CAMAGÜEY – The smell of oil and the rhythmic sound of the lathe are the soundtrack to Gerardo García Calet's life. At 63 years old, he has spent more than four decades sculpting metal, transforming cold steel into precise and functional pieces.

His weathered hands, furrowed by the passage of time and the friction of steel, reveal the dedication of a man who takes on each assignment as a challenge.

For the past 35 of those years, he has continuously provided his services to the workshop of the Communist Party of Cuba in Camagüey. Adelante spoke with him to explore the satisfactions and challenges of a life dedicated to creating with his hands.

Born at the Cándido González Sugar Mill in Santa Cruz del Sur, his vocation stems from family tradition, as his father and brother were lathe operators.

"After school, I used to go to the lathe to say hello to my dad. I used to go there and look at the machines, but as a child, they seemed dangerous to me, too much iron. I often observed the work process, but as such, it never caught my attention."

He decided at 17 to become a sugar miller, but he married and moved to Camagüey, a city without a sugar mill.

"I told my wife: find me a school for whatever, the first thing that came along, and lathe work appeared. I started at the Water Pump Factory; I had never practiced it before, and there I improved myself. I had that feeling that there were lathe operators in my blood, so I convinced myself to learn and do it well."

He worked at the Paco Cabrera and Jesús Menéndez workshops until 1990, when he arrived at his current facility, where he has garnered several achievements and recognitions for his work.

"Since working on the lathe, I've dedicated myself to solving problems. The shortage of parts and materials has forced us to innovate, and I've received several awards over the years. We have the machines and tools, and this is where the parts are produced, recovered, and remade."

He asserts that the most important thing is the interest one puts into the work and being useful in solving problems, especially in complex times like the current ones.

"Now the shortage is even greater; the blockade has us in a very difficult position regarding parts, and there are practically no resources. Everything that comes here must be used; nothing can be thrown away. We must rationalize the tools.

"The workdays are intense, and the electricity issue is hitting us hard. The workshop has become a Base Business Unit, and we no longer depend on a fixed salary; here we have to find it and it's shared among the entire team. Power outages are a major inconvenience, but we don't stop; we work Saturdays, Sundays, nights, whenever we have the opportunity."

With so many years of experience, he has completed countless complex jobs. Among them, he recalls the restoration of motorcycle headers, where the exhaust pipe goes. He explains that this part is complicated, as mandrels and a series of different attachments must be prepared to center it and make new threads.

"I can also mention the repairs of all types of car end caps, ball joints, and complete steering systems. These are things that, with the passage of time and the experience one acquires, one practically does with one's eyes closed, because one has done it so many times that the work becomes ingrained in one's mind."

He loves everything about lathe-making and learns something new every day.

"A lathe operator who tells you they know it all is wrong, because every day you encounter a different phenomenon. Things that require brainpower, intelligence, and the ability to produce quality and responsible pieces are delicate and cannot be flawed."

Gerardo has many positive memories of his workplace, and the affection and consideration he has received from the various bosses and colleagues he has worked with.

"With my personality, I believe I have earned everyone's respect, a feeling I reciprocally extend to all those people as well. I get along well with everyone; everyone knows me, and I spend a lot of time here." They say the heart of the workshop is here, in the machinery area, because that's where most of the recovery, adaptation, and innovation work is done. We always try to keep the transport running, which is our corporate purpose."

He defines the lathe operator's trade as one of dedication and thought. Keeping in mind the concept of what and how it will be done, with the quality that must be achieved, and the importance of the part, is essential to keeping the equipment in top condition. It's not just about doing things for the sake of doing them; it's about doing them and doing them well.

It's hard to imagine the workshop without Gerardo, and he's clear that he's not leaving.

"I feel good, and if my health allows, I'll continue here until I can no longer, innovating from the lathe and helping to solve problems."

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez