O/T help/guidance for a young hamber

im 20 years old, and ive been around cars my entire life, and have worked on quite a few. i was into the 4x4 scene for a while, and learned some ok fab skills there, but for the past couple of years my focus has really been on traditional hot rods and customs. although i still havnt got a car, ive been at tons of shows and researching the net, learning what i can. last week, i was laid off permantly due to lack of work.i support myself as well as me fiance, who is puttin herself through college. ive been wanting to learn and get my hands into some fab work, but never could, and im kinda hopin this is my chance. im thinkin im gonna buy some metal shaping tools, and try and learn some serious metal fab stuff. now, im not expecting to become a master and start my own shop and be superman, im trying to learn a special skill, that im hoping can help me one day maybe get a job at a fab shop or just earn a little cash on the side, and to help in my own cars. what im looking for is a place to start, anything from some books or a video to someone who is willing to have a tool b*tch around while they are choppin there car, just to learn some shit. i live in nor-cal, just above sacto, and im havin a hard time finding a decent job with the economy slow, and nobody will take a chance on a kid.

i would really like to learn everything i can, from just the basics up to chops, channels, hardtopin a sedan, frenching, lead work, everything.
right now im just lookin to be pointed in the right direction, as far as the tools, books, articles, or just advice. anything at all is appreciated.

sorry for the long post, i just started writing and i couldnt stop

 

hang in there, there is bound to be a shop in your area that needs a slave/ cheap labor. None of us were born knowing how to do this stuff, we all had someone show us the way. Have a positive attitude, listen more than you talk , be willing to do grunt work with a smile, if you are sincere, someone will see it and show you the way. That is what this place is all about, spreading the gospel, passing hot rodding and kustoms to the next generation.

 

take some welding classes, read any book by Ron Fournier or Carrol Smith. Try looking for work at a construction company that has a large fleet. I work for a large commercial roofer as THE mechanic, but at least half of my job is fabricating oddball stuff, that and we have all sorts of cool metal working tools to play with.

 

Best thing i can tell you is pick on skill to get good at. That can be your ticket into a shop as more than just a dust remover/gopher.

Tech schools are great. Some times you can get grants and shit to pay for nearly all of it. I've been taking Advanced TIG classes for two years and have paid a whopping $100. It's a sure job when i get out (lots of tech schools have job placement),and it's a secure future you can always go back to if things head south.


Being a sponge is great,but don't try to suck up the ocean at one time.

 

This is what I used to do when I was a kid. I would go to a place I really wanted to work and meet with the owner. I would tell him how much respect I had for their business. Then if I got a good vibe for the place I would tell them how much I would like to work for them, so much that I would offer to work for free for a week. If it didnt work out then nobody was out a dime. I was never turned down when making that offer. Its hard for a business owner to pass that up, and your in like flin.

 

After doing everything the guys above just told you. I recommens you read as much here on the HAMB as you can. The knowledge base here is AMAZING!!! Ask a question and in minutes, you'll have the answer you need. Along with some you don't, but those tend to be entertaining.

Vance

 

Not being from your area, I don't know where to send you, but I guess I'd start at Sacramento Vintage Ford and become a regular. Hang around and start meeting people, maybe put a notice on their bulletin board, etc. Eventually, you'll connect with a shop owner looking for someone like you. I've worked in some shops I wasn't crazy about, but looking back, I sure learned a lot there...I also have worked for free, to get my foot in the door - nothing wrong with that. You may have to grab a non-fun disposable job to tide you over until your big break - nothing wrong with that, either. Your fiance has the best idea: school!!! Just my two cents worth...

 

If you can't get a starting job in a customs & chopping bodyshop; then I would try to find the best paying "any" job. Then save money for a pricey metal shaping class, and try to get some basic tools and start doing it on the side. But then you'd need at least a small home garage too, and at your age & location, that may be tough to do.

If you are lucky enough to have a place to do side work; get some sort of cheap oldie and do some real simple stuff like frenching lights & misc work, then drive it to cruises & shows with a "I do custom work" sign in the window. You can graduate to the chops later as you get better.

 

One more thing, hit them early in the morning and let them know you can get up and get to work on time. Hanging out on the internet at 12:40 am wont cut it.

 

I have people come around wanting to help or learn sometimes,all but one of them was more than happy to tell ME what I was doing wrong.
The one that was all ears ,ask GOOD questions and wasn't afraid to take out the trash and sweep the floor is still here.
He also ended up being my best friend.

 

I did the same thing when I was a kid, that's how I got my first job at a body shop, it turned into a 6-year career that taught me a lot about cars and also put me through college.

 

thanks for all the replies. i have a feeling im gonna be workin at wal-mart for a while to pay the bills, which is fine with me. i just wanted to know the best approach to it. i live about 50 miles above sac, so with no income i cant go there a whole lot, but i am gonna try. i love sac vintage ford, and they completly skipped my mind.

what kind of tools do you guys recommend? more or less sheetmetal tools like hammers and shit. i just want to get some small stuff, just to mess with and learn how they are used.

thanks for all the help