''I paid my dues you aint getting it free from me". Wow.
I started out fooling on lawn mower engines my father would pull out of the trash. I asked for tools at Christmas when I was 12. I would walk the woods and take parts off old abandoned cars just to learn
At 18 I got a job in a power house shovelling coal and running coal moving equipment. I went up through the ranks and got onto maintenance and was trained as millwright and welder
I was taught by guys my dads age, the greatest generation. I followed the welders like a dog on a leash
I carried the welding cables, did whatever they asked and watched them weld.... And I practiced and practiced and yes these guys helped me
The years flew by, I retired but kept welding part time to fund my Plymouth. It was about 4 or 5 years ago , the son of a mechanic that I worked with had went too some half assed welding school but he needed a lot more learning and I taught him every time I was down the yard.
He was dedicated and a good student, paid attention. The kid even use to ask my permission to use the bathroom..... He left that shop when it got slow, went to work in some other yard and now has a job in a real steel fabrication shop....He has learned how to lay out, assemble, install steel staircases, railings, decks and is now leaning to read blueprints. He passed his city/ state licence
Im real proud of him and it was really nice feeling knowing I helped him and taught him like those old timers taught me.
I sure as **** paid my dues and what I know the knowledge I obtained over the years im more than happy to pass it on for free
Thats what we do as journeymen, pity thats lost on a few
