@@geoffgreenhalgh3553 I didn't even think of that. When our place closed, we all went to Denny's then straight to the pub for drinks. It was such great therapy having a good hang with the work crew one last time. You can't even do that now. That's terrible.
Nothing more depressing than clearing out a factory where so much work, effort, and life itself, went on for years! I hope the future holds good for you David.
There are many people out there with 'clean' jobs that will never realise the feelings of skilled craftsmen who have worked decades with their hands and the pleasure you get making something from scratch. You work for years often in dirty conditions for relatively low pay and the customer will never realise the blood sweat and tears that have gone into a tool or component. I am the only one in my family to have worked with his hands for a living and was always looked down on. People like you mate are the backbone of industrial Britain and you can be proud of what you have achieved. Those that know will always appreciate a skilled man.
I run our family business which is a scrapyard. A local engineering firm to us has just closed. it had been going for nearly 60 years. It was one of my dad's old customers. When we used to go and collect the scrap and swarf I always used to like popping in the workshop to see what jobs they were up to. All very interesting for an amateur machinist. Now all very sad, this place had been there all of my lifetime. I bought a load of tooling and a bridgeport 2S horizontal mill with vertical head. To use on my antique tractors and engine restorations. 🇬🇧
Such a shame all that tooling has gone in the skip. After I had purchased my lathe I found out one of my neighbours was closing down an engineering company in Telford and he went through the skips their and got me a load of tooling and micrometers along with scraps of material which has really helped me start in engineering.
Tools have a soul. I feel a deep connection every time I handle any of my fathers or grandads tools. On the other hand you are doing well to shut down without involving the liquidators. Good luck with your future endeavours and keep posting the vids.
All the best to you Dave. Reminds me of when the company I worked for for 30 years went bust and we had to clear the machine shop. I love machining, it felt like someone had died.
Reminds me of how long it took me to be able to work in my Cabinet shop after my Dad died. We had many a good talk sitting down in there. Ghosts of memories past. It will fade and you will crack on. Thanks for sharing David.
Dave ,have watched your clips with interest, and hate to see you shut up shop. Your skills were second to none. Wish you all the best in the future and good health.
When I look at auctions of engineering companies assets I always feel sad. There goes peoples jobs and more importantly the knowledge that goes with them. I know when I retired, there is a feeling of emptiness which is hard to explain. Good luck to you in the future.
We probably miss all the work you shared in this shop especially the heavy turning in exotic steel with the ds&g. Engineering is a difficult business but we learned a lot on your work.
That's sad Dave - long time in one place and many memories - plus the inevitable bits and pieces. Looks like a lot to finish clearing up. I remember when I moved from UK to U.S. 20 years ago, how problematic it was moving, which included a lot from my old shop and a fair bit of machine stuff I couldn't keep had to be sold too. Glad you'll still be making some videos - onwards and upwards!
I've literally found your channel in the last couple of days and have been enjoying watching. I've only recently got an intrest in machining and like your no nonsense, matter of fact way of teaching. I'm gutted that you've had to sell up but hopefully less stress just taking a wage. i was self employed nearly 20 years until illness gave me early retirement. All the best from a fellow northerner and keep up the good work.
I am devastated to see your final day at your shop. Wishing you the best of luck in your new journey David. I am glad you are able to keep up with your videos ~ Richard
Yeah man, I'm in the US and this year has definitely not been easy. We were doing really good until the "COVID " hopefully things will pick up starting the new year.
That's a sad day Dave. Tomorrow I hand in the keys for the house that I lived in for 29 years. I too, found it hard to clean out the place. So many memories. Good luck and keep making videos. Ken
Hope you start to feel better soon Dave, I live in Sheffield and have watched industry disappear over my working life time, especially steel, when I left school in the early sixties jobs where plentiful , people with your skill level will never be out of work. Good luck in your new job.
Closed my shop last year, disposed of the last few machines in feb 2020. Some excellent specimens of old machinery went to the smelters in their usual half-restored, never fully repaired state. Hard to find parts and a general lack of knowledgeable operators sealed the fate of these machines long before I realised the writing on the wall. I was somewhat emotional at the time, but a couple of weeks later we went into complete lockdown. Phew! If I had held on just a few more days, the whole situation would have become totally unsalvageable. More importantly, starting fresh freed up a whole lot of mental space and physical energy to think about new projects and also allowed lots of stress-free time with my family and kids. Zero regrets!
