Just wondering what the best way is to learn how to do custom installation work. I don't wish to do it for a living but would like to learn as a hobbie. Maybee eventually a few side bucks but that is not my main concern. I do head units, speakers and amps now, but nothing extavagent(unfortunitly). I don't think it would be too hard to learn because I do a lot of complex wiring of sophisticated telecommunications equipment at work.

So what do I do? Books?, Tech class? I even thought of asking some shops to let me work a few hours here and there for allmost nothing, I allready have tools. Like I said its not about the $, I just need something to keep me busy and interested. Anyone got any advice??

 

I would like to learn the same and open up my own business one day

 

There is this tech school in northern NJ that teaches you to do custom car audio and video work.....I forget the name.......they offer summer classes and such.....ill try to dig up the school's name...

 

it takes a little imagination, for starters, then you need to learn fiberlass bondo and some little tricks of the trade (ones you yould learn doing it every day). mostly imagination. think of an idea and try building it. make the basic frame work, stretch it with cloth spread resin over it a couple hours of finish work and you have the finished product! (what ever you were trying to make, amp rack custom sub box ect....)

 

One word, practice.....if you aren't looking to do it as a job, I won't personally waste the money on classes. A few books on custom fabrication should be all you need, and then just trial and error from there.

Imagination and creativeness is right though.....I gotta thank my mom for passing along her creative genes to me and my brother. We've been playing with custom stuff for years, never went to classes for it, just happened to have a knack for it.

 

Well for me imagination is no problem, I like challenges. I also would not waste money at a school caus for one, I don't have the time. You are absolutely right, the way I learned my job was hands on and a lot of trial and error. Do you think trying to find a place to give my a few hours work for next to nothing is stupid??
Because I don't get much of an opportuntity to practice. Most of my friends are not into electronic modding and with me buying a house I don't have the money to experiment on my own ride. I also was curious how hard alarm systems are to learn. Well I really appreciate everyones help and oppinions.

And damn after see'in some of your work SE, you do have some creative abilities. How long have you been doing this?

 

i dont know of any shops that would employ you if u dont already know what you are doing...then again, offering to work for next to nothing...ya never know. i think even better would be to befriend a local shop owner who would allow you to do an apprenticeship of sorts w/his installer(s) if he isnt one himself...

the thing about alarms is that since you tap into factory wiring you need access to those wiring schematics, something that the bigger alarms companies have on hand and fax/provide to their dealers.