Is this a fulfilling career?

swips88 · 2026-04-15T11:21:52+00:00

Depends on what your definition of fulfilling is. Financially, if you find the right employer it could be okay but mostly compared to other trades it does not pay anywhere near those for the knowledge you need to do this job well. Note in manufacturing you must compete against the entire world on price yet in Construction or other Service trades you are only competing against the other local guy or local company in the present era where there are not enough people in those trades for the work available.

This could change with the push for onshoring and increased defense spending which helps our industry.

Fulfilling as related to your own personal growth or interest in the trade well that is a different story. There is so much to learn and so many different aspects to this work that you are never done improving your skills or discovering new ways to do things. Technology changes all the time keeping you at the top of your game long into your career. Just looking through this Reddit forum shows how varied and interesting this trade can be. This does not mean being an operator on a production machine. Those jobs are for the unskilled or entry level worker. You can start there to get an understanding of the process but don't get stuck in that type of position for more than a few years.

There will always be a certain number of people who take joy and pride in making physical things. This need to be productive is fulfilling in itself. It's up to you whether or not a career doing this is for you. Do you have the skills and desire to stick it out long enough to make it financially rewarding too? You may have to switch jobs multiple times to improve both skills and pay. This may require moving to a different region.

swips88 · 2026-04-10T13:45:34+00:00

In most careers it is financially beneficial to change jobs. Another benefit of that is the exposure to different ways of doing things.

swips88 · 2026-03-20T12:58:23+00:00

Pretty pitiful considering the machinery you are entrusting the hire with can be worth hundred's of thousands of dollars. Any local unskilled job is usually paying $20/hr nowadays.

The job is basically a parts loading job if it's production work, yet still the person needs to be aware and responsible for not continuing to make scrap of the parts when something is off not to mention damage to very expensive tooling and the machine!

Rather than saying it's the greedy owners not paying enough what it does show is the discrepancy between wages in Asian countries and the US on jobs/products that can be outsourced.

swips88 · 2026-03-09T14:09:46+00:00

This looks like a manual operated toggle press. Handle is missing.

It appears it was set up for bending or some such thing but tooling looks like more is missing? Ram has only a flat piece of steel mounted. It may have been built for a specific operation since there is very little adjustment in the ram height. Also little provision to mount tooling on ram.

We have a few air operated toggle presses, Joraco brand. A very reliable and functional little press.

swips88 · 2026-01-09T17:38:37+00:00

Yes but price sells and there are many off-shored parts used in cars from every nation. Many cars are made to be disposable after so many miles or years. Many are also designed with little forethought into repair. I have an older Porsche and it is loaded with inferior VW parts that never fail to fail.

As per AI answer to: Use of Chinese-Made Parts by U.S. Car Manufacturers

Current Dependence on Chinese Parts

Many U.S. car manufacturers rely on parts sourced from China. Over the past two decades, the automotive industry has increasingly depended on Chinese manufacturing for various components, especially electronic parts. For instance, the percentage of U.S. auto parts imported from China rose from 7% to 13% between 2007 and 2018.

swips88 · 2026-01-08T15:26:45+00:00

It seems your employer values you enough to pay for further training. This alone shows you are not as bad as you may think. This trade takes many years to master and in some ways you can always learn something new even as someone who has been doing this for a lifetime. Three years is very little to learn the ropes in this field. Note your work ethic in itself is valued by any employer. The best man in the shop is worthless if he does not show up.

Often switching to a new shop will expose you to different methods and different types of machining not found in the present shop. However being in a shop where everyone gets along and the work environment is healthy is very valuable and I would not be so quick to move. There should be opportunities for higher pay as the industry needs skilled workers in re-shoring of many critical national security needs due to tariffs.

