Hey whats going on guys? I am working on my 51 chevy right now, and was wondering how other guys and gals got there start w there own shops? Now it seems you cant find an old timer to show you the ways, and no one wants to hire a noob, so its a little frustrating, Just poking around for ideas. I learned to weld, paint and am doing the upholstery on my own, but it seems nowadays that no one seems to have the apprentice customizer/ fabricator anymore, is it just me?
I swept floors at one shop absorbing EVERYTHING I saw for almost 2 years. When I left there, I KNEW how to do a ton of things, but had no real hands on experience. I applied at a second shop SAYING I had experience because I thought I could pull it off and told them that my tools had been stolen because on a "helpers" salary I could not afford a full box of tools. . The first job they handed me was a customized 1977 Corvette with a two tone Purple flamed paint job that had been smashed in the front. That's when they informed me that this was a "combination" shop where the ONE tech did both the body and paint. The shop owner let me use his tools and I went to work. I had the front clip swapped out in 24 hours and it wss in prime the day after that. I painted it and finished the whole job and it actually came out dam good because I had watched, listened and paid attention to some guys that were dam good. After that I just kept fixing and painting what they handed me doing the best I could on each one until they were right and never looked back.
Good start, I actually have an old timer at work I harras, but I think he's growing disdain of my questions, plus hes a mopar guy so hes condecending
My Dad and Uncle built and painted cars ever since I can remember, I started helping when I hit my teens I could not have two better teachers. Man I miss those two.
I picked up the sickness watching my dad and uncle tool around the garage. When I was 17 I bought a 63 impala. It broke and when Iasked my dad for help he tossed me a Chiltons. I used it and learned everything mechanical on that car...broke down alot... found I have a knack for it. Everything else, I bought the tools got old panels some even twisted so I could practice making it even, straight and painting on a edge and curve. Next step get a welder read the instructions and practice on junk til I get it right. I will get there. I have not been able to get somebody that knows how to show me anything. It is like they want the hobby to die. I get the part if they own a shop now you are competition.... but if you just know how and dont get paid...You love the hobby...Pass It On.
Look around and find a car club in your area,,there are still some ol' greybeards that have been building hot rods in their own backyard shops for years,,,look up some hambers in your area also.HRP
I had a buddy with a garage and a drunk father that had been a mechanic. His father would check on us give us tips when we were stuck and overall come up with some funny old sayings. Later most of the guys that hung out at that garage went on to make a living with wrenches...funny how that mentoring thing works huh? Good Luck
I have made all the guys who work for me the same offer, I will teach them what I know about build cars and try and teach them how to run a profitable small buisness if they will give me there best. Do you want to do this so bad you are willing to relocate? Do you want this so bad that you will quit buying parts for you car and start buying tools? Do you want this so bad that you are willing to work on a project for free?(If you end up owning your own business this will happen from time to time) Do you want this so bad that you are buying every dvd and book out there for welding, fabrication, painting, metal shaping, chassis, electronics, ect..... In addition to reading the tech archives on the Hamb and other web sites? ( be suprised what you can learn in a dvd or a book.) Do you want this so bad that when you are finally working with a guy who knows what he is doing that you will shut up and learn? Find a tech post of a small project and try it yourself. Do a professional job and this can be the tool to get your foot in the door at a shop. If someone showed up at my shop with that kind of ambition they will be employed that day because they are worth the investment of time to teach them. It will all hinge on your attitude, not the skill you currently have in my opinion.
A little additional note... After learning and working for others for years I opened up my own succesful shop and ran it for 18 years before I went on to other things. I brought in MANY greehorns and taught them incredible skills. I then trained them to teach others that worked for me. The techs that worked in my shop were highly sought after because they knew what the hell they were doing. Finding someone that was worth training it tough. I did not want to waste a year or two on someone only to have them flake out or waste the training. The way I would determine who got trained and who became the new parts runner was simple. The guy who would listen to what he was told and then do exactly what he was told, the WAY he was told was someone who was worth the effort. If they took the time to stop and listen, then what they were told to do would be done right. It didn't matter if it was washing a car or cleaning a part. They needed to be able to LISTEN in order to learn. So, my advice to anyone wanting to break into the car world is to take a job somewhere where they have the ability to teach you the BEST. (don't work for a hack body shop or all you will learn is bad habits) When you find that place, show the boss you CAN learn by doing exactly what he asks the way he asks and you will find yourself being trained in no time at all.
I went to Votech for auto collision repair..and then after dropping a fat grip of cash...I got a job in a combo shop....sweeping floors...haha. I worked there for about 10 years working my way up the ladder...until I had a kid...The shop was so small that we didnt have insurance...so I niow work in the natural gas industry (and hate it). I still do side jobs and burn my vacation when ever a hail storm hits to help my old boss out.
I have a soft spot for young guys willing to learn how to do things "right". At this moment, I have my GF's granson, 15 years old, visiting with me for 6 weeks this summer. I have a parts car 54 Lincoln that I have donated to him, so he can start learning the ropes. He is helping me with other projects in the shop to help pay for parts I am buying to do the Linc, and he will be involved in every facet of building this car. I located a 92 Impala with a front end wreck, that we are using the engine and trans out of. There was a Camaro subframe I had out back that we are going to narrow and weld in this week. Then fit up the engine, pull it back out and clean, and detail it, with Edelbrock intake, Holley carb, the original Lincoln valve covers, and paint it ( I'm hoping that actually finishing and painting something will inspire him to continue). Since I have been fortunate enough to have learned this work from some very giving and talented people when I started out, I feel like passing along this knowledge, and encouragenment to others. I think a lot of older guys feel the same, you just need to find them! The problem I've found is that with all the distractions that young guys have (cell phones, texting, TV, Playstation) they have an extremely hard time focusing on tasks, and keeping their drive up enough to do any significant amount of work. I've tried to work with a couple other youger kids, and it didn't work out. Or maybe they just didn't like getting sweaty or dirty? I believe if you have a good attitude, and some enthusiasm and drive to succeed, you'll make it. You can't be afraid, or unwilling to do the dirty work at first, either! You just need to widen your search for someone to take you in and teach you. If your relatives, or farther out relatives, and acquaintences aren't in this field, start going to cruise nights and car shows, and talking to people, you might get lucky and find someone who you can apprentice with.
great responses, thanks for the info everybody I figured that I will just put my head down and keep welding , and hopefully my car will be a project that I will be able to use as a stepping stone to get in, but with a 9 month old I cant sweep floors anymore, and have to stay at my job for now thank god for side work
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