Name: Chris Yato
Where do you live? Irvine, CA
Do you work for yourself or a shop? Name of it?
I’m a fabricator/modeler for Five Axis Design, Huntington Beach, CA
Did you go to an installer school or are you self taught?
Self-taught with no formal training. I learned a lot of things during my 8 years at Alpine (1995-2003), not because I was taught, but because I had the control and budget to experiment with different tools and materials. As proficient as I had become during that time, I’ve learned twice as much since leaving Alpine from a lot of inspiration and idea/technique swapping with a lot of talented people. Working for Five Axis has been another big step in my fabrication knowledge. I’ve been learning a lot of “behind the scenes” stuff that you don’t get to see unless you work for a concept car builder.
Who is your biggest influence in your work?
Mark Fukuda, Bryan Schmitt, Scott Whitehead and Bill Hamze. I build my projects as if those guys were going to tear the project apart and critique every aspect.
What got you interested in fabrication work?
When I was fifteen, I wanted to buy a stereo system for my room, but my dad didn’t want to be bothered by the bass, so I had to wait until I could drive and put a stereo system in my VW GTI. I worked a summer job to save up enough money for a system and paid to have it installed, but every time I hit a bump, the left channel would cut out. I was deathly afraid of pulling my system apart, but the shop wouldn’t fix the problem, so my best friend and I ripped the system apart and re-installed everything. My fear of working on “car stereo stuff” started to dissipate and my buddy and I began tinkering on each other’s cars. Fabrication techniques, tools and ideas have been a passion of mine ever since.
How long have you been working with fiberglass/metal/wood?
Fiberglass – 18 years, Metal – 13 years, Wood – 19 years
I took woodworking and metalworking class in seventh grade (24 years ago!), but had absolutely no interest in it back then. The only thing that I remember was that I was the only kid to get 100% on the safety test in both classes. I started woodworking building skateboard ramps as a teenager, but in 1991, I borrowed money from my dad to buy a decent tablesaw, jigsaw and router, converted the garage into a small shop and began my world of woodworking, building sub enclosures. I first experimented with fiberglass after buying the N.A.M.E. series of “how to” videos in 1992. The fiberglass process in the video was messy to say the least, but it got me started. Mark Fukuda convinced me to get a MIG welder and “just go for it” in 1997. I bought a welder, welding textbook and started practicing. It really helped me get my skills to the next level. I didn’t have the time to take a class, didn’t have anyone to give me any tips and the internet still sucked, so there weren’t any forums like this! Boy, did my first welds suck!
Does your interest stem from hobby or profession?
I was bit by the car audio bug in high school, but had no intention of “installing” for a living. From the time I was 16, I wanted to work for Alpine and design amplifiers, so I started going to college, but soon realized that I wasn’t the college type. I was bit by the IASCA (sound competition) bug during college, and started working on friends’ cars in my parents garage, then at a high-end shop in San Diego helping build competition audio systems. Following the IASCA installation rules gave me insight into what were considered proper installation methods. Our shop (Elite Systems) gained recognition by winning at IASCA Finals in 1993 with the shop demo car. Because of the shop’s contacts and reputation, I was able to land a job at Alpine in 1995. Due to luck and circumstance, I was put in charge of the installation bay and demo vehicles four months after I started.
First job using fiberglass?
Using the techniques taught in the N.A.M.E. training video, I made some front door pods for a 1987 Toyota Tercel! They turned out ok, but I still remember thinking that the technique sucked and that there had to be a better way.
What was your best use of fiberglass in an installation?
One of my favorite fiberglass projects was the “Jetscalade Sub Enclosure” (
Jetscalade Enclosure)
which was an “all fiberglass” ported enclosure that I created for two Rockford Fosgate T2 15” subs. I started with a single “jet engine” shaped master, made with MDF, urethane foam, fiberglass and body filler, then created a negative plaster mold of the shape. From there, I reproduced two “all fiberglass” copies of the shape, then combined the two copies in the middle to house the port. After much sanding, body filler work and priming, I painted the enclosure and attached custom-made black-chromed aluminum trim pieces. The rear of the enclosure featured red LED lighting to simulate the jet engine exhaust.
What was your worst use of fiberglass?
In my early days at Alpine, I designed and built a three sided, rotating amplifier rack for the back of a Ford Ranger demo truck. The part was fully sanded and ready to be sent out for primer and paint, but I was advised that I should brush the flat MDF parts with resin in order to seal and waterproof it. The perfectly smooth, ready to prime MDF turned into a ripple/brush stroke covered mess, and the crappy, gummy resin was really hard to sand back flat.
In what area would you like to see your work improve?
I try to improve my skills and knowledge every day. Sometimes it’s hard to retain certain skills when you work on different portions of a project for extended periods of time and don’t get to use other skills for a long time. For example, I don’t get to weld nearly enough, and when do I get to weld and start getting back into the swing of things, I’m finished with that portion of the project and don’t weld for weeks or months. I haven’t TIG welded anything for a real long time, and would love to get back into it. It’s sad to see my Miller Syncrowave 250 just sitting there. Automotive painting is another thing that I haven’t done much of in a while. I work with two bad-ass painters, so I’ve gained a lot of technical knowledge, but there isn’t much need for me to paint anything at the shop. When you haven’t sprayed base or clear in a while, it takes a little bit to get back into the swing of things.
Best use/innovation with fiberglass?
I’m proud to see that a lot of the techniques that we pioneered and/or “popularized” at Alpine through the installation trainings and the demo vehicle build pictures on the website are some of the techniques used among many top installers/fabricators out there.
If there's one thing you would do different what would it be and why?
I’ve learned through a couple of attempts at “owning my own business” (with a partner), that I’m not a good business person because I care too much about doing a high quality job despite what the customer is paying. Sometimes it’s ok to go the extra mile, but if you do it too often, you won’t make any money. I’m glad I did it and got it out of my system, but I lost a lot of money with both experiences. I’m much happier working for someone that needs and appreciates high quality work, but handles the business side of things.
If you were to be remembered by only one job, which would it be? Why?
I don’t like to hang my hat on any one thing or accomplishment. The best fabricators always continue to push the limits and never stop learning.
Any words of advice to those just starting out in custom fabrication?
There has never been a better time to learn different aspects of custom fabrication with all of the knowledge available online through various websites, forums, training videos, as well as hands-on training programs. Of course not all the advice given out there is good advice, but even new fabricators will quickly learn who is trustworthy and who isn’t. Always keep an open mind and learn everything you can. Obviously, you can’t spend all of your time just learning, and have to get your hands dirty in order to become a real fabricator. I always say that a good fabricator can get the job done, but the better fabricator can choose from different techniques and materials and adjust them depending on the budget, time constraints, etc.
Although concentrating on a narrow or specific skill set within fabrication (i.e. just welding, fiberglassing, woodworking, painting, wiring) can have some advantages, I enjoy being more of a “Jack of All Trades”, even if it means that I’m a “Master of None”. I find that my wide range of skills makes me more valuable/appealing as a fabricator in many situations.
Besides fab work or installing, what do you like to do to unwind?
Since my hobby turned into a career, I don’t have too many other extracurricular interests or activities. I love spending time with my wife and kids, enjoy good food and beer, listening to podcasts (Adam Carolla Podcast and Marc Maron’s WTF), and reading, researching and interacting with other fabricators online.
What do you drive? and whats your dream car?
I roll around in a bone-stock 2006 Acura TL. It’s a perfect car for me right now with two kids. A semi-realistic dream car is a BMW M3, but I’m not holding my breath. The family comes first, then spending money on good tools.
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