I don't think people realize the skills required to be a manual machinist. Mr. Brand has an amazing talent for the work that he does taking things that are destroyed and making them right. Also all of the different tooling he has created to make his jobs better for the customer. Well done sir!
I'm wearing that same shirt right now. If I'm being totally honest, I wore it yesterday too. My brother is a machinist and so is my cousin. I got my first machine shop job in my early to mid 20's in the early to mid 90's at A. Fischer Tool & Machine as a janitor and shipping/receiving clerk, errand boy. I had been working as a motorcycle mechanic apprentice of sorts and needed a winter job each year so I thought why not machine shop. It wasn't an engine shop though, we did conveyor belt phase drives and a lot of industrial machine parts/repair. They wanted to send me through the apprenticeship program but I hated the math and I couldn't stand running the same two functions over and over/production all day. It made me even more mental. I stayed with that bike shop every season for 15 years til cancer ended that deal. Not mine. Sorry to hear about Ruby. My condolences.
Started back in 2015 at 15 years old and started from the bottom just being a parts cleaner guy and worked my way up over 8 years and could run every machine we had besides the crank grinder “did it once and I hated it” now almost 10 years later I have my own machine shop now at 25, I’m still buying equipment to futher keep everything in house but I buy as I can and don’t finance anything! Slowly getting there!
Been a one man machine shop for over 45 years. When asked why I don't have help, answer they just slow me down.10 years worked from 7:00am to 7:00pm 6 1/2 days a week. Got to like what your doing.
Behind every good Man is a good Woman . I worked all through High School for a Mechanic shop in a small town and had to quit after High School when I got married because I couldn't live on $1.25 and hour . The things I learned I still use today and have no regrets , My condolences I lost my Son and my Wife this last year !
Gerald, you've had a lot of ups and downs in your family and life itself, yet you continue to move forward. You deserve all the credit, you had a dream and made it happen, that's awesome!! Keep on producing anything you feel like on your channel, we'll all keep watching!! Congratulations 🏆🏅
Totally understand what you mean by sacrifice and lost time that you never get back. That is life, and those things just happen to us as we try to make a living. All those missed occurrences that we wanted to do and couldn't, you can only be in one place at a time. That's the life when trying to make a business work, thanks for sharing.
I tried having an employee in my business, but between worrying about if his work quality is up to my standard and the fact that he got flaky about showing up, I parted ways and just said the heck with it, I'll do it all myself. Much happier this way. Might not get quite as much work done, but that's okay.
A wonderful story of life’s lessons. Thank God for people like your shop teacher. I hope a lot of young people watch and learn from your wisdom. God Bless
@@BrandRacingEngines no doubt he was one of the never forgotten rare people that we all look back and think I’m glad I listen or wished I had listened to him or her.
If I would've been around there in my younger days you would've had an apprentice on your hands if you let me in the door. I really enjoy your content whatever it may be. Keep putting out videos please. 👍
I’m a 51 year old plumber self employed plumber by trade for the last 26 years. Before that I was a Chevrolet Certified Tech. I got tired of it even though I wanted to be a mechanic. Did that for the first 9 years of my working career. I love doing precision work on my Bridgeport and 13X40 Clausing lathe. I also built a nice sbc 409 with an F1R Pro Charger. Anyway I wanna get out of NY and do something different but we can’t leave unless our kids are willing to also leave with us because our grandkids sleep over every weekend. It would break all of our hearts. I wish you were in SC where we wanna go because I’d ask for a shot at a job with you. Lol I just enjoy machining. Never in a million years did I think I could make gears at home. I actually made a full set for my first Southe Bend lathe on my harbor freight drill press before I got the Bridgeport. They came out perfect!! I was gonna start a RUclips and video all my projects but I had a hard time trying to talk through it. Anyway I’m rambling. You seem like a real good down to earth guy. Keep up the great videos! Thanks
@@BrandRacingEngines He was one of the very early T/F racers. I’ve been addicted to drag racing since the mid 1960’s. Still participating at almost 77 years old ! I miss my machine shop days. 1980 to 1992. My son is now doing machining sometimes for a company that builds all stainless steel pharmaceutical processing machines. Must be in the genes ! lol
I enjoy your videos always something to learn. I really enjoy listening to and learning from the older guys I just wish I had gotten into working on cars earlier.
Thank Mr. Brand for making this video about the history of Brand Racing Engines. Any video from you is welcome no matter the qualities are so keep it coming !.
