average age of forum members

[brightspark]

having gone to autojumbles and tool auctions for the last 40 years it is well noticable that not a lot of youngsters ever frequent them. most punters are over 40 years old . the amount of decent second hand machine tools are getting fewer and far between as quite a lot were shipped to china in container loads . before long all the old skills will be lost as most youngsters wont have the training or interest in engineering or be able to buy and renovate the old machinery

 

[grim_d]

I'm dying to get round the autojumbles and tool auctions for old cheap tools etc! Thing is I have absolutely no money! Chinese stuff is total mince and I would much prefer to renovate something old and good.

I'm 25 by the way.

 

[Angusdog]

That's one point of view. Another is that chinese imports are substantially cheaper and do a good job. Finding someone outside the aerospace industry who could TIG weld aluminum was rare, nowadays youngsters construct their own manifolds (A 15 year old in the local Mini club had done that to fit a turbo to his car) and do a lot more than could be achieved in the 70s.

Although this forum is probably weighted to the over 40s (I'm 44...), others have younger members who do achieve great results with equipment that wouldn't have been available in the 70s. Case in point: Tuper's Clubman Estate on this forum.

Brazing, soldering, lead filling etc aren't required skills these days for car bodywork for example, but I think we're doing all right.

 

[brightspark]

it seems that any youngsters that are interested there parents are allso and have most of the gear they can use and the skills and hobbys rub off on them

 

[rtbcomp]

Watching Fred Dibnah's series about steam there were a lot of youngsters taking an active part in train and traction engine restoration societies; boys and girls.

 

[Jammy James]

steam power and old machinery fasinate me and im 16 and on my way to a career in engineering

 

[wobblemonster]

it seems that any youngsters that are interested there parents are allso and have most of the gear they can use and the skills and hobbys rub off on them

Very well put and true, makes you wonder what the next generation will be like,

 

[philsmin]

My dad was always in to all things mechanical, he worked on buses for the best part of 25 years and I used to go and help out in the workshops at a weekend as a kid (from the age of about 4!)

I was always in demand due to being so young I could get my hands up in places and undo things grown men couldn't get to, there was always some kind of tinkering going on or something that amazed me, I remember watching the sign writer doing a bus and even at a young age realizing the skill that went in to it.

I'm 32 by the way

 

[malcolm]

it seems that any youngsters that are interested there parents are allso and have most of the gear they can use and the skills and hobbys rub off on them

My dad is rubbish at anything practical. I picked it up with friends who knew just a bit more than I did.

The young people I meet are frighteningly talented at practical stuff and very motivated. 23 year old coming over to fix the electrics in my new car at the weekend and he'll actually understand them. Don't get the press knocking the youth. Human brains haven't devolved that much over the last 20-40 years.

 

[gav0994]

I'm dying to get round the autojumbles and tool auctions for old cheap tools etc! Thing is I have absolutely no money! Chinese stuff is total mince and I would much prefer to renovate something old and good.

I'm 25 by the way.

If you live near Ayr, the sunday market at the racecourse is always worth a nosey as there are a few stalls that sell second tools.

I'm 26 and go now and again for a nosey around! Wilsons auctions up in Dalry also has tool auctions a few times a year.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I attend a big car boot fortnightly and the lack of old decent tools is very noticeable, I think this is down to the likes of Ebay and the Millers antique books etc.

If someone finds something now they tend to check up if its worth anything, where as before they would put it on the stall for a couple of quid.

All I have got all year is a really nice lightweight ball pein hammer, really fine as if its a model makers, cost £1 so was well happy and last week got a nearly new router table with router and box of bits for grand total of £25...

Apart from that it's all cuddly toys, DVD's for man and dog and enough books to circle the world.

