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just to introduce myself, (i see where that is required) i do pay attention. i've been trolling this place for months, can't even remember how i found it, but damn the cool shit on this place, i can't get enough. my wife and i love old rods but with no fab or welding skills, i guess it's either buy one or just wish i would have a dad(gone now i'm an old dude,) who would have loved old cool stuff like me. anyway any suggestions on how to get into this great thing you got?thanks

 

Go buy a 220v mig welder, then go to the local steel yard and buy a bunch of scrap metal and learn to weld. There are books, and video's to learn the basics. Then go find a buildable car not too far beyond your capabilites and give it hell. You can build a cool car with basic tools and alot of determination. Cars like Model A's are fairly easy to do the basic chop and channel on if you have the patience to learn welding and sheet metal work.

 

Hang around here, meet someone close enough to learn from to learn to weld then save up to buy a welder and then start welding on your own. It shouldn't take that long or that much. Question is, how bad do you want it? The more you want it the harder you'll work for it, just like anything else in life.

Welcome to the HAMB.

BTW, you got the little woman on your side, so that REALLY helps ;-)

Vance

 

Welcome Kurt. I think there is an actual spot for posting an intro up above, but not gonna slam ya for that at all. This is a cool site - where people can and do speak their minds, and build what's in 'em too. Some awesome sharing and work trade outs happen from here too. Friends can be made all over the world. How cool is that?
Not everyone here is a fabber, welder, painter etc. Seems most everyone has a talent, and the cool thing is you don't need to do it all (though is sure is cheaper) Watch the for sale part of this board - there are some pretty kool cars/trucks for sale for most of the time real deal money. Find something you like, or watch your local Craigslist, or Penny Saver, Nickel Ads, recycler whatever. Entry can be pretty affordable. Stockers can be had for cheap if ya watch too. Just figure out what it is you like, what fits the budget etc, maybe something for the whole family to fit in as well, and build as you go.
There's no magic potion, most of us started with one car, or a dream or whatever. It does take time to figure it out, if one ever really does, but it can be a fun lifetime of figuring it out. Personally, I watched the HAMB grow out of Jalopy Journal, lurked for quite a while before EVER posting or signing up. For me, the knowlege posessed by this board is overwhelming. There are people who are on here, some never saying a peep that would blow your mind with what they know and have done. Pretty cool stuff. Listen, ask questions, listen some more, and most of all have some fun.
Just my two cents worth....... Tim

 

thanks guys. the little woman comes from a family of welding folkher father(gone now) and two brothers work at itw miller, she used to also. so i know she could pick it up before i will so we got a start right there.

 

Welcome, You can also check the want adds and auction sites for projects that someone may have become burned out on or has to sell for some other reason. Many of these allready have the hard fabrication stuff done and just need finished up

 

Don't be afraid to try it either. Hell the first car I chopped was the car I[m building now, my '34 Ford 5W coupe! Gotta start somewhere. Do your research, read as much as you can.

Be smart about it and arrangesomething like a HAMB Chop like Chopped50Ford just did - http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139425&showall=1 Sure this was for a chop, but you can do this for any serious task that you don't think you're up to on you're own. Trust me, there are always others here who are willing to help out those who need it, especially if those who ask show true interest in learning and not someone just to do it for them.

Vance