So sad you had to close your business after 30 years. Really enjoy you videos and have learned a lot about machining that I didn't know before your videos. Thank You
Oh man David, best wishes from Washington.... Sad to see such a unique business close... maybe someday when I visit UK I shall look you up and buy you a beer... Cheers...
So sad for this news. Appreciate all the videos you made for deep hole boring and trepanning. I never thought it could be done. Great skill and so unselfish in sharing them. May God be with you in your next journey.
It must be hard walking away after spending so much of your life there but as we've all come to know from your videos, it's not the building that's important, it's the man who works there.
Can’t imagine how emotional and strange it must be, helped clear the workshop where I worked felt a bit emotional walking around after all the machines had been moved out. And they were only moving a couple of miles up the road
I hate seeing engineering firms close. Still it is good that you are still involved and still able to pass on some of the experience you have. Good luck and keep the vids coming!
Heartbreaking. Was involved in a similar experience 5 years ago so I understand how you feel. Best of fortune for the future, look forward to more videos.
I'm a nostalgic type so I appreciate the feeling of loss at closing a major chapter in ones life. One consolation is that Tooltek will live on forever here in all these videos. Not many have that so you can be proud .
Feel for you mate😪, thanks for the video it was very difficult for you to film. Try to remember all the good time you had there, and all the enjoyment you still bring to us now with your videos 🍺🍺👍🏴
Why do we “ feel “ for things that have no feelings ? Sad to see your story but glad that you intend to continue sharing your time and skills . All the best .
Best wishes to you Dave from another small one man shop wondering wether he should shut shop too. Hard times fella, I'm 61 now and this last year has been pretty damn tough!
The place were I spent over 20 years closed in 2010, I still dream about working jobs there. It's part of your life and what makes you. We learned to do there. Good luck brother.
30 years is very impressive for any company, especially in engineering, take the credit for that, and try to find others in your local that can match that. All the best for tomorrow, then then day after. Thanks for sharing.
Such a shame! Really feel for you mate! I went to countless auctions winding up engineering companies in the West Midlands in the late nineties, was so sad seeing all that knowledge and history disappearing. Much of the equipment went abroad.
I feel your pain mate. I had an engineering business for 30 years and brexit started the decline, then the pandemic finished it off. Its heart breaking. Don't give up though. I'm in the south of England so your not on your own. Engineering/manufacturing has been hit very hard. This government has got a lot to answer for!. Keep your chin up. As one door closes another will open. We've all got to stand by one another and get through these dreadful times. Fingers crossed things work out for you 🙏🤞
My dear friend David, it hurt my heart to watch that video. I have been with you since you posted your very first video and feel like we are friends. I hope everything goes wonderfully for you! Your pal Randy.
Possibly another couple of years odd-job office work before fully wound up :( Sad times. At least all my stuff is in my own property - so no rush to deal with it.
Keep on keeping on boss, maybe ToolTek is gone but the legacy lives on in all the tooling you made through out the years and the projects associated with them.
David knowing that you have employment with another company will be a relief to subscribers that watch your channel, obviously you are a very talented guy that knows his stuff and some more on top of that, least you don’t have the worry about running a business anymore, just do your job and collect your wage every week or month. I feel for you with working and running it for a long time, obviously you will never get over not having it anymore as I’m sure many a person has done in the sense of, where did I have one of those special tools that would save hours and you know where it was at your old place. Take care and look forward to your next video.... thanks. Phil
Thought it looked familiar when I saw the outside of your place I used to drive past twice a week going to northern blacking all the best in the future
All the best @David Wilks, hoping you have kept a few items for prosperity ! Very sad to see indeed. Keep up with the great videos though ! All the best
Sir, I wish you the very best in your future. A stranger has no way to know what pulling up your roots after so many years feels like. One can open ones heart in support of your efforts. Those things did their work in their time and place. You have a new time and place these days. Thirty years of good work and good memories is a rare treasure today. The hard bit is you are still working alone. Pint may help, with friends. You have people, I'd try looking to them to help you work through things. I am the last one living in my house, with three lives of junk and memories to bin. It is real hard graft. God comfort and keep you , Sir.
