Are we "The last of the Mohicans ?"

It was predicted years ago that there would be a shortage of blue collar workers in this country. Now that no young people want to get their hands dirty or put in the time to learn a trade we will be importing lobor.
Whats amazing is the number of college grads that are taking fraternal blue collar jobs because not everyone can get a job making video games !

 

Well, this is kind of a depressing thread, but you young guys kind of restore my faith a little. If it all goes to shit and the technology infrastructure is gone, you're going to be the only ones that know how to do anything. The ignorant fools who looked down their noses at you because you were willing to get your hands dirty will come begging for help. Charge those pussys double.

 

The reality of it is, there are plenty of people building cars and trucks around the country. The younger generation starts out by building rat rods because they are cheap. But rat rods are not allowed here, meaning a LOT of the younger generation is also not here. So none of you can tell them what is right and how to do things the correct way.

There's plenty of DIY going on and I think it's making a huge comeback. Those that don't see that are getting old and not willing to teach.

Society is making kids into freaks by the dozen though. Urban youth is lost. The only real good I see still comes from the rural areas.

 

You are really on to some thing we seem to be more forunate that most as far as quality buy the numbers just suck and it always seems like a us aganst them deal!

 

I know, I know, it's Mike Rowe, but he makes some very, very good points about this exact topic.

 

might be ot but that is one sharp jimmy- congrats

 

Mike Rowe is ok in my book.

 

At going on 70,I love to teach,if they will pay any mind to what I say,but being teens or teen minded,many are just as hard headed as I was way back,LOL.
Stuff like rust needs fixing now,before ya get into build too far and flat is primer only,not a finish and never was,don't always hit home plate.
But most get engineering ideas I pass along.

 

Most kids my age (14) only like playing video games I rather be out in the garage wrench on something! I can now I just got a 53 ford !

 

Don, I can relate. Im 40 years old and I'm the youngest guy at the monday night cruise scene in my town. My son likes screwdrivers though, maybe there's hope....

 

As a young parent (20 something... 5 maybe?), I worry for my kids. I hope I can get them out in the garage with me when they're older. I know my son will, that kid begs to go for rides in my POS project. I feel bad that it's taking me so long to build it; school, family, and work keep me busy. I graduate in just under a year and I'll be teaching high school; I'm hoping I can convince some students to get into traditional hot rods while I'm at it!

 

unless your poor like me then you just have to make shit work

 

I am 46 and I think the future is pretty good for folks who want to make things. I am not sure that the HAMB crowd sees all the stuff that is going on out there.

The exchange of information accelerates invention -or ability to do something. With the internet there is more info out there than ever for DYI stuff. Ever heard of Makerfair or Geek Dad? I also see a lot of young guys with old cars.

I have been in manufacturing for over 20 years, and I have seen a lot of manufacturing go to the East. I can also say that more than a little is coming back. I have been to China and Japan on business, and seen their manufacturing. I can say first hand that the US is more than holding it's own. We have a unique culture and 'can do' spirit here! I think it is because we are made up of a bunch of different folks.

It is real easy to think the world is going to hell. I think every generation thinks so. I read a book about a year ago that really changed my attitude -"The Rational Optimist". It sounds boring, but is interesting as hell!

My wife always busts my balls when I talk about the "Cock-eyed optimist", but read if you want...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Rational-Optimist-Prosperity-Evolves/dp/006145205X

Kelvin

 

I think for the most part ours is a dying breed, but hey I'm 16 and to me theres nothing better than getting out to my shop and working with my hands!!!

 

In short, the Social System itself is considered the root cause,

with Human Behavior and its resulting effects - corruption, pollution, wars, waste, exploitation and hence distortion of values and psychology - seen as symptoms of this fundamental root source.

We see the shift of the social system as the true needed fix, hence changing people values and behaviors.

 

G'day all, I am 56 and my dad is 75. My dad was the only drag racer in the small town I grew up near. A lot of kids would stop by and my Dad always shared his skills or knowledge with them. When we raced we always tried to take a couple of the kids with us to the races. With our rough reputations (my mom is a minister) kids never had trouble getting parental permission to go with us.

A lot of them are very involved in building street cars, off-road trucks, and even some hamb friendly things. Now these kids are in their 20-30's and stop by to help my dad out . It is really fun to hear from my Dad telling me that so and so stopped by and helped with whatever he was working on now.

 

You guys are raising the white flag too soon. Cars that were mostly or exclusively built by men with tools (and not robots) will always have value, and there will always be a group of enthusiasts who want them and collect them.

The reason for this is simple....if men with tools put them together, then a man with tools can pull it apart and put it back together again. These cars will always be sought after. I think there will come a time when ANY pre-1975 car will be sought after for just that reason, and there will be a whole culture of enthusiasts who keep and drive them.

Cars made largely of plastic and built mostly by robots will be thrown away more often then not.

I'm 43.....this hobby will be around long after I'm gone.

 

The sky is falling......

Every generation thinks the generation below it is "Going to hell..and taking the Country with it."

Funny thing is each generation seems to find it's own way to survive and do the things they want. Even if it isn't what the old generation thinks they should be doing.

Fact is old cars are increasingly hard to find for the average guy. The creek is drying up. And what water is there is expensive. You can work with a rusty pile of shit or buy a nice car and chop it up or build from a catalog. If you have the funds, any method works. But in the end, emission controls and lack of parts and the cost of parts and probably legislation will eventually drive most of the older cars off the roads.