Thanks Gerald. I would like to leave a comment. But it's going to take too long. I would like to call you sometime about 2 machine shops in Ohio. The oldest one started in the late 20s.
So if you can’t pull & greasy pile of engine out, know how to dissemble & clean it, also note anything that doesn’t look right, & you don’t know how to measure! Then don’t bother trying to work in a machine shop! The disassembly guy is important! He’s usually the first to have hands on the engine! Sorry, but good machine shops, rarely have time to teach anything! Unless you are willing to stand & watch how it’s done properly, & there usually isn’t pay for that! Glad you are still doing it Mr Brand!
Auto. machine shop have change so much in the past 20 year with all the C&C machines that people can't afford it. People will not learn to run a manual machine. Thanks
Much respect for your humility man, love your video’s & watching a true craftsman as yourself… you seem to know how to do all things one way, which is the right way…I think to be a true machinist you have to be anal, because a spec is a spec no getting around it period… thank God for the + & - tolerance’s that’s it, no if’s & or butts… Continue fighting the good fight God bless my man… Chalie Pa.
Came up following a similar route. Never made the leap to opening a full time shop. Employees for a small shop is a difficult topic, from both sides. The small shop typically can’t offer the benefits to draw the employee, especially the young un’s, in the process of trying to figure sh*t out / build a life, and the small shop owner ain’t go the luxury of having enough fluff, to tolerate anyone less dedicated then to acting almost to the level of a partner. On top of that, mentoring / teaching takes a butt load of time, and if the apprentice doesn’t have the interest, initiative, and desire, to work their way up, y’all ultimately trying to polish a unaffordable turd. Sounds like y’all’s first job was a “sh*t test”, at first, where your persistence ultimately paid off…
Since the street outlaws show and you being on it a few times how has that helped your business? Do you have a lot more customers because of that or has it stayed the same i really enjoy your videos even though I do body work for a living
I had a friend Bob Womack told me about Gerald. We was in to racing Ford Engines and Gerald knew Fords really well. I was a one man band racing team. Gerald did some engine work for me. I never had an engine failure that was related to his work. He was fair with his pricing, he understood the cost of racing was expensive so he kept the price of his work to where a person could afford to keep racing. I sure hated to hear that he lost his wife, that really makes it tough. Gerald keep us informed on some car shows you’re going to be at. I would like to come and visit with you. Thank you for your videos and sharing your experience. Folks like your self are a dieing breed. Not many kids now a days want to get there hands dirty. Hang in there buddy and take care and stay busy
Who would you recommend grinding a stock eliminator cam for a 351 clevelend Ford engine ? I heard you talking about having built engines in this class . Thank you for sharing your valuable information ! I enjoy your podcast .
I’m a 41 year old mechanic with over 25 years experience and looking for a change and have the opportunity to buy a machine shop and start engine machining
I like hearing stories from those men who are older than me.. everything I've learned has come from listening to the generation ahead of me... was Chief the one who lasted a week or the one who went to lunch and never came back???
@@BrandRacingEngines I get it for sure. I wish I could surround my business around my life. I would have my wife homeschool are kids. In a perfect world I would homestead/farm a long with machining.
Great Video! Sounds like we had virtually identical paths early in our careers. I started trade school on 9/1978 and during the summer break of 79 I started working at an Industrial Machine Shop. The owner wanted me to stay after our summer break was over, and my teacher was cool about it and said he would graduate me with the next class because I would learn way more at the Shop than at school. Couldn't make the switch to the Automotive side, there was too much of a difference in pay. Over the years I started building engines for people as a hobby, and I was fortunate to have a friend who was somewhat retired that taught me the automotive machining side and would let me use his equipment.
I own a powder coating shop that I've been operating myself for 2 years now. Similar story to yours. The amount of stress it relieves is crazy. I think most of the stress comes from really caring about your guys. Always making sure they get paid and trying to keep enough work to keep it all going so they can support their families. It's like a 1000 pounds of weight is lifted off of you when you don't have to deal with it.
I don't think people realize the skills required to be a manual machinist. Mr. Brand has an amazing talent for the work that he does taking things that are destroyed and making them right. Also all of the different tooling he has created to make his jobs better for the customer. Well done sir!
