What goes on at Custom Rides

Hey everyone, the route 56 metalshaping event is coming up! It is always on my schedule! I will be teaching a two day class May 2nd & 3rd before the event that will cover how to make epoxy press dies, Hammer forms, and flow forms. As of today I have two open spots for the class, if you would like to attend my class shoot me a message! Cost will be $400 per person. Lunch, refreshments and all materials are included! If you would like to attend Dan Pate's( @route56wingnut ) Route 56 Metal shaping event contact him directly. This is not a coffee clutch!!! This is a working get together in Dan's shop with people working on different projects and demos from metal shapers a couple times a day! If you don't get your hands dirty you WILL NOT BE FED! That's right Dan provides meals during the event so you can spend more time learning!! Tyler and I will be at the event for the duration! (at Dennison, Minnesota) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9hyvhgHcZJ/?igshid=4jzie0ih17pf

Hey everyone out there in internet land! We still have a couple spots open for our February 21,22,23,24th Fender shaping and repair class in Hastings Ne! Class size is limited to 4 people, lunch, supper, refreshments and all materials are included for all for days. This class covers common fender repairs such as wire edge repair, edge profile repair, large dents, and shaping large repair sections out of flat sheet for fenders from the 1930's to the 1950's. This class will cover how to make templates from the opposite side to repair a damaged fender or to make a new repair section. In years past the class guys made a whole model A rear fender, large repair sections of a quarter panel, marker light housings and so many more parts! With a maximum class size of 4 we can go anywhere the students want to go with this topic! The cost for this class is $800 per person with lunch, supper and refreshments provided each class day. If you have any questions or would like to sign up for this class shoot me a email [email protected] or give me a call at the shop 1402-462-8581, thanks everyone and have a good day! #metalshaping #metalshapingclass #metalshaping101 #metalshapingseminar #class #tigwelding #gaswelding #englishwheel #buildyourskills #handtools #metalman #learning #smallclass #hotrod #streetrod #oldschool #pullmax #oldworldskill #coachbuilding #sheetmetalfab #buildyourdreams #beadroller #hammerwork #moveyourprojectsforward #handson #fab #sheetmetal #hotrod #fabrication #welding #buildyourdream https://www.instagram.com/p/B71cElrH7Wz/?igshid=3l2b92wtfysj

Hey everyone out there in internet land!!! You guys and gals haven't heard much out of me lately, I have been just neck deep in the shop. Lots of cool things going on in the shop but I am not quite ready to let the cat out of the bag on a few of them. I continue to be excited and amazed with the response to the metal shaping classes that we hold here in the shop and I am looking forward to this years classes! 2020 Schedule: Metalshaping Classes by Patrick Brubaker 402-462-8581 Sponsored by Imperial Wheeling Machines & Custom Rides [email protected] January 31- February 3 Hand Tools @ Hastings, NE February 21-24 Fender Shaping and Repair @ Hastings, NE March 27-30 Pattern and Panel Development @ Hastings, NE April 3-6 Patch Panels @ Hastings, NE May 2-3 Epoxy Press Dies,Hammer Forms, Flow Forms @ Denison, MN May 7-9 Route 56 Metalshaping Event / Dan Pate@ Denison, MN May 15-18 Hand Tools @ Hastings, NE June 5-7 “ Flock to the Shop” event for past class participants@ Hastings, NE June 12-14 Imperial Wheeling Machines Invitational @ Hastings, NE June 26-29 Speedsters Group @ Hastings, NE July 11-12 Welding @ Hastings, NE July 23-26 Lead Sled Nationals @ Salina, KS August 14-17 Class : topic TBD @ Tennessee August 20-22 Redneck Roundup Metalshaping Event/ Jim Hery, Tenn. September 18-21 Class :topic TBD @ Colorado September 26-27 Art & Science of Auto Body Lead Work @ Hastings, NE October 8-11 Metalshaping Event @ Oblong, Illinois October 15-17 Hot Rod Body Construction @ Illinois November 13-16 Hot Rod Body Construction@ Hastings, NE December Personal Projects / Open Dates @ Hastings, NE Book days in the shop to work on your own personal project. Have access to one-on-one instruction time with Pat plus access to various metalshaping tools and equipment. #metalshaping #metalshapingclass #metalshaping101 #metalshapingseminar #class #tigwelding #gaswelding #englishwheel #buildyourskills #handtools #buck #panelbeater #fab #sheetmetal #hotrod #coachbuilding #diy (at Custom Rides) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7EyHTgnLjX/?igshid=1ajip7vh4aqqp