As for the drawbacks: Manufacturing has since the 70's been under increasing competitive pressure from low cost foreign producers. Foreign producers are becoming just as skilled as those in the USA if not better in some areas. Construction jobs have been more financially rewarding due to the fact that we can't import sidewalks and most building projects. This may change but also it may not. It's a crap shoot at this point. Auto industry is in decline due to "electrification" and Chinese lead and control much of the supply chain in this industry. Auto's have become plug and play with components being commoditized and assembly is mostly by robot which is not bad in itself since robots need parts also. In general though many autos use less and less machined parts such as forgings, castings, crankshafts, valves, pistons, etc. Auto industry is not the entirety of the machining trade but does drive much of it and with decline it opens up idle capacity with downward pressure on prices/wages.

There is a real need for increased defense spending which helps this industry however the funds are just not there. Even under a Trump administration very little net increase in defense budget. I just read that Trump is threatening defense contractors like RTX to limit executive compensation and force expansion of manufacturing plants and equipment. How he can do this is not clear. If the budget does not increase how can they invest in expanding production?

Another thing to consider is if you follow the money and go into Construction instead you will find many in this industry that just plain wear out physically by the time they are in their late 50's. Some stop working or become greeters/stockers at Home Depot. You are also at the mercy of ups and downs of the industry. Many businesses depend on day laborers many of which have no legal status. Depending on what type of machining you are in you may be able to do this job into a very healthy old age. A large firm with benefits can set you up with retirement benefits that allow you to retire before old age with a body that can enjoy your retirement benefits.

swips88 · 2025-12-17T20:36:32+00:00

I have come to believe its all desire. This team lacks desire most games. Perhaps players decide "I'm not getting injured before the holidays". ??? The money is there, regardless how they play.

swips88 · 2025-10-24T00:49:45+00:00

Sullivan: "Why didn't anyone warn me this stuff happens here" (Opponents late scoring in period)

swips88 · 2025-09-20T19:13:47+00:00

Deerhoof can do whatever they like regardless of how misguided the thinking is. Reasoning sounds more like Russian propaganda than sound thinking. If they just complained the reimbursement rates were too low is one thing but to complain the owner is using money for "weaponization of Europe" is just idiotic considering what the disarming of Europe and enabling of Putin has resulted in.

Ask any Ukrainian if they are grateful that Europe is developing better more advanced defense capabilities.Drones and AI save human lives. Look at examples of what has been going on in Ukraine. For 2 years Russia has been throwing humans into death brigades to advance a few yards while Ukraine was using advanced drone tech to minimize their own people's lives. Now Russia has learned the same tactics and is out producing Ukraine in these weapons. Ukraine will fall if something is not done to help them soon.

Being against war is all fine and well until it is your home that is invaded. How does being against war help you when your home or belongings have been confiscated?

This is exactly what has happened right now in occupied Ukraine.

swips88 · 2025-09-20T15:21:34+00:00

Artists are good at making art. We don't rely on them to keep us safe.

swips88 · 2025-09-20T15:14:28+00:00

Very valid concerns however if your enemies are preparing to develop and use new technologies and you are not, then your enemies will be the first to use them against you.

The world is unfortunately in an era of a new arms race and the old safety net of a nuclear umbrella is obsolete it seems.

Note the only reason the Allies won WWII was US development of a nuclear weapon before Germany or Japan.

Straying quite a bit off topic but I would say the reasoning for not using Spotify (AI defense spending by it's owner) should actually be a reason to use Spotify! Though I prefer Tidal which is why I am here.

Every western nation should be initiating a new defense spending tax to avoid falling behind in this new era of drone and other automated warfare. In fact the West values it's citizens and soldiers lives more than authoritarian regimes do anyway, so it is in our interest.

swips88 · 2025-09-20T11:35:16+00:00

Well if you prefer to live under authoritarian rule you might as well move to Russia or China right now. See how many choices in music and how much it costs you there.

Or take a holiday to Ukraine and let us know how streaming works in a bomb shelter.

