Halfway though the program, I had learned enough in two weeks to dabble with a few projects of my own and my kid's truck already had a tube bumper in the works. Week three opened up with the next logical step and had us working with holesaw-style tubing notchers and hydraulic benders. Hours were spent bending and fish mouthing tubes so they would fit properly over other tubes and at some point form the foundation of a roll cage, chassis member, or even a simple tire rack. Week three, day two saw the class doing a TIG review, suspension review, and a final test of notching skills. The tempo was relentless, but never overwhelming. Clearly in the home stretch and already planning more ambitious projects, we were split into groups and asked to measure out a fellow student's truck for a simple roll bar. The project would encompass several of the techniques we had learned, but in a more "real world" situation and would also incorporate pattern making and scale modeling. The eventual result was a half-scale roll bar that was critiqued for bending symmetry and fitment. The last task was much harder than it looked, and was a real eye-opener as to the critical nature of proper use of a tape measure. Four weeks had passed in a blink of an eye, yet my skill arsenal had grown more than I could have imagined. The course opened my eyes to the fundamentals and allowed me to learn in a month what I would have spent the next several years attempting to pick up on my own, and without all the wasted time and metal. For that alone, it was definitely worth the price of admission. Although my garage isn't quite the race shop I had dreamt of, it's getting closer by the day and I owe much of the credit to my new friends at The Fab School and a much appreciated fabrication education.
1. Mid-course saw us back...
1. Mid-course saw us back in the classroom for a fairly detailed review of suspension theory. The value of castor, camber, and a number of other foreign terms suddenly began to make sense.
2. Staffed with a team of...
2. Staffed with a team of seasoned and very patient industry veterans, the atmosphere at The Fab School is indeed welcoming. Instructor Dan Moore began each class with a brief review of the days program. Although most days where devoted to shop time, classroom- style instruction was also part of the curriculum.
3. Before we were allowed...
3. Before we were allowed to pick up a welding torch, each student was versed on cutting and prepping the material. Racks of steel where flanked by very effective cold saws.
4. Having spent little time...
4. Having spent little time behind a torch prior to arriving at The Fab School, I was pleasantly surprised by how much my initial MIG welds actually looked like welds.
5. Plenty of time behind the...
5. Plenty of time behind the welder gave us ample time to practice and hone our MIG skills.
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7. As the group got the hang...
7. As the group got the hang of welding straight lines (and had to pass a test to prove it), we moved to tube. Metal prep, tack, and finish welding in a circle is much more challenging!
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10. TIG welding presented...
10. TIG welding presented the greatest challenge for me, although others (with far better eye-hand coordination) achieved excellent results fairly quickly.
11. A small class allowed...
11. A small class allowed instructors to spend substantial amounts of one-on-one time with each student. The added attention really sped up our progress. They were ever-present and amazingly patient. They always seemed to know exactly what was needed and worked with each student at their own pace.