Red Oak Fabrication

Red Oak Fabrication Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Red Oak Fabrication, Metal Fabricator, 306 N 3rd Street, Red Oak, IA.

Established in the heart of Southwest Iowa, Red Oak Fabrication has evolved from its humble beginnings in 1913 to become a cornerstone of the fabrication industry and home to the region’s most expansive Carhartt storefront.

Here is our fourth edition of "Meet the Team!"Meet Taylor Smith, our Press Brake Manager! 🎉Taylor started with Red Oak F...
08/27/2026

Here is our fourth edition of "Meet the Team!"

Meet Taylor Smith, our Press Brake Manager! 🎉

Taylor started with Red Oak Fabrication as a summer intern in 2019. After graduating from Iowa Western in 2020 with his Associate's Degree in Science/Engineering, he came back to Red Oak Fabrication full time as one of our drafter/designers. Now as the Press Brake Manager, Taylor ensures every bend, angle, and piece of fabricated metal matches our strict quality standards. From complex custom jobs to high-volume production, Taylor's expertise keeps our shop running smoothly and safely every single day. Taylor currently lives with his wife in Red Oak.

Get to know Taylor:

☕️ Favorite snack: Taylor's go-to snacks are Dr Peppers and Cheez-It crackers.

🌟 Fun fact: Taylor has never broken a bone in his body.

✨ Hobbies: Outside of Red Oak Fabrication, Taylor spends his time woodworking or designing things on his 3-D printer.

♥️ Best part of working at ROF: Taylor's favorite part of working at Red Oak Fabrication is that each day is a little different, and his workload is always changing and adjusting - giving him the chance to work on new projects and designs.

✔️ Productivity Hack: Taylor's hack for getting things done is using due diligence. He likes to sit down to figure out a solution before tackling the problem head on, then make the plan and then go with it.

A look inside Red Oak Fabrication's Turnkey Process 🛠️⚙️Part 5: From raw parts to solid steel. 💪🛠️Mudslayer M500 Track U...
08/26/2026

A look inside Red Oak Fabrication's Turnkey Process 🛠️⚙️

Part 5: From raw parts to solid steel. 💪🛠️

Mudslayer M500 Track Unit - DAY FIVE: Final Assembly + Fit

We stay in our welding department, finishing up the unit with the final assembly. Every joint is carefully aligned, and every bead is laid down with maximum pe*******on to ensure heavy-duty reliability. We don't cut corners on quality - we know that oustanding assembly and welding require precision at every single step. To help ensure this quality, all of our welders are AWS D1.1 certified. This certification states that the welder is qualified to perform weldments on thicknesses of 1/8" through 3/4' in the flat, horizontal and vertical positions on all fillet and groove welds. To our customers it means that we ensure every joint is perfectly fused, structurally sound, and visually flawless - and each unit that leaves our floor is identical to the last.

By keeping your entire process under one roof, we can guarantee tighter quality control, faster turnarounds, and flawless final products. Every component is cut, tacked, welded, and inspected to meet rigorous industry standards. And because our job shop handles the process from beginning to end, our teams are able to handle any design pivots autonomously.

Stay tuned Friday as we take this project from plain unit to a powder coated beauty.

While working on our social media project with Mudslayer, I got the chance to take thousands of videos and photos - this...
08/26/2026

While working on our social media project with Mudslayer, I got the chance to take thousands of videos and photos - this by far was my favorite.

Just our fabricator, doing what he does best.

A look inside Red Oak Fabrication's Turnkey Process 🛠️⚙️Part 4: Quality Craftsmanship. ⚡🛠️ Mudslayer M500 Track Unit - D...
08/25/2026

A look inside Red Oak Fabrication's Turnkey Process 🛠️⚙️

Part 4: Quality Craftsmanship. ⚡🛠️



Mudslayer M500 Track Unit - DAY FOUR: Initial Assembly + Welding

The next step in the process takes us further across the production floor - into our welding department. At Red Oak Fabrication we use the Fronius Multi-Process Pulse MIG machines in all of our welding cells. The Fronius welding system allows us to deliver flawless, deeply penetrating beads with virtually zero rework time. For our customers, this means cleaner builds, faster production turnaround, and maximum product durability. We are dedicated to continuously putting out a top-notch product, and we don't compromise on weld strength or structural integrity. All of our fabricators are skilled in handling many different materials, and the use of our Fronius machines allows us to switch from thin-gauge aluminum to heavy steel with minimal downtime. High-tech machinery gives us speed, but it is our team's deep trade experience that delivers the flawless craftsmanship your projects deserve.

Our welding department utilizes heavy-duty fixture tables, and custom jigs; so, when you bring in a project or design, you aren’t just getting hand-welded parts—you’re getting perfect repeatability. Our team doesn't just pull triggers blindly; our experienced welders rely on their muscle memory and problem-solving skills to evaluate and manage the unique behaviors of various alloys under heat, all while holding razor-thin tolerances. They understand print reading and metal dynamics, catching any potential material or fit up issues before they become costly errors.