The current generation just doesn't care about cars. Might as well accept that. A car is a tool. Plain and simple. To most in my generation a car is a an extension of the person. But not to the generation behind mine. Today's kids are more interested in other things that many older generations just don't understand or don't want to understand. They can't and don't want to be bothered with fixing something. They'll pay someone to do it and/or get rid of it and get something new that does what they want.

 

oh yeah....the latex glove thing is actually a pretty good idea.

 

As a plumber for the last 12 years I have met alot of these people. When I get there they usually try to tell me how to fix their mistakes. They are hard to deal with and frustrating as hell

I did a really high-end remodel last year and installed 3 of these, If the power is out, they don't flush. They also have heated seats (self lifting/lowering) and i-pod connections $3k and you can have one too.

Back on topic I do believe there are less skilled people. We still need skilled people to fix things. There is no app for unclogging a drain, repairing a leak ect. (other trades too)Technology has definatly made people lazy and the instant gratificaion has made people impatient

 

While our breed may be dying we are evolving. As with any species the strong are surviving. Allow me to elaborate.

As a youth, every dad on my block was a "car guy". They were all in their early 30's and to me, they might as well all have had a master's degree in mechanical enginnering.

Now, in my mid 20's I realize none of these guys built a short block, TIG welded, ran a lathe or a mill etc...

I have far surpassed their knowledge, and the company I keep that is my age is at least on par with my ability, and some quite frankly blow me out of the water.

There are many factors as to why we are a dying breed, but I think it's helping to trim the fat...

 

I am old enough for Social Security but I have faith in the youth of today ... they are refreshing to talk to, they are respectful but also self-confident (which is sometimes misconstrued as arrogance) ... and the young girls are just so damn cute ... except for the tramp-stamps!

... its the inclination to not buy USA-made that really blows me away ... even the Oakland Bay Bridge is shipped in from China .... WTF are we doing to ourselves??

 

I don't think the youth of today have a problem at all. They're doing just what they were taught to, by US. Yes, US older guys.

Our parents did stuff with thier hands and or busted ass because they usually had to. Not many built homes, etc. by hand because they wanted to do it "like the good old days", they did it because they had to. So, when they had US, what was thier ideal? To give us the brains to make a better world. And thier idea of a better world for US, was one where WE wouldn't have to bust our asses to get by like they had to do.

So, we live in a world that our fore-fathers would have freaking loved! It's a world they made. They would be proud. You can't blame the youth for using a computer that one of US invented. You can't blame youth for BUYING something that makes thier life easier. I'm sure most of you are great parents. I'm also sure you want what's best for your children. Well, for them this is the best. WE made things easier for them, just like OUR parents did for US.

You know, many, many years ago, some old guy was talking to his neighbor about some smart kid who was making a machine to harvest crops quicker. And he was probably saying that "the youth won't know what it's like to use a scikle or a plow.". He was talking about, "How kids can just go to the store and get fresh milk, instead of getting up at 4:00am to milk a cow." "They won't know what it's like to walk to town. Now they all drive."

Now.... there are exceptions to every rule, so the guys who lived that way by choice will definately speak up, but they will be in the minority. How many of US could build a hot rod, if we had to put in a full days work/chores and raise a family, like in the "good old days"? I'm talking about a good 10 hour shift in a factory, come home and help the kids with homework and then go to bed and repeat the cycle the next morning. Very few, if any. That's why most people in this hobby are older. Most of us couldn't do it when we were younger. But the world WE made, has made it easier for us to do it later in life and we're retired or close to it. The few young guys doing it, are able to do so, because in this world that the older guys made, things like work and raising a family are easier to do.

Progress is a blessing. Youth today is a blessing. WE can and should instill values and morals. If they wander out into the garage and want to help rebuild a carb... more power to them. But if they choose not to, don't get upset or think the world is coming to an end. All they're doing is living a life made better by US. Just as our world was made better by our fathers.

 

I was raised by depression era parents that saved and re-used everything, my dad had a can of rusty used nails, they tried to teach me and my sister not to be waistful and in most respects they succeded. But in todays world it's hard to do everything the old way and somethings get lost, just the way it is. I think there will always be some guys that want to tinker but the are becoming few and far between. It's a little O/T but I grew up a model airplane builder and you had to do it from scratch or with a kit that was just a box of sticks, when you crashed one you lost not only your plane but a months worth of work. Now it's all ARFs, bust it up and just get a new one. I think not only the skill to build is lost but the incentive to improve you abilities too. Or do I read too much into it.

 

Like I said above lack of patients with instant gratification. They don't have to spend months building one, when they can be instantly gratified buying a new ready to fly model. They don't need the skill to build one when its already built for them.

 

Rest easy guys,......

My Sons are both in the tool and die trade,... My oldest son is a metal shop teacher at the local High School,... Yes they have a Haas CNC Machine,.. but he makes everybody learn turning cranks on all the old machinery,... He also teaches Gas/Fusion, Arc, Mig & Tig in that order,....

There is always a waiting list for the Metal shop class and they compete in regional and state MITES competitions,.....

Below are projects built by High School students by themselves with only direction from the instructors,...... Sleep well guys,... It aint over yet.

 

And a few more,.........

 

There will always be ditch diggers...as long as there are ditches, not every kid looks to technology for a good life. I taught my kids to think, technology rules their lives, but they still think of ways to fix things. All is not lost, its just a different time, it'll work out.

 

I'm so poor people break into my house and leave stuff. BUT... I've got an angle grinder so I can make anything (see my avatar).

 

Amen to that. You got a old school youg buck here in NY 25 years old. This is my living and I will do it till the day im dead.