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.