Hey everyone out there in internet land!! It has been a while since you have heard from me, we have been very busy in the new shop with a few growing pains along the way. I have lots to update you guys and gals on and that will be several posts. Today I had a cancellation for our hot rod body construction class that will be held in our home shop in Hastings Nebraska November 8,9,10,11. There is only one spot available for this class, and with a maximum of 4 per class EVERYONE is elbow deep in the project. Cost for the class is $800 per person and that includes lunch,supper, refreshments and all materials.In years past the classes have made half of a Bugatti type35, a T bucket body, half of a model t coupster body. This class is similar to our pattern and panel development class but here we get into the inner structure of these cars that is why we usually only do half of a body. So as the class runs we will cover how to pattern a existing part, how to reverse it for the other side, templates for inner structure, shaping the outside skin with the English wheel and hand tools, edges and details, fitting and welding tig and OA, fabrication of inner structure hammer forms and tooling, producing inner structure from the class made tooling, and more!! If you have any questions shoot me a email [email protected] or give me a call at the shop 1402 462 8581, thanks everyone and have a great day!! (at Hastings, Nebraska) https://www.instagram.com/p/B35WwrHnbzw/?igshid=1l0mto8w3pz1b

Hey everyone out there in internet land. We are set up at the KKOA Lead Sled Spectacular! We will be shaping panels right here at the show! Also we have some of our tooling for sale here at the show where else could you go use the tools before you buy them?! Hope to see you guys out here! (at Salina, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Y9zaPnqYj/?igshid=13q8dpt70jqyr

Hey everyone Its that time of year again! Time for the RT56 event in Dennison Minnesota and I will be back offering a Pattern and Panel Development class before the event this year again this year! The class will be held at Dan Pate's shop April 26,27,28,29th, lunch and refreshments and all materials are included! $700 for all four days or $350 for two days. The project for this class will cover: Paper, flexable, and ridged patterns a slide show of how the buck for the class was produced and list of materials Using your patterns as a road map, where to shrink and stretch and what to do first Hammer forms metal, wood, and epoxy Shaping with hand tools vs power equipment Traditional and non traditional uses for the English wheel Fitting, welding, and finishing the weld seam The project for this class will be shaping panels and fitting them to a 1937 ford coupe buck, we will also be making some of the tooling required for the project. If you would like to attend this class shoot me a pm, email, [email protected] or give me a call at the shop 1402-462-8581. Thanks everyone! looking forward to another great class and event!! Also BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! I have been threatening to do this for a couple years, now that we are in our new larger shop it is going to happen! June 7,8,9 I am hosting a Metal shaping event for all past class participants! If you have attended one of my classes over the last four years in my shop or on site you are welcome back to the shop for FREE June 7,8,9th! If you attend any of my classes before June you will be eligible for this FREE 3 day event! I have been sending out emails for the last few days to former class guys but you need to pre register so I have a idea of how many will be coming. More to come on this here in the near future, Thanks everyone and have a great day!!! #metalshaping #metalshapingclass #metalshaping101 #metalshapingseminar #class #tigwelding #gaswelding #englishwheel #buildyourskills #handtools #buck #panelbeater #fab #sheetmetal #hotrod #coachbuilding #diy #rt56 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvw0MIxhfVc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ewf8vpt8l6rd

Ok everyone part two of the fender shaping and repair class recap. Moving through the pattern work we compared our paper patterns (my preference) to a couple others and looked at the differences. The paper tells me what to do, where to do it and how much and also shows us how many pieces to make things out of. We next moved on to shrinking and I showed the guys four different method of how to shrink and that the action is the same in each one! I know I probably sound like a broken record during the classes but if you understand the action it doesn't matter what tools you use! With the steps clear the guys made the outside face of this 37 fender we tipped the edge in the bead roller and finished wrapping it around with hand tools. Shifting gears a little bit we roughed in the top of the fender with power equipment. The guys were a little surprised that the Pullmax and power hammer are not night and day faster than hand tools for one part, but if you have 10 to make that is were they really shine! The guys all came to the realization that this whole fender can be made with just 4 or 5 techniques so we moved on to some shenanigans. I showed the guys how I make some epoxy press dies, alternative uses for the English wheel making body features and more. This was such a fun group to have in the shop, Gale after the first day showed up with a new pair of scissors and threw mine across the shop so we would have to use them anymore we all got a good laugh out of that! Gale and Todd had to take off a little early so Camren and I spent some time doing some more tig welding. Talk about a duck on the water!!!!! His first weld was acceptable and everything after that was absolutely top shelf! Camren really didn't have much of any tig experience but he had been a stick welder on some large heavy fab projects and I think that is how he just picked it up and ran with it! Well that is about it for the update so remember to like and share and all that good stuff and we will see you next time! Also remember the is one spot open for the pattern and panel development class April 5,6,7,8. #metalshaping #metalshapingclass #metalshaping101 #metalshapingseminar #class #tigwelding (at Custom Rides) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvmpJOKBX6n/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=szamzn7zyp1e

