In a conversation with my Avonite rep today, he mentioned a couple of guys that wanted to be set up and trained in Avonite and their polyester product. I immediatelty told him if they wanted to come to my shop, tell them to give me a call.

That got me to thinking, what a wonderful thing that would be if we could come up with a list of shops that would welcome a fellow fabricator and total stranger into their shop so as to learn from them.

Because of the generosity of a cabinetmaker in the Huntsville Al. market, that welcomed me, a total stranger into his shop, I have had the opportunity to learn a unique way of cabinet construction and design, and has increased my average cabinet sale from less than 10k to almost 60k.

I would like to be the first to ask for help. I read all about the CNC's on here and have never been around them. I would like to work a few days in a high production shop.

 If anyone, no matter what size of shop , would like to be a mentor to anyone, please post a response to this thread or send me an email at kcwood@bellsouth.net.  I will try to keep a database of any shop that has an open door policy to a fellow fabricator.  There is not one day that goes by I do not learn a better way from someone else.

KC

KC,

     That's a great idea.  We had an individual from Oklahoma call us because he thought he wanted to get into the solid surface business, but he wasn't sure.  He drove all the way up and spent a week in our shop.  He liked it so much that when he went back he went into the countertop business.  We had another individual spend two days with us to see if he really wanted to buy a CNC.  Our doors are always open for any kind of help from fabrication to installation or just anything in between. 

Mory

Mory, you are just another example of why fabricators are  unique. I have yet to meet anyone that fabricates that does not offer advice or have an open door policy to help others. 

I hope to put together a regional database that will be a resource for anyone that not only wants to visit a shop, but to go look at techniques or equipment that will help them excel in this business. I know there are many solid surface people that are looking into stone, maybe some stone shops will open their doors too.

Taking us all forward together... KC

Why can't we do a list on this site by region?  You can manage it right here on the Fabricator Network.

FABRICATORS HELPING FABRICATORS

I think this would be a great idea. There is not supposed to be a day that goes by that you are not supposed to learn  something new. So what better way than to help or show how we all do things different.

Wade

That would be great Andy. Let's come up with a regional map, anyone can click on and find a shop in that area that can be a resource for anyone wanting to see a certain machine or gain information from.

KC

Let's kick around some ideas and work something out.

It works out pretty well. A few years ago a manufacturer asked us if we wanted to train some others with a particular system, at first we were hesitant but then decided to do it. we wound up teaching around a dozen people over a couple years and help setting up four shops.  I wish some one did that for me a while back, it would have saved a lot of time and money wasted trying things that were not right for us.  Plus it helps develop a network of sorts, many of those people if I am in that area I considered friends and will visit, or if they are better at something else or came up with a different idea, they were always calling me to tell me. 

John

I would be willing to that again out of my shop here.  Hell, its free labor for a while during the day.

The timing of this thread is priceless. Two days ago I got a call from Scott, from Scottland. He has a cabinet shop and has also started doing his own solid surface work. He is interested in seeing how we do it here. He will be coming across the pond in the coming month and I will be taking him around to as many shops as I can. He may even be joining this site soon.

Steve, don't forget to invite him to the Expo!

I think it is a great idea. As for us personally, I know we would need as much advice and mentoring as possible. We are a fabricator in Iran, and yes the website is being visited even in the Middle East. While we take pride in being the pioneer and having "without any doubts" the best quality in Iran, we are not doing as great commercially as we would like to.

We would appreciate it if someone would asssist us in speeding up and helping us improve our fabrication skills.

Looking forward to hearing from you guys.

You have one of the most unique websites I have visited. It is really nice.

Are the photos of jobs you have produced? I hope you find this BB helpful to you, welcome to the site!

KC

[QUOTE]kcwood wrote
Steve, don't forget to invite him to the Expo! [/QUOTE]

He just missed it last year. I have a feeling that solid surface is growing very quickly for him and he wants to get a jump on mainstream ideas. This knowledge gained on this trip will prob pay him back in the coming months before the expo.

If you guys get a list of willing participants up and running I would be the first to volunteer a few days of free labor for some hard earned knowledge about the fabrication of SS material. I have started a new shop in Southeast Ga and would be willing to travel for the education.