 

[TechnicAl]

I find most old tools are crap. Im talking woodworking stuff. These new hand saws are incredible as are electric planes wtc.
Avoid the nu tool type stuff though

Someone needs to invent a self sharpening chisel though

 

[brightspark]

I find most old tools are crap. Im talking woodworking stuff. These new hand saws are incredible as are electric planes wtc.
Avoid the nu tool type stuff though

Someone needs to invent a self sharpening chisel though

distan and sandvic saws arent crap its just not worth the time sharpening them nowdays as u can get throw away saws with hardened teeth for 7 quid as against a sandvic that used to cost 30quid times money nowdays

 

[tomsutton529]

24, been swinging on spanners since I was a little nipper, if im at the car boot il push the elderly out the way to rummage in an old tool box. always looking to learn and am very lucky that I come from a family of Engineers or mechanical minded people, image my happiness when I found out my other halfs dad was an Engineer and needed some help on site.. as for lost skills, yeah its going to happen in an age of Xbox's, Wii and PS3's, I cant think of a single person I went to school with that gets their hands dirty at the weekend..

 

[nodeward]

im 25 and unfortunately it is supprising how little practical mechanlical skills most guys my age have its just not the sort of thing that many people get taught anymore. saying that there are some people of my age, a couple on here, who do some really impressive stuff.

ebay has been a big killer of getting anything at a bargain price, you have look so much harder to find anything decent when everyone just looks on ebay for a guide to how much stuff is worth!

 

[Ragnarok]

it seems that any youngsters that are interested there parents are allso and have most of the gear they can use and the skills and hobbys rub off on them

i'm 23 parents don't do metal work, i started getting machines and welders when i was a kid, birthday and christmas presents i got a welder when i was about 12 a forge, anvil and cheap drill press before that haha, planning of getting a colchester lathe and bridgeport mill at some point, my dad did a bit of wood work, but no metal work really.

so there ya go not all youngsters that do metal work have inherited their parents hobbys my workshop has been built up over the last 11-12 years, still lacking a lot of basic kit though haha when the new workshop is built hopefully i'll start getting some serious machines

 

[brightspark]

i'm 23 parents don't do metal work, i started getting machines and welders when i was a kid, birthday and christmas presents i got a welder when i was about 12 a forge, anvil and cheap drill press before that haha, planning of getting a colchester lathe and bridgeport mill at some point, my dad did a bit of wood work, but no metal work really.

so there ya go not all youngsters that do metal work have inherited their parents hobbys my workshop has been built up over the last 11-12 years, still lacking a lot of basic kit though haha when the new workshop is built hopefully i'll start getting some serious machines

its quite refreshing to see youngsters take an interest and do well .out of 10 that i have had working for me 7 of them lasted 3 weeks and i chased them the other 3 i had 6 month and all got good placements and jobs i presently have another lad who is showing good promise and will make the grade

 

[Jammy James]

i worked in a forge for a couple saturdays during the summer it was great really enjoyed it especially the smithing part that was good fun but hard work

 

[Shox Dr]

distan and sandvic saws arent crap its just not worth the time sharpening them nowdays as u can get throw away saws with hardened teeth for 7 quid as against a sandvic that used to cost 30quid times money nowdays

But a Disston will last you yrs, for 30quid. These new saws are utter crap, I can blunt one cutting a sheet of ply in half. Ten minutes with a file and the Disston would be sharper than one of these news ones would ever be.

As for Chisels buy some Record Marples look after them, they will also keep an edge and last a life time.

We live in too much of a want it now world.

 

[penfold]

i'm 23 parents don't do metal work, i started getting machines and welders when i was a kid, birthday and christmas presents i got a welder when i was about 12 a forge, anvil and cheap drill press before that haha, planning of getting a colchester lathe and bridgeport mill at some point, my dad did a bit of wood work, but no metal work really.

so there ya go not all youngsters that do metal work have inherited their parents hobbys my workshop has been built up over the last 11-12 years, still lacking a lot of basic kit though haha when the new workshop is built hopefully i'll start getting some serious machines

You got a welder for your 12th! Very jealous. I think I was getting lego at that stage.