Hey everybody out there an internet land here's an update of what went on at the March Fender shaping and repair class! First things first this is going to be a two-part update simply because it was so much fun! Gail, Cameron and Todd we so much fun to have in the shop! Gail is an aircraft welder and upholsterer, Cameron works for a shop in South Dakota called Kustom Joe's they do very high-end work on muscle cars and street rods and it would be shorter to list the things that Todd has not done but all three of these guys have a very very technical mindset. We started off a little discussion about what the metal will and will not do and these guys came alive with all sorts of questions Gale being in the aircraft industry and all the technical things that need to just so for aircraft and Todd with an engineering background understands a lot of the material science involved in metal shaping and Cameron with the real world of experience working on these custom projects were no 2 are same these guys just let the room on fire with very good questions and discussions. Moving on to the pattern work, Gale was right at home being a apholstery guy we worked through several types of patterns and what information they provide and how that information is used. This is getting a little long so look for part two of this update! Also still a last minute spot open for the April 5,6,7,8 pattern and panel development class shoot me a message if you would like to attend! #metalshaping #metalshapingclass #metalshaping101 #metalshapingseminar #class #tigwelding #gaswelding #englishwheel #buildyourskills #handtools #buck #handtools #englishwheel #beadroller #handson (at Hastings, Nebraska) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvmjd4nhJFl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19ud25dh6zkbs

Hey everyone out there in internet land here is a little update, heads up and sneak preview! Just finished setting up for our fender shaping and repair class that starts tomorrow and working on finishing up the bottom of a grill shell for a customer. On small detailed parts I really don't want to touch it with a hammer so I made a fast and dirty press die! This is the simplest way to make this part accurately and to minimize the finish work. The class guys will get into this tomorrow as we make some little detail parts. On to the heads up and sneak preview, we still have one spot open for our Pattern and Panel Development class April 5,6,7,8. The 1937 ford coupe buck is what we will be shaping the panels for. The class will make all patterns and tooling needed for the panels we will be shaping. My day to day work is with power equipment but this class will focus on hand tools. Cost is $800 per person (maximum of 4) lunch, supper, refreshments and all materials are included. If you would like to attend this class shoot me a DM, email [email protected] or give me a call at the shop 1402 462 8581, thanks everyone and have a great day! #metalshaping #metalshapingclass #metalshaping101 #metalshapingseminar #class #tigwelding #gaswelding #englishwheel #buildyourskills #handtools #buck #handtools #englishwheel #beadroller #handson #metalshapinseminar #hotrod #coachbuilding #diy #newshop! https://www.instagram.com/p/BvSPPPdhz9e/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=az3lkpru4k3q

Hey everyone out there in internet land, Here is a heads up for the April 5,6,7,8 Pattern and Panel development class in Hastings Ne USA! As of today there are two of the four spots open for this class. This class will cover all pattern work and shaping a complete panel. Participants will produce all the patterns and templates needed for the class project. You will also learn to read the patterns and templates to shape an entire panel from a flat sheet to a finished part with predictable results producing panels which fit an actual car. The class will also cover gas and Tig welding and metal finishing the weld seams. I know that a lot of you guys out there are not going to be making whole panels every day, but if you can shape a entire panel you will know how to make any piece of it as a patch! Cost for this class is $800 per person with lunch, supper, refreshments and all materials included. We limit classes to 4 so that everyone is elbow deep in what is going on so if you have any questions or would like to sign up for this class shoot me a email [email protected] or give me a call at the shop 1402-462-8581, thanks everyone and have a great day! #metalshaping #metalshapingclass #metalshaping101 #metalshapingseminar #class #tigwelding #gaswelding #englishwheel #buildyourskills #handtools #metalman #learning #smallclass #hotrod #streetrod #oldschool #pullmax #oldworldskill #coachbuilding #sheetmetalfab #buildyourdreams #beadroller #hammerwork #moveyourprojectsforward #handson (at Hastings, Nebraska) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu_jSjmBorH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=r3v9g4036trn

