Welcome to The Chop Shop
Published by Trails Less Traveled on February 6th, 2006
Welcome to The Chop Shop.
)
This new monthly column that we’re writing for Off-Road.Com is dedicated to tools and fabrication. We’ll be publishing articles on a wide range of topics, from product reviews to in-depth interviews with top fabricators and discussions about fabrication techniques, tips and tricks. Here’s an idea of the type of content we’re developing.
)
Our first article is about working with angle grinders because it seemed like a good idea to cover the basics before we dive into more advanced fabrication topics.
)
A welder is one of the most expensive (but essential) shop tools that many of us will purchase, so next month we’ll introduce the MillerMatic 251 MIG welder in the first of many articles about different welding processes, product reviews and techniques.
)
)
Tube-bending is another topic that we’ll cover in great depth and we’ve been having a ball working with a new JD2 Model 4 tube bender from Van Sant Enterprises.
)
I don’t have anything but good things to say about JMR’s tubing notcher. The product review will obviously go into further detail, but there won’t be any surprise ending. This is hands-down the best hole-saw tubing notcher on the market.
)
Are Milwaukee’s new V28 Lithium-Ion powered cordless power tools up to the task of being used as primary shop tools? We’ve been torture-testing their Sawzall, 1/2” drill and 1/2” impact gun, trying to answer that question.
My parents gave me a book about mechanical drafting that explained the basic elements of technical drawing and I started drawing EVERYTHING in orthographic views. I learned how to take measurements and developed a better understanding of how to draw and work from blueprints in my high school metalshop. I took a few AutoCAD classes in college, but I’m not a particularly strong CAD user.
)
)
I’ve been filling the pages of my notebooks with ideas and sketches of all types of creative things since I was a little kid in school. I’d have a hard time keeping track of anything in a pile of notebook pages, napkin sketches and scribbled measurements, so I transfer all my notes from each project into simple 2D CAD drawings that I keep on an old PC in my garage. It helps me stay organized and beyond that, it’s a powerful design tool. Design topics will include an introduction to technical drawings and then we’ll get into some CAD software product reviews, like Bend-Tech PRO, AutoCAD and SolidWorks.
)
A general contractor can manage larger projects and typically produce better results than a do-it-all handyman working by himself. Realizing that, I’ve tried to establish a network of local resources like fab shops, machine shops and mechanics that I can rely on for help with anything that I don’t have the tools or skills to accomplish without assistance.
Be sure to stop by every month to check out what’s going on in The Chop Shop.
This Article was originally published on Off-Road.com January 2006
Have A Comment Or Question About This Article?
We would love to hear any questions or comments you have about this article. Please take a moment to fill out our feedback form.