[509media]

Angle grinders are very important and knowing how to use them also helps. A good work surface can help those at any skill level. JMR Fabrication Tables Might be a good start.

I would also like to point out good measuring tools are key. Buy different angle finders, levels, steel rulers, tape measures, squares, and so on. I say different because some squares are too small and some are too large. I think I spend more time measuring than anything else when preparing and actually fabricating a part.

A good stack of chip board for making templates. Poster board will work. Chip board can be more easily formed. It can even be bolted on place to check fit. Chipboard Pads

Dan

[lakailimited06]

anyone know of any good type of magnets to use for fabbing? when i built my front bumper i had to use 1/8" to cover the gaps between my bumper and the WJ body to make it look like one piece instead of a 2x6.. a magnet type tool would have helped out alot..

[509media]

Originally Posted by lakailimited06

anyone know of any good type of magnets to use for fabbing? when i built my front bumper i had to use 1/8" to cover the gaps between my bumper and the WJ body to make it look like one piece instead of a 2x6.. a magnet type tool would have helped out alot..

Are you referring to these:

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies


Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies


They have more...

[thantos858]

A good dolly and hammer set like this one - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices Intermediate to Advanced for body work and shaping sheet metal.

Milling machine Intermediate to Advanced cost depends on brand new or used 500-10,000+ Used to create new parts from metal.

English Wheel Intermediate to Advanced cost 150-2,000+ again dependent on needs/wants. Used to turn metal into compound curves

[JeeperDon]

Originally Posted by 509media

[having the tools] to weld does not make a person more or less creative.

I disagree. Think McGyver. Think getting something done on the trail with less takes more creativity/imagination than in the garage.

Welding shock tabs is a bad example as it's not really fabrication, more of a repair. Fab to me is more of an optional thing, like people making new consoles, or Hi-Lift hood racks, etc.

It sounds like you have never been there for any length of time as you are younger, probably have been welding for a while. I didn't start welding until my 50's, yet I still got a lot of cool stuff built long before that.

[BESRK]

I think fabrication is sort of an evolutionary process. Our creativity points us in a direction and our tools (and ability to use them) facilitate the outcome or final product. Proper use of more advanced tooling will usually result in a more "refined" product made in a more efficient manner. I would much rather weld with my Miller Mig than a couple of batteries, some jumper cables and welding rods.. although I have used both.

I have spent the last few years moving into what I would consider is the "more advanced" area of fabrication.. at least that's what I tell myself

So.. my list will include the tools that have really helped me transition from my "garage" into my "shop".

Definately on my list are..

220V Mig (210 or higher)

AC/DC Tig

Stick Welder (still use it on special occasions)

Plasma Cutter.. I use the same Hypertherm 1250 for CNC Cutting and hand cutting. Paid about $3200 for the hand torch version and picked up a machine torch when I got my plasma table.

Milling Machine.. I picked up a 2hp Jet Mill/Drill (R8 spindle) at auction for $700. Great for drilling large holes in a precision manner. Also nice for precision metal removal (versus a grinder). I had never used a mill prior to purchasing this one so I've had to learn on the fly.. breaking expensive bits as necessary.

Lathe.. Bought a Jet 13x40 lathe (think I paid about $4000 or so for it new) for boring my bumper spindle tubes and doing driveshaft work. A lathe is one of those "garage tools" that you might not use daily, but when you need it, nothing else will substitute.

Forklift.. next to my welder, it is the most used tool in my shop. Need to unload a steel truck.. forklift. Need to pull a roll cage... forklift. Need to lift/rotate a cage for quicker welding.. forklift. Need to check suspension travel/bind.. forklift. Need to do the brakes on my 02 Ford Escort.. forklift. Need to change shop lights.. forklift. Double stacking shop shelving.. no problem with the forklift. Now my shop storage can go up 16ft high. I picked up a 3000lb propane powered forklift for $4000 used.

Dry cut chop saw (the ones that use a carbide blade).. makes quick and very accurate cuts in tubing.

Hydraulic Tube Bender.. converted my JD2 Model 3 to elec/hydro this past weekend. It is 5 times faster than my old air/hydro setup... which was 5 times faster than my manual setup.

Notchmaster Tube Notcher.. accurate notches a tube in about 30 seconds.. to include multi-tube nodes. Paid $250ish for one and got another one in trade for a bumper.. so now I have 2

CNC Plasma Table.. Probably the best "money maker" I've got (besides my slow brain) is my plasma table. No where else in my shop can I type something on my computer screen, have a machine cut it out, pick up the piece, hand it to a customer and get paid... without even getting dirty. My TM2 4'x4' Table probably set me back about $10K with a machine torch and auto height control but it's made half that back in 6 months easy. Now they've got a 2'x2' table out for about $2K or so.. within reach of most "Intermediate" DIYs.

