What are your jobs?

[Atlas Fishard]

I'm just wondering how amazing it is that you all apply everything and anything you know from real-life welding technique, plumbing and all sort of small bits and jobs to create something so magnificent as steampunk-ed objects itself.

and my curiosity led a question to all you gentlemen that are hands-on entrepreneurs:



What are your jobs in real life that led to inventing and sustaining such marvelous creations.



With Regards,
A

[Videodrome]

Well for almost 3 years I've been a long haul truck driver.  However, I just got burnt out on long interstate driving and drinking to much Monster Drinks and coffee. 

So while exploring ways to develop new job skills I took a course in MIG arc welding. 

[Mechanic Williams]

Imagination rather than profession is a huge part of this sub-culture, but practical skill does help. This includes art and writing to a large extent, as our craft is limited only by the size of the paper. However, since you asked, I'm part of a medieval re-enactment group, and am being taught sewing (because real men sew dammit), leatherwork and carpentry. I'm looking to have a crack at blacksmithing during/after uni though. Stuff like volunteering at steam museums and preserved railways is another way of learning skills to apply to our craft, as well as gaining a better understanding of the steam side of steampunk.

Regards, Laurence

[DrArclight]

For me it's a bit weird and sometimes a bit spooky.

My day job is a Network/Systems admin (Actually really just a one-man IT department) for a title insurance company with 8 offices in 7 counties.  I'm responsible for everything from building/maintaining the servers and workstations to programming the thermostats, to maintaining the 500 gallon aquarium at the main office.  I run network wiring, phone wiring, and even am called in to fix the occasional broken toilet flusher.  (Quite often I find myself pondering exactly how the task at hand fits my job description... Not that I was ever given a job description or even a title.)

My skills, however, have been acquired through experiences mainly outside of work.  I'm fairly proficient at all of the following:

Computer programming
Basic Electronic circuit design
Microcontroller programming
electrical wiring
Woodworking,
Metalworking
Welding
Plumbing
Painting
Basic Chemistry
Cooking
Mechanical repair

The list goes on.  One particular talent I have is replication.  If I see a particular mechanism, tool, whatever, that catches my eye but is out of my price range, I can generally spend about 5 minutes looking it over and then go home and replicate it.

I read constantly.  Both fiction and non fiction books, online resources etc.  Sometimes I'll be working on a project and trying to figure out how to do something and my brain will make these huge leaps and connect bits of information that I picked up who knows where and suddenly I "just know" how to do something.  But at the same time I also have a lot of weird dreams where I manage to learn skills that actually work when I try them in reality.

I get asked at least once or twice a week "How did you know how to do that?".  My answer is usually "I just know.  I wish I could explain it."

[Lady Ava]

student of Civil Engineering.
It has lead me to design some of the most amazingly steampunk buildings, compared to my 'normal' designs.
I am a terrible person when it comes to books, Seabear is constantly trying to make me branch out into Fiction. It's not happening. I love knowing facts about things, and developing skills from gguidance on paper.

[Maets]

I have a Masters Degree in Ocean Engineering.  Worked for awhile as an engineer, taught engineering at the US Naval Academy, became an engineering consultant, started a computer software company and then 21 years ago said screw it and became a metal sculptor.  I have made over 6260 signed original pieces and a bunch of unsigned original pieces.  I mostly make bells, because they sell best, but I also make mailboxes, furniture, tea pots, bird baths, lamps, creatures and a bunch more.  Almost entirely from recycled materials. In August of last year I started offically making steampunk stuff, but I have been using gears for 21 years as a design element. Any questions?

[Duellist]

Narrative designer (videogame writer / designer) with a degree in Software Engineering. 

[Captain Morgan Arkwright]

Work in a bike shop with a guy who pretty much knows everything I need.

From woodwork to metalwork to building bike frames from scratch (Shall be done at some point) he's the man, so I usually ask him and go on from there (He also has an blow torch for such jobs and ample tools).

So.... my forte is bike repair and maintenance (Extends to pretty much anything to do with fixing bikes) So I'm a dab hand at keeping things running smoothly.

Regards,
Captain Morgan Arkwright.

[WillRockwell]

Interesting question and fascinating replies. I'm a film writer/producer living in New York City. I mainly work in longform documentaries and my history is in music video production and network news. I am only able to work on Steampunk projects on weekends.

[Dr cornelius quack]

Eighteen years as a Lab technician in a school, building kit to demonstrate various bits of science in memorable ways.

You pick up a trick or two.

[Duellist]

Eighteen years as a Lab technician in a school, building kit to demonstrate various bits of science in memorable ways.

When I was at school, we were taught chemistry by the head of science; he believed in what he called 'bucket chemistry' - i.e. if two test tubes did something interesting, two buckets would do something truly memorable...

He also believe that non-fatal accidents were the best way to learn, which makes me wonder how he kept his job.  As you might expect though, the students were quite fond of him...

