new fab business

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not sure where to post, i figured this was the best spot.  i came to this forum to ask advice about welding to cast, and having got most of my answers for that i figured i would share what i have been up to.  my brother an i have started a business since January,  building parts for 4wd vehicles, with an emphasis on abusing them off road.  we have started slow, got to be resourceful with the money that people have invested in us.  so far we really only have one product that is ready to sell, but i have a lot more things drawn up and ready to prototype.  we have started with the S10 platform, mostly because i feel it is under-utilized and under-appreciated in the off road world.  there really isnt too much aftermarket for these little trucks so we should fill a nice niche.  our first and only product at this point are simple lift shackles for the s10 series.  they are available in 1.5" and 2" lift, but we have plans for two more sizes, just need to develop the market for them so we can order enough to make it cost effective.  we do some of the work "in house" so to speak, but some things we just dont have the tooling for, yet.  there really isnt too much to this product as far as fabrication, but i like it still.  its cut from 1/4", then just two bends and some powder-coat.  we cut our logo from 040 stainless and then rivet it to the shackle.you guys can check out the website if you want, www.3leaffab.com.  im not trying to sell any of this to you guys though so i hope you dont get that impression, i just figured i would share among other fabricators.  this is primarily a online business.
Reply:Looks good, and I like the way you do the logo. How are you cutting the peices, and how do you bend the 1/4"?Miller Syncrowave 200Hobart Handler 140Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38E-Z Tube BenderPlasma Cam DHC2
Reply:Clean looking design.  The only thing I would worry about is the logo getting destroyed after a few trips out.Best of luck with the fab business.  It can be very rewarding.  You probably already know about www.pirate4x4.com  The site is filled with some first rate builds and it would be a perfect place to network with some S-10 owners.Cheers,tpwww.tompenningtonphoto.com
Reply:Nice work, I have one question, which way does the grain run? I learned from an experienced fabricator that bends in plate should always be made across the grain, never with the grain as this can lead to cracking. Looks good!City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:everything is cut on a big laser table, they are bent in a big press brake.  sorry i dont know the details of what actual machines.as far as the logo getting destroyed, perhaps it will happen, perhaps not.  its not really in a vulnerable spot, so maybe it will last awhile.  as for pirate, yeah im on there already.  but so far this is sort specific to just s10's and they dont get no respect on there, at least not yet.  but soon we will have a bunch of generic parts that we will be selling on that forum among others.  as far as the grain, its kinda a crap shoot. i dont get a choice really, it just gets nested the most convenient place on the sheet, and goes from there.  im not too worried about them cracking though, once they are bent into shape they never see the kind of forces that could cause them to crack because of the grain going the wrong way.
Reply:Welcome    Nice parts..
Reply:Do you have any pics of your kit on a truck? If so, some nice before and after installation pics would be nice. Also, any progress on the IFS eliminator kit?Miller Syncrowave 200Hobart Handler 140Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38E-Z Tube BenderPlasma Cam DHC2
Reply:Nice parts.  I agree, S10's don't get alot of respect on pirate.  I have a 98 Ford Ranger 4x4 with the IFS front.  They get very little respect as well unless you do the SAS.  I've designed a few parts for it as well but have yet to have any cut.  I guess I need to get on that.Thanks for the inspiration.
Reply:Nice work man.  Might try some weld together stuff too like Ballistic Fab does.  That might save you some $ on the pressing process.  OT: Calm down the Bevel and Emboss Pshop effects on your website   Good luck on the new business venture and smart move on picking a niche market.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jeep07Nice work man.  Might try some weld together stuff too like Ballistic Fab does.  That might save you some $ on the pressing process.  OT: Calm down the Bevel and Emboss Pshop effects on your website   Good luck on the new business venture and smart move on picking a niche market.
Reply:Originally Posted by QuciferDo you have any pics of your kit on a truck? If so, some nice before and after installation pics would be nice. Also, any progress on the IFS eliminator kit?
Reply:Welcome and good luck with the businessMiller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:as far as the grain, its kinda a crap shoot. i dont get a choice really, it just gets nested the most convenient place on the sheet, and goes from there. im not too worried about them cracking though, once they are bent into shape they never see the kind of forces that could cause them to crack because of the grain going the wrong way.
Reply:yeah, my s10 is going to get olive drab paint when i get around to paint it.
Reply:well, this is a step in the right direction, we got our sas kit cut out and formed this weekend, at least the front half.  i will be 4 linking the rear of my truck so i wont be able to use the rear half, and that will have to go on a different truck.  i did however also get everything for my 4 link cutout. sunday i will probably be tacking everything together, and seeing where it goes from there.  i was really pleased with the way the lettering turned out, it looks sweet.  now that we have built the first one, we have seen a few ways to improve the design and make it either stronger or easier to produce, so the end results will vary a little bit from this prototype, but thats why you prototype stuff in the first place.  i threw in some pics of the flat parts and the process of making them for the curious.
Reply:we also cut out a prototype of a generic weld on front crossmember that we will probably be selling much sooner than the bolt on kit.  we also cut out these sweet shock towers
Reply:Looks real good. Is that your shop? That is a nice shop.Miller Syncrowave 200Hobart Handler 140Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38E-Z Tube BenderPlasma Cam DHC2
Reply:nice shop hell, thats a great shop. our shop at work isn't even that big, or have anywhere near that equipment."Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun  Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:If you have put that shop together since January I would definitely not call that starting "slow"  Hell, I've been in business since 95, and I don't have near that amount of equipment.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:haha, thats the shop where my business partner works.  those arent our machines, just ours to use.  eventually we will get a small brake and a laser and build ourselves a nice little shop but that particular building has probably like 300,000 sq ft, and i dont know how many millions of dollars in equipment.
Reply:Hey nice work I really like the products, looks really strong!What process are you using to weld everything together?
Reply:That shop is big , i thought it was yours at first. Looks good.
Reply:Originally Posted by stickkidHey nice work I really like the products, looks really strong!What process are you using to weld everything together?
Reply:well done... I have only 1/3 your picture fab shop and never that much equipment... that is a warhog specialized shop alright ,I could give you a 5 star facility rating for that...Just love all your oversize machine...