Duties and Responsibilities of a Street Rod Fabricator
Street rod fabricators are vital to the custom car manufacturing process. Street rod fabricators use their hands, special tools and machinery to cut, arrange and interlock metal car parts prior to soldering or fastening in the manufacturing process. Since much of the automobile manufacturing process is now automated, street rod fabricators must be able to use new technologies. While most street rod fabricators work on a team, some focus on producing one specific car part or performing similar functions in the manufacturing process. The following may be additional job duties from actual Careerbuilder.com job postings:
- 'Applicant should be adept at use of torches and grinders, and be capable of performing the welding of multiple components. Should be able to work effectively with a partner, or independently.' - Johnson Controls
- 'Leading car component manufacturer is seeking experienced welder to work in heavy assembly work environment.' - Manpower Staffing
Job Requirements
The position and employer dictate the education, experience and training required to work as a street rod fabricator; however, a GED or high school diploma is adequate for most jobs. Although technology has improved the work environment for street rod fabricators, some positions may involve standing or sitting for long periods and heavy lifting. Street rod fabricators need to be able to communicate well with team members, adhere to instructions and follow diagrams and pictures. They should also have focus, concentration, good eyesight and manual dexterity. Other typical job requirements may be similar to the following postings found on Monster.com:
- 'Candidates need a minimum of 3 years experience in fabrication work environment; must be able to read and follow blueprints; and must have good grasp of mechanical assemblies.' - Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters
- 'Position requires candidate to stand for entire shift; previous welding experience is preferred; must have High School Diploma or equivalent.' - Linde Material Handling
Street Rod Fabricator Employment Outlook
U.S. Department of Labor (www.bls.gov) projections from May 2006 state that the job outlook for street rod fabricators will slowly decline, primarily due to strong foreign automobile competition and the lack of domestic manufacturing growth. However, employment opportunities should be good for qualified applicants in the field, particularly in positions that require advanced training. Median hourly wage-and-salary earnings for street rod fabricators are between $9.22 and $14.93. Since larger companies usually attract more applicants, the best employment opportunities may be with smaller companies.
