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I'd like to announce that I'm giving up science. I'm sick of the stress. I'm sick of well.. everything. I hate working in academia (funding worries, low pay). I hate working in pharma (high stress, red tape). I've completely lost my passion for molecular biology and biochemistry.

It's going to be a gradual thing, but I've ramped up my garage to do what I've loved for a long time: woodworking and blacksmithing. I'm reaching out to several contacts I know to get me into apprenticing cabinetry and I know a few local smiths that are willing to let me apprentice at their shops. I'm keeping my day job for the next year or two, but gradually I hope to build up a nice portfolio and squirrel away enough to open my own shop.

Just wanted to get that off my chest, and man it feels good.

Let us know how it goes. I'm generally interested.
Also let us know if you end up falling from the grace of biosynthesis to the muddy wastes of metallurgy.

--Patrick

That's a stark change, but I wish you the best. This isn't the first time you've mentioned discontent with your field, so I understand.

Zero Esc said:

That's a stark change, but I wish you the best. This isn't the first time you've mentioned discontent with your field, so I understand.

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It's more just working for "the man" I think. White collar jobs are gold chasing wastes that cause you to end up in an early grave. I come from a family of small business owners, so I know how rewarding running your own shop can be.[DOUBLEPOST=1399597762,1399597726][/DOUBLEPOST]If I get good enough, swords for all!

Good luck with the change, it sounds like it could be really fun.

My sister was truly the inspiration for my decision, to be honest. She worked a factory job at a military plant making circuit boards for missiles (decent pay). She hated it, and picked up a tattoo artist apprenticeship. Now, she's an amazing artist to begin with and tattooing just came naturally for her, but she worked at her day job for 2 years before dropping it and going full time artist. She does pretty amazing work and absolutely loves going to work in the morning (well 10:30 in the morning).

I want that.


Don't get me wrong though. I still love science. I just can't take the sacrifices to my mental health, the absolute dedication, and moving around that are required to be a successful scientist.

I'm hoping to be posting some cool stuff I forge up in the artist's corner in the upcoming months!

I worked for a GSK (Pharma) on a 6 month contract between jobs 6-7 years ago. I HATED THAT JOB SO MUCH. It was the worst job I ever had and I quit McD's on my first shift.

But as a responsible adult, I couldn't. They cancelled my contract after I sucked and didn't care about the job. I found an awesome job 3 weeks later.

Never again Pharma.

Jay said:

I worked for a GSK (Pharma) on a 6 month contract between jobs 6-7 years ago. I HATED THAT JOB SO MUCH. It was the worst job I ever had and I quit McD's on my first shift.

But as a responsible adult, I couldn't. They cancelled my contract after I sucked and didn't care about the job. I found an awesome job 3 weeks later.

Never again Pharma.

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GSK owns your soul if you work for them.

Mathias said:

If I get good enough, swords for all!

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I am now 100% behind your decision.

Mathias said:

GSK owns your soul if you work for them.

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Felt that within a week. I asked to terminate the contract. Was told to give it a chance. 3 weeks later I wasn't interested and barely did what I needed to do depressed I was stuck here by contract another 5 months unless my employer cancelled my contract. Thank the heavens.

Never again.

Pharma SUUUCKS.

Okay, so basically I want to buy a custom made cast-iron skillet from you, and can you get me a discount for a tattoo?

Seriously, good luck. I am jealous you've found a passion you can risk pursuing. One of my biggest stresses is I loathe working - the job I have, the jobs I've done - but I have no passion, nothing I want to risk pursuing in life.

I can't wait to see your work. I used to know a lot of custom cabinetry people through my parents' saw sharpening business. They are all in S. Jersey (the closest one to Philly is in Collingswood, NJ), so I don't think that's much of a help to you. But if you need anything as far as blades, router bits, specialty bits, cutters, etc. my dad's the best in the business.

Go for it. There is no feeling so good as looking at a finished article and saying "I made that". If other people like it that is a bonus. Be aware though that you will become your own severe critic.

Sounds like a doctor friend of mine who does blacksmithing for fun. I don't think he likes being a doctor.

I tell him he's trying to become the most useful man ever in a post-apocalypse setting.

Will you be able to keep your family fed & under a roof? Because while your happiness is a necessary thing, so is a stable home life. I can't tell you how many years I worked a job I hated just because I had to.

So while I think it's a good thing you have your dreams, sometimes chasing them can be the wrong course of action.

(Yes, I had to be "that guy". I guess it's my age.)

He said he's keeping his day job for a year or two while he learns so it really doesn't sound like "Nuts to everyone else! I'm following my dreeeeeeaaaaaams!!!"

I hope you get good at it and can make a good enough living out of it.

blotsfan said:

He said he's keeping his day job for a year or two while he learns so it really doesn't sound like "Nuts to everyone else! I'm following my dreeeeeeaaaaaams!!!"

I hope you get good at it and can make a good enough living out of it.

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I saw. I'm looking more long-term.

But there were many a day I wanted to run out the door yelling, "Fuck YOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

I always had you pegged for a welder. Good luck and have fun!

I quit academia too, so I hear you. I do miss it though. You'll never have the freedom you have there anywhere else. I really miss the teaching too. Students were what it was all about for me. Can you go to a four year school? I tried but geophysics isn't in the geology curriculum at most smaller schools.

I don't know if pharma has such a thing but I work in a peripheral industry to oil and gas. There are the big soul sucking companies, and there are consulting firms orbiting them. I'm in a think tank/services company now and I'm pretty happy. It's not much different from academia. Still free to do what I want, but no more soft money, no 3 months without pay, and my salary is 3x as high. Any chance like that in pharma?