We'll carry on watching from over here in Buxton. I'm still telling people about that trick shaping the wooden guide pads with a few chisel marks in the end face.
Sad times, the old company I worked for is a housing estate now, once it was seven linked factories stretching for something like half a mile alongside a road on one side and a railway and canal on the other side. Going in to Europe did not save us. I guess it's just how the world is.
sad to watch this video, but you have to do what you have to do, I will still watch your videos so keep them coming. good luck for the future and just remember when one door closes another one opens.
The company I worked for closed down after 55 years,as you say Brexit created problems for small engineering Companies.The work was highly specialised machining stress rupture test pieces ,mainly aerospace stuff many years ago for Rolls Royce but recently for Alstom and Siemens.we also did a lot of research work for Universities and also the Nuclear industry namely EDF power stations.The first time Brexit was mentioned the work died from abroad ,then there was not enough work from the Uni's to keep the workforce going so the decision was made to close.I was lucky in that I retired 18 months before closure but I kept in touch it ended up taking nearly 12 months to get rid of everything. 2 CNC lathes 6 small centre lathes CNC Miller CNC grinder a hot wire cutter all had to be sold,Inspection tools,Inspection records for all test pieces ,all broken test pieces had to be scrapped.All office paperwork had to be shredded and all the equipment sold or given away.Testing machines sold all specialised m/c's sold stress rupture m/c's sold or scrapped. The building was originally a needle factory and I have seen picture's taken in 1906 even then it wasn't a new build,it wasn't the nicest looking building but right on the edge of town and the future plans for it,well It's going to be turned into student flats if they can afford to live there for 8 months a year.
Chin up David, you have created space in your life for new things to happen, I have been to auctions at many a business which has ended for one reason or another, and they are always sad affairs. letting go of the past is always sad and traumatic, you have done it now, onwards and upwards mate! Phil, East Yorkshire.
I've been working at another company for 15 months and will still be making videos.
Thanks David , always great to get a new video uploaded on your channel .
Good to hear 👍
We aint going nowhere David, all the best at the new gig.
I've really enjoyed your videos David. I feel for you closing your company! I hope you have good luck with whatever the road holds for you.
Oh man! I feel your pain... At least you are still working, if that is of any comfort.
Cheers mate. I cant comprehend how much it must sucks to say farewell to something you ran for 30 years. It really sucks
You should take the Tooltek sign as a reminder Dave, then go and have a pint or three
Nowhere to go for a pint.
@@geoffgreenhalgh3553 I didn't even think of that. When our place closed, we all went to Denny's then straight to the pub for drinks. It was such great therapy having a good hang with the work crew one last time. You can't even do that now. That's terrible.
this nearly brought a tear to my eye ffs
all the best mate.
Nothing more depressing than clearing out a factory where so much work, effort, and life itself, went on for years! I hope the future holds good for you David.
Sorry to hear about the closing. Happy to hear youre still employed. Hope your old equipment found happy homes.
There are many people out there with 'clean' jobs that will never realise the feelings of skilled craftsmen who have worked decades with their hands and the pleasure you get making something from scratch. You work for years often in dirty conditions for relatively low pay and the customer will never realise the blood sweat and tears that have gone into a tool or component. I am the only one in my family to have worked with his hands for a living and was always looked down on. People like you mate are the backbone of industrial Britain and you can be proud of what you have achieved. Those that know will always appreciate a skilled man.
I run our family business which is a scrapyard. A local engineering firm to us has just closed. it had been going for nearly 60 years. It was one of my dad's old customers. When we used to go and collect the scrap and swarf I always used to like popping in the workshop to see what jobs they were up to. All very interesting for an amateur machinist. Now all very sad, this place had been there all of my lifetime. I bought a load of tooling and a bridgeport 2S horizontal mill with vertical head. To use on my antique tractors and engine restorations. 🇬🇧
It’s sad and hard to close the doors and walk away from what you’ve built up , forty one years and a heart valve stopped me take care mate
Such a shame all that tooling has gone in the skip. After I had purchased my lathe I found out one of my neighbours was closing down an engineering company in Telford and he went through the skips their and got me a load of tooling and micrometers along with scraps of material which has really helped me start in engineering.
Tools have a soul. I feel a deep connection every time I handle any of my fathers or grandads tools.