Stay tuned Wednesday as we take this project from partially assembled to a recognizable unit.

Here is our third edition of "Meet the Team!"Meet Jim Jones, our Laser Operations + Drafting Manager! 🎉Jim is another o...
08/20/2026

Here is our third edition of "Meet the Team!"

Meet Jim Jones, our Laser Operations + Drafting Manager! 🎉

Jim is another one of our long tenured employees, having worked for the Fort family for over 20 years. Jim bridges the gap between digital design and physical manufacturing. From overseeing precision CAD drafting to managing our state-of-the-art laser cutting systems, Jim ensures that every project is executed with flawless accuracy and efficiency. Prior to working for Red Oak Fabrication, he worked for Linweld. He currently lives with his wife and two youngest children in Stanton.

Get to know Jim:

☕️ Favorite snack: Jim's go-to snacks are Diet Coke, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, and Reese's Eggs.

🌟 Fun fact: Jim has bowled several perfect (300) games, as well as a couple near perfect (299).

✨ Hobbies: When Jim isn't at Red Oak Fabrication, he can be found camping, bowling or enjoying time with his family (especially spoiling his 4 grandchildren).

♥️ Best part of working at ROF: Jim enjoys the diversity of being able to design a project on the computer and working on the production floor. He likes the ability to follow his project from designing to delivery.

✔️ Productivity Hack: Jim credits his time in the military with helping him to stay productive throughout his workday. His military experience provides him with an advantage through traits like accountability, operating under pressure, managing time, and adapting to changing environments.

A look inside Red Oak Fabrication's Turnkey Process 🛠️⚙️Part 3: Flawless bends. ⚡🛠️ Mudslayer M500 Track Unit - DAY THRE...
08/19/2026

A look inside Red Oak Fabrication's Turnkey Process 🛠️⚙️

Part 3: Flawless bends. ⚡🛠️



Mudslayer M500 Track Unit - DAY THREE: Press Brake Operations

The next step in the process takes us across the production floor - into our press brake department. We currently have 5 press brakes that we operate; a 350-ton Xpert320 14ft Bystronic Press Break, two 80-ton Xpert80 5ft Bystronic Press Breaks, a 350-ton Xpert320 13ft 6-inch Bystronic Press Break, and an 80-ton horizontal press. Our Bystronic press brakes help us to yield flawless accuracy on intricate, multi-bend components. We can bend a variety of materials including stainless steel, aluminum, treadplate, galvanized steel, as well as more exotic material such as copper and brass. Our current capabilities and tooling allow us to bend material up to a thickness of ¾ inch. By utilizing die film on our softer materials, such as aluminum and copper, we can ensure that the material is bent without any scratches or damage to the surface of the part.

We are dedicated to ensuring tight product tolerances on all bent parts. Our operators use angle finders, tape measures, and T-squares to ensure each part is within tolerance, and with ByVision CNC Controls our operators have the ability to adjust programs right on the production floor. The ability to do real-time software corrections helps us to guarantee angular accuracy down to fractions of a degree. These adjustments can be necessary due to the natural distortion that can happen within the sheet of metal.

Stay tuned Friday as we take this project from parts to partially assembled.

A look inside Red Oak Fabrication's Turnkey Process 🛠️⚙️Part 2: Precision cuts. ⚡🛠️ Mudslayer M500 Track Unit - DAY TWO:...
08/18/2026

A look inside Red Oak Fabrication's Turnkey Process 🛠️⚙️

Part 2: Precision cuts. ⚡🛠️



Mudslayer M500 Track Unit - DAY TWO: Laser Cutting - Tube + Flat Laser

The next step in the process takes us out of the office, and onto the production floor. We start our process in the laser department - where both our tube laser and flat laser teams get to work cutting and etching the material. At ROF we have one Bystronic M3 FL300 tube laser, and three flat lasers - a Cutlite Penta Fiber Fast 4020-20kw, a Bystronic BySmart Fiber 3015 6kw, and a Bystronic BySmart Fiber 3015 10kw. All of these lasers allow for precision-cut parts with a clean and accurate finish.

Our flat laser operators use the DXF files made by our drafting team to ensure that they are cutting the correct part dimensions. These DXF files store the precise instructions needed to recreate lines, shapes, and vector paths, telling our lasers exactly where to start and stop a path. Our machines use a powerful fiber laser beam and combined with a blast of assist gas (nitrogen or oxygen), it instantly melts and blows away the metal along the programmed path. Because we produce our own nitrogen for the lasers via a nitro cube, we always have a continuous supply - allows us to cut both during the production shift and after hours. Our three lasers have the combined capability to cut sheets up to 1 ½ inches thick and can cut an assortment of material including stainless steel, aluminum, treadplate, and galvanized steel.

