Hot Rods Getting Over Fear of Cutting up Parts/Making Mistakes

Hey all,

Maybe it’s just me but I’m sure other people have this issue too.

How do you guys get over the fear of cutting up parts? For me right now, I am worried about cutting up my F1 box and messing it up to the point of no repair. I got a good deal on it and know the prices in recent years have sky rocketed so I’m thinking of the money I wasted if I cut it and ruin it. A similar situation is a brand new radiator I bought and need to modify the mounting plate on the bottom. It’s as simple as cutting it off and rewelding it higher up.

How do you guys overcome this? I am not a master fabricator and have little experience. I can mig weld and run a mill, etc. but just started really getting into building old hot rods (but have liked them for a long time). I’m guessing in the past it might’ve been easier because the parts were more plentiful and a lot less expensive.

I’m not sure if this is the right spot to post this but let me know how you guys got over that “fear”.

 

All you can do until you have more experience and confidence is to measure six times and cut once. Take your time and you can do it…

 

Maybe bad advice, but just do it. Soon you'll either added to your skill set or found you were right to be fearful of doing it.

 

It’s just metal, it’s not smarter than you, it can be fixed no matter what.

 

Find some similar material to practice on , I wouldn't practice on a steering box . What is the material of the radiator ?

 

It’s aluminum. My friend has a spool mig gun with 4043 wire so think I’m good there. I did tig weld aluminum once and the weld looked good but was really weak haha.

 

There is no fear.
There is no try
Only do

 

.... and sometimes do again..... and do again.....

 

You owned nothing when you were born, you will take nothing with you when you die. Don't worry about losing material things. You will lose them all eventually. Enjoy them the best you can, do the best job you can. If you destroy a good part, oh well. You'll survive. We don't want to be careless and waste, but it's just metal. Anything you can screw up can be fixed. If you don't have the skills, practice on worthless stuff until you can do it with confidence.

 

All great responses, thanks guys!

 

Me: Cutting cheap parts is one thing. This is totally different.
Anthony Yoda: No. No different. Only different in your mind. You must unlearn what you have learned.
Me: All right, I'll give it a try.
Anthony Yoda: No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.
Me: Do not? That sounds like an option.....

You are not alone. I defer stuff, and when I eventually do the task I wonder why I was so worried.

Now where did I put that lightsabre sawzall...

Cheers,
Harv

 

The fear of making mistakes is a huge reason for guys not getting stuff done. There’s a mound of mistakes behind every cool thing I’ve ever built.

 

I’m not good at cutting shit. But I’m a god when it comes to repairing what I did cut up! That’s why miller makes welders!

 

I find that a bit of ...er...let's call it procrastination, is at times a useful thing as often in my overthinking I've worked out a different, better way, and had I been gung ho on it I'd be looking at an inferior job, or just a pile of scrap. But maybe I'm just not that good at it anyway?

Chris

 

Like Happydaze says, I have a great idea but wait to do it. Eventually I come up with a better way, and usually simpler too. And I get all hung up on making right and left mirror images. Once it is on the car no one will ever be able to tell if there is a small difference. No one but me that is.

 

I had a friend like you that was nervous to try anything. He stopped over one day and I was trying to build a custom Motorcycle tank. I had a pile of mis-shaped scrap metal laying in the corner, probably 1/2 sheet of 18 gauge worth. He was actually impressed because you sometimes don't get this stuff right the first time. That's my story, probably doesn't help you. LOL

 

I've had this habit for decades. New process of sorts, never done it before, basic knowledge and skills in place. Stop. Take a minute or 10. Light a smoke, pour a coffee, whatever. Think it thru for just a short time. Maybe make a template if you're doing a bracket or such (donut shop boxes are great for that ). I get inspired by things, ask myself "What would Henry do?" or Packard engineers, etc. I like an OEM vibe to my stuff where possible. When I had jobs I was called slow, lazy, etc, yet the job got done once, great quality, no mistakes. Go figure. Once is ALWAYS faster than twice even with lessons learned and bosses would, almost 90% of the time, show up during this thinking or engineering process. Fuck em. Be flexible, if someone has an idea add that to the mix. Who cares who's idea it is because the goal is the solution. Long wordy way of focus being aimed at the goal or product. The end result. Get a "picture" in your mind. Can't "see it" in your mind? Sketch it, even shitty sketches become a blueprint. Have I fucked up? Indeed I have. Is it now baggage or a scar? No. It's a lesson. Something within a learning curve, but the caveat is having the will. One time deal? Hire it done and work on that which you excel at. All about the end product. Last, in your hand or pocket is a universe of info both technical and practical, AND, examples of "WTF is that?!?" so also what NOT to do. Your homework assignment is show us how you did it. Enjoy the trip. Merry Christmas all...