Hey everyone out there in internet land, here is a heads up for the March 22,23,24,25 fender shaping and repair class in Hastings Ne!This class covers common fender repairs such as wire edge repair, edge profile repair, large dents, and shaping large repair sections out of flat sheet for fenders from the 1930's to the 1950's. This class will cover how to make templates from the opposite side to repair a damaged fender or to make a new repair section. In years past the class guys made a whole model A rear fender, large repair sections of a quarter panel, marker light housings and so many more parts! With a maximum class size of 4 we can go anywhere the students want to go with this topic! The cost for this class is $800 per person with lunch, supper and refreshments provided each class day. If you have any questions or would like to sign up for this class shoot me a email [email protected] or give me a call at the shop 1402-462-8581, thanks everyone and have a good day! (at Hastings, Nebraska) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuWhlrshFL9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1psjekrein7d8

Hey everyone out there in internet land, here is a heads up for our free demo day Saturday Feb 9th. This year we will have a free demo once a month for those of you that are interested in metalshaping and what our classes are all about! Space is limited for demo days so if you want to attend give me a call at the shop 1402 462 8581 or shoot me a email [email protected]. Here is a sneak preview of what Kevin accomplished in our fundamentals of metalshaping class this past weekend. The polar vortex forced the other guys into rescheduling so Kevin was the only guy in the class! Also a last call for our two day sheet metal welding class Feb 23rd,24th, there is one spot still open, if you have any questions about Demo day or would like to sign up for the welding class feel free to give me a call at the shop 1402 462 8581. (at Custom Rides) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btg6nM4BwYV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=187q2pitjwmj5

Hey everyone out there in internet land here is a heads up about the February metal shaping classes here in our home shop in Hastings Nebraska! The fundamentals of metal shaping with hand tools class Feb 1,2,3,4 has just 2 open spots. The focus of this class is for those attending to gain a understanding of the how and why of metalshaping. Participants will be learning several methods of how to shrink, stretch, turn edges, and add details to their panels. In past years students shaped a model A cowl, and rear sections of a T bucket. Cost for this class is $800 per person (class limited to 4) lunch, supper, refreshments, and all materials are included. Back by popular demand welding Feb 23,24th. The focus of this class is for those attending to learn how to fit, tack and weld panels in a way to minimize warpage and finish work. Students will have access to 3 different tig machines, 3 different oxy acetylene torches. This class will also cover how to planish and finish out the welded seam. Currently there are two open spots for this class. Cost is $400 per person (class limited to 4) lunch, supper, refreshments, and all materials are included. If you have any questions or would like to sign up for one of these classes shoot me a email [email protected] or give me a call at the shop 1402-462-8581, thanks everyone and have a great day! #metalshaping #metalshapingclass #metalshaping101 #Metalshapingseminar #class #workshop #skillbuilding #tig #tigwelding #gas #gaswelding #englishwheel #buildyourskills #fab #sheetmetal #hotrod #coachbuilding #diy (at Hastings, Nebraska) https://www.instagram.com/p/BseEEPFByED/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=okcsgz610fx

Hey everyone out there in internet land, here is the 2019 Metal Shaping class schedule! One thing that is different this year, is one Saturday a month we will be having a Demo day! What is a demo day you ask, for you guys and gals out there that have thought of coming to a class but never pulled the trigger this is a way to see what they are all about for FREE! Yes that's right FREE! There are not specific projects for the Demo Days so you will get to see a variety of different panels and the techniques that are used to shape them. If you would like to attend any of the Demo Days shoot me a email as space is limited. All 2019 classes will be held in our new shop! With more room in the new shop I will be able to offer class attendants new and challenging projects to build new skills and polish on the skills they already have! In past years the class students have shaped a original design T bucket body, Model A ford body and fenders, Model T body, Bugatti type 35 buck and panels, boat tail racer buck and panels, and lots of individual panels. Most of these projects were done by beginners with a few experienced guys mixed in though out the years. I try to take out the mystery of metal shaping so the students can get to capable very quickly and the projects really show how the guys picked it up and ran with it!! If any of you out there in internet land have any questions or would like to attend any of the classes shoot me a email. [email protected] Or give me a call here at the shop 1402-462-8581 as these posts get shared so far across social media its hard for me to keep up with all of it. 4 day classes are $800 per person with lunch and supper provided, 2 day classes are $400 with lunch and supper included, Demo days are FREE. Looking forward to a fun 2019! Thanks everyone and have a great day! Custom Rides 2019 Metalshaping Class Schedule by Pat Brubaker January: Hastings Saturday,26th Metalshaping Demo by Pat February: Hastings 1,2,3,4 Fundamentals of Metalshaping: Hand Tools Hastings Saturday,9th Metalshaping Demo by Pat Hastings 23,24 Class on Welding March: Hastings 22,23,24,25 Fend https://www.instagram.com/p/BsbT5EtB1-a/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1c31mq8oul1jf