On my 'wishlist' is a Press Brake capable of bending a few feet of 3/16" and 1/4" plate, a cold saw, industrial belt sander and more CNC..

I know this list wasn't very detailed but it might help someone transitioning from garage-to-shop.

[Kettles]

Originally Posted by BESRK

I think fabrication is sort of an evolutionary process. Our creativity points us in a direction and our tools (and ability to use them) facilitate the outcome or final product. Proper use of more advanced tooling will usually result in a more "refined" product made in a more efficient manner. I would much rather weld with my Miller Mig than a couple of batteries, some jumper cables and welding rods.. although I have used both.

I have spent the last few years moving into what I would consider is the "more advanced" area of fabrication.. at least that's what I tell myself

So.. my list will include the tools that have really helped me transition from my "garage" into my "shop".

Definately on my list are..

220V Mig (210 or higher)

AC/DC Tig

Stick Welder (still use it on special occasions)

Plasma Cutter.. I use the same Hypertherm 1250 for CNC Cutting and hand cutting. Paid about $3200 for the hand torch version and picked up a machine torch when I got my plasma table.

Milling Machine.. I picked up a 2hp Jet Mill/Drill (R8 spindle) at auction for $700. Great for drilling large holes in a precision manner. Also nice for precision metal removal (versus a grinder). I had never used a mill prior to purchasing this one so I've had to learn on the fly.. breaking expensive bits as necessary.

Lathe.. Bought a Jet 13x40 lathe (think I paid about $4000 or so for it new) for boring my bumper spindle tubes and doing driveshaft work. A lathe is one of those "garage tools" that you might not use daily, but when you need it, nothing else will substitute.

Forklift.. next to my welder, it is the most used tool in my shop. Need to unload a steel truck.. forklift. Need to pull a roll cage... forklift. Need to lift/rotate a cage for quicker welding.. forklift. Need to check suspension travel/bind.. forklift. Need to do the brakes on my 02 Ford Escort.. forklift. Need to change shop lights.. forklift. Double stacking shop shelving.. no problem with the forklift. Now my shop storage can go up 16ft high. I picked up a 3000lb propane powered forklift for $4000 used.

Dry cut chop saw (the ones that use a carbide blade).. makes quick and very accurate cuts in tubing.

Hydraulic Tube Bender.. converted my JD2 Model 3 to elec/hydro this past weekend. It is 5 times faster than my old air/hydro setup... which was 5 times faster than my manual setup.

Notchmaster Tube Notcher.. accurate notches a tube in about 30 seconds.. to include multi-tube nodes. Paid $250ish for one and got another one in trade for a bumper.. so now I have 2

CNC Plasma Table.. Probably the best "money maker" I've got (besides my slow brain) is my plasma table. No where else in my shop can I type something on my computer screen, have a machine cut it out, pick up the piece, hand it to a customer and get paid... without even getting dirty. My TM2 4'x4' Table probably set me back about $10K with a machine torch and auto height control but it's made half that back in 6 months easy. Now they've got a 2'x2' table out for about $2K or so.. within reach of most "Intermediate" DIYs.

On my 'wishlist' is a Press Brake capable of bending a few feet of 3/16" and 1/4" plate, a cold saw, industrial belt sander and more CNC..

I know this list wasn't very detailed but it might help someone transitioning from garage-to-shop.

and..

table out for about $2K or so.. within reach of most "Intermediate" DIYs.

Damn I would have classified myself as an intermediate DIY'er... but if it involves $2k I guess I am an extreme novice, lol. I guess its that whole don't have a job thing. All I have is a 140amp MIG, angle grinder, cordless sawzall with a bad battery, a corded dewault drill (my dads), and a cordless drill that i got for free because the furnace people left it by accident. A ****ty bench vise, and some random clamps, in addition to one [roofing] square, a tape measure, and a few random items. All in half of my dads garage, that is short enough I can hit my head in there, and is packed full of my dads stuff.

Thats probably just enough for a "beginner" but I have the heart of an intermediate or advanced...

[509media]

Originally Posted by JeeperDon

I disagree. Think McGyver. Think getting something done on the trail with less takes more creativity/imagination than in the garage.

Welding shock tabs is a bad example as it's not really fabrication, more of a repair. Fab to me is more of an optional thing, like people making new consoles, or Hi-Lift hood racks, etc.

It sounds like you have never been there for any length of time as you are younger, probably have been welding for a while. I didn't start welding until my 50's, yet I still got a lot of cool stuff built long before that.

LOL so I am younger and do not know anything....? Do you know me? I have never been there.. so where is there? I have logged more hours on the trail and in the shop than you have. Lets see what you have been fabricating.

