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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,541

    Default Michael G and work

    Quote Originally Posted by Keith_W View Post
    I always like it when I see someone help out someone else, smxas gesture to Michael G is an example.
    I appreciate it too. I'm already looking at Spiro's issues and should be able to get a positive result for him.

    Quote Originally Posted by Keith_W View Post
    Have you thought Michael G of contacting a few Engineering Shops that are local to you with the view of doing sub-contract to them on the fiddly or time consuming jobs...This could hold you over till you find a job again or be the start of your own business.
    Several people have suggested doing something like this, Kryn being another member here on the forum suggesting it as well. I was self employed for a few years back in the early 2000's and struggled because although I could do the work, convincing others holding the purse strings was another matter. Adelaide is going through some turmoil at the moment with regards to employment - the much heralded high profile defence projects are yet to kick in (and may not for a couple of years) and in the mean time a lot of automotive is shutting down. All the businesses I talk to are telling me that times are tight and although some are hiring there are probably around 4 times the applicants that there would have been say 5 years back. Even contract work is difficult to scratch up. I know a few people in small engineering shops and they tell me the same thing with regards to these smaller jobs - they are around but they are few and far between. While some would point to the standard of work I post on the forum as being of high quality or of an innovative nature, the sad reality is that not many places are prepared to pay for that, especially when they have in-house people who are meant to be able to do the same thing.

    Not being a qualified tradesperson and working out of my shed I have to be careful too - I don't want to upset the neighbours or aggravate council by conducting an intrusive business from home. I don't have CNC or the training that you would receive in a trade so I'm probably doing things 'the long way'. While there are some things that are quicker/ easier on manual equipment there are not many of those out there. I have done a few small jobs for people and some 'interesting' repairs but not anything that could provide a sustainable (full time) income.

    I would like to thank members for their support though, both publicly on the forum and privately (email, PM and in person). It does help. I've been retrenched 5 or 6 times now, never with large payouts and patchy super so retiring is not an option for me. Being over 50 I'm starting to run into barriers with age 'too much experience' as well. The biggest issue I have at the moment is how long I try to pursue a 'career' in engineering vs getting a job at somewhere like Bunnings (or (shudder..) a franchise). It's not an easy call to make as if you ignore the engineering skills I have, in employment terms I'm just another unskilled over 50's worker - even if I do have dazzling wit, a sparkling personality and good problem solving skills.

    Michael

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Yes I have heard things are not to good in SA.

    You could come to Qld. I have a spare tordon axe.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    moonbi nsw Aus
    Age
    69
    Posts
    364

    Default

    Michael, I hope you can find some permanent employment. It's not easy.
    I would keep up your engineering of small jobs at home. To go into it full time for someone else and being time restricted I think the enjoyment you are getting nutting out a plan and executing it would slowly take any enjoyment out of it. At one time some one suggested I work at Bunnings!!!!*** No thanks.
    Just do it!

    Kind regards Rod

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,628

    Default

    Sorry to hear of your situation mate, I hope a solution arises for you soon.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Age
    73
    Posts
    459

    Default

    I once cleaned up a carburetor for a guy, he'd stripped a thread and inserted a self tapper leaving all sorts of rubbish in the float bowl. It was a fairly old vehicle and not long after his gearbox started playing up, guess whose fault that was. He chased me around for a while trying to get me to pay for his gearbox. I've had this sort of rubbish on a number of occasions, needless to say I don't help out like that anymore, paid or free!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sacc51 View Post
    I once cleaned up a carburetor for a guy, he'd stripped a thread and inserted a self tapper leaving all sorts of rubbish in the float bowl. It was a fairly old vehicle and not long after his gearbox started playing up, guess whose fault that was. He chased me around for a while trying to get me to pay for his gearbox. I've had this sort of rubbish on a number of occasions, needless to say I don't help out like that anymore, paid or free!
    When I was doing the ham radio course at the old WIA building in Fitzroy, the instructor told us "never, never touch anybody's TV set , if you have neighbours complaining of interference , contact the radio dept. Don't under any circumstance go anywhere near the neighbours TV . If you do touch the TV , anything that goes wrong with the TV in its lifetime , you , the radio nut next door will be blamed for the TV not working i.e. " That so and so fiddled with my TV and its broken now " Our instructor told us of a case where a ham put up an antenna with no feed line connected to it, of course the neighbour complained about the antenna " it is damaging my TV set "

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sacc51 View Post
    I once cleaned up a carburetor for a guy, he'd stripped a thread and inserted a self tapper leaving all sorts of rubbish in the float bowl. It was a fairly old vehicle and not long after his gearbox started playing up, guess whose fault that was. He chased me around for a while trying to get me to pay for his gearbox. I've had this sort of rubbish on a number of occasions, needless to say I don't help out like that anymore, paid or free!
    Reminds me of the guy who had a motor "worked" by the mechanic a mate worked for. This guy came in complaining of a terrible noise in the motor wanting it fixed. He had fitted a new carby. There were metal shavings in the manifold under the carby and a cut off length of thread on top of one piston. Guess who had to pay?

    Dean

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Age
    73
    Posts
    459

    Default

    Amazing how much noise a tiny brass butterfly valve screw çan make when impressed into a piston crown.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sacc51 View Post
    Amazing how much noise a tiny brass butterfly valve screw çan make when impressed into a piston crown.
    It was a Holley carby I think and they are supplied with an extra long air cleaner clamp down bolt which needs to cut to length. "You did cut that off, away from the engine didn't you?"

    "Yes, of course."

    3/16" gold plated threads sort of gave the game away along with the filings under the carb. I have not heard the sound of something on top of the piston myself. Only the sound of a lack of bearing material down below the piston.

    Dean

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Guys ,

    Can we steer this thread back on track, please.

    Michael , by now has enough negative examples of what can happen. Lets move away from that and move towards the more positive aspects please.

    Obviously suggestions towards providing him an income stream. My thoughts were along the lines of some popular metalfabbed item you might manufacture and sell on Etsy or similar.

    What's hot at the moment and Michael could manufacture using equipment he already has.

    OK?

    Grahame

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    Not sure if this is your alley, Michael, but with the advent of the 'Patron' system, perhaps making good YouTube videos registered with Patreon.com quite a few people now make a regular income.
    Manufacturing a niche product in the process would give you the opportunity to use your skills and make videos at the same time.
    Your particular skills and patience seem an ideal match...

    Sent from my InFocus M808 using Tapatalk
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Youtube videos often get stolen. I had one of mine stolen by someone else, and I see at least one by abom79 stolen and reposted.

    From what I understand the amount of $ paid by youtube has been reduced considerably as the number of videos and viewers on youtube increases. I find most longer youtube videos quite bothersome to watch as the people ramble on do not know how to take good video and more importantly edit it.

    The videos I have made. 3/4 of the footage gets cut at the editing process, and it takes a long time to do.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    You are quite right R.C., but the Patron system seems to work quite well for quite a few people. It is not directly connected to YouTube if I understand it correctly.

    Sent from my InFocus M808 using Tapatalk
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,541

    Default

    Latest news is that I have been offered a position in Tas, so looking at moving down there for 12 months or so.

    Michael

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Hi Michael,
    That is excellent news .

    Congratulations

    Desert Isle .Yeah !

    Grahame

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