Buying tools and doing your own work (another rant)

[mister]

Damn shame to see someone off the tools at anytime because of progress etc. 

You always need to do what's in your own best interest, objectively.

There can be much nobility in going off the tools and taking on a menial job.

Michael

[Electrojake]

Glad to see this thread came back to life!  I actually have to decide tonight if I want to hang up my wrenches.  I interviewed with a fleet leasing company today for an "Automotive Service Specialist" position...

...Under the Toyota Care included maintenance I only get payed 3 tenths for doing an oil change and tire rotation, less than half of what I'm used to making.  I think it may be time for me to try a new career....

-Jessie

Interesting decision point 
Curious. . .
How long you been wrenching?
-Ej-

[BaltimoreGS]

Glad to see this thread came back to life!  I actually have to decide tonight if I want to hang up my wrenches.  I interviewed with a fleet leasing company today for an "Automotive Service Specialist" position...

...Under the Toyota Care included maintenance I only get payed 3 tenths for doing an oil change and tire rotation, less than half of what I'm used to making.  I think it may be time for me to try a new career....

-Jessie

Interesting decision point 
Curious. . .
How long you been wrenching?
-Ej-

Been with Toyota for 8 years now.  Been working on dirt bikes ever since I could ride them   

-Jessie

[mister]

Interesting pricing structure. When I had a Toyota the service people would charge me some something like $200 for a service. At the time, I worked with a fellow whose son was an apprentice at that same dealership. His son was paid $190 a week!

Ford Service Dept Manager told me... the money is NOT in selling the new car but locking people into a service schedule. At the time, they were billing out labor at $75 an hour. There was only one head mechanic - fully qualified - and he was paid $25 an hour. The rest were apprentices. They were making $50+ an hour profit an All labor, not to mention the ridiculous parts prices. He described the service dept as a license to print money.

Michael

[gtscott]

the money for new cars is in parts and to a small extent service, that $50 that you see as profit is far from it, you also need to include things in the ammount of money you make like rent, electricity, water, workshop equiptment, superannuation for employers, then tax on top of that, and $75 an hour is pretty cheap for a mech these days too. yet they do rip you for parts hard. the OEM has already made money on the parts just from selling them from the manufactoring plant to the service department, then makes even more money selling them to you from there. and a first year mech gets about 250ish then 300 for 2nd year 370ish 3rd 450ish 4th year, yet as a first year it takes em forever to do basic tasks at first, so you might only be charged one hour for something that he might of spent 2 hours doing until he has more training.

[cbrfxr67]

I hear it everyday from Matco, Mac, SnapOn, Cornwell guys how the dealerships are slow as molasses.  One guy told me that they did it to themselves around here, charging ridiculous prices and gouging people to the point customers don't want take their business to them.  When one of the guys tells me they are going to <blank> big dealership, I always say 'time to collect hundred dollar bills' and they always retort back with something about dealerships being slow.  Only way, I personally, would take anything to the dealership was if it was under warranty.

[Electrojake]

It's just unfortunate that the "good" shop mechanics get taken advantage of while the crappy mechanics get a free ride.
But I guess it's like that in any craft, mechanical or otherwise.

The most important thing is to be aware that you are a "technical" idiot.
I work with a lot of different skill levels at my job (heavy industrial electrical/electronics). I know where I stand skill wise. Some things I'm real good at, yet in other areas I recognize my weakness and always get a second opinion from a coworker if possible.
However. . .
There are a number of people here that are stupid and don't know it. Me and the other technicians know who they are (everybody knows who the morons are in our shop). But I guess for reasons of political correctness, they do as they please and the better technicians constantly carry their load.

So I can't help but ask:
If fat people know they're fat,
Strong people know their strong,
Weak people know they're weak, etc. . .
Then why is it that most stupid people have no idea they're stupid?

Trust me when I tell you. . .
I have seen morons troubleshoot for hours and then confidently tear an entire machine down to the frame because of a simple blown fuse.
It cost us all time & money to constantly carry these self proclaimed "technicians".
Sorry, I'm off topic and on a rant, but you get the idea.
I guess what I'm trying to say is: There is nothing wrong with being a moron, as long as you are aware that you are a moron and deal with it accordingly.
Trust me, I'm no genius myself, but I know my general ability 
-Ej-

[gtscott]

...acutally i know lots of fat people that seem to be compleatly oblivious to themselfs being fat, although thats probley becasue there stupid and also dont know it

[Electrojake]

...acutally i know lots of fat people that seem to be compleatly oblivious to themselfs being fat, although thats probley becasue there stupid and also dont know it

Your reasoning on this issue is flawless.

[mister]

...acutally i know lots of fat people that seem to be compleatly oblivious to themselfs being fat, although thats probley becasue there stupid and also dont know it

[Electrojake]

Ah yes, the simple wisdom of the Tard Farm.
So very nice that they moved this thread here.
Now we can comfortably explore the limits of "Buying Tools & Doing Your Own Work".

Yo, aussiegs. . .  You're up!
Take the "con" and show us your stuff old man.

[slipperymongoose]

Lmfao, nothing old about this man!

[Shaddow]

I guess what I'm trying to say is: There is nothing wrong with being a moron, as long as you are aware that you are a moron and deal with it accordingly.

If a moron knows they are a moron then they are more than likely not a moron or is like the rest of society and simply lies to themselves. Overweight people lie to themselves about their weight issues as much as the skinny person believes they are fit even though they don't exercise and eat crap simply because they carry no weight. hmmmmm

A wise person knows their limitations therefore a wise person who is not smart recognises this and works accordingly. A moron is not wise and remains a moron.

[Electrojake]

Two items come to mind here. . .

Lmfao, nothing old about this man!

1.) "Old man" was just a figure of speech. Not really meant to imply that you are chronologically old.
Your actually rather clever for a young fellow.
Just sayin'
-Ej-

If a moron knows they are a moron then they are more than likely not a moron...
...as much as the skinny person believes they are fit even though they don't exercise and eat crap simply because they carry no weight.

2.) That's kinda' spooky.
It's as if you know me personally.
Nice post though.
-Ej- 

[slipperymongoose]

Lol 'clever'. That's the first time I been called that today. I'm not that clever. I just give that impression.

[mister]

The wise man lives outside of the  village.

Does he live outside the village because he is wise - or - did living outside the village enable his wisdom?

Michael

[cbrfxr67]

Anybody use any electric impacts, and what do you use?  Pics???  I currently use my Makita 14.4 3/8" impact.  I never wanted one before but now that I have it, it really rocks.

[slipperymongoose]

I wouldnt mind one, but my current rattle gun is an air powered 1/2" ingersol rand. Same with my air ratchet.

[Electrojake]

I have a shop with air service so it's rare that I use electric impact tools however, I do own a Milwaukee 9066 1/2 inch impact gun.



And the PDF is here: http://www.milwaukeetool.com/CMS/Diagrams/54-26-1555.pdf

I got a lot of use out if it on the road, back in the late 1990's.
It's been wet, dropped, and even run over and it still works fine.
I still own it but the trigger switch is about due to be replaced.
Overall, I recommend it.
Who's next?

[Shaddow]

Hmm I think prefer air tools most of the time or hand tools with massive breaker bar
I've always used a 1/2 inch rattle gun, 1/4 and 3/8 drive ratchet in air as well. Its just quick and easy when working on the car, swap tools, quick disconnect jam in the next and keep going.