 

I bet you will find that building cars is way more fun when you are making mistakes and learning, rather then worrying about making those mistakes!

 

I think about it
Take a deep breath
Say "fuck it"
and jump in.
I've ruined stuff, and I've done the same job 3 times cause the previous attempt didn't suit me
Stuff thst nobody could see, but bugged the shit out of me
And I've finished some little thing after many hours, and decided to throw it in the scrap pile
Guess that's poor planning, but halfway through whatever it is, I'll sometimes realize that I should have done it differently
It's OK, fucking up something that's fixable in the garage is STILL better than a day at work.

 

yep, the fear or just over thinking stuff can be overwhelming. very important to measure carefully, and support parts that might flex when cut. watching shows like "Full Custom" with Ian Roussel on the MotorTrend channel or YouTube can give you ideas on how to do some stuff. as stated many times before try doing stuff with a piece of junk first.

 

I'm with you, sometimes it get in my head that I'm about to cut up something that's close to 100 years old. But I get over it reminding myself that some other clown would be happy selling it for scrap. Regarding making mistakes, I plan as best I can, do some research, ask questions and take the plunge.

 

What I'd tell you is that generally anything you cut wrong, you can weld it back and fix it. Yes you want to plan things as well as you can beforehand, but relax when you do the work and you will usually succeed. You will also say "why didn't I think of that" before you cut it......and that experience will serve you well on future projects.
The one thing I would tell you to be sure to do............don't try to weld panels or the radiator quickly or all at one time. Putting heat into any metal can cause it to warp as it cools, so do it in short steps and allow it to cool before proceeding. If you can find an old door or fender to weld on, make some cuts and weld them back quickly and watch the panel warp............then you will remember when you want to hurry on good parts.

 

Steel is pretty easy to fix when you screw it up. Aluminum welding...not so much...I'd farm that out.

 

I totally agree, sheet metal can be repaired, even if you screw it up, as far as aluminum, rewelding mounts would be relatively inexpensive to hire out. HRP

 

#1 Well Hey Hey Breathe deep clear your head set your marks.
Double-check those marks. Back off look around or turn around.
Focus on your goal. Check
With proper tools, approach, get into position.
Check placement of feet, angle of arms ( too high, too low? ) balance
Be certain that balance will cancel gravity.
Begin the process.
Remember to let the tool do the work, while you oversee the result.
The second it does not look feel or taste right stop.
Back to step one

 

Its just like the stock market , don't invest it if you can't afford to lose it !

 

x2 everything @theHIGHLANDER said.
Also, conduct some "Risk Management":
1) Ask yourself; "Where in the process might I make a mistake?"
2) Take preemptive action to avoid getting into those mistake situations.
3) Ask yourself; What's the first symptom of a mistake?" Then stop all activity if you see that symptom.
4) Ask yourself; "What should the final product look like?" Then stop when you get there. (i.e. don't continue sanding a fender after you've gotten it perfectly smooth).

Remember; it's only metal. It can be repaired.

 

I call this analysis paralysis and it can get to ya. As others have said. At some point ya just have to dive into the deep end of the pool and get it done. Remember that the difference between a novice and an expert is that the novice hasn't made any mistakes.

 

It’s just metal
You can break glass.
You can weld metal
I was building totals as a teen, cutting up car bodies is about as natural as walking.
Ordered my first set of bolt in engine mounts this year. I was more apprehensive about that than cutting a body or the steering column.

We’re doing a front suspension graft with my welding students. They asked how I knew where to cut it. Told em I don’t ….yet. But I can measure and use basic procedures and concepts such as length -width/square -height. Zero plane- centerline-datum plane.
All things covered in structure repair. We just make our schematic as we build with ride height, wheel/tire/backspacing, wheel base and axle centerline.

So with basic skills and tools and at times a pattern you just make your best educated move.
Planning and basic skills will decrease mistakes. The errors are minimal and EZ to overcome.
The “analysis paralysis” sometimes comes from not trusting yourself.

nothing wrong if you jump off into the deep end as long as you can swim good enough.

 

Value doesn’t factor.
If it’s a Porsche or a Pinto
Metal is metal

I’ve cut far more Porsches than Pintos.