I've been getting a Continuing Education booklet from my local college for
a while now and for the past 5 years they've offered a Machine shop course.
It started out around 400 dollars for a 10 week course and has gotten up to
500 the past year or so, a bit on the pricey side for me hobby wise so I've
put it off until now. Every year I discused it with SWMBO and decided to
wait a bit more, each year I told her I sure hope they teach it again next
year. Well, it's next year and I've decided to bite the bullet and sign
up!

My biggest two worries were that who ever is teaching it might die or just
plain decide it wasn't worth it anymore or that the college would stop
offering it because of lack of interest. The course starts at the end of
January and is limited to 10 students, as of today I'm the only one signed
up, it will be really neat if I'm the only one since that would mean one on
one instruction

One of the reasons I wanted to take the course was that the description
ended with a line, 'for people who want to build their own tools' which is
something I've always liked to do.

I'm hoping for an old geezer with many years experience in the industry for
a teacher, I figure that way I'll get practical stuff and lots of tips
instead of a younger 'professor type' who just went to school for it. I'll
take either one but I think in this field older will be better

Wish me luck.

Bill

Bill wrote:

My biggest two worries were that who ever is teaching it might die or just
plain decide it wasn't worth it anymore or that the college would stop
offering it because of lack of interest. The course starts at the end of
January and is limited to 10 students, as of today I'm the only one signed
up, it will be really neat if I'm the only one since that would mean one on
one instruction

I'm hoping for an old geezer with many years experience in the industry for
a teacher, I figure that way I'll get practical stuff and lots of tips
instead of a younger 'professor type' who just went to school for it. I'll
take either one but I think in this field older will be better

Wish me luck.

Bill

You better wish there are a few more sign up or they will cancell it.
As to the "old geezer" I doubt it. But on the other hand you may
get lucky. Please let us know how it works out.
...lew...

"Bill" wrote in message
. 97.142...
I've been getting a Continuing Education booklet from my local college for
a while now and for the past 5 years they've offered a Machine shop
course.
It started out around 400 dollars for a 10 week course and has gotten up
to
500 the past year or so, a bit on the pricey side for me hobby wise so
I've
put it off until now. Every year I discused it with SWMBO and decided to
wait a bit more, each year I told her I sure hope they teach it again next
year. Well, it's next year and I've decided to bite the bullet and sign
up!

My biggest two worries were that who ever is teaching it might die or just
plain decide it wasn't worth it anymore or that the college would stop
offering it because of lack of interest. The course starts at the end of
January and is limited to 10 students, as of today I'm the only one signed
up, it will be really neat if I'm the only one since that would mean one
on
one instruction

One of the reasons I wanted to take the course was that the description
ended with a line, 'for people who want to build their own tools' which is
something I've always liked to do.

I'm hoping for an old geezer with many years experience in the industry
for
a teacher, I figure that way I'll get practical stuff and lots of tips
instead of a younger 'professor type' who just went to school for it.
I'll
take either one but I think in this field older will be better

Wish me luck.

Bill

Wonderful news Bill!!! You're going to enjoy it and learn a lot.

Ever since my mandatory one semester of machine shop for engineering
curriculum (close to 50 years ago) I've been fascinated by it. Back around
1994 I decided to sign up for a class at the local JC in California. Being
CA it was pretty inexpensive. Set me back about $ 11. Second semester I
took my adult son with me. We took a total of four semesters and enjoyed it
tremendously.

Now that I am retired and living in Oregon things are a bit more expensive.
More like $ 300+ to take a class. They do have a very well equipped machine
shop and the instructor told me that typically geezers sign up for one
'night class' and they come and use the machines all day long, 5 days a
week. A permitted activity. I'm very tempted to do same.

RANT--caution. In states where education is highly subsidized (CA, for one)
it seems to me that people are better educated. I can't think of any adults
in my circle (Oregon) that on a whim are going to pay $ 300 for a U.S.
History class, Spanish lessons, "C" programming language, upholstery, etc.

I'd like to hear from people that live in other states.

Ivan Vegvary

On 1/17/2008 8:21:24 AM, Bill wrote:
I've been getting a Continuing Education booklet from my local college for
a while now and for the past 5 years they've offered a Machine shop
course. It started out around 400 dollars for a 10 week course and has
gotten up to 500 the past year or so, a bit on the pricey side for me
hobby wise so I've put it off until now. Every year I discused it with
SWMBO and decided to wait a bit more, each year I told her I sure hope
they teach it again next year. Well, it's next year and I've decided to
bite the bullet and sign up!

My biggest two worries were that who ever is teaching it might die or just
plain decide it wasn't worth it anymore or that the college would stop
offering it because of lack of interest. The course starts at the end of
January and is limited to 10 students, as of today I'm the only one signed
up, it will be really neat if I'm the only one since that would mean one
on one instruction

One of the reasons I wanted to take the course was that the description
ended with a line, 'for people who want to build their own tools' which is
something I've always liked to do.

