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Thread: New here and planning to buy a kit. Had a few fabrication questions

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Granger, IN
    Posts
    8

    Default New here and planning to buy a kit. Had a few fabrication questions

    Have to say I am so excited to work my way into building a KitFox. I am new to these forums so I hope its okay to ask a few questions regarding what is needed.

    I have been fabricating for about 15 years and do have a small 3000 SQ FT toy box/shop we built on our property in Southern Michigan. So my main question is the tooling needs. I have watched some videos and wasn't sure if when I order a kit i literally get a box of tubing or if it is in sections and needs to be welded or bolted together.

    I am a very experienced mig welder and have many tools that I think will help. I don't mind if I have to weld the entire thing together, just seemed like a lot of people say they came powder coated so that makes me think there is not a ton of welding. Either way I am fine if it does. I cannot contain the excitement to build one.

    So this is what I have at my shop. Any other tools requirements or what else I may need would be greatly appreciated. Just want to make sure I don't get only so far and realize I don't have what is needed to do the job.

    EQUIPMENT/TOOLING

    Bridgeport Knee Mill w/DRO's (Loads of tooling such as drils, end mills and so on)
    5' X 10' CNC Router with Vacuum Table (We built it from scratch with the Bridgeport and my trusty Lincoln Welder)
    Multiple Drill Presses
    Press Break
    Hydraulic Shear
    Mig and Tig Welding Equipment
    Diamond Lapped Fab Table
    Two Horizontal Band Saws on custom built conveyor tables
    All standard cutting and grinding (metal fab) tools
    Large assortment of Dial Indicators, Knee Indicators and so on. Some for tramming the mills and others for simple runoff measurements
    All the normal hand tools
    Large fridge for beer!!
    Large Smoker for some good food on the long days!!

    Is there a lot of fixturing items needed? I have seen some of the rotisseries that people built. I can whip one up if needed. Have built several for ground up car builds. But if I need to weld the whole thing together I just want to make sure I don't find myself in a scenario where I get completely stuck. I don't mind machining custom tools or items like that. But in my mind when I make anything of precision, fixturing seems to be where I spend a lot of time. And most of what I build stays on the ground. I would think this is a bit more advanced in the fixturing realm. Thought it couldn't hurt to ask as you all are the pros!!

    Cannot wait to begin a KitFox. Any advice would be appreciated. I am looking at the S7 STi kit.
    Last edited by Robert Coulter; 03-09-2020 at 02:02 PM.

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