Ypsi Adult Education Tool and Die Class

In high school I took a tool and die class at Ypsilanti Adult Education for high school credit, and I really enjoyed it. The two instructors were really good and knew a lot. There were segments on the lathe, mill, grinders, and welding. We made a number of really cool projects and I still have several of them. The shop was in the old Ypsi High school on Cross Street which is now an old folks home. The floors had been updated in the shop, but there was another room across the hall that had the original wood floors designed for holding really heavy equipment. 

After I graduated, Ben was still struggling to get through high school. I suggested he take the machining class to get some extra credits since it was available on Saturday morning. The instructor of the class asked me if I would be interested in being an assistant instructor. With my experience as a mechanic, and my work at Barfield, plus being in the class before, the administrator saw no problem with me being an assistant teacher. Ben took the class both semesters that year, and I assisted in the class throughout the year. 

This was my only attempt at teaching, and I would say it doesn't run in the family. My dad's students always said he was an amazing teacher. I am sure Ben would not have said that about me. I tend to think I have related information in a clear and logical manner, but people always look at me with a glazed expression. Even today when I go into a meeting, I think I have explained a technical concept at a general level, but typically my boss will have to then translate it even more. If Ben hadn't been a friend, I don't think anyone in the class would have ever wanted to to have anything to do with me. 

 I really did love working with metal. Working with wood takes a certain amount of artistic ability where working with metal is all about mechanics. You adjust cutting speeds based on the material you are cutting and the size of the cutter. These are simple calculations, and making the cut is done my turning a dial. Turning something on a wood lathe, you have to have a steady hand and you actual hold the cutter, so I prefer working with metal, but it is very expensive and hard to do in a home shop. 

I can't remember if Ben every graduated high school. We fell out of touch shortly after he took the machining class. We would run into each other at different times over the years, but we were never really close friends again. I did run into one of the instructors again years later after Forrest was born, and I was surprised at how old he had become. It really is amazing how fast life goes by.