The plastic what now? I hear you ask.

Yes it is what you thought it was, you did read it correctly.

Many of you will remember I had to change jobs last year, well I have been in my new position for over 4 months now, and I work with plastic as a plastic fabricator basically fabricating plastic which is very plastic-ee.

Many of the things we do and the way we do it is very similar to what I would do with wood. We use many of the same tools, ie; table saw, drop saw, band saws, radial arm saw, sanding discs, drills press, router and even use a lathe, though I will admit the lathe is mainly for sanding using a drum. The main difference is that the blades are backed of as not to chip the plastic (especially acrylic)

I have learnt some new skills, from plastic welding to forming pipe bends and making pipe junctions etc.  A few things will automatically roll through into my wood working with out me really even thinking about it, and I guess vise versa.

So I have been there since September 2013 what do I think of it. I actually enjoy most of it. We have a pretty good team that seem to all get along ok. I am making stuff with my hands, and I am not doing the same thing every single day. Whilst my pay is lower than my last job, it will get better as my experience in the field of plastic fabrication gets better. The good news there is that the boss has indicate they are very happy with my work and will get a pay rise and new contract in February.

We have fun a few laughs and jokes along the way. Making extraction hoods we were boys in the hood. Basically the joke went all day. We were just da boyz in da hood. Then there was the failed end cap we turn it in to a mask.

We don’t just deal with pipe fabrication but we also do sheet fabrication and will fabricate anything if the customer wants to pay for it. From vacuum forming to standard fabrication the old fashion way. So yeah I am enjoying it so far.

I do miss my old job as a graphic artist at times but change is good and so far I am glad I made the change.