Chris

Chris,

I am working with Kelsey to put something together.  We had to finish the Product Review section first and that is done.  So on to the next thing.  I will try to make that a priority.

Hello All,

Kelsey had this idea to put together some OTJ training and so I put together a section on the website called "Share a Shop" (name can change).  Check it out under the "Education" Tab.  Tell me what you think and how many are interested before we move forward.  If this is something that we could get 10 of so members to share their shop, we could put something together.

Thanks

All,  Now that I have finished my new shop and have made the journey to the expo, bought new tools,built up clientel ect. committed if you will. My partner and I thought it time to go to the formal training for SS.  Up till now( 3yrs) we have been sharing our shop ,tools and tricks with a veteran fabricator (15 years a fabber I believe).   I spoke to an ISSFA person at the Expo about the school an said I wasn't too crazy about going to Vegas.  This person immediately  lost interest in me when I wasn't going to sign up for anything right then.    Penske didn't have the time slot that would fit my schedule at least now .  I do know other shops that have similar situationswere at least 1 person is certified in the shop.   So far it's been working out fine and several of the materials companies gave us their blessing when we joined forces with the "master". We each have 25 yrs in all phases of res.const. and lite com.   Also know a local fabricator who was grandfathered because of his experience. (could be only a couple of brands).  Is there a person that could travel to other shops that can certify  the uncertified?   Give them a class in their own shop?   I thought I would ask before I call all the reps. and sound like a utopian.    It's cheaper for 1 to travel up here than 2 to travel down there.  Any suggetions?    Humbly,  David G

Anybody,   One more thing talking about OJT..   How does one insert photos?  Can't seem to figure it out. Please remember for my sake.." academics is not a sign of intelligence"  once said to me by a previous boss,  an english proff. @ Mich.State . Made me feel better.    Thanks David G.

  David, I am not a huge ISSFA fan, BUT, their training is second to none.  The total fabrication training is a 40 hours class, four days, ten hours a day. You should go there yourself, then share the knowledge with everyone in your shop. The class is now accepted by all the major manufacturers and rightly so, it is more thorough than any training you are going to get from a sheet manufacturer.

Hey fabricators, i'm willing to teach anyone...the problem is how do I charge? Pinske class was I think $ 150 a head, Now I know I'm not pinske or claim to be the know it all of solid surface..But I had to find the need and it is out there, Even people who say they been doing SS for 30 years might need our help...yeah they know how to mix up glue with a vibrating sander.. but maybe they want to know how to use a Paralign seam kit, Suc-cups, wavy bit with guide...better yet they all want to know how to finish and polish the polyesters that customers are demanding...the ole timers I met...just say ah that stuff is crap...Light colors and matte finish is the only way...I'm not saying all SS veterans feel this way...but maybe that's why the Home buyer books haven't pumped up SS because they think SS comes only in sterile colors...I've been in this for three hard years and i train and hold workshops for people with all types of experience, At first I charged 25 an hour, now I'm up to 50 an hour...The topics are not what I create, it is usually what the owner of the shop wants..."i want my people to seam better and faster", "Can you quick come over and show my employee how to polish this darn Avonite New cauldron"How do i inlay Laminate into this pice of Dovae that the customer is expecting next friday"?...Most of the time it's emergency training...which can charge more to the customer or make you lose on the project your presently working on...The article in this month's Sf magazine "tips of the trade" pretty much covers what i do with the beginners of our industry...Since that Printing i have done three workshops in the Tampa bay area and now have to travel out of state...i also do not certify anyone at my class, because unless it's ISSFA, i would only be certifying someone to a particular brand...Alot of fabricators when approached with the question "hey would you teach my workers about Solid Surface...and most say to these people "i'm not training the competition"...They say a bunch more and those type of people are small and few...Like i said in my article.."What if the person who trained us Solid Surface told us that?...What if many,many moons ago the first SS fabricators decided that they weren't gonna tell anybody else about it...Where do you think you and i would be? all that money we made off SS and not willing to share...Shame,shame,shame