Welcome to Cornfield Customs the Channel! Where We upload weekly videos to teach, inspire, and show the daily life of being a high end metal shaper and fabricator in the custom car industry. Follow along as Mike Wagner, owner of Cornfield Cutoms shows you tips, tricks, and the knowledge He have acquired over the last 20 years in the industry. He will give insight into what is like to being a business owner, race car builder and driver, fabricator and high end metal shaper. Hang around and learn about patterns, panel lay out, power hammers, reciprocating machines, plannishing hammers, tube benders, machine tools and how to build parts and cars you have only dreamed about!
If you are a company or individual and would would like to work with me on a collaboration shoot me an email
Great video! I have often thought about how you juggle all the various projects you are working on. You are doing a great job! It has been cool to see how you have grown your business!
This is almost exactly what we do for some of our parts. We've been using a UT-15 urethane plug that has worked well until lately. The mills are changing their specifications on the materials. What style of plug are you using? Do you have any information on that you can share. Thank you in advance.
most hard working successful businesses have to have a running work plan "chief cook and bottle washer" is the safest method to keep the money safe most people don't have your mind set , not to mention "talent" hats off my friend
it would be awesome to see how you go about the estimate process. Estimating a custom hotrod build or a restoration job is the number one thing I struggle with as a shop owner. thanks for your video and the window into your day to day of your hotrod shop life.
@@cornfieldcustoms smart. that's what I've been doing also because putting a price on a custom build or restoration has been a recipe for disaster. it's virtually impossible to do lol.
Looks like you do a percentage of structural and construction work to augment the fine craftsmanship you do on cars man that’s a left side brain right side brain thing there bravo well done
I think it's easier to find a good secretary for things that aren't so satisfying. Maybe it's not a full-time job, but I think someone could take that job. Keep up loading good videos. Thanks
What you said about rotating projects, most normal people don't understand. I worked for a resto shop for 9 yrs and we had 10-14 cars in the building at a time. Certain customers are good with paying 40+ hrs a week and others can only do 40hrs a month. This is why it's key as a worker, to take a ton of photos and document on paper what you do. So when you get back on it, you know where you left off.
I was about to comment as to are you running a one man shop, when you must have been reading my mind......As long as YOU are enjoying it and can keep the customers (and yourself) happy...BRAVO! Fascinating watching you bend the HSS steel!
Thank you for the advice on rotating projects and setting monthly budgets with the client. It was also good to hear that at some point, you were able to focus on yourself and your projects a bit and not the business all the time. It gives me ideas for my own business.
Just a suggestion maybe look at Sumner Max Jax to hold your 2 x 4 tubing off the floor and keeps from bending over to pick up for floor, also can roll the bundle around to store around shop. I've used them for large bore pipe and were awesome to use, you could modify them to hold tubing bundles.
I dont work like a dog anymore. just like i have said in the past I work to do the things i want, not be a slave to shop. As long as i can pay my bills, put some money in the bank and build the cars i want i am happy
Always cool projects in the backround ... your the kind of businessman I would want to do business with ... interesting video ... gotta ramble once and a while ...
Thanks a ton for laying out the multiple project rotation deal. I always feel guilty about taking in another client before the current one is finished, but you've made me think about what the outcome would be if something were to happen to them or whatever. Thank you
It can get tricky juggling so much but i have had times where I had a combination of clients needing to take a break and late payments ( 2- 3months) all at once. so if i had just a couple of projects it would have gotten rough. plus it helps keep me from getting burned out and give the client a little break financially doing it short runs. One thing i didn't mention about to is It allows me to not get to deep in money owed on any one project, and they don't get scheduled back in work rotation until the current invoice is paid.
My biggest problem is trying to give the next guy an idea of when he can bring his stuff, when I can't yet see the end of the current project. You know how nearly every one of these projects snowball far beyond the original plans. Concrete is poured, adding 2 additional working bays to try to alleviate some of this. Currently with one 50' deep work bay I can only get one inside comfortably and still have room to work. Thanks again for getting my mind wrapped around this concept.
The juice isnt worth the squeeze for something like that. to much engineering, cost and time to make when i could just stack the tube in the steel rack
Always interesting to see the projects in your shop Mike. For me, it would be overwhelming to have so many project cars in process at once, versus only taking on one or two at a time.
there are a few reasons i take on so many projects at once, the biggest when it comes to client cars is to not be dependent on 1-2 jobs to cover operational costs. it would only take something pausing work on one or late payment to cause issues with cash flow.
That is such a great shop , you are a great example to the young guys that want to get into the business, in just how much one person can achieve by working effectively and making no excuses …
I actually prefer to start the day cleaning up the previous days work. It helps me get into the work mind and get hands on tools before using them and messing something up. Looking forward to the trunk skin video! I see the trailer hanging out up high in the back. I'd really love to see that thing again too!
I usually try to clean the last 30 mins of the day to get ready for the next. i find it easier for me to walk in ready to get to work. I have been so busy lately I have been working until i have to walk out the door, so my clean up has slacked off a little
