Product Review of Prowelders.com - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Kinetic · 12-09-2004, 10:00 PM

As many of you in the nissan community know, I had my xterra at the prowelders shop in Columbus Ohio. I chose to do this because at the time I decided to do my SAS, I did not have the skills, nor the tools to do this. Now a year later I have almost fully repaired my vehicle to road worthy status

Mr. VanMeter quoted me a lower price than any other shop at the time, so naturally I decided to go ahead with, at the time, Plushfab. At the time, I had not seen any work upclose to see the quality, or lack there of i should say.

Mr. VanMeter's customer relations are also not the greatest. You can be refered to his reactions in this thread on the Stone Cutters BB.
MVM is a Bitch

Great prep work on the herculiner there buddy... it peeled off with out any help from me.

These are some oh so cool wheel spacers you used... 8 flat washers. Thats real safe isnt it? You can also see my new knuckle in the background to fix my steering problem. And yes, the washers are removed on both sides now.

The steering as how I recieved it. Take note the stack of flat washers as an attempt to space the draglink over the leaf springs.

Caused my the draglink rubbing the passenger side leaf spring... thats real safe isnt it?

This occured on I-26 in Asheville, NC. The entire tire and bar fell off and nearly hit the minivan behind me.

There are a few other things wrong with the truck when I recieved it. The front shackles were flat against the frame with zero room for uptravel, and the shocks only allowed one inch of uptravel. I will post pictures of this also once I sort through the rest of the ones I have.

As you can see, The quality of the work was poor, and it was rushed. Many other things were also not done like they said they would be. I was asked to pay extra for a driveshaft made by Tom Woods. Instead a recieved a driveshaft from Columbus Clutch and Joint. There are many other things I could go on about, but this right here will let you know how I feel about the product and service I recieved. I would avoid this chop shop if I had it to do all over again. Also this shop also took over 6 months to return my vehicle to me. Most of the time my vehicle was there, it just sat collecting dust.

SirMrManGuy · 12-09-2004, 10:37 PM

I've said it many times before(all though probably not on this board), I hear new bad things about him every day and none of them suprise me. But godamn thats shitty work.

edit- he claims to be a certified welder, no clue how he passed any tests with welds like that. If he's AWS certified, I'd be tempted to send them samples of his "work". Prowelders site claims "100" hrs training in each process, after that much practice one should be able to lay a much better bead than anything I've seen from him.

PS, his tube work looks like shit. That pathfinder he violated makes me want to vomit. Have you fixed that exo yet?

hlb3 · 12-09-2004, 11:19 PM

I replied over on AC's bb too, but that is just friggin scary lookin, I always knew he couldn't weld from the pics of his booger welds that he posted, but damn! My friggin girlfriend can lay down a better bead than that and she has only welded twice.

I'm glad you are getting everything fixed, the less stuff that he has built out on the road the better! Good luck with everything.

Plush_Darkside · 12-10-2004, 04:49 AM

To my knowledge he's only certified in TIG, but has an associate that is certified in MIG. His certification isn't from AWS, it's from Hobart.

SirMrManGuy · 12-10-2004, 03:18 PM

Kinetic, do you have any in focus pictures of the welds? I'd like to see them.

As for the hobart certification, is it something where your welds actually have to pass a destructive test or are xrayed? Or is it just something you pay hobart $1000 to get a piece of paper for? I know when I did my AWS, SMAW cert, my welds were broken then the break was checked out by the instructor.

If someone can TIG and has gone through that much training, using a MIG should be as second nature as taking a piss, which is why I question that certification.

In that third picture, where there is a gap between the two tubes, was that part of the cage? It looks like he cut that one tube too short, and just attached it with a gusset. If so, wow just wow.

Also, I would consider posting this on every ohio 4wheeling, hotrodding, minitruckin etc website you can find. Let everyone know so they dont get ripped off.

XterraGuy · 12-10-2004, 06:49 PM

I'm pretty sure those welds were done before his training...

SirMrManGuy · 12-10-2004, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XterraGuy

I'm pretty sure those welds were done before his training...

I'll have to check up on it, but for most comecial applications you eaither have to be certified or have a certified welder on premisis while you make the weld. I know its that way for structural welding, dont know if automotive is the same.

I'm just annoyed that someone can think they can run a business where they build something that is just that unsafe.

Plush_Darkside · 12-10-2004, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XterraGuy

I'm pretty sure those welds were done before his training...

Correct.

