well i just opened up my shop and we do alot of parts sales and performance based repairs.

but i wuld really get the ball rolling on my fab section of the shop.

well obvioulsy money is an issue. so im wondering since im starting from scratch, what is the equipment that i will use the most.


EX:
mig welder
tig welder
bandsaw
belt sander
cold saw


just looking for ideas.

 

It all depends on what kind of work you'll be doing. Are you making manifolds? Exhausts only? Typically your equipment will reflect what work you would like to be doing.

I believe you have a good list there. Don't forget air tools - Compressor, grinders, etc.

 

good call. id say exhaust and manifolds. i hope.

but also just custom brakets, mounts, canisters. tanks.

 

I find myself needing a lathe more and more these days. Your also gonna need a torch maybe a plasma cutter.

 

you are going to need alot more tools/equipment to have a capable shop

 

end mill, lathe, and tooling for each at a minimum.

 

Mig welder, tig welder, band saw, bench grinders, angle grinders, vice , belt sander , wire wheels , chop saw, torch. I'd stay away from the cold saw to start off with. If you want to build clean brackets, might want to look into something to bend sheet metal.

 

a good welder. /thread

No honestly, you don't need much fancy stuff unless you really know what your doing and usually "starting" and "fab shop" doesn't mean knows whats going on. So get a mig get a tig and some tools to grind cut etc. and expand as business comes in.

Spending $10k+ on equipment before getting jobs is foolish and reaks of failure waiting to happen.

ps: I hope you can weld, because another fly by night fab shop is not what the scene needs.

 

Dunno if you plan on doing any cages or roll bars but I notice no one mentioned a tube bender.

 

tube notcher or cheaper way of doing the same.
Drill press.

 

are you going to be hiring a fabricator? I dont see how you would not know what you need if you are capable of doing the work.