[Dr cornelius quack]

Sure. It's been comprehensively proved that having your eyebrows singed off aids memory function.

[James Harrison]

I studied Architecture, then spent a year in an architectural practice before changing tack and going over to Historic Conservation.  

Which so far has taught me how to make bricks, basic ironmongery, wattle and daubing, lime plastering, theoretically how to restore a building in line with current good practice and which shall in a few weeks be sending me to learn the basics of thatching.  A lot of skills picked up there, but it'll be a few years I reckon before I get around to putting them to good use.  I still have every intention of restoring a Victorian or Edwardian house in the mid-future.    

[bassspine]

I left school and learned to be a blacksmith. Since then I've worked as a demolition labourer, builder's labourer, a factory painter, a welder/fabricator, a computer systems integrator and a bicycle mechanic and am currently working as a cycling instructor.

That's a lot of practical skills 

I'm currently looking at plasma cutter/welder machinery with an eye to making velocipedular atrocities ;-)

[lilibat]

I am, currently,a housewife. A very bad one, this place is a mess. When I had workspace I also made costumes, jewelry, props and sold steampunk, goth & wedding jewelry. Of course in this tiny apartment between houses I don't have room to make anything and it is driving me insane.... insane-er.

[HAC]

Retired railroader - 34 years service with CPR..

Cheers
Harold

[steampowered]

IT guy/Network Admin, my main drive to learn this stuff was more out of boredom, after getting tired of reading everyone's email...

I've always liked taking things apart and theatrics. Steampunk just seemed to fit into my love for tech & my love for crazy off the wall charters, clothes and devices.

[Gunner Gregson]

ive had 2 factory jobs and worked in a bar but now currently unemployed
i really have no idea what direction i want to go in and at my age thats a bad thing
guess im doomed to factory work

GG

[helios]

I stack shelves, and am studying to be an archivist or librarian or something of that ilk.

[Atlas Fishard]

I have a Masters Degree in Ocean Engineering.  Worked for awhile as an engineer, taught engineering at the US Naval Academy, became an engineering consultant, started a computer software company and then 21 years ago said screw it and became a metal sculptor.  I have made over 6260 signed original pieces and a bunch of unsigned original pieces.  I mostly make bells, because they sell best, but I also make mailboxes, furniture, tea pots, bird baths, lamps, creatures and a bunch more.  Almost entirely from recycled materials. In August of last year I started offically making steampunk stuff, but I have been using gears for 21 years as a design element. Any questions?

Waow, I am in awe, are the metal sculptor pieces displayed in any museums at all?

Regards,
A

[Atlas Fishard]

I left school and learned to be a blacksmith. Since then I've worked as a demolition labourer, builder's labourer, a factory painter, a welder/fabricator, a computer systems integrator and a bicycle mechanic and am currently working as a cycling instructor.

That's a lot of practical skills 

I'm currently looking at plasma cutter/welder machinery with an eye to making velocipedular atrocities ;-)

Lovely! I actually learned welding and plasma cutting not too long a few weeks ago, it's a sculpture class in art college ( I'm guessing if most art college has a sculpture degree program, you could probably take those classes just for you leisure of knowledge munching )

Regards,
A

[Damnd of Hell]

For the past 24 years I've been a police officer.  As well as off and on for over 30 as a voulenteer firefighter/paramedic.   

[Atlas Fishard]

Oh yes and as for me, I am an art student currently, learning a bit from working in classes of "Intro to metals and jewelry" and "additive and subtractive sculpture",
(I was in "illustration" major, but then I changed to "metals and jewelry", now I'm thinking of taking a double minor of "sculpture" and "metals and jewelry" )

I have basic understanding of circuitry ( very very basic ) ( + I always ask twice just to be sure ) and electrical soldering back from the UK school i go to,

Recently the project that I have complete, led me to some hands-on experience on plasma cutting, welding (metal to metal), copper pipe cold welding ( copper soldering ), and some wood cutting technique here and there.

And of course some good ole' illustration skills

Regards,
A

[J. Wilhelm]

Unemployed Aerospace Engineer (MSc).    Owned two corporations in the Architectural industry (not related to my degree), together with my family for quite some time, until the Crash of 2008.  I Keep my sanity by building Steampunk contraptions.

Cheers,

J. Wilhelm

[Smaggers]

24 years as an artist and hands-on art manager in the games industry, so that's also included some video editing, sound design, sequence storyboarding and previs.  
Have done a bit of acting, voice work, and writing.

In my youth I  cooked doughnuts and hot dogs for tourists and worked in cold-stores, bakeries and similar.

Picked up some elements of programming along the way. Not enough to call myself a programmer but enough to do some scripting, and to be able to talk to programmers without my eyes glazing over.

Also always had a passion for science and engineering, rebuilt and maintained a couple of motorbikes.

And music, played bass and guitar for about 20 years then switched to percussion and drums in about 2001 ish. played in a few bands along the way.