Note: Don't put thumbs where there are sharp objects..

[S204STi]

Done that one. I try and hold them with a rag now so it won't do that.
No damage to me this week other than a few burns from welding.

I loved the "tan" i used to get on my unprocted skin while welding everyday for a month in tech school.

[the Teuton]

On a lighter note, today I was removing a blown bulb when it crushed beneath my awesome grip, cutting my thumb.

People don't replace their own bulbs?

[S204STi]

People don't replace their own bulbs?

Nope...

[Secret Chimp]

People don't replace their own bulbs?

A lot of people can't even do windshield wipers.

[S204STi]

A lot of people can't even do windshield wipers.

I was embarassed for this kid that I had to do that for a few weeks ago.  Even he seemed sheepish about the fact...

[hotrodalex]

I was embarassed for this kid that I had to do that for a few weeks ago.  Even he seemed sheepish about the fact...

How old was he?

[Cookie Monster]

If you can't figure out how to replace the wipers after a minute of looking at them, you shouldn't be driving a car.

[Onslaught]

I loved the "tan" i used to get on my unprocted skin while welding everyday for a month in tech school.

My hands are always red. I put a left quarter, taillight pocket, rear body panel and floor pan in an Altima Friday. Hands looked like I was out in the sun all day.

[SVT_Power]

A lot of people can't even do windshield wipers.

Hmm... I've never really tried so I think I'm one of those people

[Laconian]

My hands are always red. I put a left quarter, taillight pocket, rear body panel and floor pan in an Altima Friday. Hands looked like I was out in the sun all day.

O_o

That CAN'T be good for them!

[Secret Chimp]

O_o

That CAN'T be good for them!

Well at least if he gets skin cancer, he'll be the first to know :P

[Onslaught]

O_o

That CAN'T be good for them!

Breathing bondo dust and crawling around on my knees all day are bad for me too. But we all have to die sometime.

[Sir_CARzy]

I really want to take autotech next year, but its a 2 period ROP class and i ALREADY need to take 6 classes my senior year. (7 is the max). bleh. I wanna cut my thumbs open!  I want half my body's blood squirting all over the goddamn place, lubricating the fricking cylinders and powering the cars, i want to learn how to do things!   

[Onslaught]

No you don't. If you know how to fix shit then friends,family and friends of friends will want you to "hook them up" all the fucking time.
Because you do this shit for fun.

[Soup DeVille]

Plus, it kind of sucks to make something you like doing into your living.

I know that sounds stupid, but hear me out.

You eventually start to despise your job. I mean nobody can do anything 40-50 hours a week five days a week year in and year out and not get sick of it.

So now, what used to be the thing you did to kick back and shift focus is the exact thing you want to get away from. Now what do you do to relax?

[Onslaught]

 

10 years ago I was like many of you guys. I could tell you what every car was and the engine size and what have you. My head was full of auto knowledge.  Now I don't give a shit anymore.

[Byteme]

10 years ago I was like many of you guys. I could tell you what every car was and the engine size and what have you. My head was full of auto knowledge.  Now I don't give a shit anymore.

In some cases I still can.  I need only glance at a car from the 60's as I drive by and I can tell you make, model, and likely engine.  And I will then bore my wife by pointing out the petty differences between that year's model and the the next or previous year's.  Pretty much any mainstream car from about 1990 on, excepting Mustangs Corvettes and the like, all look pretty much alike to me, and like Onslaught, I don't really get excited about them.

[S204STi]

Plus, it kind of sucks to make something you like doing into your living.

I know that sounds stupid, but hear me out.

You eventually start to despise your job. I mean nobody can do anything 40-50 hours a week five days a week year in and year out and not get sick of it.

So now, what used to be the thing you did to kick back and shift focus is the exact thing you want to get away from. Now what do you do to relax?

You and Onslaught are exactly freakin' right.

[S204STi]

In some cases I still can.  I need only glance at a car from the 60's as I drive by and I can tell you make, model, and likely engine.  And I will then bore my wife by pointing out the petty differences between that year's model and the the next or previous year's.  Pretty much any mainstream car from about 1990 on, excepting Mustangs Corvettes and the like, all look pretty much alike to me, and like Onslaught, I don't really get excited about them.

haha, I do the same thing with my wife...she usually just ignores me till I shut up.

[Byteme]

haha, I do the same thing with my wife...she usually just ignores me till I shut up.

Regardless of how old we are I think we all probably are most familiar with the cars that were new when we were just discovering cars in our teens and early 20's.

That probably explains why some of the younger guys here get excited about minivans and Camry's and Accords; cars I couldn't care less about.

Like I said, my wife gets bored when I start waxing nostalgic about something from the 60's.  But ask her about the Buick Wildcat or VW convertible she had in high school and she will talk your ear off.

[Morris Minor]

My head is crammed with detailed & mostly useless knowledge of cars from my youth.

When I was very young, somebody gave me the "Ladybird Book of How Cars Work"  or somesuch. It had very simple pictures and descriptions of the basics of IC engines, brakes clutches etc. I was totally hooked. I used to help my dad maintain his car and bloodied up my hands accordingly.

As I have got older I have got less ambitious and have the means to  pay others to do the work for me. This applies to car maintenance and projects around the house.

My nerdiness and obsessive desire to make things work better and faster has translated into a career in computer networking.

[TBR]

If you can't figure out how to replace the wipers after a minute of looking at them, you shouldn't be driving a car.

I figured it out eventually though. On things like that the instructions end up doing more harm than help, I think that was my problem.

[Soup DeVille]

haha, I do the same thing with my wife...she usually just ignores me till I shut up.

My wife does the same thing too, unless its an early '70s Mopar.

Then she'll tell me where I'm wrong.

[Onslaught]

In some cases I still can.  I need only glance at a car from the 60's as I drive by and I can tell you make, model, and likely engine.  And I will then bore my wife by pointing out the petty differences between that year's model and the the next or previous year's.  Pretty much any mainstream car from about 1990 on, excepting Mustangs Corvettes and the like, all look pretty much alike to me, and like Onslaught, I don't really get excited about them.

I still know all the RX-7 and RX-8 info and MX-5 stuff. But some of it gets a little fuzzy sometimes.
Other than that I just deleted all the other stuff. My hard drive in my head is small and full
of Star Trek stuff anyway.

[S204STi]

How old was he?

College age.  In other words, completely worthless.

[TBR]

College age.  In other words, completely worthless.

How old are you? 23?

[S204STi]

How old are you? 23?

You first.

[TBR]

You first.

18, but I can install my own windshield wiper blades.

[S204STi]

18, but I can install my own windshield wiper blades.

24, and I can install my own clutch[insert major mechanical part here].   

[S204STi]

Anyway, I would define college age as 18-21, but I realize that some folks might consider me college age as well.

Plus, I say that knowing that I was completely worthless at that age too.