School ?
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: CA
School ?
I’ am looking at joining automotive school to learn some basic (“body paint” and “metal fabrication” for bikes and trucks). Any leads? Ho, the catch is, I have a full time job and I want to take up classes over weekends. I can travel any where between DC and NY.
I have strong passion for bike and trucks, but my profession is quite different (& I want to keep them separate). I did contact WyoTech and some other big schools as such, but none of them have presence in East coast. However last year when I was watching “American choppers” when Paul Jr built his second web bike (green and black color), he did drive it to some bike school in NY, damm I don’t remember the school name now! Do you know which school it was….?
FYI,
I can start as a help in garage and then work myself up too, if there are any mechanic/Garage owners listing to me.
Let me get back to work now,
Thanks for reading, all inputs are welcome,
Vijay
I have strong passion for bike and trucks, but my profession is quite different (& I want to keep them separate). I did contact WyoTech and some other big schools as such, but none of them have presence in East coast. However last year when I was watching “American choppers” when Paul Jr built his second web bike (green and black color), he did drive it to some bike school in NY, damm I don’t remember the school name now! Do you know which school it was….?
FYI,
I can start as a help in garage and then work myself up too, if there are any mechanic/Garage owners listing to me.
Let me get back to work now,
Thanks for reading, all inputs are welcome,
Vijay
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Kiefer, Northeastern Okla
That was my first thought- Vo-Tech. Don't know about up yonder, but here in the Tulsa area, there are several campuses that offer auto related classes. Very affordable, loans and financing, convenient schedules for the working person, and they offer job placement assistance. Can't go wrong with school. 
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
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From: Abilene Kansas
if u wanted to do it right, take off a year and go to wyo tech, last i knew they get u in and get u out in a hurry, my friend went there for diesel mech and he wasnt there for very long at all
Matt
Matt
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From: St. Peter
I've heard schools like wyotech and UTI arent all they're cracked up to be. They make it sound like if you go there, the day you graduate you'll have a job making 40k's a year right out of school. I know one person who went ot wyotech, he worked in a gas station for about a year, then now works at a local car dealership, so yes he got a job, but i bet its not 40k a year starting. Also i know 2 people who went to UTI, and one worked at wal-mart after he graduated, and the other got a job at another gas station. So its not as good as they say it is, but i guess it still beats nothing, and if you push yourself, i'm sure you can get a job starting out a 40k a year, but it just doesnt happen as much as they say its going to.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,220
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From: CA
Thank all,
Appreciate your replies. The problem is, I don’t need a job as mechanic/ fabricator. I have a full time job and the only reason I need to study mechanics is to get a heads up on the bikes / truck fabrication (or engines in general). Simple things like welding, handy repairs, running diagnostics, adding lift kits, basic suspension knowledge etc is what I’ am looking at. Any leads?
Thanks,
Vijay
Appreciate your replies. The problem is, I don’t need a job as mechanic/ fabricator. I have a full time job and the only reason I need to study mechanics is to get a heads up on the bikes / truck fabrication (or engines in general). Simple things like welding, handy repairs, running diagnostics, adding lift kits, basic suspension knowledge etc is what I’ am looking at. Any leads?
Thanks,
Vijay
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From: St. Peter
Heck, i think FTE practically is a school. Pretty much anything i know about a vehicle I learned from this site and experiance. I was thinking about if i was a college auto professor, i would hand out little tags with FTE's web address (and maybe other websites) and say that this is a very good way to learn information.
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From: Alvin, Texas.
Originally Posted by Vijay
Thank all,
Appreciate your replies. The problem is, I don’t need a job as mechanic/ fabricator. I have a full time job and the only reason I need to study mechanics is to get a heads up on the bikes / truck fabrication (or engines in general). Simple things like welding, handy repairs, running diagnostics, adding lift kits, basic suspension knowledge etc is what I’ am looking at. Any leads?
Thanks,
Vijay
Appreciate your replies. The problem is, I don’t need a job as mechanic/ fabricator. I have a full time job and the only reason I need to study mechanics is to get a heads up on the bikes / truck fabrication (or engines in general). Simple things like welding, handy repairs, running diagnostics, adding lift kits, basic suspension knowledge etc is what I’ am looking at. Any leads?
Thanks,
Vijay
For the dollar, they DUST any national "chain" by a mile or ten.
Bust out the phone book...and Good luck.
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From: MA
Originally Posted by Vijay
Thank all,
Appreciate your replies. The problem is, I don’t need a job as mechanic/ fabricator. I have a full time job and the only reason I need to study mechanics is to get a heads up on the bikes / truck fabrication (or engines in general). Simple things like welding, handy repairs, running diagnostics, adding lift kits, basic suspension knowledge etc is what I’ am looking at. Any leads?
Thanks,
Vijay
Appreciate your replies. The problem is, I don’t need a job as mechanic/ fabricator. I have a full time job and the only reason I need to study mechanics is to get a heads up on the bikes / truck fabrication (or engines in general). Simple things like welding, handy repairs, running diagnostics, adding lift kits, basic suspension knowledge etc is what I’ am looking at. Any leads?
Thanks,
Vijay
Then get your hands dirty and just start doing it.. Welding takes practice and a steady hand. Practice on junk first before you take on an expensive vehicle you could damage.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
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he is right the best triann ing is hands on. the first time i learned to weld i watch once then triend it infront of him. i started at tack welding and as i did something harder and kept moving up. you learn from your mistakes untill you work your way up to doing things like welding aluminum alloys togeather. As for painting no one can teach you that its something you have to learn on your own. the only thing a school will teach u is mixing colors marking off and using tools. but the painting is a tech you have to learn on your on and develope your own perfect motion. I learned using spray paint. It has the same concept when it comes to coating and masking off and everything when you get yours flow down then you can start paint things like cars and bikes using the 50 dollar gollon stuff instead a 4 buck spray can. as for the schooling replac eit with books and lots of them plus they are alot cheeper and the work around you not the other way around
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
A good way to learn stuff like you are talking about vijay, is go and check the classified ads for a old used truck or car, a used welder, and whatever tools for whatever you want to learn, and just learn it. That is by far the best way to learn. With a website like this one to ask questions, you cant go wrong!