Our Bystronic tube laser takes the STEP file made by our drafting team to ensure we are making the appropriate 2D and 3D cuts. Unlike flat-sheet lasers, tube processing systems rotate and feed the material through an automated chuck, executing 2D and 3D geometric cuts across the entire profile. Our tube laser can process round tubes up to 12 inches in diameter and square profiles up to 10 inches. With its multi-axis 3D tilting head, we can automate cutting and beveling in a single pass. By integrating sawing, drilling, and deburring into one step, it increases our overall production speed and precision.

Stay tuned tomorrow as we take this project from flat metal to perfectly bent parts.

08/17/2026

Concept to completion: A look inside Red Oak Fabrication's Turnkey Process 🛠️⚙️

Part One: Introduction

Throughout Red Oak Fabrication's history, we have worked with many different customers and have expanded our machinery line to fit many different needs. We don't take shortcuts - we rely on our custom-engineered metal fabrication built precisely to our client's exact specifications. If your facility needs custom parts or specialized equipment modifications, our job shop is ready to build it. Want to know more about our machine capabilities or the services we offer? Follow us this week as we take a deeper look into our turnkey process - showcasing the Mudslayer M500 Track Unit as the product we follow from start to finish.

Before we dive right into our turnkey process, let's take a look at how this relationship with Mudslayer Inc. started. Jim LaPorte came to us with a complex challenge: he needed a fully integrated, heavy-duty unit built to fit a highly specific need. Jim LaPorte with Mudslayer Inc. had the idea and design for a product that would revolutionize portable mud management - and needed a job shop to work closely with them to see their product from their design sketch to finished product. From there, the partnership between Jim LaPorte with Mudslayer Inc and Red Oak Fabrication has continued to evolve and develop for the last 8 years.

Mudslayer M500 Track Unit - DAY ONE: Drafting/Design

Our highly skilled drafting team takes the cut file provided by the customer and turns it into a nest for our laser operators using the ProNest software. This allows our drafting team to complete test simulation runs before the material is actually cut, showing us how the laser will cut those specific parts out of the required material. The SolidWorks system is also utilized within the drafting process. This system allows us to see the end product in a 3D model to ensure proper fits, and accurate bends and welds. The drafting team also takes into account appropriate material type and thickness, ensuring we are utilizing as much of the flat sheet as possible reducing scrap and wasted material. As the nest is being finished, Bill of Materials and Sales Orders are also created by our drafting team to ensure we have a complete list of raw materials, assemblies, and instructions for each specific unit.

Stay tuned tomorrow as we take this project from the computer screen to the fabrication floor.

Here is our second edition of "Meet the Team!"Meet Carla Mueller, our Bookkeeper + Carhartt Manager! 🎉Carla is our longe...
08/13/2026

Here is our second edition of "Meet the Team!"

Meet Carla Mueller, our Bookkeeper + Carhartt Manager! 🎉

Carla is our longest tenured employee, celebrating 46 years with Red Oak Fabrication. Carla is an invaluable part of our team, and we're grateful for the dedication she brings every day. She was hired by Ted Fort (the current owner's great grandpa) and has worked with 4 different generations of the Fort family. On top of managing the Carhartt store, she also handles all of the bookkeeping - keeping our numbers balanced since 1980. Prior to working for Red Oak Fabrication, she worked for Hayes Accounting. She currently lives with her husband on an acreage outside of Elliott.

Get to know Carla:

☕ Favorite snack: Carla's go-to snacks are M&Ms and Pepsi.

🌟 Fun fact: She has been one of six people to ski behind a single boat at the Lake of the Ozarks! She said it was a BLAST!

✨ Hobbies: When Carla isn't at Red Oak Fabrication, she can be caught boating, spending time at the Lake of the Ozarks, at Iowa State Football games with her grandkids, or watching her grandkid's activities.

❤️ Best part of working at ROF: Carla has enjoyed working with many different people through her time at Red Oak Fabrication. She also enjoys the variety of tasks that come across her desk.

✔ Productivity Hack: Carla's biggest piece of advice is to stay organized with your daily tasks. She also credits making a system and sticking to it as one of the ways she stays organized.

08/11/2026

🍎✏️ BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHING SALE! 🎉👕

Tick-tock! ⏰ Back-to-school is right around the corner. Take 20% OFF all kids' and teens' apparel from now until August 21st!

Stop by our Carhartt location at 306 N 3rd Street and grab something for the kids before they head back to school!

Address

306 N 3rd Street
Red Oak, IA
51566

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 4pm
Tuesday 7am - 4pm
Wednesday 7am - 4pm
Thursday 7am - 4pm
Friday 7am - 11am

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Red Oak Fabrication posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category