I hope you find the same success in your new fields. I commend you for a brave move.

I'm late in my reply. I have apprenticed as a bladesmith in the past and have build several of my own backyard metal melting furnaces for doing sand casting. I will vouch for and support your passion for working metal in this way. From my experience and what i have learned from my teachers, its not an easy way to make a life. But again from experience, if you love it, there is nothing more fulfilling than working metal and woods with your own to hands to make something toy take pride in.
Bro fist to you.

Fuckin A, man, do what makes you happy. ::Brofist::

Dave said:

Will you be able to keep your family fed & under a roof? Because while your happiness is a necessary thing, so is a stable home life. I can't tell you how many years I worked a job I hated just because I had to.

So while I think it's a good thing you have your dreams, sometimes chasing them can be the wrong course of action.

(Yes, I had to be "that guy". I guess it's my age.)

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You bet. I'm still keeping my job during the transition, and I'm only jumping ship if blacksmithing becomes profitable. I have enough money squirreled away to take a year or two off if I really wanted to. Keep in mind, I also own a cleaning company that's majorly been on backburner mode. I'm not new to business. I think that's where a lot of wood/metal guys falter, and why it's rough to making a living on it. They have great skills but no business sense.
Also, I plan to open my own business; not work for someone. I mentioned getting a feel for the focus, but I'm pretty sure it is going to be practical crafts such as cabinets, custom furniture, metal railings, fireplace fixtures, etc...

My sister does her own canvas artwork and sculpture on the side. Philly (and my area - Lancaster) has a huge market for arts and crafts. She's giving me the hookup on shops that sell stuff on art days, first friday events, etc...

I'm actually fortunate to live in an area where custom, old fashioned metalwork is still very profitable. One word: Amish. I do appreciate the concern, though. Believe me, I've given this stuff a lot of thought.


And... ANVILS AREN'T CHEAP! Good lord!

You might unexpectedly find that metal/woodworking becomes an outlet for all your on-the-job hostilities ("therapy"), making your current job more bearable and keeping you in it longer.

--Patrick

C'mon. This is Chaz. He's going to bide his time and at the end of two years he's going to flip over his lab table, use a pipette as a water gun, and moon them all on his way out the door.

*Ignores everything but the thread title.*

Yeah, you are.

Mathias said:

And... ANVILS AREN'T CHEAP! Good lord!

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I bet shipping's a bitch, too. When I used to make tinwhistles, the shipping on the mini-lathe was like 300 bucks.

Congratulations on your decision!

From the sounds of it, you've got a pretty solid plan worked out... mostly going to deal in decorative ironmongery, or are you putting serious thought into armor/arms work?

Because if you were, I'd be most interested in working with you on purchasing pieces... *grins*

Mathias said:

ANVILS AREN'T CHEAP! Good lord!

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I looked into it a long time ago, just wanted to get enough equipment to make some fixed blade knives I could be proud of. And then I discovered the same thing you did.
Much like any other hobby, it's the acquisition of all the tools that really kills your wallet. I hear that many people make do quite nicely with a short section of rail as their anvil (for smaller projects). I even went so far as to acquire a piece, but never did anything with it, and believe I discarded it long ago.

If you decide to the the full-on anvil route, don't forget about the other kinds of fun you can have with them.

--Patrick

PatrThom said:

If you decide to the the full-on anvil route, don't forget about the other kinds of fun you can have with them.

--Patrick

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And that's to ignore the road runner hunting possibilities.

Tinwhistler said:

I bet shipping's a bitch, too. When I used to make tinwhistles, the shipping on the mini-lathe was like 300 bucks.

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I'm exclusively looking to buy local specifically for this reason.[DOUBLEPOST=1400039022,1400038873][/DOUBLEPOST]

PatrThom said:

I looked into it a long time ago, just wanted to get enough equipment to make some fixed blade knives I could be proud of. And then I discovered the same thing you did.
Much like any other hobby, it's the acquisition of all the tools that really kills your wallet. I hear that many people make do quite nicely with a short section of rail as their anvil (for smaller projects). I even went so far as to acquire a piece, but never did anything with it, and believe I discarded it long ago.

If you decide to the the full-on anvil route, don't forget about the other kinds of fun you can have with them.

--Patrick

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I have A LOT of tools already. Seriously, my garage is stocked. I've been a handy dude all my life, so it's not like starting from square one.

I do need to figure out a way to convince the little woman to let me get a MIG welder though.

Mathias said:

I have A LOT of tools already. Seriously, my garage is stocked. I've been a handy dude all my life, so it's not like starting from square one.

I do need to figure out a way to convince the little woman to let me get a MIG welder though.

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Simple:

Go purchase one. And then a nice dress. Bring them both home and tell her one of them was on sale so you both got something.

Thread Necromancer said:

Go purchase one. And then a nice dress.

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Or, you know, tell her if she lets you buy it, you'll make her one of these...



--Patrick

Keeps out the gub'mint.

PatrThom said:

Or, you know, tell her if she lets you buy it, you'll make her one of these...

View attachment 14813

--Patrick

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Would that be easier or harder to make than a chainmail bikini?

bhamv3 said:

Would that be easier or harder to make than a chainmail bikini?

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Didn't @Null make one of those?

*searches*

Oh, my mistake, it was scalemail. Reposted for clarity,and probably pretty much NSFW (I'm guessing it didn't take a long time...)


This one looks far more complete

...Chaz is back....?




CHAZ IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Shannow and Chaz be up in this bitch.