You have a point, they (fabricators) are disappearing at an alarming rate.
I've been an aircraft sheet metal technician for over 50 of my 72 years. When I was in high school I kept asking myself, after seeing my grades in math..."why the hell do I need to know this crap; geometry and algebra? I will never have a use for it." Little did I know the part they would play in my future. Sheet metal work and oxyacetylene welding became my "forte" in Aviation School. My instructor always made the comment, "If you master sheet metal, you will never have to look for a job." ( True! I have never been un-employed) I taught Aviation Science (A&P school) for 12 years at a local university and influenced many of my students in the field of sheet metal fabrication...passing along the wisdom of my instructor. Most of them are now working in the aviation industry and others are building weapons for Lockheed and General Dynamics. Me? I'm still doing it professionally everyday at our aircraft repair shop and in my spare time on my two 65 Barracuda projects.
When you are out there working on your cars, mowers or house, give this a thought. Got any young ones around? Yours, the neighbor's? Try and get them to put their phones down and show them what you are doing. Some will...some wont. Maybe one or two of them just might be influenced by your knowledge.
Norm
