Started in High School Metal shop. Worked in a Mold shop for awhile on a Taurus Duplicator, then went into a Die Shop as a "Small Machine Operator", sold shoes at the mall for a spell, sold some cars for awhile, back into machining in a small fab shop, then on to Uncle Sam. Tried to join the Army as a Machinist, ended up an Infantryman. 8 years of humpin and jumpin Airborne Ranger style, for the last 5 years I have been working in the Custom Firearms Shop for the Army Marksmanship Unit. Amazing how the machining knowledge just hides, never lost it. I now run, set up, program and maintain a VMC and a Turning Center. Use Master Cam alot, what a life saver there! I also teach basic and advanced machining night courses at the local Tech College. And I still sweep up my own chips!!!
Rick Merrill
SSG U.S. Army
11B3V
USAMU Custom Firearms Shop