Where did you learn to fabricate?

[Chevyfanaddict]

I look at so many awesome builds on this forum and I can only dream of having the skills and knowledge of some of you on here. I dont even own a welder or know how to weld very well... Yet, but i know that even if i did get a welder i dont know if i would have the ability or know how that some of you possess. Where did you learn?

[TheJDMan]

If welding is your primary concern, I would recommend taking some welding classes from a local trade school or community college. I took every metal shop and auto shop class I was allowed to take in high school which is where I got started. I have learned a lot from just doing after that. You will not be good at first but you will get better with practice.

[raustinss]

If welding is your primary concern, I would recommend taking some welding classes from a local trade school or community college. I took every metal shop and auto shop class I was allowed to take in high school which is where I got started. I have learned a lot from just doing after that. You will not be good at first but you will get better with practice.

x2 i started as a summer job at 18 ....tried some other stuff but always loved making things with my hands . i turned this all into a apprenticeship and well... do it every day now . if you have some specific questions please feel free to answer me. Im sure i can answer whatever you need to know or can find out . good luck

[Chevyfanaddict]

Well welding isnt my primary concern per say but just all the metal work in general. Im just talking about how i see you guys bending tube, square or round; and building custom chassis, back halfs, roll cages. All the sheet metal fab and making custom panels and using the air hammers and bead rollers and stuff like that. I wonder about any and all the math thats involved to figure this stuff (BTW im TERRIBLE and terrified of math) and all the theory to it. The measuring and speacial tools like plumb bobs and calculating angles and bends etc. I love seeing all what you guys are doing with suspensions and all the math and calculations that go into that stuff as well.

[minendrews68]

I was a tool and die maker early on in life, I just liked doing everything myself. Now I'm at the age I'm glad I've got a nineteen year old around...

[72BBSwinger]

My budget has always mandated it. Plan on getting burned,cut and your eyes cleaned regularly.

[raustinss]

Well welding isnt my primary concern per say but just all the metal work in general. Im just talking about how i see you guys bending tube, square or round; and building custom chassis, back halfs, roll cages. All the sheet metal fab and making custom panels and using the air hammers and bead rollers and stuff like that. I wonder about any and all the math thats involved to figure this stuff (BTW im TERRIBLE and terrified of math) and all the theory to it. The measuring and speacial tools like plumb bobs and calculating angles and bends etc. I love seeing all what you guys are doing with suspensions and all the math and calculations that go into that stuff as well.

Maybe fire up the goggles on the interweb see what you could find in tech math textbooks. Fabrication is heavy in math, the nice thing with it is either your right or wrong no in between. I'm sure that there are metal fabrication books out there somewhere

[Matman3]

I started in the auto body industry. Welding and metal working I did all day every day. That provided a great background to get into racing as a fabricator/mechanic. Volenteer on a team. You will not get paid but you will learn alot. Not only fabrication but the mechanical side as well. Good luck!

[Nicks67GTO]

I suck at it compared to many on here but I just bought a welder and started doing it. Thats how I learn just about everything. Diving in. I would like to take a class and buy an Eastwood TIG though. Welding is an art if your good.

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

I guess I have the fortune of starting out young. I started wrenching on my dad's stuff at 12-13. At 14 a friend of mine (started as a friend of my dad's) would pick me up during the summer so I could work at his bodyshop. Started masking, and doing menial shop tasks, then started to learn bodywork, sheetmetal work, and some welding. Took a Vocational School "Street Rod painting" class Junior year of high school. And a lot of the years between from like 18-25 I just learned from using my dad's welder, and just practice, practice, practice. A lot of that was self taught, I'd watch shows like Rides, Overhaulin, and so forth, get ideas and tips to learn, and I'd apply what I could. Now I'm 29 and for the last few years I've learned some things from the company I work as an engineer at. Our R&D area has all kinds of cool tools, and the guy working there has built Choppers forever, working at Bourget's for a long time, so he's very knowledgeable. He's teaching me TIG welding, and various other techniques. Now I'm buying tools while I can (shrinker/stretcher, bead roller, good hammer/dolly set), and reading books and watching videos wherever I can. I'm always trying to learn new things, I realize not everyone has the opportunity I have so I take advantage of it!

[raustinss]

Check online for tech videos there's is a million on YouTube. Let your fingers do the walking and the talking for you

[FlyDoc]

just start doing it! its the only way you will learn. start with a cheep project, like a 3rd gen Camaro,you can pick one up for little to nothing.
watch you-tube on fabing, tool building, read up on the part of the car that you are working on. so if your doing suspension then research suspension only at that time. move on and start the next part, and have fun!

[GTOtzel]

Another good place to start is the Metal meet forums. http://www.metalmeet.com/

[groho]

I look at it like this, I have a threshold. . . .if I can build it, and screw it up 3 times for less than it cost to to pay some else, then I go for it. . . first time to see what happens, second time to f@ck it up, and third time to get it right. Time is my biggest obstacle and why I would pay someone else, but lately I've found I can screw it up 3 times, and still finish it 3 times faster than paying a shop. I'm nowhere near the milling, CNC machining gurus on this site, but I'm garage capable.

Keep it simple, and start with the basics. Welding school at the community college costs about $60 for a semester, best thing you can do. Get a good welder, Miller, Lincoln, because its a long term investment. Tools such as benders, breaks, shrinkers, etc, harbor freight cuz its cheap practice, then go buy a real one once you know what you're doing.