DIY or Buy

[Morris4x4]

Which would you do if you were able to? Build/fab your own bumpers (other parts as well) or buy from a company (local or not)? Why?
PFA Left is DIY right is PSC

-Julia​

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[Glamisfan]

my neighbor and I both fabricate anything and everything. He bought bumpers and I couldn’t figure out why he didn’t build them himself. As I was planning mine out he kept telling me buy them. He finally talked me into it and I bought a pair of Motobilts. . There’s no way I could fabricate something as nice as them for $500 each shipped! If you just want a simple bumper sure any fabricator can build them. But to build something with all the nice angles and reliefs that some of these aftermarket ones come with, you really need to not only be able to CNC cut it but CNC bend it also. I did try finding a pre-cut do it yourself one, I only came across one company that looks like it went out of business a few years ago. There’s several available for the Cherokees. But Some I did see cost like 350 bucks so why not get one that’s been sanded to perfection for 500 and already done.

 

[dave_p]

How do you learn how to fabricate? I would love to do some small things -- I have an old hitch-mounted bike rack I'd like to turn into a cage. I have a grinder and I can drill a hole. I guess I'd have to learn to weld at least? Is that a huge time commitment and expense to get tools? There's a shortage of rack options for my 2dr and I like building things (but I only have wood skills).

 

[Morris4x4]

How do you learn how to fabricate? I would love to do some small things -- I have an old hitch-mounted bike rack I'd like to turn into a cage. I have a grinder and I can drill a hole. I guess I'd have to learn to weld at least? Is that a huge time commitment and expense to get tools? There's a shortage of rack options for my 2dr and I like building things (but I only have wood skills).

The best way that I started to learn was just getting a small mig welder and some pieces of steel + some youtube (or knowledgeable people) if you don't have any true idea on how to hold it or operate it. Practiced doing my lines and making steel squares, heck I also practiced writing my name in cursive on a little sheet of steel. It isn't an absolute money sucker (look at what we like to do haha) but you will have it for a good amount of time.

 

[Headbarcode]

Generally, the more extensive your tooling is, the less time gets sucked into the job. And when it comes to something structural, you'd better have a firm grasp on shapes and their role in physics.

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