Hey everyone out there in internet land, I have been so busy I forgot to post the recap of the class in Cumberland Wisconsin. Better late than never right? This was a really fun class, the guys looked at me a little funny when I said we were going to shape up half of a Bugatti type 35! If you guys and gals out there have been following along this buck was made at the 2017 class in Minnesota. We started with a talk about patterns and what they tell us and moved on to the "what if" portion of pattern work. The way I showed the guys shows us the simplest way to make the parts. We explored the what its and compared the patterns and it is simply amazing when you look at two different patterns for the same part! The pattern tells us what to do, where to do it and how much. The guys were amazed at how much work can be added to the same part just by doing the pattern differently. The guys moved on to shaping up the parts learning several different ways to shrink and stretch. Paul and Earl picked up on the wheel very quickly after we talked about how the wheel works and what it does to the metal. The low crown panels came out glass smooth with very little intervention from myself, the guys were on cloud 9 until it came time to put the edges on lol. You can just about destroy a nicely shaped panel when it comes time to put the edges on, but the guys worked through it just fine. The louvers were done with a modified method developed by my good friend @metalman_sweden, Per does them by hand(simply not human as nice as he does them). Here I adapted his method to the arbor press and the guys just couldn't get over how nice of job you can do with simple tools. I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story, but first do you guys and gals remember me hinting around about some big news? Well the last picture is letting the cat out of the bag! We are moving into our new shop!! You guys that have been to the downtown shop know how small it is, the new shop's metal shaping area is 50x80! Looking forward to big things in 2019! I am just about done with the 2019 class schedule so if you would like to be added to my email list shoot me email [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq8LjpRhDoP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jwg46zmk7mj9

Hey everyone out there in internet land here is a recap of the metal shaping with hand tools in Colorado last weekend! This was a fun class! We had a professional welder for Coors, a veteran helicopter mechanic, a hobbyist, a jack of all industrial trades, and a hot rod shop guy. The host for this class has been to my shop for a class and told me "I play with wood working from time to time " yeah right! His projects don't look like playing to me! But what all these guys have in common is a very technical mind set. We started with just a talk about the material and a few loose things of what a guy should and shouldn't do. And then we moved on to the pattern work for the project. Most of the guys had never really used a English wheel but a short talk about the way the machine works and they were off to the races. The guys wheeled up the face of the quarter panel but had to chase a few uneven spots. I probably sound like a broken record during the classes but a guy needs to know the how and why and the action to make that shape before they start! So when something unexpected pops up they have a clear picture of what will fix it. After they wheeled up the face we moved on to making the tail of the quarter panel, we made three tail pieces three different ways just to show the possibilities with hand tools! I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story, but one last thing. We made the tooling in the host's shop for the dimpled speed holes just to show not every tool needs to be a cnc'ed chunk of billet! And if you are interested in the metal shaping with hand tools class in Cumberland Wisconsin Sep 28th-Oct 1st there are still a couple spots open! If you would like to attend the Cumberland class shoot me a email [email protected] or give me a call at the shop 1402 462 8581. Thanks everyone and have a great day! #metalshapingseminar #metalshaping101 #metalshaping #metalshapingclass #metalshaper #metalshapingdemo #Englishwheel #diy #class #tigwelding #gaswelding #handtools #metalshapingwithhandtools #travelingcircus #hotrod #smallclass #speedholes #skillbuilding #buildyourskills https://www.instagram.com/p/BoHOotGHO-X/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=180v04jid3s01