On the other hand you are doing well to shut down without involving the liquidators.
Good luck with your future endeavours and keep posting the vids.
I was in the same boat 2 years ago... It killed me to go punch a clock for someone else...doing the same thing I was doing. so sorry for your loss..
All the best to you Dave. Reminds me of when the company I worked for for 30 years went bust and we had to clear the machine shop. I love machining, it felt like someone had died.
Reminds me of how long it took me to be able to work in my Cabinet shop after my Dad died. We had many a good talk sitting down in there. Ghosts of memories past. It will fade and you will crack on. Thanks for sharing David.
Dave ,have watched your clips with interest, and hate to see you shut up shop. Your skills were second to none.
Wish you all the best in the future and good health.
Wow. That looked hard. All those memories. Good luck for the future and i look forward to more of your videos. Thanks for sharing
When I look at auctions of engineering companies assets I always feel sad. There goes peoples jobs and more importantly the knowledge that goes with them. I know when I retired, there is a feeling of emptiness which is hard to explain. Good luck to you in the future.
Sad day my friend.... 😥 The community feels your pain.
I worked somewhere for 10 years that closed and it crushed me. Can't even imagine 30. You're a stud David.
We probably miss all the work you shared in this shop especially the heavy turning in exotic steel with the ds&g.
Engineering is a difficult business but we learned a lot on your work.
That's sad Dave - long time in one place and many memories - plus the inevitable bits and pieces. Looks like a lot to finish clearing up. I remember when I moved from UK to U.S. 20 years ago, how problematic it was moving, which included a lot from my old shop and a fair bit of machine stuff I couldn't keep had to be sold too. Glad you'll still be making some videos - onwards and upwards!
Brought a tear to my eye, I can only imagine how you feel Mate! Keep the Sign Please.
John, Australia.
I've literally found your channel in the last couple of days and have been enjoying watching. I've only recently got an intrest in machining and like your no nonsense, matter of fact way of teaching. I'm gutted that you've had to sell up but hopefully less stress just taking a wage. i was self employed nearly 20 years until illness gave me early retirement. All the best from a fellow northerner and keep up the good work.
Reminds me of clearing out my dad's old workshop. Somber stuff, wish you all the best.
I am devastated to see your final day at your shop. Wishing you the best of luck in your new journey David. I am glad you are able to keep up with your videos ~ Richard
Always a sad day when you see a machine shop close doors . I will have a pint for you there mate ! Cheers .
thanks for the update Dave, looking forward to your next lot of videos always something interesting
All the best, David!
Yeah man, I'm in the US and this year has definitely not been easy. We were doing really good until the "COVID " hopefully things will pick up starting the new year.
That's a sad day Dave. Tomorrow I hand in the keys for the house that I lived in for 29 years. I too, found it hard to clean out the place. So many memories. Good luck and keep making videos. Ken
you still got your memories Dave, i 'm glad i worked with you and Debbie over the years. Great guy.
Hope you start to feel better soon Dave, I live in Sheffield and have watched industry disappear over my working life time, especially steel, when I left school in the early sixties jobs where plentiful , people with your skill level will never be out of work. Good luck in your new job.
Best wishes to you David. I certainly love your videos, you are a wealth of knowledge. Take care brother.
Closed my shop last year, disposed of the last few machines in feb 2020.
Some excellent specimens of old machinery went to the smelters in their usual half-restored, never fully repaired state.
Hard to find parts and a general lack of knowledgeable operators sealed the fate of these machines long before I realised the writing on the wall.
I was somewhat emotional at the time, but a couple of weeks later we went into complete lockdown. Phew!
If I had held on just a few more days, the whole situation would have become totally unsalvageable.
More importantly, starting fresh freed up a whole lot of mental space and physical energy to think about new projects and also allowed lots of stress-free time with my family and kids.
Zero regrets!
I know the feeling well. Verry difficult throwing any tooling away.
All the best to you and yours. 🔨🔧🔩👍
So sad you had to close your business after 30 years. Really enjoy you videos and have learned a lot about machining that I didn't know before your videos. Thank You
Oh man David, best wishes from Washington....
Sad to see such a unique business close... maybe someday when I visit UK I shall look you up and buy you a beer...
Cheers...
