What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Basic metal working tools for a beginner

cameronsaddress

cameronsaddress

1/2 ton status
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Posts
284
Reaction score
0
Location
ca
Hey guys,
It has become apparent that in order to accomplish the things that I would like with my rig, I need to learn to work with metal. Can you point me in the right direction for what basic gear I should accumulate in order to be able to cut and weld?

Any how-to sites or articles that I can read as well?

Thanks a bunch!
 
Check out a site called CK5.com

There is a 1st Gen forum and a Build thread forum that will show lots of real-world people building stuff, making mistakes and improving their skills.... :D

Seriously, I know you are new here and it's probably a bit overwhelming at first. But there are guys like me who have been posting here for LITERALLY the last TEN YEARS with information and ideas and techniques that can help you.

It's hard to slow down when you're excited to get started on a new truck project but trust me...... Make a big pot of coffee, sit down with this site and warm up the "search" button. There are HOURS of reading that will teach you the things you'll otherwise learn the hard way. Nobody is rich enough (or has enough free time) to afford to make all the mistakes themselves.

My build started with a small toolbox, no air tools and no welder. Most of the tools you end up with are the ones you buy out of necessity when you get to a point in the build when you have no choice.

I would start with the mechanical stuff first (suspension updates, body lift removal, steering improvements, fixing leaks, improving driveability, etc.). Save the sheet metal work for later when you are more experienced and patient. Its a lot harder than most of the other stuff, and cutting into the truck looking for rusty metal ( and finding LOTS of it) is a heartbreaker and can really kill your enthusiasm.

Study up grasshopper.... There are plenty of folks here ready to fill in the gaps as you start accumulating knowledge. :thumb:


:usaflag:
 
Like Greg72 said^^^

But,
If you want a few basics,

Welder; preferably mig for all around use, about a 180 size.

Torch; Just good for everything.

4-4.5" angle grinder; Once again good for everything.

You can work wonders with just those 3. You'll find more speacialized things, But those will take you FAR
 
Add a digital camera to that. Take lots of photos of everything that you disassemble so you can refer back to them on how things go back together.

I never needed a torch for anything though. Angle grinder has been used extensively along with a sawzall.


-Brian
 
hey Cameron.... heed the wisdom of Greg and the boys.... we're all more than willing to give you any info you could possibly need...

also in addition to a camera, get yourself a spiral notebook and start taking notes... all kinds of things will help, part #'s, tool's to buy list, notes on projects you'd like to do, etc, etc...

keep in mind, someone like me has over 50 g's in tools.. that's 30 yr's of accumulation... as some have found out in here, like Chief Brody, tools alone, can take a LONG time to acquire... plenty of stuff I'd still love to buy, horizontal bandsaw, torches, hydro for my tube bender...

for metal cutting alone, there are dozens of tools that help... angle grinder with cutoff wheels, die grinder with cutoffs, plasma, sawzall, hand snips, chopsaw, air hammer, etc... a lot will depend on exactly what project your gonna undertake...

if you've got a month or so, feel free to read thru my build and ask, or PM me any questions you may have... as mentioned, I would focus on mechanicals first, with an eye towards what, if any, kinda custom work you'd like to do down the road..
 
The camera, take lots of BEFORE because after it's too late and it's hard to remember what it looked like before you cut it, took it off, moved it out of the way or even worse threw it in the trash because you were going to get a new one anyways.
 
Cant post pics here with out the camera either:D
 
I am a firm believer that you can do just about anything with nearly nothing.

A grinder is necessary, it can cut, smooth, shape clean, lots of stuff.

A drill, cause your going to need holes in stuff.

A welder cause joining metal with fire is cool!

With those 3 tools you can do just about anything short of bending tubing. There are easier ways to do stuff sure, with more expensive tools. Torches, plasma cutters, twin cut saws, bandsaws, etc. But if you start with the basics you can teach yourself a whole lot.

Clamps are another thing that are extremely handy.

And remember, in fabrication, the difference between pretty good and perfect is usually about 10 minutes. Not always but usually
 
Great Advice above...

Best thing that i could say is SLOW DOWN and read. The excitment of owning this new to you truck can quickly lead to miss spent money and wrong turns in the direction of your project.

When I first landed on CK5 the excitment of my first project and all the cool rigs around this site had me so excited and overwhelmed that i just dove in head first with little direction. Hindsight being 20/20, I wish i would have froze my bank account, put a tarp over the truck and just read through the threads here and let myself calm down.

You have a few GREAT begginer projects staring you right in the face. Those body mounts, some shocks, those front brake lines not attached to the frame, replacing some worn steering components.


My advice:

-Basic tool set
-Jack and stands
-Angle grinder

Then pick a project, find out what tools you will need for that project and then have at it. Move on to a second project, find out what tools you need for that, and have at it.

Eventually, out of necessity, you will end up with all you need.
 
Hey guys,
Thanks for all of the great input... I have done ALOT of reading in the ck5 forums lately ;)

Well... I got an angle grinder and started to repair a PO frame screw up.

619fad43-0f41-b498.jpg

619fad43-0f61-6ae2.jpg

619fad43-0ee6-d5a6.jpg

619fad43-0f0e-300e.jpg



Can anyone get me a measurement on 72 frame horns from the body mount bracket to the end of the frame?

Thanks
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom