Phil Green P.G.C. Construction Gilberts, Ill. Just an observa- tion here, guys and girls. I was in a big box store that rents tools. A young guy – I would say in his middle 20s – brings back a slide miter box and tells the manager (about in his early 30s) that this tool is defective. He says even when this on/off switch is OFF, and he pulls the trigger, the saw works. They both were puzzled. I stepped in and said that on/ off switch is for the laser. NOT the tool. I told them the trigger keys the saw. I said plug it in and try it. They said, “You were right!” My observation is that the younger guys have no real tool sense anymore. I’m NOT blam- ing them. It’s just that proper use of TOOLS is not taught anywhere anymore. Observation over, go back to your lives citizens.... Bradford Denny, Nichols Tile & Terrazzo Company, Joelton, Tenn. – We’ve had a few guys in their early 20s come through that have had ZERO to very limited experience with power tools. It’s surprising. Solomon Clark, The Builder, Groton, Conn. – Most of the really good setters in my area are 60 years old and a few in their mid 40s. Average age of a contractor in Rhode Island is over 55. It’s becoming a real prob- lem. Nick Boggess, Oakmoore Tile & Floor Coverings, Lakewood, Ohio – They need shop class back. Proper training on tools This month’s Hot Topics comes from a post by Phil Green in the NTCA Members Only Facebook group back in July. It recounts an experience Phil had in a big box store, which revealed a lack of knowledge about tools among workers, and employees tasked to sell them. What follows are excerpts and reaction to this state of affairs, pay scale, early expo- sure to tools and developing aptitude for working with one’s hands. – Lesley Goddin HOT TOPICS ––––––––––––––––––––––––– 66 TileLetter | October 2017