Automotive Fabrictors Input Needed!

[s14Geoff]

Hello everyone, I had a few questions for those who are employed in automotive fabrication. A little about myself first. I'm in my first year of an auto tech program at my local community college. My love for cars started in high school and has only grown from there. I love working on my car but have found I prefer doing "custom" things rather than maintenance like replacing a starter, tracking down elelectrical problems, etc... I have been working in a metal shop a guy on my hockey team owns. We make steam rooms and saunas and I primarily make the electric heaters (spot welder) but was able to run his water jet for a few weekends. Our welder who makes the gas heaters has given me a few lessons in welding. The first lesson I didn't want to stop I was having so much fun lol. I bought my own mig and have been practicing with scrap from work since then. I'm about to get some tig lessons from my Co worker and am saving for a Chinese tig machine (ahp 200x tig welder). I would really like to work for someone like Sikky making swap kits or in a shop welding up exhausts, intercoolers, rollcages etc. I realize me and everyone else would like these jobs so competition seems high. I'm also considering switching into the welding program at my community college


Anyways, enough about me and to the point.
-How much experience do fabrication companies/shops usually require (I realize I more than likely wwouldn't land the job I want right out if school)?
-Are places like I've mentioned hiring often or would I likely have to wait awhile to hope for an opening and hope they like my application/resume?
-Would starting in an exhaust shop be a good place to start and work on my skills (the shops for your average everyday car not custom)?
-Should I take some classes in machining/CAD?
-Are there any cities with more companies/shops than otbers? I currently live in Boise, ID and there is only a few tuning shops here.
-Do you welders enjoy your job? Or should I keep it as more of a hobby/side job out of my garage?
-Any suggestions for an up and coming welder?
Sorry if this is in the wrong section (feel free to move or delete) but was hoping some friendly 240 guys would be able to put in some input!
Thanks guys.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Customization shops are fairly rare, and even then they have few employees. A background as a mechanic is always a plus. Having good welding skills, body skills, painting skills, etc is a plus. Some of those things can be taught in a class, but if you don't have a knack for it, you wont keep the job.
The jobs typically don't pay very well either. Just food for thought.

[s14Geoff]

That's what I was worried about is that they are so small and few and far between that it would be hard to get into one. Me and my shop foreman were talking about me opening up my own shop which would be awesome but I feel that it would be hard to keep work let alone get your name out and get people to trust your work when you are a brand new business. Not that I wouldn't want to do something just because it's hard I have just seen a lot of shops go up and before you know it they're out of business. I feel like the better way rather than just opening up a business out of nowhere is do side jobs out of your garage, get your name out there upgrade to a larger shop and start doing work that way. Hey, anything is possible right? Apple started out of a garage lol.

[Lobo240sx]

Start small side jobs. Then move your way up. You can accomplish anything if you put your mind and soul into it. Look at Michael Dell, Apple, etc. Those guys started as you said in their own garage. Honestly, I'd rather have an American fabricator than something bought from China like the market is today.

[2_Liter_Turbo]

From my experience (personal and second-hand), the best bet is to learn the skills for what you ultimately want to do, but be prepared to work in a less ideal setting for quite some time to build experience and earn money while you start your own project on the side in your free time. If you're lucky enough to have investors (parents, friends, people you convince that your idea is worth investing in, etc), then this process speeds up a lot, but the risk is higher.

An example for you would be to learn to be a machinist/welder. Work at a job shop making products for other companies in the area that are in various sectors of the manufacturing industry. You'll learn from your peers, and even the designs of the customers, of how to make stuff cheap, yet bad-a**. You'll earn a reasonable living, and you won't be burned out on your hobby because it'll be different enough to keep you sane. You then use that knowledge and experience (as well as money you've made) to start fabricating stuff on the side for what you actually want to do and sell it on forums, to local enthusiasts, etc. You start to build momentum when people acknowledge the bad-assness of your product and skill set, and eventually, you can transition into what you really love doing and have a nice portfolio to back you up.

I am working to a similar goal myself, and am in the works of getting some ideas made into product. I am using a different route for myself than the example, but it's the same general idea. I wish you good luck, hope my blurb helps a bit! Ha ha