I went to trade school for two years. Got a job and worked at it for 10 more.
Read constantly to be sharp on old stuff and the way things used to be done, for matching finishes or styles. As well as working on obsolete stuff or doing things the old fashioned way.
Also read plenty of forums including the fire to keep a finger on the pulse of modern developments. Keeps from being stuck on building 14 twist 22-250s and hard chrome 1911s with Millet sights.
If you don’t have a niche doing something timeless and you can’t keep up with trends and tech you won’t make it.
Have fun and stay on top of your paperwork and don’t make promises you can’t keep to customers when it comes to timelines.
