Spent the afternoon at Summit Machine to look at oil soaked lathes, bundles of ingots, scrap upon scrap...and to dream of new ideas. I spent some time with Angry Ron, an 84 year old machinist. He explained how the 5 and 6 barrel lathes produce parts for a variety of purposes. Today's project was to produce 3,000 ratchet parts.
While shuffling through the factory I was struck by a memory about my dad. Prior to my sister being born he studied engineering, a perfect fit for his detail-oriented personality. He ended up pursuing a life in ministry and has enthusiastically done that for the last 38 years. How things would have been different if my dad spent 40 hours a week with a micrometer in hand rather than serving the people of his community. My sister's birth knocked him off course from his chosen profession and right into alignment with where he was supposed to be.
Angry Ron
Dials.
Ingots.
Inside the Machine.
War Finish.
Ideal Stitcher.
Ron's Hands.