52 chevy pickup

[bluetweedsuit]

Well I guess this is my last post on this forum as....





The truck has sold.

The welder I had been using for my business was a borrowed unit and the other the guy called and said he wanted it back. I had known this would eventually happen but it ended up being a surprise and since it was my main tool, I needed to get one of my own asap. So, next day I went out and picked up a new miller!



I upgraded to a larger bottle which, is so much nicer. It's a 211 and it works so good. It sucks they are so expensive but, just such a great machine. In my opinion its worth the price.

But I had to sell the truck to fill the void of money. It had been almost a year exactly since I had last worked on it. Wish I didn't have to sell but I learned a ton on it and it basically was the driving board for my business. As we were loading it, the guy was tell me plans of chopping and making it a convertible and I was just like " Nooooooooooo! don't tell me that" but it's not my truck so he can do whatever he wants I guess.

Business has been slow and always challenging. I've have connected up with a few stores and have a bunch of work displayed. I finally bit the bullet and bought a CNC plasma table! The thing is awesome! Working on a few deals with some stores which should bring some more consistant cash flow to my life.



Hopefully I will have another project I can post on here. I keep looking at my mini and can't keep from putting together build list.

[CubbyChowder]

Upright bandsaw man! I got an old 14" wood bandsaw that I geared down and slapped a bi-metal blade on. Thing works great and cost less the $200. Not to mention the savings of not having to be using cutting discs so much!

I am really trying to get set up for a plasma table. I just finished up a deal with a furniture store that is going to start carrying my chair. As soon as I get some cash flow, I am buying one!

I am just now seeing this but that is so rad to hear man! Congrats

[Earl]

Updates?

[bluetweedsuit]

Everything is looking great man! I've been wanting to do some similar style projects as that chair you built, with plasma cut plate/sheet parts, rivets and all that good stuff. Just reminds me of a rad old bridge or something.

I'm also seeing the bottom feet you built for those first two cool tables pictured, looks like 2x1" rectangle tube cut at a pretty deep angle. I always dread having to cut angles like that because I have to get real funky with stops and clamps on my HF band saw. Been wanting to figure out a good solution to that dilemma, and I think my only option is to build it.

Anyways, keep it up dude!

Upright bandsaw man! I got an old 14" wood bandsaw that I geared down and slapped a bi-metal blade on. Thing works great and cost less the $200. Not to mention the savings of not having to be using cutting discs so much!

I am really trying to get set up for a plasma table. I just finished up a deal with a furniture store that is going to start carrying my chair. As soon as I get some cash flow, I am buying one!

[CubbyChowder]

Everything is looking great man! I've been wanting to do some similar style projects as that chair you built, with plasma cut plate/sheet parts, rivets and all that good stuff. Just reminds me of a rad old bridge or something.

I'm also seeing the bottom feet you built for those first two cool tables pictured, looks like 2x1" rectangle tube cut at a pretty deep angle. I always dread having to cut angles like that because I have to get real funky with stops and clamps on my HF band saw. Been wanting to figure out a good solution to that dilemma, and I think my only option is to build it.

Anyways, keep it up dude!

[Red_Arrowheads]

This truck is so choice!

Definitely gives me motivation to resume work on my '50.

Also:

Other than that, just be working at my business. Here is some of the stuff I have done.

This table and stool set. I want...

[Jicama_ev]

Man, this build and thread is awesome. Also so cool and inspiring to see you starting your own business fabricating. Must be nice to have the extra time of working for yourself.

[Reuvers]

That chain bench looks absolutely stunning! Loving the work!

[BettyWhitE30]

fabrication skills are so proper! wish i had the time and space to do that kind of stuff! well done! and thats a badass truck you got on your hands

[bluetweedsuit]

So it's been a while since I posted on here. Been busy lately. Truck hasn't seen much progress. I recently broke down the chevy parts truck I bought. Tried to sell as much as I could but didn't make as much as I had hoped. Basically what I am waiting for is some extra cash and time to by a few replacement panels and then some tools to build most of the firewall and floor. Just having a hard time find those.

