15 Rocket stoves with flip up legs and flip up grates

[tinspark]

burned the parts for 15 sets of rocket stoves the other day and our apprenticeship coordinator cut the tube and we invited some local high school kids in to build them out.
Trying to stir interest in the building trades. They got to take them home

[ben de lappe]

That's great Doug! Especially the part about the kids keeping their projects. What a wonderful way to stir interest in the youth.

[adbuch]

Doug - what a great project for the students! I'll bet they had some fun welding them up.

David

[kicktillmonday]

So awesome, great way to engage the kids and get them excited about the trades. Well done, I bet they had fun and showed them off proudly

[ROKCRLER]

Thats awesome Doug!

[tinspark]

Thanks fellas!
Milwaukee also donated about $600 worth of free tools for each kid ($ 600x15kids = about $9k)... including a starter kit with a drill and battery pack. And a bunch of hand tools too. and a bag full of hand tools!! They also receive a pair of free Red Wing boots! Just for showing up! They made sheet metal twisted transitions sitting in front of their rocket stoves as well. it was a pretty cool deal for them. Also a member if our local Fresno Unified School board member showed up too.. (the suit) haha!!
And yes we had to fire up the stoves!! Only 13 were fired up in the picture.

[adbuch]

Doug - those look like one bunch of happy kids! Super nice that they each got the Milwaukee tool set and boots, not to mention the rocket stove they each get to take home. Very well done indeed!!

David

[acourtjester]

Great show it would be very nice if other schools followed that program. I bet the kids are happy to say I made that too.

[tnbndr]

Nice, just plain nicely done.

From a fellow tin bender

[tinspark]

Nice, just plain nicely done.

From a fellow tin bender

Thanks tnbndr.. That means a lot.
And thanks for all of the other prior comments too.
They too mean a lot as well!!.

feels like a hobby with good pay!!
I heard today that for every 7 people that retire from the building trades today, only 1 young person fills that void!!
If that is a true figure, it does not bode well for the building trades! And speaks volumes about our future!
IMO!!!

[tnbndr]

I heard today that for every 7 people that retire from the building trades today, only 1 young person fills that void!!
If that is a true figure, it does not bode well for the building trades! And speaks volumes about our future!
IMO!!!

Well, I think there will be a move in the positive direction with people like Mike Rowe (mikeroweWORKS), Rae Ripple, Barbie the Welder all supporting the trades. It is a trend in the right direction.

It's gotten so bad here in Wisconsin they are letting retirees return to work and collect their pensions!!

[plasmanewbie]

So awesome Doug, wish I had a shop teacher like you back in the day.

[Jason@bc]

Very nice indeed....and a great way to get young peoples imagination going and hopefully get more people into the trade, thanks for sharing.

[adbuch]

Back when I was in high school - we had lots of vocational classes with hands-on projects. Welding, machine shop, sheet metal shop, wood shop, electrical, drafting, auto shop, etc. Many of the other high schools here in Tucson had similar programs to ours. These days, I don't believe that any of the high schools here in Tucson offer any of this anymore. The main reason was supposedly the associated liability if someone gets injured. It's nice to see that some parts of the country still have high school shop classes for the trades.

David

[tnbndr]

The main reason was supposedly the associated liability if someone gets injured.
David

It may have been the reason given but I don't think liability was an actual concern as these programs flourished for years. I think it was a desire to steer more students toward college. Seconded by budget cuts over many years. It was too bad as many schools here had top notch equipment in their school shops for students to learn properly.

[ben de lappe]

It may have been the reason given but I don't think liability was an actual concern as these programs flourished for years. I think it was a desire to steer more students toward college.
[/quote]
Bingo. At the same time women were told they needed careers, that being a homemaker was old fashioned and degrading. My parents were born in the 40's and whatever force put this in motion did an outstanding job instilling this belief in them. At 53, an only child and looking back this is crystal clear as my mom was always working, I was at daycare before I can even remember and my father utterly convinced that unless I went to college I had no hope of a good life. It caused such a rift I that at 18 I joined the Air Force and left. It took a long time but before their passing admitted this as one their greatest regrets.

[Scratch]

Bravo! This is a great story to hear. Thanks for sharing it and for all you did to get it done. Thanks to Milwaukee tools too. Way to step up!

[tinspark]

The main reason was supposedly the associated liability if someone gets injured.
David

It may have been the reason given but I don't think liability was an actual concern as these programs flourished for years. I think it was a desire to steer more students toward college. Seconded by budget cuts over many years. It was too bad as many schools here had top notch equipment in their school shops for students to learn properly.

There are so many college graduates here in central California that have a ton of college debt and were forced to move back in with their parents with no clear direction of a job path, or how to put that diploma to work.
apprenticeship gave me direction, a job to be proud of, and no debt after a free 5 year apprenticeship program.
Apprenticeship was a good deal for me, and I have been shoveling the coal for decades and always laughing all of the way to the bank. Because at the end of the day, I earn more than most college graduates. Put an honest days work in, help out a brother (or sister) when you can, and good things happen. Not to mention the kids in the city. This was a good bunch of young people and we all had a ball!

[tnbndr]

Put an honest days work in, help out a brother (or sister) when you can, and good things happen. Not to mention the kids in the city. This was a good bunch of young people and we all had a ball!

Keep up the good work and have fun!!!

[BAR M]

WOW! Great work. This country desparatley needs welders/fabracators.