Hi Dave, I’ll have the same problem as you when I leave my unit after 35 plus years ,not looking forward to it,cheers Mike
Keep up the good work sir . You have been an inspiration to me. Thank you for the videos. Bahamas.
So sad for this news. Appreciate all the videos you made for deep hole boring and trepanning. I never thought it could be done. Great skill and so unselfish in sharing them. May God be with you in your next journey.
David, have a good time, all the best for you!
It must be hard walking away after spending so much of your life there but as we've all come to know from your videos, it's not the building that's important, it's the man who works there.
I get it... I'd love to have piece of your history to carry on as a conversation piece. You are a unique talent. I'll be watching.
Can’t imagine how emotional and strange it must be, helped clear the workshop where I worked felt a bit emotional walking around after all the machines had been moved out.
And they were only moving a couple of miles up the road
I hate seeing engineering firms close. Still it is good that you are still involved and still able to pass on some of the experience you have. Good luck and keep the vids coming!
Heartbreaking. Was involved in a similar experience 5 years ago so I understand how you feel. Best of fortune for the future, look forward to more videos.
Sad time David but will still be watching your vids. Never came across anyone that can bore like you do. All the best for the future
David, U keep making videos , I'll be watching them! Best to ya.
Really enjoyed you videos.
After 30 years it looks like you were quite nested in the shop. Good luck on your future, wherever that path takes you
I'm truly sorry for what your going through, God bless you sir!!!!
_David, I would enjoy watching a future video in which you discuss the circumstances that brought you to this point._ 👍
I also. Would love to know. It's all very sad. Can. I ask did you vote for Brexit?
It would be nice to know how it started not just how it ended.
My admiration to you.great skilled man.
Best of luck on your new chapter of life . When one door shut another opens . I am sure you will do fine !
I'm a nostalgic type so I appreciate the feeling of loss at closing a major chapter in ones life. One consolation is that Tooltek will live on forever here in all these videos. Not many have that so you can be proud .
I feel your pain, it was quite difficult to watch. Wish you the best for your future fella.
David you spent the largest part of you life here 30 years you can’t erase that mate ,all the best to you my friend keep your tongue out 👍🏻🇬🇧
Feel for you mate😪, thanks for the video it was very difficult for you to film. Try to remember all the good time you had there, and all the enjoyment you still bring to us now with your videos 🍺🍺👍🏴
Why do we “ feel “ for things that have no feelings ? Sad to see your story but glad that you intend to continue sharing your time and skills . All the best .
I am sorry to hear you are done David. Hope the best to you for the future. God bless too. VF
David, to change direction in life isn’t always pleasant but “Don’t be sad because it’s over but BE proud because it Happened” thanks
Best wishes to you Dave from another small one man shop wondering wether he should shut shop too. Hard times fella, I'm 61 now and this last year has been pretty damn tough!
Heart wrenching.
The place were I spent over 20 years closed in 2010, I still dream about working jobs there. It's part of your life and what makes you. We learned to do there. Good luck brother.
30 years is very impressive for any company, especially in engineering, take the credit for that, and try to find others in your local that can match that.
All the best for tomorrow, then then day after.
Thanks for sharing.
All the best mate.
I am sorry about this, glad you have a new job.
Such a shame!
Really feel for you mate!
I went to countless auctions winding up engineering companies in the West Midlands in the late nineties, was so sad seeing all that knowledge and history disappearing. Much of the equipment went abroad.
one of the saddest videos I have ever seen, happy that things are going ok for you at the new job.......you seem to be a true gentleman David,
Sad story... Good luck in the new job.. New page, write it well fella... all the best..
I feel your pain mate. I had an engineering business for 30 years and brexit started the decline, then the pandemic finished it off. Its heart breaking. Don't give up though. I'm in the south of England so your not on your own. Engineering/manufacturing has been hit very hard. This government has got a lot to answer for!. Keep your chin up. As one door closes another will open. We've all got to stand by one another and get through these dreadful times. Fingers crossed things work out for you 🙏🤞
Sorry to hear about your closing been through it family business 50 years life goes on dude good luck
Tough job chucking all that out. I feel for you.
Tears to my eyes, very difficult memories... I hope you are doing well.