As you can see, there is way to much space there.






Finally did something I had been putting off. Built a proper fabrication table. 1/4' steel top. 4x6. Flat. Level and a proper working hight. It makes a world of difference!



Another life changer. Upright sander. Picked it up relatively cheap and it works amazing!



Also scored a free, working, turbo diesel drivetrain for my little mazda shop truck! Its going to be an awesome parts getter.





Also discovered that you just can't cheap out on gloves. The miller "metalworker" gloves were absolute garbage! Never been so unhappy with a product. Those Mechanix gloves are new, but they are the second pair I have had. First ones lasted 6 months! But they are expensive. After debating for a while, I was going to buy a set of Torch Wear gloves. They aren't sold in Canada so you have to ship them in. Heard great things about them, but they don't make them any more! So I went back to buy the store to buy the Mechanix's gloves, and they stopped caring them. So now I have to buy those online anyways.



Other than that, just be working at my business. Here is some of the stuff I have done.













Anyways check out my website. I worked hard on it!

https://www.factorycustomfab.com

And also instagram @factorycustomfab

Also we finished insulating the whole shop! All free insulation. It makes a world of difference!

[bluetweedsuit]

So I have been spending a little more time in the shop.

Finished up my buddies bike. Turned out pretty good.





Started on the next one



I got this one in pieces and it has had many hands doing different jobs on it. Definitely not my favourite way of doing things. The customer had basically bought a bunch of generic fitting parts like handle bars, the seat and cowl, and lights. Then throughout out the fall different guys took things apart, kinda fitted some stuff. Now the weather is nice and he wants to be out riding. So it gets dropped off and I am told just do whatever and get it going. So I am not super pumped with how it turned out, as with the parts he bought and the style of the bike, I found it just turned out awkward and without doing much more extensive modifications there wasn't much I could do. So I just jumped in. Did the best I could with what I was given and the time I had. For the most part, time was spent figuring out little gremlins in electrical and trying to figure out how to make this bike look like it wasn't just thrown together.



I decided to wrap the tank in vinyl as the owner wanted it clear coated in the raw steel but no surprise the bike had been dumped and covered in bondo. So I patched it up and started wrapping. I had never done it and thought a tank would be a nice simple task that would go relatively smoothly. It was brutal. It took so long and because the shape is a combination of convex and concave areas you really had to stretch the vinyl which did result in a bit of discolouration.





Also I had to do some aluminum welding. I haven't done any before and it was fun to try. I would be really curious to try some different tungsten rods and see if I might have more success and consistency with a different mix but it worked for what I need.



But the bike is basically done now. Just little things now that weren't thought of or noticed until now to finish up and it will be riding.



I had someone contact me about building some furniture for them. I am looking forward to making some cash but not sure how I feel about doing something someone else has designed. Because as of now my tools are more limited, especially with wood, its tricky when someone says "can you make this?". Yes I can but it might not be exactly that. I would rather just build something that is the best with what I got and try selling that. But I am always eager to learn and up for a challenge.

As of now most of my time is spent trying to figure stuff out for the business. Trying to figure out what might be some good tool investments. Hopefully I will be able to get back on the 52 soon! In the next few weeks I'll be finishing up my day job, then moving to be closer to the shop! And never thought I would be saying this but, I am really looking forward to putting in some long hours at work!

[gallopingford]

Fantastic.

I wish you the best of luck with pursuing your dream!

[dillon7]

Haha we are basically living parallel lives. Building a car, helping friends out with cafe racers, building custom furniture and starting own business. That's really funny

Haha the same thing was going through my mind while reading this thread. Reminded me of you.

Awesome stuff though OP. Bagged chevy pickup is in my top 2 cars to build before I die.

[CBURKE]

Good luck man! I would love to be able to do that!

[bluetweedsuit]

Haha we are basically living parallel lives. Building a car, helping friends out with cafe racers, building custom furniture and starting own business. That's really funny

There was for sure some inspiration from seeing you take the step!