,helped out with mechanical and body work. Still like to lend a hand, but not much interest in North Idaho. We did do a body off on a 37 Chevy for my daughter,(my son in law and myself did the majority, but the daughter did A LOT of sanding). Plus she always did a great cleanup at the end of the day. I'm always available to assist.

Welcome to the forum, Don... One question, your daughter that does the shop cleaning so well....Does she make house calls?????

Did some Air Force time myself. I was aircrew, first on Huey then CH-3's... Suppose your time was fixed wing??

Brian told me I can check out anytime but never leave the Forum, but I have been hibernating for a few months working on a book and getting pretty tired of it. I had a lot of odd jobs as a youngster, pumped gas at an Atlantic Station, was a Millwright helper for a while, occasional part time rigger, farm worker, worked on a refridgerator assembly line, worked in two different electroplating shops but my Dad was a Chemical Technician during the Depression and he was always talking about Chemistry so I did well in college studying Chemistry and then got suckered into thinking computers could get the answers without all the fumes. So although I was a Professor of Physical Chemistry until 2003, I was really a computer programmer for over 30 years writing programs to model elctronic structure of molecules and even now I spend most of the cold days debugging my own programs. During High School in the '50s I really got hooked on Hot Rod Magazine and "fixed up" a '31 Ford Fordor and a '47 Ford convertible (aztec red paint with grey leatherette interior, Zowie!) Unfortunately trying to get govt. funding for research is the name of the game in Academia and I was not very good at that but I could write up obscure calculations on atoms and molecules. Actually I spent a few years studying small clusters of Lithium atoms and DennyW set up my avatar as part Lithium atom and part roadster. Since the fifties I wanted a roadster and about ten years ago I restored a MG Midget but I always wanted a Model A roadster so I now have one about 70% finished but the book has to be done by Sept. 2007 so I am typing day and night now. I have always liked Math and was duly impressed by the atomic age so I am still fascinated by atomic stuff and the quantum mechanics math that explains it. I spent two summers at nearby NASA-Langley
but only got part of a patent on metal ions in high performance plastics like polyimides. The U.S. Govt. really got the patent and sent me a little acknowledgment but most of my work has been related to electro-optics and magneto-optics of molecules.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

15years of Body and Paint, 5years at home custom fab work and painting, 4 years of applying chopped fiberglass and gel coat to building substrates. Now in the sign industry as a plant manager for a 25 million dollar company.Next week will make 10 years doing signs. We Vacuform, steel fab, sheet metal fab, alum fab, as well as painting, vinyl and silk screening. If you have any questions about any of the above ask.