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Michael G
1st Aug 2017, 10:14 AM
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.


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:U.

Michael

.RC.
1st Aug 2017, 10:26 AM
Yes I have heard things are not to good in SA.

You could come to Qld. I have a spare tordon axe.

chambezio
1st Aug 2017, 11:21 AM
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.

DSEL74
1st Aug 2017, 02:31 PM
Sorry to hear of your situation mate, I hope a solution arises for you soon.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

sacc51
25th Aug 2017, 01:04 PM
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!

morrisman
25th Aug 2017, 06:31 PM
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 "

Oldneweng
25th Aug 2017, 10:58 PM
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

sacc51
25th Aug 2017, 11:30 PM
Amazing how much noise a tiny brass butterfly valve screw çan make when impressed into a piston crown.

Oldneweng
26th Aug 2017, 01:11 AM
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. :D

Dean

Grahame Collins
26th Aug 2017, 03:20 PM
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

jhovel
28th Aug 2017, 11:50 PM
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

.RC.
29th Aug 2017, 05:16 PM
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.

jhovel
30th Aug 2017, 08:41 AM
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.

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Michael G
20th Oct 2017, 12:18 PM
Latest news is that I have been offered a position in Tas, so looking at moving down there for 12 months or so.

Michael

Grahame Collins
20th Oct 2017, 12:25 PM
Hi Michael,
That is excellent news .

Congratulations

Desert Isle .Yeah !

Grahame

.RC.
20th Oct 2017, 03:36 PM
Latest news is that I have been offered a position in Tas, so looking at moving down there for 12 months or so.

Michael


Great news. Ship your CVA up to me and I will grind the bed for nothing. :)

Michael G
20th Oct 2017, 04:31 PM
Sorry - was that 'for nothing' or 'to nothing'?

Michael

.RC.
20th Oct 2017, 05:09 PM
However you want it. ;)

simonl
22nd Oct 2017, 10:28 AM
Hey Michael. Great news about the job offer. Its a pitty you have to move to tassie and away from your family.

Mind you, been to tassie a number of times and love the place and the people. Very hospitable.

Simon

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steamingbill
22nd Oct 2017, 06:00 PM
Michael,

If you register your email with the el cheapo airlines they email you every week with special deals - Sometimes Tassie flights are very very cheap and you could get home or family could come over for a weekend on highly reduced airfares.

Bill

Michael G
29th Oct 2017, 11:12 AM
A couple of people have asked when I'm going - well, I'm here and start on Monday. Bit of a rush but that's the way the cards have fallen.
Machine wise I've found a couple that I think will keep me occupied but that will be a separate thread in a week or so when they arrive.

Michael

KBs PensNmore
29th Oct 2017, 12:52 PM
Hope everything works out for you :2tsup:. Enjoy the scenery, apparently it's beautiful over there.
Kryn

morrisman
29th Oct 2017, 02:57 PM
The trout fishing is great !

Keith_W
30th Oct 2017, 04:12 AM
Glad you have found a job MichaelG, this may open up a hole lot of new opportunities for you.
Only down side is that your family is still in SA, but with things like Skype you can see and talk with them and they can come to Tassy for a break when they can. You also can go home when you can.
Keith_W.

bwal74
30th Oct 2017, 09:40 AM
Good luck with your new job. Over the last 15 years I've spent a lot of time away from my family and friends due to work and the last two and a half years I've lived at work and come home on the weekends. I won't lie to you, It's difficult and lonely but sometimes it's what you have to do. Best of luck.

Ben.

eskimo
1st Nov 2017, 09:09 AM
The trout fishing is great !

now that i have somewhere to live I might go visit and then flyfish for week or two...:D

eskimo
1st Nov 2017, 09:11 AM
but with things like Skype you can see and talk with them and they can come to Tassy for a break when they can.

skype?..is'nt that old hat these days..swmbo is always on the mobile talking to her rellies in Italy and with video to boot and no charge

jhovel
1st Nov 2017, 06:39 PM
Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp, Facetime - all can do video, audio, text and pictures on your mobile as well as on your tablet, notebook, laptop, desktop....
Whichever flavour you like. All work well and cost data only. I' finding I'm using WhatsApp more than the others now....