Do you 'Kit' or Fabricate?
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New User
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, Wisconsin
Do you 'Kit' or Fabricate?
I often wonder, should I buy the ready-made kit, or try to fabricate it myself?
I look at the bracket to mount a Toyota box... I could make that.
Front disk brake brackets? Looks pretty basic to me.
Power brake booster and master cylinder mount? I could probably figure that out, too.
Not that I would, but I could maybe (eventually) figure out how to fabricate a dropped front axle.
Machine an engine block from a solid chunk of aluminum? Uh...no
I have more time than money, and a whole garage full of tools. My labor is
'free', I enjoy designing and fabricating, and steel is cheap. Not to mention the pride in doing it myself.
I especially like it when someone sees something I made and asks "Where did you buy that from?"
How about you guys? How many of you make your own parts, versus buying pre-made ones?
I look at the bracket to mount a Toyota box... I could make that.
Front disk brake brackets? Looks pretty basic to me.
Power brake booster and master cylinder mount? I could probably figure that out, too.
Not that I would, but I could maybe (eventually) figure out how to fabricate a dropped front axle.
Machine an engine block from a solid chunk of aluminum? Uh...no
I have more time than money, and a whole garage full of tools. My labor is
'free', I enjoy designing and fabricating, and steel is cheap. Not to mention the pride in doing it myself.
I especially like it when someone sees something I made and asks "Where did you buy that from?"
How about you guys? How many of you make your own parts, versus buying pre-made ones?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
I grew up making my own parts and still do. I'm proud of myself when i come up with a clever and/or elegant solution. But I have learned not to "fall in love" with my first effort, but to walk away for a while then come back and say what could be done better, and if it's significant enough I'll scrap the first one and do it over. To me visual as well as functional elegance is equally important.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,322
Likes: 20
From: Rhode Island
For me it's often a time x money issue. If I can make the part cheap enough and get the same result. I'll make it. But if I'm going to spend a weekend fabricating an reasonably priced part ill just buy it. Now if it can't be had. Well that I have to make to prove the na Sayers wrong.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 103
From: Birdsboro PA
This being my first real ground up project, ive leaned toward more ready made kits. Some ive been happy with and some, like my rear sway bar, i felt like i didnt get a whole lot for the money i paid fo rit and should have just bought the raw materials and made it my self. Now there are other parts i have fabricated out of necessity. Things like my clutch mc mount. I should probably follow what ax said and not get too proud of my first attempt because i do feel like sometimes things can turn out better.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 914
Likes: 71
From: Lavergne, Tn.
I also tend fabricate a lot of the parts that are within my capabilities and aren't necessarily available at a reasonable price. I've always loved building things, whether out of wood, fiberglass, or metal, so I always look at whether I can build the part.
And.........being a darksider, I'm usually building something that is not in a catalog.
And.........being a darksider, I'm usually building something that is not in a catalog.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Prescott AZ.
I do a combination of both. If I find a kit or part that is reasonably priced and of good quality I will go that way, if not I will make it.
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oldmerc
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 5
From: Edmonton,Alberta
I will qualify my last post with ( If I can) because there are lots of things that I simply cannot do . After re-reading that post it sounded to me like I was bragging .
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Elder User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 728
Likes: 2
From: North Idaho
I started my current project with the mind set that "I was going to build it" from beginning to bitter end, hehe.
Like so many others here, I enjoy fabricating and the mental gyrations that go along with it.
So far I have bought no kits, only the steel needed to make what I want.
Like so many others here, I enjoy fabricating and the mental gyrations that go along with it.
So far I have bought no kits, only the steel needed to make what I want.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,000
Likes: 9,893
From: Rio Rancho, NM
I do a combination of both. Sometimes I fabricate parts, sometimes I'll buy them.
I know I could easily have fabricated my own wiring harness. I ended up buying a premade one because after I would have bought all the different colors of wires needed it was about the same money as buying the pre-assembled harness.
Sometimes I fabricate parts just to learn how to do something, or to try doing something that I haven't done before. My whole truck project is a big learning experience. Sometimes I fabricate parts because I'm flat broke (or just a major tightwad cheapskate) and can't see spending the big bucks.
I do get a lot of satisfaction from building and/or modifying something to work. More so than if I opened my checkbook and a catalog and bought a part.
Its all good
Bobby
I know I could easily have fabricated my own wiring harness. I ended up buying a premade one because after I would have bought all the different colors of wires needed it was about the same money as buying the pre-assembled harness.
Sometimes I fabricate parts just to learn how to do something, or to try doing something that I haven't done before. My whole truck project is a big learning experience. Sometimes I fabricate parts because I'm flat broke (or just a major tightwad cheapskate) and can't see spending the big bucks.
I do get a lot of satisfaction from building and/or modifying something to work. More so than if I opened my checkbook and a catalog and bought a part.
Its all good
Bobby
I did buy a wiring harness and new gauges though.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 934
Likes: 2
From: Sterling, Virginia
Combo of both for me too. Usually when I fabricate, it's the third try works the best. The first is like a prototype, the second is almost there, the third is the final fit. Its good to push your skills. If you can't make it, buy it.
Welder User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 50
From: northwest MT
Much more enjoyable to me to build what I need, but sometimes much quicker to buy it (if possible). Problem I have had with many of the "parts" available is the quality is poor....so I end up improvising.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 7
From: Moyie, BC Canada
I think making things like brackets is were the fun is in putting these trucks together. I looked through countless catalogues and drooled at the shiny expensive doodads and stuff that seemed necessary, I found more enjoyment in duplicating some of the simpler things.