Which tools do I need to start on my fab projects?

[brrymnvette]

I'm in the process of building up my tools. I want to start gathering the stuff I'll need to be able to fab parts and brackets and what not while building a car. All I've got so far is a MIG welder and a little Harbor Freight TIG and a Tube Notcher that goes on a power drill.

What do you guys suggest? I was thinking a cut off saw?
Plasma cutter?
Band Saw?

[Mathius]

I'm in the process of building up my tools. I want to start gathering the stuff I'll need to be able to fab parts and brackets and what not while building a car. All I've got so far is a MIG welder and a little Harbor Freight TIG and a Tube Notcher that goes on a power drill.

What do you guys suggest? I was thinking a cut off saw?
Plasma cutter?
Band Saw?

A plasma is nice to have, but not essential. A good sawzaw and an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel can handle most heavy cutting. A set of holesaws can be handy, and it's nice to have an old oxyacetylene set lying around, but really a plasma is a luxury.

You should give us a better idea of what you're planning to do.

I mean if you want to hand craft the whole body, and you have a large budget, I could suggest bending brakes, an english wheel, a tube bender, etc. but those are again luxuries, not necessary.

Mathius

[brrymnvette]

Well, as of right now I'm building an 88 Mustang Coupe/Notch. I'm going a tub, moving the rear framerails and making them straight, maybe, possibly make a section of the front frame rails for a brainstorm idea I have. I'll mainly need to fabricate brackets. For shock mounts and control arms, etc.

[jackfrost]

if I were you, I'd find a good waterjet place. they can make brackets quickly, easily, and fairly cheaply, and you don't have to buy any tools.

I'm just acquiring tools as I find out that I need them...

[72nova]

Somebody on here is selling a portable band saw stand. If your just making brackets and such it might be worth looking into. I would love to have one because I am very limited on space, but I have bigger things on my plate right now and bandsaw isn't one of them. I think I saw it in the for sale section.

[JRouche]

I started with a drill and jigsaw. A jigsaw with a good bimetal blade can eat up 16ga sheet in no time. Progressed to a Mig after I cut everything up Angle grinder is essential. The sawsall for the thicker members.

Now I have a few angle grinders, better mig, a tig, oxy-act, plasma, spot welder, band saw, 50 ton press, three phase electricity, cnc mills and lathes, more clamps than I can count, seven air angle grinders, air body saw, air nibbler, electric shear, throatless shear (get one), a couple floor jacks, bottle jacks, ten jack stands, 10 ton air over juice porta power, tranny jack, and well the list goes on.

My point, Im not in the buisness of working on cars. But as that certain tool comes up and makes work easier its nice to have.

But back to the lowly jigsaw. I actually did most of all the sheetmetal with it. Thats the entire floor, bumper to bumper. Floor, trunk, firewall, inner fender wells. The entire bottom plate. I was on a budget and blades were cheap.

Next inline for one of my most used tools, besides the welder and clamps and angle grinder is the plasma. I got it early on. And its been my flame wrench, jigsaw and water jet since. It will slice a 16ga sheet just about as fast as I can follow the heavy paper template. And for brackets? I am using it now to cut out suspension brackets from 1/4" plate. Again, paper templates. That 1/16" thick type for crafts.

But yeah, tooling can be endless. But works of art can be done with the simplest of tools. A drill, angle grinder, welder and jigsaw. All you need. JR

[brrymnvette]

I'm looking at a bandsaw on Craigslist for $125. Thinking about saying screw it and getting a plasma cutter.

[JRouche]

I'm looking at a bandsaw on Craigslist for $125. Thinking about saying screw it and getting a plasma cutter.

The band saw around here gets more use than the plasma. I started with an abrasive chop saw. Was always chasing my angles around. But it still gets used. Just today. The steel guy dropped off eight 20 foot sticks of metal on my driveway. Just pulled the chop saw out to the driveway and chopped them up to manageable pieces. Got a crappy harbor freight band saw and put a good starrett blade on it and it was like night and day. It became too small so I have a lil larger one and with good blades its a dream. Oh, and my plasma cost me 2800 bucks new. The band saw was only 800. Oh but I really do love slicing up metal with the plasma. I would shy away from any non branded name machines though. If you cant get consumables then it becomes a pain. JR

[One Off Customs]

get a band saw and/or a cut off wheel. if you get a plasma you then need a compressor, a hose, gloves, tinted face mask, dust mask, and a grinder to remove the slag. I have alot of good fabrication equipment and i still never have everything i need. band saws cut clean and more accurate and you need less grinding in most cases.

[Taylor1969]

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