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First thing, I want to introduce myself..
I'm a retired tradesman from FoMoCo, after 35 years of being a skilled tradesman.. The trade is called Pyrometer/Instrumentation, and I dealt with control systems for things such as boilers, compressors, oxygen liquification/vaporization, paint ovens, building management, steel making controls, and a whole bunch of things other trades didn't do.. Even spent alot of time repairing and calibrating precision tools such as dial indicators, mics, calipers, etc..
My whole time as a tradesman was spent at the Ford Rouge plant in Dearborn, Michigan.. The place is 1200 acres of heavy duty industry.. I enjoyed my job greatly, and hated to leave, but I was getting real tired of the 1 hour drive to work and 1.5 hour drive home in traffic that got nothing but worse.. I met many wonderful people during my years, and learned much about working with machine tools.. On April 1st, 2004 I retired from work, and have been enjoying my newfound freedom to enjoy my newest hobby of woodworking..
My first experience of working with wood was a former hobby of building and racing radio control model boats.. That was fun, but it started to get hard to find ponds to run the boats on.. I sold them all many years ago, except for a 1 meter RC sailboat that I still have..
My wife (Judy) and I live in Brighton, Mi., have raised 4 children, and have 9 wonderful grandkids (gangsters), and 1 Great Grand Daughter..
The pics below are the Ford Rouge powerhouse where I started my apprenticeship in 1970, one of the rooftop HVAC units we installed, and My wife and I with 2 of the grandkids..
In February of 1999, there was a terrible explosion at the powerhouse, where several died, and many were injured.. It was caused by a buildup of natural gas in a boiler that was down for maintenance.. A welder lit his torch and began work, lighting off the gas.. The stacks have since been removed after the PH was decommisioned..
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