Thanks
I'm wearing that same shirt right now. If I'm being totally honest, I wore it yesterday too. My brother is a machinist and so is my cousin. I got my first machine shop job in my early to mid 20's in the early to mid 90's at A. Fischer Tool & Machine as a janitor and shipping/receiving clerk, errand boy. I had been working as a motorcycle mechanic apprentice of sorts and needed a winter job each year so I thought why not machine shop. It wasn't an engine shop though, we did conveyor belt phase drives and a lot of industrial machine parts/repair. They wanted to send me through the apprenticeship program but I hated the math and I couldn't stand running the same two functions over and over/production all day. It made me even more mental. I stayed with that bike shop every season for 15 years til cancer ended that deal. Not mine. Sorry to hear about Ruby. My condolences.
Thanks
Started back in 2015 at 15 years old and started from the bottom just being a parts cleaner guy and worked my way up over 8 years and could run every machine we had besides the crank grinder “did it once and I hated it” now almost 10 years later I have my own machine shop now at 25, I’m still buying equipment to futher keep everything in house but I buy as I can and don’t finance anything! Slowly getting there!
With hard work, you'll make it. You're doing it the right way.👍
Been a one man machine shop for over 45 years. When asked why I don't have help, answer they just slow me down.10 years worked from 7:00am to 7:00pm 6 1/2 days a week. Got to like what your doing.
😀😀😀😀😀
It takes good old fashioned hard work to get anywhere in life.
Awsome start thanks for sharing. Please do more as time permits
Behind every good Man is a good Woman . I worked all through High School for a Mechanic shop in a small town and had to quit after High School when I got married because I couldn't live on $1.25 and hour . The things I learned I still use today and have no regrets , My condolences I lost my Son and my Wife this last year !
Thanks god bless
Gerald, you've had a lot of ups and downs in your family and life itself, yet you continue to move forward. You deserve all the credit, you had a dream and made it happen, that's awesome!!
Keep on producing anything you feel like on your channel, we'll all keep watching!! Congratulations 🏆🏅
Thanks
Totally understand what you mean by sacrifice and lost time that you never get back. That is life, and those things just happen to us as we try to make a living. All those missed occurrences that we wanted to do and couldn't, you can only be in one place at a time. That's the life when trying to make a business work, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching
You are a class act Sir. Thank you for the history and I wish you continued success. I wish we had someone like you close to us.
I tried having an employee in my business, but between worrying about if his work quality is up to my standard and the fact that he got flaky about showing up, I parted ways and just said the heck with it, I'll do it all myself. Much happier this way. Might not get quite as much work done, but that's okay.
👍
Man the chance some of these guys had with you learning the trade the opportunity those guys blew man unreal.
A wonderful story of life’s lessons. Thank God for people like your shop teacher. I hope a lot of young people watch and learn from your wisdom.
God Bless
I wish I knew what happened to the shop teacher ?
@@BrandRacingEngines no doubt he was one of the never forgotten rare people that we all look back and think I’m glad I listen or wished I had listened to him or her.
I enjoy the background stories... Stories of how you got to where you are today...I had forgotten that Nix gets most of the blame for you being here🤣🏁
And Larry?
If I would've been around there in my younger days you would've had an apprentice on your hands if you let me in the door. I really enjoy your content whatever it may be. Keep putting out videos please. 👍
I’m a 51 year old plumber self employed plumber by trade for the last 26 years. Before that I was a Chevrolet Certified Tech. I got tired of it even though I wanted to be a mechanic. Did that for the first 9 years of my working career. I love doing precision work on my Bridgeport and 13X40 Clausing lathe. I also built a nice sbc 409 with an F1R Pro Charger. Anyway I wanna get out of NY and do something different but we can’t leave unless our kids are willing to also leave with us because our grandkids sleep over every weekend. It would break all of our hearts. I wish you were in SC where we wanna go because I’d ask for a shot at a job with you. Lol I just enjoy machining. Never in a million years did I think I could make gears at home. I actually made a full set for my first Southe Bend lathe on my harbor freight drill press before I got the Bridgeport. They came out perfect!! I was gonna start a RUclips and video all my projects but I had a hard time trying to talk through it. Anyway I’m rambling. You seem like a real good down to earth guy. Keep up the great videos! Thanks
Thanks just do it. It will all work just be yourself.