I'm hoping for an old geezer with many years experience in the industry
for a teacher, I figure that way I'll get practical stuff and lots of tips
instead of a younger 'professor type' who just went to school for it. I'll
take either one but I think in this field older will be better

Wish me luck.

Bill

Check and see if you can get into an evening curriculum class. With ConEd
classes, you pay the whole bill out of pocket. Curriculum classes are are
paid, at least in part, by your tax dollar (you might as well get some
benefit). At my Community College you could get two Certificates in
conventional machining and 58 months of instruction for $1100 tuition. One
semester of 16 weeks is $297.50 in tuition. Of course, you need to figure in
fees, books, and parking for both ConEd and Curriculum classes.

Congrats.... you'll have a good time and possibly meet others with similar
interests.

--
Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/MachineShop/index.htm
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On Jan 17, 8:21 am, Bill wrote:
I've been getting a Continuing Education booklet from my local college for
a while now and for the past 5 years they've offered a Machine shop course.
It started out around 400 dollars for a 10 week course and has gotten up to
500 the past year or so, a bit on the pricey side for me hobby wise so I've
put it off until now. Every year I discused it with SWMBO and decided to
wait a bit more, each year I told her I sure hope they teach it again next
year. Well, it's next year and I've decided to bite the bullet and sign
up!

My biggest two worries were that who ever is teaching it might die or just
plain decide it wasn't worth it anymore or that the college would stop
offering it because of lack of interest. The course starts at the end of
January and is limited to 10 students, as of today I'm the only one signed
up, it will be really neat if I'm the only one since that would mean one on
one instruction

One of the reasons I wanted to take the course was that the description
ended with a line, 'for people who want to build their own tools' which is
something I've always liked to do.

I'm hoping for an old geezer with many years experience in the industry for
a teacher, I figure that way I'll get practical stuff and lots of tips
instead of a younger 'professor type' who just went to school for it. I'll
take either one but I think in this field older will be better

Wish me luck.

Bill

Lucky

The Colleges here dont offer contimuing ed Machining or mechanical
technology courses.

Dont get me wrong I'm refreshing my electronics technology stuff and
taking some woodworking/cabinetmaking courses

And we have good instructors for that here but i'm going to see if i
can take some day courses since i work shifts if they will let me take
courses with the day curriculum.

to me i have no hesitation shelling out 2-300 dollars per course
because i see it ans being overall a cheap way to keep my mind fresh

On Jan 17, 3:52 pm, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote:


RANT--caution. In states where education is highly subsidized (CA, for one)
it seems to me that people are better educated. I can't think of any adults
in my circle (Oregon) that on a whim are going to pay $ 300 for a U.S.
History class, Spanish lessons, "C" programming language, upholstery, etc.

I'd like to hear from people that live in other states.

Ivan Vegvary

Many states allow "Seniors" to audit courses for a modest fee.
Washington is one of those states as well as Virginia.
They don't tend to advertise the auditing for " seniors ". So it is
worth inquiring about. It is of course on a " if space is available "
basis. In Washington I think one has to be 60 to qualify.


Dan

I audited a welding course and a bronze casting course at Olympic
college in Bremerton. The cost was about $30. But they don't offer a
machinig class.

wrote:
On Jan 17, 3:52 pm, "Ivan Vegvary" wrote:



RANT--caution. In states where education is highly subsidized (CA, for one)
it seems to me that people are better educated. I can't think of any adults
in my circle (Oregon) that on a whim are going to pay $ 300 for a U.S.
History class, Spanish lessons, "C" programming language, upholstery, etc.

I'd like to hear from people that live in other states.

Ivan Vegvary


Many states allow "Seniors" to audit courses for a modest fee.
Washington is one of those states as well as Virginia.
They don't tend to advertise the auditing for " seniors ". So it is
worth inquiring about. It is of course on a " if space is available "
basis. In Washington I think one has to be 60 to qualify.


Dan

Here in SC us seniors can go tuition free to the major schools
(Univerities) I do not know about the tech schools

Howard Garner

On Jan 18, 12:21 am, Bill wrote:
I've been getting a Continuing Education booklet from my local college for
a while now and for the past 5 years they've offered a Machine shop course.
It started out around 400 dollars for a 10 week course and has gotten up to
500 the past year or so, a bit on the pricey side for me hobby wise so I've
put it off until now. Every year I discused it with SWMBO and decided to
wait a bit more, each year I told her I sure hope they teach it again next
year. Well, it's next year and I've decided to bite the bullet and sign
up!

My biggest two worries were that who ever is teaching it might die or just
plain decide it wasn't worth it anymore or that the college would stop
offering it because of lack of interest. The course starts at the end of
January and is limited to 10 students, as of today I'm the only one signed
up, it will be really neat if I'm the only one since that would mean one on
one instruction

One of the reasons I wanted to take the course was that the description
ended with a line, 'for people who want to build their own tools' which is
something I've always liked to do.

