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DIY Fabrication area

2438 Views 24 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  bfj aka tambil, 
mike_engle
Hey Mods,

Would it be possible to to open up a DIY FAB section on the boards for us who do our own metal fabbing etc??? Just a thought.:beer:
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Dr.Dirty
sounds good to me id read it :D
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gold knight
Yeah I'd like to see that too:bounce:

If Lance doesn't notice (which I'm sure he will) you can always suggest it here:;)

http://www.jkowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1762
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Ruskin
Would be a very cool section for mods built not bought.
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Crooked1
I think it would be great. I'm trying to go more of the DIY route on everything. Slowly amassing the tools. I need all the tips I can find on metal fab.:D
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JKBully
Sign me up!
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bfj aka tambil
mike_engle said:
Hey Mods,

Would it be possible to to open up a DIY FAB section on the boards for us who do our own metal fabbing etc??? Just a thought.:beer:
Click to expand...
I like it. Great idea.
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F
mike_engle said:
Hey Mods,

Would it be possible to to open up a DIY FAB section on the boards for us who do our own metal fabbing etc??? Just a thought.:beer:
Click to expand...
That would be awsome. I'd like to read other people's ideas. Plus with the price of everything going up, who wouldn't like to save a little cash!?
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mike_engle
Glad it is catching on. I think it is needed and I tend to think most of us would share our plans and what not to help others out. Also I have an old singer sewing machine that I used to make a bikini top with. I got a good deal on a roll of black codura nylon:beer:
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airric00
Good IDEA! I just need a welder!!:beer:
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mike_engle
For the price you pay for a set of good rocker guards or bumper you can buy a good mig welder that can weld up to 1/2 inch steel. You can find steel for a good price if you are willing to go get.:smokin:
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Randy727
Would love to see this.
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John L
Words of wisdom here. If you can't weld, or never have before, don't go out and buy a welder and think you can weld. Do yourself a favor and go take a non-credit welding course at your local Vo-tech.

Welding is a learned skill, not just something you can pick up and do. While I don't weld for a living anymore, I've been welding for about 25 years now and still learn things. I have the ability to visually inspect a weld and determine if it's acceptable or not (part of my occupation in the aerospace field as an inspector in the Military projects my company does and as an FAA ODAR). Please find someone to help you out with this phase of welding until you are good at it.

Risking safety on questionable welds is foolhardy and will get someone hurt or killed.

I don't intend to come off as an a$$ here, but welding up assy's that will see offroad and highway conditions better be Class A welds.

Just my .02 here, don't mean to sound like a dick, but I've seen $hit break from bad welds and it ain't pretty......
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R
John L said:
Words of wisdom here. If you can't weld, or never have before, don't go out and buy a welder and think you can weld. Do yourself a favor and go take a non-credit welding course at your local Vo-tech.

Welding is a learned skill, not just something you can pick up and do. While I don't weld for a living anymore, I've been welding for about 25 years now and still learn things. I have the ability to visually inspect a weld and determine if it's acceptable or not (part of my occupation in the aerospace field as an inspector in the Military projects my company does and as an FAA ODAR). Please find someone to help you out with this phase of welding until you are good at it.

Risking safety on questionable welds is foolhardy and will get someone hurt or killed.

I don't intend to come off as an a$$ here, but welding up assy's that will see offroad and highway conditions better be Class A welds.

Just my .02 here, don't mean to sound like a dick, but I've seen $hit break from bad welds and it ain't pretty......
Click to expand...
You should sound like an ass. People don't understand the skill and time it takes to make things like bumpers and rock guards. I to do welding but not to the extent that you do and i can tell you that most people who set out to make their own stuff either end up with a part that looks like crap or one that they have more money in than if they would have just bought it.
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Crooked1
Redrockjeepin said:
You should sound like an ass. People don't understand the skill and time it takes to make things like bumpers and rock guards. I to do welding but not to the extent that you do and i can tell you that most people who set out to make their own stuff either end up with a part that looks like crap or one that they have more money in than if they would have just bought it.
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What they said. I grew up fixing farm equipment and thought I had the skills for fab work. Luckily my neighbor is a retired welder. He's been able to keep me honest and is more than willing to step in where needed. Still, I'm planning on taking a class here in the near future.
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Swinge86
Redrockjeepin said:
You should sound like an ass. People don't understand the skill and time it takes to make things like bumpers and rock guards. I to do welding but not to the extent that you do and i can tell you that most people who set out to make their own stuff either end up with a part that looks like crap or one that they have more money in than if they would have just bought it.
Click to expand...
John L said:
Words of wisdom here. If you can't weld, or never have before, don't go out and buy a welder and think you can weld. Do yourself a favor and go take a non-credit welding course at your local Vo-tech.

Welding is a learned skill, not just something you can pick up and do. While I don't weld for a living anymore, I've been welding for about 25 years now and still learn things. I have the ability to visually inspect a weld and determine if it's acceptable or not (part of my occupation in the aerospace field as an inspector in the Military projects my company does and as an FAA ODAR). Please find someone to help you out with this phase of welding until you are good at it.

Risking safety on questionable welds is foolhardy and will get someone hurt or killed.

I don't intend to come off as an a$$ here, but welding up assy's that will see offroad and highway conditions better be Class A welds.

Just my .02 here, don't mean to sound like a dick, but I've seen $hit break from bad welds and it ain't pretty......
Click to expand...
Don't think you sound like that, because honestly you're just doing your part to make sure people don't get hurt or do something stupid to kill themselves. I'd love to learn how to weld, but I know enough to not go out and buy new equipment so I can learn. Maybe I'll just go find someone who has a welder and practice on their stuff (kidding!). Again, thanks for the advice and warning. I hope those you think they know everything, including teaching themselves how to weld, will think twice about doing so... :beer:

Cheers
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RDNKTNKER
I think this is a great idea. Great way for those that know to show off their skills and for those that don't to see how it's done.
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Randy727
John L said:
Words of wisdom here. If you can't weld, or never have before, don't go out and buy a welder and think you can weld. Do yourself a favor and go take a non-credit welding course at your local Vo-tech.

