Oppo, Tell Me What You Know About Metal Fabrication

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
10/05/2020 at 14:53 • Filed to: Metal shaping, metal working, fabrication

I’ve gone down a rabbit hole of fabrication and related jobs & industries after seeing this Jaguar hardtop post and thinking, “Wow, I want to learn to make custom bodywork for a car someday.”

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I have zero metalworking experience, but I’m fascinated by the idea of learning fabrication. Either as a hobby or a full-scale apprenticeship and training, the idea of picking up a craft as a skill seems really appealing to me.

I’m soon graduating from university but looking for a change of pace. I plan to get more involved with wrenching on my car once I have the time, and fabrication seems like a nice creative extension of that.

Again, I have barely any background in this but what I’ve seen so far looks pretty cool.

What resources & info are out there on metal fabrication? I know some of you have background in this. What do you enjoy most about it, what disciplines are involved, etc.? I’m stoked to hear your best stories about the subject too.

DISCUSSION (20)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:07

If your serious about getting into it, go see if Emory needs help sweeping floors part time and start from there. https://www.emorymotorsports.com/

sony1492 > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:10

This channel is a good resource.

Seeing stuff like this is what made me decide to go closed wheel body on the Lotus.

way2blu does a rev update > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/05/2020 at 15:12

I’d seen and drooled over the Emory RS somewhere before (maybe the FP?) but I didn’t connect the dots that they were in CA until just now. Thanks for the link, I may have to check them out!

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:12

Nothing.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:17

I know next to nothing. Though my dad was a machinist and if he was still alive, he could tell you a lot.

notsomethingstructural > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:19

I have a bunch of resources but they would all tell you to pick another hobby. Unless your life’s work is going to be sheetmetal fabrication this is not something anyone really dabbles in.

If you want something that’s similar in principle, try composite layup. It’s still hard (learn to use a mil gauge!) but it’s 5% of the price to get started in, tops.

Tripper > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:28

Also follow them on Instagram because pretty cars! https://www.instagram.com/rodemory/?hl=en

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:46

I know I suck at finish metal fab but that's probably not what you were after....carry on.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:47

I can hold my own these days. Used to be pretty ok. Have done hot rod fab type stuff in another life. I recommend starting small, and being really patient. A ball peen hammer and set of aviator snips will go a long way if you can’t get your hands on fancier stuff. I recommend checking out Ron Covell, dude is the OG sheet metal master:

https://www.youtube.com/user/covellron

Do you have any specific questions?

zipfuel > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:59

I really like the idea of being able to build my own large scale bodywork etc so I have looked into it a bit.

I never even considered the idea of English wheels or wooden bucks and welding , that’s too much like hard work and skilled craftsmanship for me. I want stuff I can design in CAD and then snap together off templates and jigs.

So I started looking at how they used to make airplanes with aluminum frames and rivets. Then I found this guy who’s building a 1:1 Battlestar Galactica fighter using the same techniques !

https://projectviper.wordpress.com/

I check in every now and again, it’s pretty damn impressive. I figure I could built a motorbike fairing or similar this way with just templates, tin snips and clecos. Theres definitely going to be limits to the geometry you could achieve but barriers to entry are low.

CaptDale - is secretly British > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 15:59

I know I want to know how to

slipperysallylikespenguins > way2blu does a rev update
10/05/2020 at 22:14

This is something I have been wanting to get into for years now and have amassed quite a few resources for but haven’t gotten started physically yet. Here are a few links that I really like.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/867119580122571

https://www.facebook.com/groups/212009922153952

https://www.facebook.com/groups/213258945767335/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/265432570479900/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/493743827412172/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1518975768323381/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420490988235867/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1667467966868561/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/208728959586723/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/335783673285854/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/975721692468728/

I posted a lot of links but they are all good for slightly different ideas.

If I was going to observe a pro and take classes it would be this guy Wray Schelin :

https://www.proshaper.com/

He is very active on some of the facebook groups.

Most of the pros on the pages till beginners just to get a couple hammers, a beater bag, and a stump. Those are the basic tools and the pros can do almost anything with them.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/05/2020 at 22:16

Where's a decent place to buy some aluminum to practice on?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BaconSandwich is tasty.
10/06/2020 at 00:25

A sheet metal supplier. Hardware stores (maybe even home depot) sometimes have metal stock that will work, but a metal supplier is best. Pretty much every major city, and lots of not so major towns will have such places. Lots of places to buy online as well. Even summit racing sells sheet metal.

Are you thinking for welding or forming? Or both? I would suggest something thicker, maybe 1/8", to learn to tig aluminum. 16ga AL to learn forming. 20-22 ga steel for forming. 20ga steel isn't a bad place to start to learn sheet metal welding either, it's really the happy medium for learning sheet metal fab.

pip bip - choose Corrour > way2blu does a rev update
10/06/2020 at 03:54

nothing

BaconSandwich is tasty. > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/06/2020 at 10:33

I'm thinking forming. I don't have an A/C TIG welder, so my options are either steel or forming aluminum. Aluminum seems like such a neat material to work with.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BaconSandwich is tasty.
10/06/2020 at 23:13

It is! And if you have access to an oxy- acetylene torch, you can anneal it pretty easily to avoid work- hardening. Steel is easier to learn on, IMO.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/07/2020 at 08:35

I always thought the spring back on steel would make it more difficult to form. I guess it would depend largely on the type of steel.

When I cut up a large ash log I had sitting around, I saved around of it with hopes to someday use it for metal shaping.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BaconSandwich is tasty.
10/07/2020 at 09:47

I think steel is easier to learn on because the margin for error is larger, by quite a bit. It’s too easy to mess up aluminum and then not be able to bring it back without annealing.

Cool! Give it a shot. Start with something simple.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/07/2020 at 11:48

You've inspired me to try doing something. After my current project...