I think being in the shop and using your creative mind there building things correctly in the beginning will reduce the need to pretend like you are McGyver. Maybe you should use some of the creative thoughts in the shop and you could spend a little less time figuring out how you are going to get off of the trail.

I have hand built parts for MANY years that could have been easier to do with more tooling in the shop. I did what I had to do in order to get it done. Over the years my tool box has grown along with my mental tool box.

Lets see what you have been fabricating... I have 20 plus years in the shop doing real fabrication. Here is one of my last projects...

I think I had to use a couple brain cells to come up with the stack of laser cut parts. Yes, it was designed on paper, then the computer, and then laser cut. Forward thinking from this point was required as the frame rails had to house the upper and lower 4 link mounts for both the front and rear suspension, engine, tranny, t-case, driveline, driver, passenger, fuel cell, cooling system, fire system, and so on. BTW... there is no High Lift Jack mount on this car.










And then the little bit of brain power was used to get the above to this point...





Welding shock tabs on in my mind is not repair.




For me fabrication is not an optional thing when building a trail or competition vehicle.

[509media]

Originally Posted by BESRK

I think fabrication is sort of an evolutionary process. Our creativity points us in a direction and our tools (and ability to use them) facilitate the outcome or final product. Proper use of more advanced tooling will usually result in a more "refined" product made in a more efficient manner. I would much rather weld with my Miller Mig than a couple of batteries, some jumper cables and welding rods.. although I have used both.

Agreed... just because you can figure out how to do something with less does not mean you should do it. A person learning to fabricate evolves as their tooling changing. When I say tooling I am not only referring to physical tools, I am also referring to mental ability. Having the correct tools is required in some cases. I know I would not weld a shock tab and chassis together with batteries and jumper cables unless it was on the trail to get someone back to camp. Build it right the first time.

Dan

[lakailimited06]

Originally Posted by 509media

Are you referring to these:

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies


Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies


They have more...

yea kidn of like the first link you have there...maybe something alittle smaller thanks for the links..

[509media]

Originally Posted by lakailimited06

yea kidn of like the first link you have there...maybe something alittle smaller thanks for the links..

No worries. Let me know if there is something I can help you out with.

Dan

[Boodyrider]

As a complete beginner... I've got to agree that a welder is pretty basic and an early need in being able to fabricate anything. Just the simplest task of moving my rear lower shock mounts required a welder as well as a grinder, assorted clamps, and various measuring tools at an absolute minimum; I used a cutoff wheel and a die grinder as well as an air sanding disk as well, but the first four were a dead minimum to do the job.

One not on any of these lists is a basic need for fabrication involving an offroad vehicle: a magnetic angle finder is critical.

[509media]

Originally Posted by Boodyrider

As a complete beginner... I've got to agree that a welder is pretty basic and an early need in being able to fabricate anything. Just the simplest task of moving my rear lower shock mounts required a welder as well as a grinder, assorted clamps, and various measuring tools at an absolute minimum; I used a cutoff wheel and a die grinder as well as an air sanding disk as well, but the first four were a dead minimum to do the job.

One not on any of these lists is a basic need for fabrication involving an offroad vehicle: a magnetic angle finder is critical.

Yeah I mention measuring tools including an angle finder. Moving a shock mount is not a repair... it is fabrication. Even more so when you are hand fabricating the tabs yourself. This job would not be possible without a welder.

HAHA I built a lot of the above pictured car with the angle finder on my iPhone. LOL once calibrated it is pretty darn accurate. Not too mention I always had it in my pocket. I would lay it on the sheet metal brake to measure bend angles, I would also check tubes in the chassis with it. I have a 400 dollar digital angle finder in my toolbox. I checked it against that, and the iPhone app was right on with it.

[BESRK]

Originally Posted by Kettles

and..

Damn I would have classified myself as an intermediate DIY'er... but if it involves $2k I guess I am an extreme novice, lol.

Don't get me wrong... I understand that a $2000 tool is a large investment.. trust me. I bought alot of my tools while still Active Duty in the Army on an enlisted Soldier's salary... with a mortgage payment, car payment..etc.

When I pick up a "hobby", I go "all in". Money generated by the fabrication goes right back into the shop in the form of tools. I work a "dayjob" as a Defense Contractor to pay the real bills. It's not easy though... typical work week (between dayjob and shop) is more than 80hrs.. going on 3 years now.

[rustywrangler]

Originally Posted by lakailimited06

yea kidn of like the first link you have there...maybe something alittle smaller thanks for the links..

Harbor freight sells them for a few bucks. I use em and can dispose of them if they are gummed up too much without worry of cost.