Lifelong, OVER-educated, OVER-certified (and STILL going to schools, classes, seminars despite being disabled and having to had sell my shop on Jan 31, 2014) auto, truck, equipment (worked on the M1A1-2 tanks in the Army and a lot of other way too fucking big machines!) as well as a lot of small engine rebuild/repairs, repair fishing reels (not the $25 kind) and just about anything else I can figure out or learn how to do.
My favorite aspect is building WICKED resto-mod cars though. I do beautiful bodywork and can lay glass (meaning my paint is near perfect as I don't believe perfect exists!) painting. My problem is I am VERY limited to when and how long I can do so, but it does pay well when I am able to work. My toolbox won't be unlocked for less than $75/hr and for diagnostic work, $125-175/hour yet I turn away far more work than I can handle.
CptKirk
PS I forgot to add....on average I rebuild/repair 8-10 atvs/motorcycles a year in my home garage as I can work on them at 3 AM (just can't start them LOL) when I'm feeling decent enough to do so for a couple of hours and I can't sleep. I have a backlog that at this rate will take me 20 years to catch up on LOL. I REALLY wish I was reliable enough to open a small engine - atV/motorcycle/outboard engine shop, train and pay talent and then sit back and collect the rewards. Trouble is, because the mechanical repair world starting pau is shit PLUS YOU need to buy tens of thousands in tools and education (though I'd be providing the education) no one is getting in the field anymore and there is a technician shortage within the automotive & truck industries right now so severe we'd need 12000-15000 new people who STAYED every year for the next 15+ years to get back to full capacity nationwide due to low pay. I'm sorry, but anyone educated and smart enough to properly diagnose/repair today's complex machinery (especially cars/trucks) is worth FAR MORE than the 22-25/hr they get paid! Maybe double that with a 5-7% increase for every year of employment as this type of work takes one hell of a toll on ones' body. TRUST ME on that! When I can demand $150/hour to diagnose/repair a vehicle that some poor bastard already paid thousands in "guesses" at 4-8 different shops and dealerships and people don't even blink (due to my reputation).....you know the industry is a mess!
Last note. The "kid" who bought my garage was like me, obsessed with going fast yet broke as hell when he was 15, He worked alongside of me in the summer and after school and I hired him once he got his driver's license on a part time-full-time basis, with the stipulation HE HAD To stay in school but IF I was working at night, on weekends, on days he had off of school, he was welcome to come and learn. He also worked, don't get me wrong, but I explained everything to him as we encountered it and we'd discuss variables for days afterwards in many instances. When he was 19, I was paying him $27.50/hr + bonuses when his production exceeded "average". So he saw well over $1000/week as a 19 year old kid. He also went to dozens of schools, at night at area technical and community colleges. I paid for it all with a handshake agreement that he would not get to where he was VALUABLE and then up and leave. I took him at his word (not smart, but I believe I can read people pretty well), and in this instance, I was right on the money. He know owns the shop, sold and located to a far larger shop and like us, continues to win "best garage in the valley" in a newspaper reader's poll year after year. We won it 18x in 27 years and never knew it existed for the first 4-5 years until a customer brought it to our attention. after that, we were beaten out 3x in 21 years though we won the last 15 years we were in business, every single year. When I was paying him $27.50 + bonuses (NOT commissions! I HATE commissions in the automotive/truck industry as they're an incentive to lie, which equals stealing. They're a deceptive way to steal) The top dealer techs in my area at that time (2000?) were still just breaking the $20/hour wage range! These are some of the best technicians/mechanics on Earth, expected to live on $20/hour. not in 2000, and the $26-$27 (24 years after I paid my top tech that) today is just as indefensible from an industry standpoint. Consider the average "A" level technician has already invested upward of 30-50k on tools and equipment, OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET, and my point makes itself.
Sorry for the rant. I am just so passionate about what I do and the industry I love (and hate).
CptKirk
Owner of the lightning fast '78 Monte Carlo with a mere 604 HP (on pump gas) that runs mid 10 second 1/4's with my race rear/full slicks/race fuel different fuel/timing curves) add runs 11.19 1/4's on street tires through the pipes on street tires. 100% of this car has been hand built buy me (except the race engine & trans as that requires far more specialty equipment and training than I possess)
"EVERYONE enjoy a good smoke" I stole that from a cigarette add and use it as an excuse when pulled over for melting the tires on the street! No tickets so far!