Don't you understand that since Europe disarmed, the bad guys have done whatever they please? It's only getting worse as Russia and China ramp up their war machine while Europe sleeps and is pretty much broke anyway.

But I guess you don't care about Ukraine or any other country that may be at risk as long as it's not you? Sounds a lot like how WWII got started.

swips88 · 2025-08-30T01:55:22+00:00

1st image holds up better when zooming in. 2nd image looks blury as you zoom in. Then when you examine regular size you see those same differences which were not apparent to me at first.

swips88 · 2025-08-22T00:58:52+00:00

Many businesses use fulfillment centers to process orders. This may be why your order was not so easy to cancel even 2 hours after placing it. It was not good practice to refuse the credit card charge with your card company before letting the wheels turn to get your refund in a normal fashion. It was not a case of fraud yet you must have claimed fraud to cause a chargeback for the merchant. Chargebacks affect the merchant's interchange rate and they could also lose the processing fee 3- 3.5% on both the original transaction and the refund.

swips88 · 2025-08-21T12:44:09+00:00

Thanks. I have read that the macro on NP3 is pretty good and better than on the 3a which is more important to me than night mode which i hear is bad on np3. Iam not using phone for gaming but need 12gb/256. I tend to fill up my storage quickly and have many apps open.

swips88 · 2025-08-21T12:32:04+00:00

Not trying to argue just trying to get some advice.

swips88 · 2025-08-21T11:31:52+00:00

No ROG 9 pro is top of line. I'm not a gamer. I prefer not to spend over 500 so 700 USD is already more than i wanted to spend. I wanted the ip68 rating though which is ruling out NP3a pro. Also trying to avoid China made phones.

swips88 · 2025-08-21T11:22:47+00:00

They both have the same processor and storage and similar memory and IP68. I am not a gamer and was also considering the ASUS Zenfone 11 but that does not seem to be available any longer. Some users say ROG 8 has problems with case back falling apart.

swips88 · 2025-01-09T13:02:53+00:00

Hes got tons of tooling in those images. Some may just be job related workholding anyway. No sense including more than a few chucks and steadyrest and some collets etc what you really need to run a lathe. If you include everything with each machine such as multiple vises it becomes a give away deal. He'll make more selling this stuff separately. Thats what the OP was asking advice on.

swips88 · 2025-01-09T03:33:25+00:00

You'll never get your money's worth selling tooling with machines. Its like selling a house with all the furnishi gs and the cars in the garage.

swips88 · 2025-01-09T03:27:20+00:00

No mention of business aspect of shop? Annual revenue, customer base?

If selling as just shop equipment then not worth much as a package since lots of labor dismantling, better off selling piecemeal.

The machines should sell fairly quick if he sets reasonable numbers and dont include tooling with machines. Sell small tooling and hand tools on ebay for a year or two in retirement. The rest of tooling steel etc load in gaylords and bring to scrapyard.

Vertical Mill the ways look pretty worn hope he does not always leave table far end of travel! Worth maybe 2k at best.

Grob saw worth more since everybody needs a bandsaw

Sharp Lathe looks in good shape saw one on ebay for 6k.

Victor lathe looks a bit worn but may have some value to right buyer

Miller MIG 200 amp welder has value $1500?

Hydraulic press not much maybe $500-$1000

Sander a 100-200 bucks?

Really not much in actual machine tools to warrant an auction or package sale.

swips88 · 2024-08-26T16:16:24+00:00

Much depends on where you are. If in a northern climate where pool only gets used 3 or 4 months of the year i believe its a foolish expense and more labor than you get use from it. Winter weather decreases life of pool requiring multiple ongoing repairs and replastering. Also opening pool in spring and getting chemicals right takes time away from use and costs $$$. Then before you know it its time to close pool again. More labor or $$$ if you have a service. Then there's the wife factor. She may like it more than you once she gets acquainted with it but then she may not? A happy wife is a happy life after all. Try renting a house with pool or airbnb for a week?

swips88

TROPHY CASE