I am a new tool & die apprentice. What do I need?

[Kevin54]

I just spent the last hour putting the pics up I have on Imageshack, and the bastages won't let me post them.

I have a few more I'll post up in a little while

 

[Lassen Forge]

I don't know if Vette64 is even still here (one post and gone - never a good sign) but even if you don't get the benefit of those here, then others will.

I an rather jealous that at 18 someone nailed a T&D apprenticeship... I know people who went in the service to get such an opportunity, to do so on the outside - well, I wish you well.

BTW... K54... thank you. You seem like that kind of mentor that, had *I* been in the right place and time to get one of those rare spots as an apprentice, would have made the dif between success and failure. (Oh yeah, thanks for the pix also - got me motivated to straighten out my mess!) I'm glad you're here...

 

[Kevin54]

The three biggest things in life that gives me enjoyment....a wife that is totally understanding of everything, our pets, that when you have a ****** day, will sit and listen, then give you a tail wag and a few licks, and the machines that I bought, so I can tinker. I find total enjoyment in running machines.

My years in T&D was never a job, because I enjoyed it so much. Taking a block of raw material, and fabbing it into either a part, or the tools to make a part, has to be along the same lines as an artist who starts with a blank canvas and turns it into fantastic artwork.

Years back, I had a hot job come up, and I had to have all of the components made in 4 days. I had to do everything other than the final assembly. The result was two rear tail logo lights for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's personal airplane. It just made me proud to make parts that are still flying around on a daily basis.

 

[Techie1961]

It just made me proud to make parts that are still flying around on a daily basis.

That is one of the coolest things about making stuff. When you spend a year (or whatever time span) making something and then you see it out in the field on thousands of cars (in my case) and can say that you made the tools that made that. It's an awesome feeling.

 

[metalhead212121]

Thanks for the pics Kevin. I wasn't sure what I should expect to see in your toolbox.

 

[Southernbuild]

My years in T&D was never a job, because I enjoyed it so much. Taking a block of raw material, and fabbing it into either a part, or the tools to make a part, has to be along the same lines as an artist who starts with a blank canvas and turns it into fantastic artwork.

Thanks SO much for talking the time to share all this information, and pictures with us. It's very interesting!

If you happen to have some project pictures laying around, we'd love to see them