back in the 1940s-1960s there were skilled metal workers ....

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
back in the 1940s-1960s there were skilled metal workers ... practicing what is now some what of a dying art!
computers and cad drawing were not yet widely available tools, and cnc was yet to be heard of,
people worked with their hands and minds and produced some rather amazing results
.that knew how to use tools like, english wheels and TIG welders , dollys and hammers , metal shears and brakes ,to transform ideas into reality
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http://www.mittlerbros.com/mittler-bros.html

http://www.trick-tools.com/Metal_Shaping_Forming_54?view_all

http://www.rockler.com/metalworking...xutluhW7K_sLAUxOx10C2DG5QvzUG_777saAubV8P8HAQ

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_metal-fabrication+sheet-metal-fabrication

http://www.jettools.com/us/en/c/metalworking-forming/220?mktoChannel=paid&gawCampaign=156270150&gawAdGrp=31412326590&gawAdExt=&gawNetwk=g&gawLoc=9012035&gawDvc=c&gawDvcMod=&gawKeyword=+sheet +metal working tools&gawMatchType=b&gawPlacemt=&gawTarget=&gawAd=108074621910&gawAdPos=1t3&gclid=Cj0KEQiAwMLDBRDCh_r9sMvQ_88BEiQA6zuAQ-KuCaTHCgPGzJC9hWoTAS2iypbHNTzo4YqR4Ijxtg4aAgLG8P8HAQ

http://www.eastwood.com/blog/eastwood-chatter/sheet-metal-fab-basic-techniques/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/build-a-welding-table.11814/#post-55954
 
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While the industrial metalworking "trade" may have gotten smaller, the hobbyist side has expanded a lot. The internet has had a big effect along with the cheap copies of tools sold by stores like Northern and Harbor freight. Back in the day it was hard to find anyone with even an oxy/acetylene torch other than commercial shops and garages. Now guys have planishing hammers, bead rollers, and all kinds of metal working tools at their house we never even saw outside of production shops back then.

The trouble with the "craft" is that a lot of the equipment is large and expensive and so it isn't worthwhile for most people to invest in for the use the equipment would get plus it takes up a lot of space.
 
Many moons ago, people had free time and disposable income and the schools taught the
skills needed to use those types of tools & equipment. Those three things are like the sides
of a triangle. Take any 1 away and the whole thing collapses.
 
The size of the equipment is the huge deal but people are being trained to be a disposable society. Main reason being it is cheaper to buy a repop then to pay to have it fixed. But this is not the case in for allot of hobbyists but aftermarket giants don't want you doing that. There are guys in japan that would repair an accordion looking fender for a classic Z to new condition. I love fabrication and have allot of future plans of doing it composites are going to be my weapon of choice.
 
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