New member from Germany
 

Hi Guys,

My name is Cedric (blame my parents :D) and I do all sort of technical work for living. I'm a one man business (self-employed for the last 17 years) and specialise in Prototyping, 3D CAD/CAM/Graphics and Software Development. That may sound like a huge variety of services but they are all somehow connected together. My "side project" is always looking for new(old) machines and tools to play with - I have all machining tools (both manual and CNC), Trumpf Laser Cutter (here comes my username) , a variety of sheet metal machines etc. Mostly anything is possible to produce, the limitation is me and the imagination :) At the moment I'm moving to new premises, so this month the biggest task is breaking a 10' x 10' hole in thick concrete wall to get all those machines and stuff in and then the actual transport of everything. I hope Santa comes to help.

Early 90's I did Coachbuilding in England as a secondary job, as my passion is restoring/customising old cars and trucks. In practice I could still fabricate parts for customers, but I'm limited in space (can't store many cars inside). I have several of my own project cars (American of course!) and a truck (25ton 6x4)... did I tell I'm a single :lol:

I'm located at the South West corner, ie. border of Germany, Switzerland and France. However, I'm not German - I'm Scandinavian but been living here about 4 years now. I always envy you guys in USA where you have wide variety of legendary tools/machines available, just to get a big box of Cleco's here was a major expense.

Ok, hope to get my account soon activated so I can start browsing this great forum :)

Cheers,
Cedric

Welcome Cedric. When you get settled show us some of your stuff.

Hi Cedric,

welcome we love pictures....

Ben

Thanks guys, the biggest problem always is - the shop is never finished :p I could make a long list of things I would like to own :rolleyes:

But sure, as soon as everything is installed in the new premises I could publish some photos - although they certainly won't be as impressive as the best shops I've seen here :)

Welcome Trumpf.

I'm from West Germany as well but a bit more north than you.
Cologne is were i am.

Good to hear you have a cnc laser let me know when it's set up i may have work for you....

Mario


Speedlook Rod&Custom
http://www.speedlook.de

Welcome to the site. Where in England did you do coachbuilding?

David

Mario - I checked your website, very nice work you do :) I don't know any people here who do similar work like you do, I'm impressed. You are certainly welcome if you ever come to South, my new garage is almost at the center of Lörrach and easy to find.

David, 1993-1998 I was living in Sudbury, East Anglia. I did work for retired Rolls-Royce trained man who was kind enough to teach me most of the stuff I know about sheetmetal. He didn't run a "real" official business anymore, but due his contacts there were always old classic cars waiting to enter his garage :) 1993 was the year when I started my first company in UK, my main work was 3D Software Development in C/C++. At the time not many companies believed the 3D would make prototype and body buck design so fast and easy, I sent my CV to many famous Coachbuilders but due non-interest I did all that Software Development and 3D CAD/CAM for other types of businesses (mainly IT companies). Really a shame, since I always wanted to be a full-time Coachbuilder and add that computer design flavour. Well, here we are, now I have my own tools and machines and the benefits of combining both IT and metal - too bad I love more British and American cars than German, otherwise I would probably be only working with cars... :cool:

My father is British, maybe its the DNA that keeps me loving rusty objects, Lucas electronics and right-hand drive vehicles :D

Found some photos (don't expect too much!), here are recents photo showing my old garage - I didn't find anything where I have the tools and machines set up for some serious metal working... It's a bit of a mess due the moving process.

The Trumpf-laser, it has two stations - one for laser welding and one for laser cutting:
http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg

I love old machinery :)
http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg

My own truck, over 50% of the cabin has been now redone and restored with new metal:
http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/36...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/46...600x600Q85.jpg

In last years I created couple of expedition trucks, ate a lot of rust because I got rid of all the old body, reverse engineered the dimensions - then fabricated everything new again. Photos are from my "old old" garage...
http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/18...600x600Q85.jpg

The "fresh" starting point after everything else thrown to recycling center...
http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/44...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/44...600x600Q85.jpg

Here three truck beds simultaneously under process, biggest problem was handling the parts alone - they were getting heavier every day:
http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/17...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/71...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/16...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/31...600x600Q85.jpg


New cabin(s), the original design was single cab, but I created new ones which were 90cm longer and had 2 additional seats. Worst part was fabricating multiple cabins in the same time...
http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/46...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/34...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/37...600x600Q85.jpg

Test fitting the original single cabin GRP roof, later I made the new double cabin roof from sheetmetal:
http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/18...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/48...600x600Q85.jpg

Test fitting new cabins+beds on old chassis:
http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/31...600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/15...600x600Q85.jpg

The poles on the bed are for camper part of the truck, they are electrical worm screws lifting the camper roof additional 50cm when required:
http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/15...600x600Q85.jpg

Important part of the project to keep my sanity :D:
http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/37...600x600Q85.jpg

And thats me after waking up very early and not bothering to put on proper clothes:
http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg

VERY impressive Cedric. I love the Dodge wagon. I have a weakness for old finned Mopars. At one time I had a dozen or so Imperials (down to 6...all projects that will probably never get done) Is that a 59-61 Plymouth coupe behind the beer bottle?

I really like the work you're doing on the cab/chassis. What does the sheet metal look like? Several of the things you mention spiked my interest because of the car hauler thread I just posted. I've also thought about using screw jacks to keep the roof down lower while on the road.

Thanks Kerry, I've had a lot of projects but can't beat the masters... I certainly love all the Mopars, especially 50's. All my Dodge's are 1957 (you might see a sedan through the window, in front of the station wagon), the white bodyshell you mention - I recently sold away to make some space in the garage, its also '57 Dodge (although it shares the platform with Plymouth so you aren't that far away with your guess). Imperial was the American Rolls Royce, if they were more affordable I would certainly have one :cool: I suppose you have visited Forwardlook-forum?

I will publish some sheetmetal pics a bit later :) Regarding the screw jacks - they were customer wish and in my opinion the wrong choice for this use. Manufacturer guarantees a lot of Newton Meters for the product but in practice they are quite flimsy. As the part is fitted in a truck I would rather use hydraulic action - much stronger and you could store lot of stuff on the roof, in this case the expense was too much for the customer. In your case, maybe the electric screws are enough - depends of the products you are looking for. The ones on the truck will lift the roof, but I'm not sure it works in Sahara after a sandstorm... The trucks I build are made for really heavy use, these electric screws are from Taiwan so I'm sure they are the first to fail. If you find some good US made products I'm sure you have much better result. Nothing beats the good old US workmanship!

I will check your trailer-thread...

Cheers,
Cedric