Great story Mr Gerald, bad some people just don’t have the work ethics to learn and be a good employee 😢
I agree and it's a shame Thanks for watching
Your story sounds alot like mine. Employees are never what u need them to be , and usually they dont have the desires or work ethics like u
Gerald, I stopped by your shop mid June of this year, when I was in the process of moving my shop from california to Oklahoma ,
Yes . have you move to Oklahoma yet?
@@BrandRacingEngines yes sir,
Your a very humble knowledgeable man (Aussie Rob) PS Ive been offered a teaching job at my learning institute/trade school it's very humbling
If you have kid will to learn it would be a fun job. good luck😁
Thanks for the video Gerald. Hope all is well.
We are all good Thanks
I always enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing.
I did a lot of the same things. Ran the hot tank, bored blocks the same way. I do know who Jimmy Nix was too.
They call him The smiling okey
@@BrandRacingEngines He was one of the very early T/F racers. I’ve been addicted to drag racing since the mid 1960’s. Still participating at almost 77 years old ! I miss my machine shop days. 1980 to 1992. My son is now doing machining sometimes for a company that builds all stainless steel pharmaceutical processing machines. Must be in the genes ! lol
@@richb4099 He was a good guy Thanks
I enjoy your videos always something to learn. I really enjoy listening to and learning from the older guys I just wish I had gotten into working on cars earlier.
Proud of you young man!!
Sound like a Great Guy. Gerald ! I enjoy your videos. Wish you the best of luck in the future also!
Great video, Gerald - thanks for sharing !
Thank Mr. Brand for making this video about the history of Brand Racing Engines. Any video from you is welcome no matter the qualities are so keep it coming !.
Good video, its nice to hear the background. We all started doing dirty work.
You have to start with the dirty work. You can't start at the top.
I'm just looking at the pay rates for young machinists. Brutal. I can understand why there are so many old guys and so few young ones.
Nobody wants to do manual labor. Set that a desk and type on a keyboard
Thanks for sharing! I enjoy your videos.
Thanks Gerald. I would like to leave a comment. But it's going to take too long. I would like to call you sometime about 2 machine shops in Ohio. The oldest one started in the late 20s.
Call me anytime😀
@@BrandRacingEngines I will but I don't want to bother you when you are busy. Thanks!
So if you can’t pull & greasy pile of engine out, know how to dissemble & clean it, also note anything that doesn’t look right, & you don’t know how to measure! Then don’t bother trying to work in a machine shop! The disassembly guy is important! He’s usually the first to have hands on the engine! Sorry, but good machine shops, rarely have time to teach anything! Unless you are willing to stand & watch how it’s done properly, & there usually isn’t pay for that! Glad you are still doing it Mr Brand!
Auto. machine shop have change so much in the past 20 year with all the C&C machines that people can't afford it. People will not learn to run a manual machine. Thanks
I always enjoy your videos
Thank you Gerald! This was interesting to me!
Much respect for your humility man, love your video’s & watching a true craftsman as yourself… you seem to know how to do all things one way, which is the right way…I think to be a true machinist you have to be anal, because a spec is a spec no getting around it period… thank God for the + & - tolerance’s that’s it, no if’s & or butts… Continue fighting the good fight God bless my man… Chalie Pa.
Thanks
Thank you for your knowledge and videos USA 🇺🇸 TRUMP
Came up following a similar route. Never made the leap to opening a full time shop.
Employees for a small shop is a difficult topic, from both sides.
The small shop typically can’t offer the benefits to draw the employee, especially the young un’s, in the process of trying to figure sh*t out / build a life, and the small shop owner ain’t go the luxury of having enough fluff, to tolerate anyone less dedicated then to acting almost to the level of a partner.
On top of that, mentoring / teaching takes a butt load of time, and if the apprentice doesn’t have the interest, initiative, and desire, to work their way up, y’all ultimately trying to polish a unaffordable turd.
Sounds like y’all’s first job was a “sh*t test”, at first, where your persistence ultimately paid off…
I attend to be a little hardheaded and don't give up. Thanks
Enjoy your videos!
Awesome
Since the street outlaws show and you being on it a few times how has that helped your business? Do you have a lot more customers because of that or has it stayed the same i really enjoy your videos even though I do body work for a living
I have a small shop I would say it change the customers base. RUclips has been good for the shop Thanks
Nice
Didn't know you worked for Nix, he & my Dad were good friends! Another great video! 👍
Thanks Andy😀
I see the Anderws sign in the back ground did you do v twin harley stuff at one time too
No I have them do camshaft for V-8
@@BrandRacingEngines never knew Andrew's did car stuff
@@RonaldRepinski They do more then you thing
Let’s go
Too bad you can't find decent people to work with you, there is a lot of knowledge that really needs to be passed down to others.
