Backtobasics
Well-Known Member
Long story short: Old job was 9-5, sitting at a desk, selling speed and performance parts. Company decided to close the call center, so I am out the door. I have a new job (thankfully, only out 2 weeks), in the maintenance field of a huge commercial food processing plant. Hours are 4:30pm to 3:30am right now. I have 2-3 hours of actual work time, and rest is waiting for machines to break. If machines run well, I have a TON of free time.
New job has a substantial (by my standards) shop with Bridgeport, bandsaw, TIG welder (set up for Stainless), plasma cutter, lathe, and air. I don't have skills on lathe or bridgeport, but could learn. All the welders are setup for stainless, but will work on mild steel. I can TIG the stainless together so it doesn't leak, but the stack of dimes, with the rod is beyond me right now. Most of what we are using metal wise is thick food grade stainless, so if it is butted together properly, it doesn't require rod, just melt it together.
I am looking for suggestions of stuff that I could be doing during these down times, that could earn extra money.
2 ideas I have come up with so far is header building of some sort. Find a niche, be it replacements for the near unavailable Spitfires, or /6 market (turbo?). The other was simple as chain saw blade sharpening. The tool is cheap, and I could turn them around in a day.
Any other ideas of some void or niche' area that I could fill with all this spare time?
I will admit they have tuition reimbursement program, and I have considered going back to school, but I have no idea what to study. I have a 2 year general associates degree, so school work would have to be degree oriented, and I have not a clue what direction I would like to go.
New job has a substantial (by my standards) shop with Bridgeport, bandsaw, TIG welder (set up for Stainless), plasma cutter, lathe, and air. I don't have skills on lathe or bridgeport, but could learn. All the welders are setup for stainless, but will work on mild steel. I can TIG the stainless together so it doesn't leak, but the stack of dimes, with the rod is beyond me right now. Most of what we are using metal wise is thick food grade stainless, so if it is butted together properly, it doesn't require rod, just melt it together.
I am looking for suggestions of stuff that I could be doing during these down times, that could earn extra money.
2 ideas I have come up with so far is header building of some sort. Find a niche, be it replacements for the near unavailable Spitfires, or /6 market (turbo?). The other was simple as chain saw blade sharpening. The tool is cheap, and I could turn them around in a day.
Any other ideas of some void or niche' area that I could fill with all this spare time?
I will admit they have tuition reimbursement program, and I have considered going back to school, but I have no idea what to study. I have a 2 year general associates degree, so school work would have to be degree oriented, and I have not a clue what direction I would like to go.