Getting started...

[fordbroncoxlt]

Hello everyone. I've been reading the forum for quite a while but I am a first time poster here. I wasn't sure exactly where to put this post, but this looks about right to me.

Well, as I said I've been reading around on the site quite a bit. I really take a lot of interest in learning machining. I'm 17 years old and currently a junior in high school, and I'm really interested in getting started in machining. My question is, what would be the best way for me to get started? I have been thinking about applying at a small shop not far from me. I'm willing to do any job, whatever it takes, just to get my foot in the door and be able to be around the machines and have the ability to ask questions while seeing it in action. It's a shame the school doesn't offer metal shop classes anymore, as I would definitely be signed up for those. I know this depends a lot on the company, but generally speaking, are most shops willing to take someone who is willing to learn? What type of work can I most likely expect doing at my age and being new to it all? I believe I have a pretty good grasp behind it all, and I'm definitely willing to work at it and ask questions.

Any answers or advice is much appreciated,

Thanks!

[djr76]

Definitely see if you can get in a machine shop. OJT is by far the best way to soak in all the knowledge. Check out if there is any vocational schools in your area that have machinist programs or even community colleges. Your high school counselor should be able to help you find classes for you. As for starting out in the shop, it all depends. Can range from measuring parts, operating drill presses, sawing stock, to operating cnc equipment. Good luck bud, Its a profession I love dearly and have been doing it since your age.

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Careful on the age thing. Many states require 18 min. to operate machines. My local deli doesn't allow the high school part time kids to operate a meat slicer.

Dick Z

[Switcher]

Originally Posted by RICHARD ZASTROW Careful on the age thing. Many states require 18 min. to operate machines. My local deli doesn't allow the high school part time kids to operate a meat slicer. Dick Z

True ( link ).

I'm sure it wouldn't go well with the companies insurance guy.

The first thing I would do is check with your high school counselor, like already suggested, they might know of something that's close to you, Tech school etc...

When I was 17, all I cared about was the girls.


.

[dertsap]

if they don t hire you off the start then an old tactic is to knock on their door once a week everyweek till it comes to the point they expect you to show up ,they'll know you by name as well you will know them by name , sooner or later they will see youve got the initiative and the desire to work there , and there is a good change they will hire you based on that , or they will hire you to get you out of their hair, either way it does work ,you'll just need to be persistant

[Switcher]

Originally Posted by dertsap if they don t hire you off the start then an old tactic is to knock on their door once a week everyweek till it comes to the point they expect you to show up ,they'll know you by name as well you will know them by name , sooner or later they will see youve got the initiative and the desire to work there , and there is a good change they will hire you based on that , or they will hire you to get you out of their hair, either way it does work ,you'll just need to be persistant

Or the cops pick you up for harassment (just playing ).

That would be my luck!

.

[ozzie34231]

Switcher,
69 here and that's still all I care about.
At 17 I met my first lathe.
Ozzie

[ironDigit]

I guess any shop can use a spare it just depends at what costs so i think trying once a week should get you an offer but i wouln't expect to much of an offer.

but maybe thats just cause over here we do it dutch lo.

good luck.

[fordbroncoxlt]

Is it bad that I am not the greatest student in geometry class? Geometry so far, atleast how my school teaches it, is more like an english class than it is math class. A lot of theorem conclusions and justifications and all that stuff. I can understand it when I want, it just bores me. I see it as being irrelevant to machining. It's not like were working with diameters and what not, just these damn theorems about lines of symmetry and parts of polygons and crap. Should I worry about any of this? My brother is a machinist, and he never mentioned having to know any of that. Of course there is equations you have to know and use, but we're not even doing that.

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

IMHO, plane geometry, trigonometry etc. are mandatory to machinists.

Dick Z

[cncprofessor]

Originally Posted by fordbroncoxlt A lot of theorem conclusions and justifications and all that stuff. I can understand it when I want, it just bores me. I see it as being irrelevant to machining. ..... Should I worry about any of this?

Should you worry? Well, it all depends how far you want to go. Once upon the time, I shared your feeling, but then, I had to do a looooot of catching up in order to be where I needed to be with the family all around.

So, don't worry much, just pay much closer and more enthusiastic attention to your math class (better now than later with everything else around you).

Good luck!

[dertsap]

i agree
it is far easier to pay attention now then when you get older


something you may want to concider is life can and will take a drastic twist ,things change jobs change interests change , sometimes what we once thought was irelavent are now in our face by choice or not .its not as simple as go to school ,get a job get married buy a house then have kids and live happily ever after .i'm a living example of that ,ive done everthing in that list at least twice , the one mistake worth meantioning that came back on me was to further my education after being out of school for a few years , even though i was out of school for only 5yrs i'll tell you it wasn t easy to go back at it alone , so it may be worth doing some soul searching and ask yourself if it would be worth advancing your education and looking at engineering and such , a couple of extra years now will pan out much larger and quicker once you hit the workforce ,and it opens you to many more possibilities in the future

its your future and the choices you make now are the crutial begining of that future

you could possibly find a part time job while furthering your education ,lots of companies will support an up and coming pro