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What's your brew, as in life trade

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RGP750:
Still use a Wadkin Lathe that can take 8 foot diameter on the back of the head stock
 and 10 foot bed and a gap bed that can take 2'6".
When i finally close it will probably end up in the scrap, very little call for it now :-[

SteveD CB500K0:
Hmmm.   Not a craftsman  :(

Electronics Engineering degree at Sussex and 6 years at Racal Communications in Bracknell as a design engineer. We made communications systems (radios) and jammers for the Royal Marine Commandos (they took them to the Falklands - we were dead chuffed).
15 years at Nortel Networks as Project Manager and Operations Director. Traveled extensively to Europe, Middle East and USA but got sick of the high pressure lifestyle and my kids were growing up without me.
So I quit and went self employed.
Now I do project management for software implementation. Currently working for a company that makes zero maintenance security doors for electricity substations. Putting in a quotation and order management system.
I also design websites (eg www.tvam.org) and host a few of them (including this one)

I keep saying I'll retire when the next contract runs out...

matthewmosse:
That Wadkin sounds awesome, but sadly many of these great bits of kit probably will wind up un wanted, my oliver was off ebay and was silly cheap at something like £80, I'd love somit like the Wadkin, at least the headstock threads would be something obtainable when it came to getting faceplates and chucks.
Must be a good feeling making something thats played a role in a historic event like the Falklands. I remember being fairly chuffed to find out a drive / controller unit that I was part of making the circuit boards for was used to lower Piers Bosnan down a dam face in the starting sequence of Golden eye if I recall correctly, been a while since I watched any bond movies.

Rozabikes Tim:
Great post idea this, loving it.

Well like many of you I too am an engineer - of curtains! :P

Left school after 6th form with pretty poor A levels, after messing about too much. Went on to college to do Applied Biology but unfortunately with a similar attitude. Passed year end exams but not course work. Chose not to repeat the year and went to look for  jobs a lab technician using my science  background. No idea how but somehow landed a job (100 applicants!),  at what was Derby College at the time, in the Textile Technology / Fashion and  Design department. Although I saw myself as "macho biker"  and fabrics were for girls, I found the scientific theory behind them fascinating and eventually qualified as a Textile technologist via good old day release.

Moved from the academic environment to work in quality control of clothing fabrics for an M&S supplier in Telford (when we actually did such things in the UK). Moved back to Derbyshire early 90's to set up a fabric quality control department for an upholstery manufacturer. Eventually the role morphed into buying responsibility as well, giving me a wider knowledge. Eventually left, taking voluntary redundancy to go it alone in retail of curtain and upholstery fabrics. Grew this from a market stall business to opening our current shop in Bakewell, which will celebrate its 20th year of trading this November.

Although I love my daily work I am rarely happier than messing about with house renovation, especially woodworky bits and of course fiddling with Japanese 2 wheel relics!

AshimotoK0:
Left school at 18 and did combined sciences degree in physics and chemistry with the intention of becoming  a  science teacher. Gave up that idea after qualifying and worked in a bakery for 6 months, 12 hour shifts but great money , where I also met the now famous playwright Richard Bean ..(who later wrote a play about our night -shift antics on the bread plant called 'Toast').  Found a 'proper job' working for R&D in large manufacturing company in Hull and stayed there for twenty years eventually running the electronics R&D department. Asked to relocate to either Rockford Illinois or Harold hill, Romford in 1997,as the company were pulling out of Hull to move to South Wales. Took redundancy instead (Rockford ... USA home of Bridgestone Mcycs) gets to -40°F in winter (also -40°C) in winter so no thanks! Set up my own electronics design & small scale manufacture 'Smart solutions (Hull) and did that for 10 years ... very varied and interesting ..one day I would be garbed up in white clean room gear working at GSK in Harlow, the next on a sewerage farm in Yorkshire. Decided I was too isolated working from home and fed up chasing payment from people, so went to work for my brothers engineering company in Hull 3 days /week and carried on my own business the other two. He got me to design a new pilot operated safety valve, which I did but he then sold the company for many millions of £ to an Italian bunch so I left and went to work for my mate 3-days /week designing water hydraulic  control systems. Still doing that and my own business the other two days. Very happy working there ...best job I have ever had. He got me in last year and asked me what the best bit about working for him is. When I told him .."use of a bead-blaster"  he wasn't impressed though ;D ;D

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