TOOLMEN in TRAINING – Christopher’s own words

TOOLMEN in TRAINING – Christopher’s own words

The Importance of Toolmanship

Written by Christopher, Bendix Academy Student

My name is Christopher, and I have been attending Bendix Academy for the last two years, learning many new skills and talents that have helped me work towards my goal of becoming an engineer.

I believe that learning toolmanship can be very important for finding a future career, gaining important skills, and learning new hobbies.

Many aspects of our lives today depend on technology and infrastructure that relies on people working in engineering fields and the trades. This creates a demand for many talented and skilled engineers, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, and repairmen.

The many different lessons that I have taken at Bendix Academy have been a major influence toward my desire to learn engineering, due to the hands-on experience that I have gained. 

The variety of engineering related lessons that I have learned include topics such as basic tools, disassembling and reassembling a simple engine, and taking apart various mechanisms from a car. Additionally, the toolmanship based lessons of Bendix Academy cover other skills that are important for the trades, such as plumbing and household electricity.  The hands-on experience is also great for learning how to apply these learned skills to the real world. All the different categories of lessons covered at Bendix Academy can be great for anyone who wants to discover or experience a potential career for their future.

Not everyone who wants to learn toolmanship has to have an interest in an engineering field or the trades. It can be very beneficial to learn how to use different tools and figure out how things work in order to repair, maintain, or start a project.

For example, knowing the skills that come from toolmanship can help with repairing a broken appliance, unclogging a sink, or wiring a new outlet. Being able to accomplish such tasks without having to hire someone else to do the work can help save time and money while growing one’s character through the skills that are learned. Using the skills of toolmanship can not only help increase one’s own self-reliance but also grants the ability to help others in need who don’t have the skills to accomplish such tasks.

Getting into new hobbies is another thing that can be gained from toolmanship. Learning the necessary skills used for different tools and machinery can open the doors to many new potential hobbies that can be discovered.

A new hobby that I have picked up during my time at Bendix Academy has been woodworking, which involves creating trinkets such as bowls on a wood lathe. Other skills that could be learned as the result of toolmanship could include metalworking or refurbishing items using different tools and machinery. The use of different equipment does not only have to be used to repair or fabricate objects but can be used to express creativity and develop one’s personality.

In today’s world I believe that learning the skills that come from toolmanship can be very beneficial to not only people in engineering or the trades but to anyone who wants to have a greater self-reliance. 

This is because the influence from a program like Bendix Academy can help people find a potential future career, gain important skills that will come in handy later in life, and help people discover new and interesting hobbies. What I have learned from Bendix Academy has helped me become a better person and attain the necessary skills to help others in certain situations, which I believe can help other people develop a better character.

Bendix Academy thanks you, Christopher, for sharing your experience with us!

Please contact us at [email protected] for any questions,
or click below to submit an application to become a student!

Where’s Evan in the workshop?

Where’s Evan in the workshop?

Bendix Academy – Inspiring Tomorrow’s Toolmen Today!

We love visitors of all ages, especially aspiring toolmen like Evan!  While he’s a little young (we currently accept students aged 12  and up), he’s already looking forward to growing his knowledge about toolmanship.

We’re thrilled to announce the success of our pilot program and the exciting journey ahead as we gear up for full-time operation in 2025, beginning with the first issue of our quarterly newsletter, Toolmen Times. Stay in touch with our progress by joining our mailing list by clicking the link below. You’ll get news and info about our growing programs, and be the first to know about events and open houses!

See Bendix Academy in Action

A picture speaks a thousand words, but a visit is priceless.  Bendix Academy invites everyone with interest to email [email protected] or call us at 810-599-4035 to schedule a tour (no walk-ins please) and see why we’re growing.

You’ll experience the impact firsthand!

Support the Next Generation

Want to make a difference?  Just $5/month can help a student discover a lifetime of skills. Just click on the red button to support with your donation of any amount. Every contribution counts!

 

Join us in shaping Tomorrow’s Toolmen Today!

WE ARE BUILDING a place for generations to explore, teach, and learn the mechanical world together, creating Tomorrow’s Toolmen Today.

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Meet Grey

Meet Grey

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Ever since I was a kid, I considered myself as having a mechanical intellect. As a toddler, I used to flip bikes upside down, spin the pedal sprocket, and watch how the chain mechanism worked.

As I grew older, I was curious about how different things worked – steam locomotives, the electric motors on our fan, and the old alarm clock on my nightstand. Though curious, I realized I was never really motivated to dive in to learn or understand how they functioned or operated.

Until I found Bendix Academy.

I was 11 then and began to learn about different fasteners, metal works, sandblasting, riveting, and lots more. It was there that something sparked in me I had never felt before: ambition.

Three years into lessons, I stopped by an estate sale and bought a vintage GE fan for $5.

Back home, I took it apart, cleaned the copper coils, changed out the wiring, and cleaned rust off with a wire brush. I turned around and sold it for $35! That was the start of my journey. Today I fix up old engines, outboards motors, and chainsaws and sell them. I’m also branching out into working on cars and trucks.

If it weren’t for Bendix, I would not be who I am today. We need more youth like me find the shovel of ambition to explore and dig deep into their passions for toolmanship and mechanics.

– Grey, former Bendix Student 

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Meet Mr. Lange

Meet Mr. Lange

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Being a Bendix mentor is an excellent way for people like me – retired engineers, pilots, DIY enthusiasts – to pass on lifetimes of experience and time-honored skills to younger generations.

Bendix’s toolmanship program is a valuable asset, providing kids with important tool and equipment knowledge and their applicability to mechanical solutions. Our work here is fostering design creativity and problem solving in our youth. I really enjoy knowing that my work here is inspiring and assisting kids to pursue their passions.  

-Ralph Lange, Bendix Academy Mentor 

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Meet Zelie

Meet Zelie

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I go to Kensington Woods High School, a small charter school in Lakeland, Michigan. I love school, but at Kensington, we don’t have many of classes other schools have, including shop class.

I first heard about Bendix Academy from a school counselor. I was curious, so I went to their workshop for a tour. The next think I knew I was learning to properly use a saw then design things in CAD!

Even if my school did have shop class, it wouldn’t be anything like Bendix. I also don’t have grandfathers who mentored me or anyone at home to take me to the garage and teach me how to take apart an engine, fix my bike, or do electrical work.

Today I am part of Bendix Academy and I am learning all these things – things no other kids learn at my school. Things like how to run a hydraulic press, lay a welding bead, and fabricate airplane wings.

I’m able to participate at Bendix thanks to a scholarship. I’m from a big family – the middle of seven kids – and sometimes money is limited. Scholarship support from generous people have allowed me to attend, learn, and expand my horizons.

Bendix is giving me an equal standing in a male dominated arena and is giving me a foundation that will empower me to rise to the top in my field. I am expanding my horizons because of people who donate and make my participation here possible.

Bendix changed my life. Without Bendix, it would have never occurred to me to pursue a career in manufacturing. And the financial support provided made my education here possible. Support Bendix and you’ll support untapping young talent and potential and help empower more teens like me find their futures!

– Zelie, Bendix student

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Become a Student