Most of the work on Kinetics truck was MIG, however most of the EXO was done with TIG, brand new machine/ operation+untrainned operator...

I morked with MVM on Kinetic's truck. Did what I could when I could to try and get things done right on his truck. A lot of times all I could do was shake my head and walk away. After talking to Kinetic privately, wish I had done more.

FrontCC · 12-11-2004, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plush_Darkside

I morked with MVM on Kinetic's truck. Did what I could when I could to try and get things done right on his truck. A lot of times all I could do was shake my head and walk away. After talking to Kinetic privately, wish I had done more.

WTF?? you knew he was getting f'ed and and didnt say/do anything to make it right except TALK to him?

Plush_Darkside · 12-11-2004, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrontCC

WTF?? you knew he was getting f'ed and and didnt say/do anything to make it right except TALK to him?

I didn't run the show there, just helped do some work. I didn't realize till Kinetic posted on Stonecutters what was F'ed up. I did a lot of things I'm not going to go into on here. Kinetic knows what's up, and is the only one who needs too know.

Kinetic · 12-11-2004, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrontCC

WTF?? you knew he was getting f'ed and and didnt say/do anything to make it right except TALK to him?

I know whats up. You dont really need to worry about it

justinh · 12-12-2004, 04:07 PM

now i see why that guy is so defensive and such a dick to everyone, i also see why everyone has complained about work that he has done.

cdarthvader · 01-09-2005, 11:52 AM

Wow i made better welds then that my first time welding

well not really but close. Damn thats some shitty work.

bgaidan · 01-09-2005, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdarthvader

Wow i made better welds then that my first time welding

well not really but close. Damn thats some shitty work.

I just got my welder last week and I'm pretty sure I can already do a better job!

By the way, Bryan, any updates on the rebiuld process?

Kinetic · 01-10-2005, 03:26 PM

Yeah, It's sitting in my driveway as of yesterday, Just need to find a shop to build a cage now.

KYTTORA · 01-10-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hlb3

I replied over on AC's bb too, but that is just friggin scary lookin, I always knew he couldn't weld from the pics of his booger welds that he posted, but damn! My friggin girlfriend can lay down a better bead than that and she has only welded twice.

I'm glad you are getting everything fixed, the less stuff that he has built out on the road the better! Good luck with everything.

Just because you are able to weld, doesn't mean you CAN weld. As Clint Eastwood would say: "A man has got to know his limitations"

BTW his kinda drama belongs in So-Cal - maybe he'll move out there if we're lucky

TRed · 01-10-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KYTTORA

BTW his kinda drama belongs in So-Cal - maybe he'll move out there if we're lucky

If he comes this way, he won't last. Way to many good builders out here for him to make a living. I say keep him in the sticks with the rest of you hillbilies.

broncula · 01-11-2005, 01:50 PM

Havent seen his work in person, but I too have heard bad news from his shop....

KYTTORA · 01-15-2005, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRed

in the sticks with the rest of you hillbilies.

I wouldn't live anywhere else!!

TRed · 01-15-2005, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KYTTORA

I wouldn't live anywhere else!!

The rest of the world thanks you.

12-09-2004, 10:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kinetic Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Member # 13834 Location: Bristol, TN Posts: 57	Product Review of Prowelders.com As many of you in the nissan community know, I had my xterra at the prowelders shop in Columbus Ohio. I chose to do this because at the time I decided to do my SAS, I did not have the skills, nor the tools to do this. Now a year later I have almost fully repaired my vehicle to road worthy status Mr. VanMeter quoted me a lower price than any other shop at the time, so naturally I decided to go ahead with, at the time, Plushfab. At the time, I had not seen any work upclose to see the quality, or lack there of i should say. Mr. VanMeter's customer relations are also not the greatest. You can be refered to his reactions in this thread on the Stone Cutters BB. MVM is a Bitch Great prep work on the herculiner there buddy... it peeled off with out any help from me. These are some oh so cool wheel spacers you used... 8 flat washers. Thats real safe isnt it? You can also see my new knuckle in the background to fix my steering problem. And yes, the washers are removed on both sides now. The steering as how I recieved it. Take note the stack of flat washers as an attempt to space the draglink over the leaf springs. Caused my the draglink rubbing the passenger side leaf spring... thats real safe isnt it? This occured on I-26 in Asheville, NC. The entire tire and bar fell off and nearly hit the minivan behind me. There are a few other things wrong with the truck when I recieved it. The front shackles were flat against the frame with zero room for uptravel, and the shocks only allowed one inch of uptravel. I will post pictures of this also once I sort through the rest of the ones I have. As you can see, The quality of the work was poor, and it was rushed. Many other things were also not done like they said they would be. I was asked to pay extra for a driveshaft made by Tom Woods. Instead a recieved a driveshaft from Columbus Clutch and Joint. There are many other things I could go on about, but this right here will let you know how I feel about the product and service I recieved. I would avoid this chop shop if I had it to do all over again. Also this shop also took over 6 months to return my vehicle to me. Most of the time my vehicle was there, it just sat collecting dust. __________________ - Bryan Last edited by Kinetic; 12-09-2004 at 10:34 PM.

