I've always considered myself a hack in the garage. Sure I could stick two pieces of metal together (although it wasn't always pretty), assemble an engine, rebuild a transmission, all the normal hot rod stuff. But lately I've created some stuff that I would almost consider quality fabrication (and would even pay for if someone else had made it). Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing myself to any of those true fabricators out there that can make a new fender for a car using a flat piece of metal or bend and weld a 25.5 cage, nor can I even tig weld (although if I had enough dough to buy one I would love to learn). But in the last two years I have made my own mild steel roll cage for a friends car, built a turbo kit from the manifold to the end of the downpipe, did all the electrical in my car (with every joint soldered and weatherpack connectors throughout). At what point can I call myself a fabricator and not just a hack? Or is fabricator reserved for the guys that do it professionally and make money at it?

 

I fabricate alot of custom parts for my cars and for friends who ask for my help. I consider someone a fabricator if the final outcome of your project works and looks like you bought it aftermarket. If it doesn't function or look good then its jerry rigged or it was done by a hack.



If you can make your own custom parts or tools from stuff laying around your garage or you build it from scratch with metal stock then your a fabricator.

 

you can call yourself a fabricator as much as you'd like. just as i am a pianist-... i've never played a tune on the piano but if provoked i could do it-... very badly. to me, my unrythmical noise could be a true form of my own expression and a piece that could move someone (most likely to the nearest exit). it's like abstract art, if a group of people see your "work" and feel that you are a ture artist-.. then you are to an artist to that group. but the general population may feel your an @$$hole and a schizophrenic. think about how most older folks fee about rap or hip-hop-... same thing. to some older folks they feel that talking fast about b*tches and hoes isn't music but almost anyone under the age of 30 may say otherwise.



so my adivce is keep doing what you do-... try to do it better everytime-... a job worth doing is a job worth doing correctly! whether you're doing this as a hobby or a career-... don't worry about your label let your work speak for itself. by doing this you will earn a reputation (hopefully a good one) and your work will in turn work for you. keep photos/examples of your work if ever needed.



anyone can call themselves a fabricator but only a few of them are any good. let your peers decide how good you are.