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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
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.
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
kcwood wrote
Steve, don’t forget to invite him to the Expo!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
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