toolguy301

Star Wars has been part of my life since it came out. Have had many interests. So a little about me.

Grew up crawling around on my dad's garage floor watching him work on cars from simple mechanical to body & fab work. So learned how to do all kinds work on cars from mechanical to fab work & even some painting.

Growing up didn't have the computers or the video games kids have so had to occupy your time in other methods.

Spent a lot of time building models. To the point that it got to the point where it became custom builds. Entered the Hot Rod Magazine International Model Car contest a couple of years getting honorable mention & 4th place in my age group.

Also spent time doing woodworking, didn't have much money growing up but dad always had a scrap wood pile that turned into various toys such as toy rubber band guns, to making my own USS Flagg (was 7 feet long) & Castle Greyskull (Wood & Paper Mache), & made many Star Wars playsets.

Started taking art classes at around 6 & did that all the way through high school. Won some a number of local awards with some of my art work & had it display in various local museums. Also did all the graphic art work for my Boy Scout group while I was an active member such as hats & shirts. The plan in high school was to go into an art field or possibly architecture.

After high school spent a semester at the local junior college but decided I needed to go in a different direction. Was tired of sitting behind a desk.

So got hired into a tool & die shop with the help of my dad & got indentured into a tool & die apprenticeship. Completed my apprenticeship & received my tool & die certificate. Was on the bench building large expensive multi-station progressive metal stamping dies (20,000 pound plus). In this time I became a very good machinist & was developing my engineering skills. I was lucky enough to come through my apprenticeship before the big influx of automated machines so learned how to do everything on manual machines. I got moved around the company some worked as toolroom manager for a bit & as a special projects engineer working to modify stamping dies to work with robotics & automated transfer equipment on the presses. I have now settled into an engineering role in the company. Been with the same company for 20 plus years. During the time in the shop I guess it filled my creative hands on building needs, plus during that time I was getting my house fixed up so not much time for other things. When I got stuck behind a desk needed a creative outlet & it seemed like I had some extra time on my hands cause of most of the major home projects were completed. So this is where I am now learning how to craft & make my own costumes in various forms using everything that I have learned over the years. Like learning a new trade but having fun as well.

Star Wars, classic cars, woodworking, model building, costuming, art, & music