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Anyone here do Tool and Die?

H

haiggy

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 20, 2003
1,328
76
Ontario, Canada
Just curious...

I'm finishing up highschool and I'm not sure what I want to do yet. I have a make a decision soon so I am just gathering thoughts and ideas from as many sources as I can. Tool and Die sounds interesting to me (from what I know about it). Is this anyone's job? Just a few questions:

How did you start out?
What does your job include?
What exactly do you do?
How long is a typical work day/what are hours like?
Do you enjoy it?
How did you come about this job... apprenticeship, etc...

Thanks a lot!
 
My father is a Tool & Die maker. Are you looking to do the engineering part of it or actually work on presses?
 
ME Degree?
Mechanical Engineer? Master of Engineering? What do you mean?

And I'm not sure... either or. I was just checking out the occupation and wondering if anyone was one.
 
Sorry, Mechanical Engineering. Lot's of the fundamentals of how and why materials function the way they do.

Have you spend much time with tools? In a shop?
 
lol Not really. And I can't apply for Mechanical Engineering because I didn't take physics. I really have no idea what I want to do after highschool. Such a hard decision. I just made this thread to get info about tool and die makers. I researched it and it says you can become one through apprenticeship and college education (not hardcore). Requirements from Grade 12 are College English, College Math, Grade 10 Science and Grade 12 College Physics (which is basically general knowledge on physics) lol

I am an 85% + average student... I take English, Calculus, Data Management, Kinesiology, Chemistry, and Earth and Space Science (all of which are university level classes -- if there is confusion about that... this is how they are divided in Canada.. well.. Ontario anyways). I don't take physics -- it just doesn't work with my brain... either that or I had a very bad grade 10 teacher (I'm inclined to believe its a little bit of both). Anyways, without physics you can't really do much... I think?

I love computers. I've been good with them since I was in grade 1... seriously. I just can't program well, etc... so computers is kind of out of the question.

No idea what to do. lol Sorry, this is kind of off topic and random and just ranting but yeah. Sorry for any confusion if there is any.

I'm kind of stressed. I have to decide soon and I don't want to make the wrong decision. I want to do something I enjoy and I can live off of.
 
You best get over your phobia of physics if you want in on that field. No physics = no understanding of the mechanics of materials, let along statics or dynamics.

It's not unusual to be confused about what you want to do with your life at 17.
 
Do't go locking yourself into such a specialised field so young if you have no clear idea what you want to do.

As the linky above says, only the best tool & die makers will get secure employment, as there's a decline in employment in this area due to increased technology and globalisation.

If you have a passion for it, go for it. (and get some physics) If you don't, then don't.

try to keep up with a general grounding - english, maths, a science, a humanity, and some arts. Don't forget to work on your social skills and seeing the world, that'll help you in whatever you want to do.

When I was 17, I didnt know what I wanted to do either. I applied for degrees in engineering, and started a degree in Artificial Intelligence, before realising it wasn't what I wanted to do.

Now, via a very long and complicated route, I've ended up currently studying British sign language, and have several small jobs making and editing sign language films, lecturing on art in BSL at a local gallery, working as the chief tech officer for a small deaf theatre company, and also am building up a practice as a theatre lighting designer.

All these small part-time jobs are both technical and creative and I had no idea any of these field of work existed or that I could actually do them till a few years ago.

So give yourself time, go for what interests you and work hard on it, and you'll be ok.
 
Tool and Die

Tool and Die is an excellent trade,if that is what you want to do.Walter Reuther,the founder of UAW,was a tool and die guy.He said "That once you are fully trained tool and die guy, you can make or fix anything".I have been in the business for 40 years and have trained over 200 apprentices,the commanality of successful ones is to be able to think for yourself(self starter),like mechanical things,like working on cars,be able to work in a group and communicate well,be a problem solver.Good math skills are needed,but most of the calculating and all is done with CAD and CNC.My son is in Tool and Die and does over $75,000 annualy with overtime.Lots of plants in Southern US are in the $20.00 to $25.00 per hour range.It takes time,usually 4 year apprentice plus experience.In Ontario check wtd.com,one of the best tool and die in North America.Check Magna International,Frank Stronach who started Magna was a tool and die guy. Remeber to have fun with whatever you do.E-Mail me if you have questions jpeck@parristool.com
 
haiggy said:
Just curious...

I'm finishing up highschool and I'm not sure what I want to do yet. I have a make a decision soon so I am just gathering thoughts and ideas from as many sources as I can. Tool and Die sounds interesting to me (from what I know about it). Is this anyone's job? Just a few questions:

How did you start out?
What does your job include?
What exactly do you do?
How long is a typical work day/what are hours like?
Do you enjoy it?
How did you come about this job... apprenticeship, etc...

Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...

Not sure you found the answer yet after two years. Anyway, this is not a easy job, reward not really equal to effor putted in, but full of changllences and lot of job satifaction....
Gd luck!
Tool Die Design
 
I don't know a whole lot about tool & die specifically, but if you can handle calculus, you can handle physics. Physics is more or less just calculus word problems at practically every level. I'm betting on the "bad teacher" thing. Give it another try, because this could be a stumbling block for any material sciences sort of career. In the meantime, T&D seems very much like the kind of career where you'd want to seek out a local shop and look for apprenticeship opportunities while your education progresses.

EDIT: Heh... oh wait, this is old. :)
 
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