I'm hoping for an old geezer with many years experience in the industry for
a teacher, I figure that way I'll get practical stuff and lots of tips
instead of a younger 'professor type' who just went to school for it. I'll
take either one but I think in this field older will be better

Wish me luck.

Bill

Bill, good luck - I started out the same way, a few years ago - it was
as you describe, a "fee for service" course - it was canceled 2 times
due lack of enrollments, talking to someone at the local steam museum
open day, he suggested I do a "proper" course at certificate level.
The college I was trying to do the "short course" were not helpful, I
contacted another one who were bloody fantastic. I enrolled in CERT II
in Production Engineering, (used to be known as Fitting and Turning)
same fees, for a year of 1 day a week. Finished CERT II (don't feel
remotely competent yet) and am going on to do CERT IV (cant do CERT
III, you have to be an apprentice)

I am the "old guy" in the class, they know I will never be employed in
industry, so they are happy to teach me what I want to know - so
saying that, they insisted on teaching me what I needed to know to get
to minimal, don't loose fingers or wreck machine standard. This year,
want to do more milling, get more precision in my lathe work, and
learn how to use a rotary table. Also signed up for 4 units of
welding, which should be interesting - will have to "unlearn" most of
what I have taught meself, no doubt. A great place, skilled,
competent teachers, cant speak highly enough of it.I am mature enough
not to do something stupid, or abuse the trust they have given me - I
can use their precision machines for my own projects, and they are far
better than anything I could ever aspire to own myself. (The brand new
Bridgport is indeed a lovely machine...)

They taught me how to measure, from ruler to micrometer, how to use a
file (went out and bought about a dozen new ones myself after I
realised what a truly versatile tool they are), how to freehand
sharpen drill bits, how to freehand grind your own lathe tools, lots
of things the 1st year apprentices were doing (it was the same
course). You wont get that in a 1 term short course....

Colleges just love the "mature age" students - our government is
desperate to get people into the engineering trades, so the college
gets brownie points for me being there. Yours is probably similar -
looks good in the stats.

So, if the options open to you, try for something similar - all I
wanted to do initially was to learn how to do simple things with my
lathe and mill as an adjunct to my radio homebrewing - its turned into
a genuinely fascinating pursuit in its own right...

But, be warned - you will start collecting tool catalogues, dream of
buying more tooling, look at dump bins with a focus on bits of metal -
and then you will want bigger, better machines, a bigger shop, more
tooling,.....

Regards,


Andrew VK3BFA.

Good idea Bill.
I retired a few years ago as a professional engineer and last year did the
same thing as you are doing.
Our instructor is a " young geezer" well maybe 40, but he is pretty damned
good. We have a class of about 10 as well ,and they are all an interesting
bunch.
a mixture of young fellows and old grey buggers like me. I've supervised a
lotb of machinists over the years but, now I actually have to do itit takes
a bit more thought.
I'm sure you will enjoy the mind streach.



"Bill" wrote in message
. 97.142...
I've been getting a Continuing Education booklet from my local college for
a while now and for the past 5 years they've offered a Machine shop
course.
It started out around 400 dollars for a 10 week course and has gotten up
to
500 the past year or so, a bit on the pricey side for me hobby wise so
I've
put it off until now. Every year I discused it with SWMBO and decided to
wait a bit more, each year I told her I sure hope they teach it again next
year. Well, it's next year and I've decided to bite the bullet and sign
up!

My biggest two worries were that who ever is teaching it might die or just
plain decide it wasn't worth it anymore or that the college would stop
offering it because of lack of interest. The course starts at the end of
January and is limited to 10 students, as of today I'm the only one signed
up, it will be really neat if I'm the only one since that would mean one
on
one instruction

One of the reasons I wanted to take the course was that the description
ended with a line, 'for people who want to build their own tools' which is
something I've always liked to do.

I'm hoping for an old geezer with many years experience in the industry
for
a teacher, I figure that way I'll get practical stuff and lots of tips
instead of a younger 'professor type' who just went to school for it.
I'll
take either one but I think in this field older will be better

Wish me luck.

Bill

wrote:


But, be warned - you will start collecting tool catalogues, dream of
buying more tooling, look at dump bins with a focus on bits of metal -
and then you will want bigger, better machines, a bigger shop, more
tooling,.....

Regards,

Andrew VK3BFA.

Boy. Isn't that the truth. :-)
...lew...

Lew Hartswick wrote in news:13p1fs2if7lvu03
@corp.supernews.com:

wrote:


But, be warned - you will start collecting tool catalogues, dream of
buying more tooling, look at dump bins with a focus on bits of metal -
and then you will want bigger, better machines, a bigger shop, more
tooling,.....

Regards,

Andrew VK3BFA.

Boy. Isn't that the truth. :-)
...lew...


I already do that now

I have cut back in the past few years, with three girls, 7,9 and 11 all
going on 16, I've had less and less energy and money to do anything so I've
let lapse a few of my hobbies. This will probably kick start the desires
again though.....


Bill