U r very energetic sir keep inspiring us
My dear friend David, it hurt my heart to watch that video. I have been with you since you posted your very first video and feel like we are friends. I hope everything goes wonderfully for you! Your pal Randy.
Done more than most. Keep on going. More to do for sure. Cheers!
Thanks Tom 👍🍺
Userl had gone, wilks era started. You are still best lathe master of UA-cam:)
Possibly another couple of years odd-job office work before fully wound up :( Sad times. At least all my stuff is in my own property - so no rush to deal with it.
I can relate. Not that many years for me but closed down a shop myself.
Keep on keeping on boss, maybe ToolTek is gone but the legacy lives on in all the tooling you made through out the years and the projects associated with them.
David knowing that you have employment with another company will be a relief to subscribers that watch your channel, obviously you are a very talented guy that knows his stuff and some more on top of that, least you don’t have the worry about running a business anymore, just do your job and collect your wage every week or month. I feel for you with working and running it for a long time, obviously you will never get over not having it anymore as I’m sure many a person has done in the sense of, where did I have one of those special tools that would save hours and you know where it was at your old place. Take care and look forward to your next video.... thanks. Phil
Thought it looked familiar when I saw the outside of your place I used to drive past twice a week going to northern blacking all the best in the future
It is not an end, Dave. It is a new beginning! :-)
All the best @David Wilks, hoping you have kept a few items for prosperity ! Very sad to see indeed. Keep up with the great videos though ! All the best
Good luck hope you’re doing well. It hurts to see this.
Sir, I wish you the very best in your future. A stranger has no way to know what pulling up your roots after so many years feels like. One can open ones heart in support of your efforts. Those things did their work in their time and place. You have a new time and place these days. Thirty years of good work and good memories is a rare treasure today. The hard bit is you are still working alone. Pint may help, with friends. You have people, I'd try looking to them to help you work through things. I am the last one living in my house, with three lives of junk and memories to bin. It is real hard graft. God comfort and keep you , Sir.
We'll carry on watching from over here in Buxton. I'm still telling people about that trick shaping the wooden guide pads with a few chisel marks in the end face.
Sad times, the old company I worked for is a housing estate now, once it was seven linked factories stretching for something like half a mile alongside a road on one side and a railway and canal on the other side. Going in to Europe did not save us. I guess it's just how the world is.
Hugs and love.
My heart feels for you Dave
Bit emotional there David, would have loved a bit of a rummage in that skip, goof luck!😀
sad to watch this video, but you have to do what you have to do, I will still watch your videos so keep them coming. good luck for the future and just remember when one door closes another one opens.
The company I worked for closed down after 55 years,as you say Brexit created problems for small engineering Companies.The work was highly specialised machining stress rupture test pieces ,mainly aerospace stuff many years ago for Rolls Royce but recently for Alstom and Siemens.we also did a lot of research work for Universities and also the Nuclear industry namely EDF power stations.The first time Brexit was mentioned the work died from abroad ,then there was not enough work from the Uni's to keep the workforce going so the decision was made to close.I was lucky in that I retired 18 months before closure but I kept in touch it ended up taking nearly 12 months to get rid of everything.
2 CNC lathes 6 small centre lathes CNC Miller CNC grinder a hot wire cutter all had to be sold,Inspection tools,Inspection records for all test pieces ,all broken test pieces had to be scrapped.All office paperwork had to be shredded and all the equipment sold or given away.Testing machines sold all specialised m/c's sold stress rupture m/c's sold or scrapped.
The building was originally a needle factory and I have seen picture's taken in 1906 even then it wasn't a new build,it wasn't the nicest looking building but right on the edge of town and the future plans for it,well It's going to be turned into student flats if they can afford to live there for 8 months a year.
That hurts to watch, David...so sorry...
that hit me right in the feels
David CHEERS I've seen this and lived it to with time i looked over the Fence and found it GREEN. 🧐 .
I've just closed my business under better circumstances but it's still not easy. Lots of memories. Good luck for the future and keep up the videos
Chin up David, you have created space in your life for new things to happen, I have been to auctions at many a business which has ended for one reason or another, and they are always sad affairs. letting go of the past is always sad and traumatic, you have done it now, onwards and upwards mate!
Phil, East Yorkshire.
A damn shame , there’s hope tho as there’s a few new starters near me. Hope your well, stay safe