12-09-2004, 10:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
SirMrManGuy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Member # 23566 Location: Taupo, NZ Posts: 1,023	I've said it many times before(all though probably not on this board), I hear new bad things about him every day and none of them suprise me. But godamn thats shitty work. edit- he claims to be a certified welder, no clue how he passed any tests with welds like that. If he's AWS certified, I'd be tempted to send them samples of his "work". Prowelders site claims "100" hrs training in each process, after that much practice one should be able to lay a much better bead than anything I've seen from him. PS, his tube work looks like shit. That pathfinder he violated makes me want to vomit. Have you fixed that exo yet? Last edited by SirMrManGuy; 12-09-2004 at 10:56 PM.

12-09-2004, 11:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
hlb3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Member # 27730 Location: Tenino, Washington Posts: 141	I replied over on AC's bb too, but that is just friggin scary lookin, I always knew he couldn't weld from the pics of his booger welds that he posted, but damn! My friggin girlfriend can lay down a better bead than that and she has only welded twice. I'm glad you are getting everything fixed, the less stuff that he has built out on the road the better! Good luck with everything. __________________ -'84 Nissan 720, 305/TH350/Dual Cases, D44/14bolt, welded F/R, 38.5x11.00 Boggers -Zuk buggy coming soon...

12-10-2004, 04:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Plush_Darkside Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Member # 21434 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 128	To my knowledge he's only certified in TIG, but has an associate that is certified in MIG. His certification isn't from AWS, it's from Hobart. __________________ [COLOR=DarkRed]'93 Pathfinder[/COLOR] '88 Pathfinder

12-10-2004, 03:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
SirMrManGuy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Member # 23566 Location: Taupo, NZ Posts: 1,023	Kinetic, do you have any in focus pictures of the welds? I'd like to see them. As for the hobart certification, is it something where your welds actually have to pass a destructive test or are xrayed? Or is it just something you pay hobart $1000 to get a piece of paper for? I know when I did my AWS, SMAW cert, my welds were broken then the break was checked out by the instructor. If someone can TIG and has gone through that much training, using a MIG should be as second nature as taking a piss, which is why I question that certification. In that third picture, where there is a gap between the two tubes, was that part of the cage? It looks like he cut that one tube too short, and just attached it with a gusset. If so, wow just wow. Also, I would consider posting this on every ohio 4wheeling, hotrodding, minitruckin etc website you can find. Let everyone know so they dont get ripped off. Last edited by SirMrManGuy; 12-10-2004 at 03:46 PM.

12-10-2004, 06:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
XterraGuy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11064 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 257	I'm pretty sure those welds were done before his training...

12-12-2004, 04:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
justinh Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Member # 10602 Location: atlanta/chino hills Posts: 255	now i see why that guy is so defensive and such a dick to everyone, i also see why everyone has complained about work that he has done.

01-09-2005, 11:52 AM	#13 (permalink)
cdarthvader Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Member # 20440 Location: Tennessee Posts: 221	Wow i made better welds then that my first time welding well not really but close. Damn thats some shitty work. __________________ I only break stuff so i can put bigger stuff on... [QUOTE=ScottFJ40]A "Jesus Loves You" banner is much more asthetically pleasing, than a "Satan is Going to Dry fuck your asshole" banner. [/QUOTE]

01-10-2005, 03:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
Kinetic Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Member # 13834 Location: Bristol, TN Posts: 57	Yeah, It's sitting in my driveway as of yesterday, Just need to find a shop to build a cage now. __________________ - Bryan

01-11-2005, 01:50 PM	#18 (permalink)
broncula Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Member # 26032 Location: Mantua, Ohio Posts: 78	Havent seen his work in person, but I too have heard bad news from his shop.... __________________ 1974 Bronco building in progress (going on three years now)

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