Welding is a learned skill, not just something you can pick up and do. While I don't weld for a living anymore, I've been welding for about 25 years now and still learn things. I have the ability to visually inspect a weld and determine if it's acceptable or not (part of my occupation in the aerospace field as an inspector in the Military projects my company does and as an FAA ODAR). Please find someone to help you out with this phase of welding until you are good at it.

Risking safety on questionable welds is foolhardy and will get someone hurt or killed.

I don't intend to come off as an a$$ here, but welding up assy's that will see offroad and highway conditions better be Class A welds.

Just my .02 here, don't mean to sound like a dick, but I've seen $hit break from bad welds and it ain't pretty......
Click to expand...

I am going to go out on a limb here. I am not trying to start anything or do not want to have an argument with anyone, but I would like to put my two cents in. I am 31 years old and have been in metal fabrication since I was fifteen. I am going to disagree with you to some part. I can weld just about anything you put in front of me. (Aluminum, Stainless, or Steel, Tig, Mig, and Stick). I am not trying to blow myself up either. Without a doubt wire welding is the easiest thing to learn. I could probably teach my 8 year old how to do it in a very short amount of time and practice. I think if someone wants to take up the challenge on welding, do not waste your money on college. You can take the money that it cost and buy a welder. Go to your local welding shop and ask to dig through there scrap bin, and practice, practice, practice.
I do not think you should be welding on spring perchers or anything like that at first. Have a qualified welder inspect your welds and tell you how you are doing, before taking on any hard jobs. As far as fabrication goes, that is a completly different story. Lots of trial, error, and experience needed. I take great pride in building something myself. I do have the experience and machinery to do these things and do not knock someone for paying for there parts. I would rather pay double sometimes and do it myself. Usually something that I want will have the marked custom name on it anyways, and cannot be bought for what I can build it for. Like I said I am not trying to start an argument.
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medsker
Randy727 said:
I am going to go out on a limb here. I am not trying to start anything or do not want to have an argument with anyone, but I would like to put my two cents in. I am 31 years old and have been in metal fabrication since I was fifteen. I am going to disagree with you to some part. I can weld just about anything you put in front of me. (Aluminum, Stainless, or Steel, Tig, Mig, and Stick). I am not trying to blow myself up either. Without a doubt wire welding is the easiest thing to learn. I could probably teach my 8 year old how to do it in a very short amount of time and practice. I think if someone wants to take up the challenge on welding, do not waste your money on college. You can take the money that it cost and buy a welder. Go to your local welding shop and ask to dig through there scrap bin, and practice, practice, practice.
I do not think you should be welding on spring perchers or anything like that at first. Have a qualified welder inspect your welds and tell you how you are doing, before taking on any hard jobs. As far as fabrication goes, that is a completly different story. Lots of trial, error, and experience needed. I take great pride in building something myself. I do have the experience and machinery to do these things and do not knock someone for paying for there parts. I would rather pay double sometimes and do it myself. Usually something that I want will have the marked custom name on it anyways, and cannot be bought for what I can build it for. Like I said I am not trying to start an argument.
Click to expand...
I agree, I taught myself to weld. I welded tons of scrap. I'd weld it and then cut it in half to see how well it penetrated and then make adjustments and weld some more. I now feel quite comfortable welding. I bought a book to teach me the settings (an old text book) for when I started with my arc welder and have since graduated to a wire feed (much easier to use). I say buy a quality mig and start playing, just cut your welds and get a pro to look at them. You can also get on welding forums and show them pics of your welds and they will tell you what you are doing wrong.

Medsker
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Broncojohn
Randy727 said:
I am going to go out on a limb here. I am not trying to start anything or do not want to have an argument with anyone, but I would like to put my two cents in. I am 31 years old and have been in metal fabrication since I was fifteen. I am going to disagree with you to some part. I can weld just about anything you put in front of me. (Aluminum, Stainless, or Steel, Tig, Mig, and Stick). I am not trying to blow myself up either. Without a doubt wire welding is the easiest thing to learn. I could probably teach my 8 year old how to do it in a very short amount of time and practice. I think if someone wants to take up the challenge on welding, do not waste your money on college. You can take the money that it cost and buy a welder. Go to your local welding shop and ask to dig through there scrap bin, and practice, practice, practice.
I do not think you should be welding on spring perchers or anything like that at first. Have a qualified welder inspect your welds and tell you how you are doing, before taking on any hard jobs. As far as fabrication goes, that is a completly different story. Lots of trial, error, and experience needed. I take great pride in building something myself. I do have the experience and machinery to do these things and do not knock someone for paying for there parts. I would rather pay double sometimes and do it myself. Usually something that I want will have the marked custom name on it anyways, and cannot be bought for what I can build it for. Like I said I am not trying to start an argument.
Click to expand...
Well said, the key to welding is practice. In this hobby there are a lot of profesionals around to get advise from. I had been thru a few weeks of welding courses but never had faith in my welding, and only stuck to fabrication that wasn't a safety priority(bumpers and exocages) after years and having some pro's say nice welding, I took my shot at a cage. I have since proven the cage with no failure. Now I can look at something and reproduce it, and make up for manufacturing deficiencies. All mass produced products are manufactures with cost as one of the top priorities. It may look good but it could be weaker then you think. This is why I fabricate my own, I can take advantage of the design and not worry about cost. At times I have spent more money on my designs but mine have held strong when others have failed.
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