New England B.S. Thread

Gotcha. My 6 year old tpms finally died while driving from Jersey to RI.

 

The state motto of Rhode Island is Hope I got a guy.

This is my guy
https://goo.gl/maps/wGj9o4pcG9bqC3FJ7

To be fair, I haven't been to him for buying Toyos, but he's taken care of me for repairs and done a full set on my wife's car late last year. I actually have to give him a call for mine soon unless I go for another set of stock takeoffs.

 

Online, I got a buddy that has tire machines in his garage. Done a few sets for guys on here as well

 

You gotta have "a guy" for anything you can't do yourself. In a few cases I am the guy, but that's a different story.

Anyway, my body shop guy just called and told me that the Tacoma was ready. I picked it up and took it for a test drive. No "whump, whump, whump" so the new axle fixed that issue. It was also pulling very subtly to the right. I don't know if that was just me or what, however it doesn't do that anymore either.

I'm happy.

 

So... has anyone here made a significant career change later in life(40s)?

The physicality of my job vs my... abused frame, is really taking a toll...

I need to make a change, sooner than later.

Where do trade persons go after the field? And still make a good living?

Can't be specific right now, I don't want anything out there at the moment, my work is kind of niche...

 

So not quite 40s (33 next month) but I'm in the process of going back to school for engineering. Taking some of the prerequisite courses this summer and fall and gonna try and transfer in with my old CC credits. Figure this field gives me tons of options if I wanna stay trade-adjacent and will definitely pay better than what I'm making now, just gotta tough it out for a couple years

 

Not me personally, but I've known a lot of IT/tech guys who switched later in their careers. How about seeking out a foreman/supervisor role? That's actually closer to the path I'm currently on - transitioning from a knowledge worker in IT to a team lead/manager, and so far it has been very rewarding.

 

I know a guy in the local IBEW that switched to sales. I'd say see about supervisor or foreman position that more desk work if you want to stay in the field

 

Right there with you brother! I'm ready for the next step whatever it may be, not that I've given enough thought at it but I know all about being niche...

Most of my next steps staying in the field require relocating... that's out until my youngest is done with school.... in like 10 years


To answer your question though, most I know that stay in the field become supers. But that is not a Better Living even if you're making better money. Tons of paperwork and babysitting.

Others go into business for themselves...

 

Talk about tons of paperwork and babysitting...

 

My mother in law did that.

She's now the head of marketing, sales, production, supply chain, customer service, finance, HR, document control, compliance, operations, and facilities.

 

I don't talk about what I do for a living very often, but I work for a construction manager. I've seen many people come from the trades to the CM side of the business. I don't know your specific situation, or what you do, but conceivably, if you are running work, you know how it should be run and can bring that experience over to the CM side and help manage the work, buy trades better, write better scopes of work for the initial contract. There is a need on the CM side to get trades people working for them so help 'fill in the blanks'. CM's are typically generalists, we know a little about a lot. But there are several instances where a CM needs / wants to have someone from the trades on their project team, maybe it's a complex MEP system, schedule is tight, budgets are tight, etc. Having someone from the trades on the CM side opens up the ability to have very detailed discussions with the trades we hire to perform the work, this often benefits both the CM and the trade as a result. If you want to stay in the construction side of things, utilize your experience but trade the physical stress for some mental masturbation, a move to the CM side could be perfect for you. Feel free to PM me, I've seen quite a few people make this jump and end up doing very well for themselves.

 

Funny, I've occasionally thought about the opposite. I became an IT Director at 27 (31 now) and I don't know if I have 30+ years of it in me. For now it's fine and the extra money is helpful, but eventually I could see a lower stress level and time commitment being more important.

 

I definitely feel that. 10 hour days and having to be right within plus or minus a human hair (.005" is average tolerance) all day, everyday is very stressful. If I could make the same or more money and work 40 hours a week I'd definitely contemplate moving

 

In time, I could even take a pay cut. Right now the girlfriend is in grad school with an unpaid internship so her only income is from hostessing on nights and weekends so it isn't realistic. But, when we have two full incomes it will be a different story.

 

I feel that. When I got this new gig, it was either QA manager, or move and be an engineer. My QA manager left, and I filled in for a while. That was an easy decision. Probably another 40k a year on the table for that job, but good lord.

I go in at 7, out at 3, ride my bike, enjoy my days, etc. I'll take the pay cut and quality of life. Same with the commute. I have a STRONG rhode island commute, at 6 minutes, but even now, I think 20 minutes is my new max, with WFH as a possibility. Even 20 minutes is 200 minutes a week, ~160 hours. Sitting in your car, your time, your money. Not working, not making anything, not enjoying your time, etc etc.

160 hours I could be sitting at home playing with the dog, making bread, riding a bike, etc etc etc.

Bro you're at ±5? That's a canyon! My old job we had some ±.0001" A lot were ±.001 or ±.005 which was our standard. My new job (as I realize I've been here almost a year....) is non aerospace so it's way more flexible, and the tolerances are "does it fit? Then it's good"

 

Yea I hear that, I'm basically in the same boat

I'm just saying as a general statement +/-.005" is nominal UOS. I normally deal with stuff that's +/-.0002 to +/-.0005 on diameters, .001 true position (sometimes with max bonus, sometimes not), among other tighter tolerances. I'm a milling guy, 4 axis horizontal and vertical machines, don't matter to me. We don't do grinding and we don't do much aluminum so those tolerances are normally in 15-5, 17-4 stainless, or other similar materials.

Yes I agree that +/-.005 is a mile, but to most people just talking about the width of a hair gives them perspective. Injection mold shop I worked at awhile back was the same way as in weld it up or if it fits it ships, or make the mating part work with it

 

The previous goon that had my position was putting 0.002 MM tolerances on everything and when the machinists told him he is an idiot, he didnt listen. I am stepping those back to 0.0005" for the most part if its actually critical

 

My commute in RI went from maybe 5 minutes to about 25 minutes. I don't mind at all. More time to enjoy my coffee and listen to the music I don't normal listen to around the wife.

 

Yea those are very different numbers for tolerance there lol. Which the .002mm is way too small to not finish without grinding and air gauges basically lol