Thanks
Come on
Thanks for the video I always learn things from all of them. Keep up the good work 👍
Gerald has built badass motors fo long time You'll remember Willow Run racetrack😂❤ have a great week everyone
Yes I do.
Interesting, SO much of your story echoes my journey!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel your pain with employees. Best career is self employed with very few, or no employees and make great money.
I was interested in your story. Thanks for sharing.
I had a friend Bob Womack told me about Gerald. We was in to racing Ford Engines and Gerald knew Fords really well. I was a one man band racing team. Gerald did some engine work for me. I never had an engine failure that was related to his work. He was fair with his pricing, he understood the cost of racing was expensive so he kept the price of his work to where a person could afford to keep racing. I sure hated to hear that he lost his wife, that really makes it tough. Gerald keep us informed on some car shows you’re going to be at. I would like to come and visit with you. Thank you for your videos and sharing your experience. Folks like your self are a dieing breed. Not many kids now a days want to get there hands dirty. Hang in there buddy and take care and stay busy
Thanks
Really like this video.
Who would you recommend grinding a stock eliminator cam for a 351 clevelend Ford engine ? I heard you talking about having built engines in this class . Thank you for sharing your valuable information ! I enjoy your podcast .
What year car and what motor code. ? 2 or 4 v haeds holley carb or ford.?
I’m a 41 year old mechanic with over 25 years experience and looking for a change and have the opportunity to buy a machine shop and start engine machining
Good luck. Have did machine work in the pass. Is it an established shop with customers.
God Bless
I like hearing stories from those men who are older than me.. everything I've learned has come from listening to the generation ahead of me... was Chief the one who lasted a week or the one who went to lunch and never came back???
No. He came to the shop when he was 16 to have me cut a intake😀
Awesome
Thank you sir for your videos ! Oh man those 1/2 inch drills,I broke a metacarpal in my right hand with one of those.
😂😂😂😂
Sure miss the quality machinist I had near me. Passed away. 25 years did the best work for me. Not any reputable places to use now near me.
How did you maintain your amazing physique? 😂😂😂 Girlfriend wants to know...
By🍟🍕🍔
@@BrandRacingEngines She said bull 💩💩💩💩💩💩! Hahaha
@@tommyfryar6913 Tell her she has one on the way🎁🎁🎁🎁
She said " nah it's all the hard work and staying busy." Not enough Mexican food is my theory hahaha
@@tommyfryar6913 May be we need to go eat mexiacan
Great story Mr Brand. Is the economy hurting your business, or do you have enough clientele to keep going strong?
I have a good clientele and I can pick the job.
@BrandRacingEngines that's good to hear! There fewer and fewer quality machinist and engine builders these days!
Man I wish I could run a machine shop at my house
It has it's up & down at work 24-7
@@BrandRacingEngines I get it for sure. I wish I could surround my business around my life. I would have my wife homeschool are kids. In a perfect world I would homestead/farm a long with machining.
@@Gregoman89 my wife home school are kids best thing we did👍
@@BrandRacingEngines yeah I wish I could.
Love watchin all your videos❤
Great Video! Sounds like we had virtually identical paths early in our careers. I started trade school on 9/1978 and during the summer break of 79 I started working at an Industrial Machine Shop. The owner wanted me to stay after our summer break was over, and my teacher was cool about it and said he would graduate me with the next class because I would learn way more at the Shop than at school. Couldn't make the switch to the Automotive side, there was too much of a difference in pay. Over the years I started building engines for people as a hobby, and I was fortunate to have a friend who was somewhat retired that taught me the automotive machining side and would let me use his equipment.
Yes it does Thanks
I own a powder coating shop that I've been operating myself for 2 years now. Similar story to yours. The amount of stress it relieves is crazy. I think most of the stress comes from really caring about your guys. Always making sure they get paid and trying to keep enough work to keep it all going so they can support their families. It's like a 1000 pounds of weight is lifted off of you when you don't have to deal with it.
Yes it is😀
Always enjoy your videos. This one in particular hit home. Outstanding Thanks !
Thanks
Great Gerald time!!!!!!!
That a boy
Sweet