Keep your hydraulic equipment running longer
and troubleshoot hydraulic problems faster.

About Customized Creations

BasicHydraulics.com is part of Customized Creations.

Located in Columbus, Ohio, Customized Creations produces and provides a wide range of products and services, including three services that are related to the Fluid Power industry: the Basic Hydraulics Course, the Hydraulic Boot Camp, and an online directory of hydraulic repair shops.

Customized Creations is owned by Rob Fish.

About Rob Fish

Rob entered the Fluid Power Industry in 1977 as a sales engineer for Hydraulic & Air Controls, specializing in designing and troubleshooting fluid power circuits, systems, and power units.

In 1982, company management asked Rob to conduct a "Basic Hydraulics" course for the company's inside sales, office, and shop personnel. The training was so well received that Rob began conducting "Basic Hydraulics" courses for customers throughout the state of Ohio.

Rob has successfully completed various "How to Conduct Training" and "Training the Trainer" seminars.

Rob was awarded the Fluid Power Society's "Fluid Power Specialist" certification in 1987; a circuit he designed for a horse racing facility was featured in the August, 1993 edition of "Hydraulics & Pneumatics" magazine; and ge taught a 10 week, adult education, "Hydraulic Troubleshooting" class at Eastland Vocational School in Columbus, Ohio.

While Rob specializes in hydraulic training, troubleshooing, design, and problem solving, he is no stranger to being on site, "turning a wrench." His fluid power training began with resurfacing pump and motor components on a lapping machine and includes the same sort of on-site repairs most outside salespeople do from time to time (including a 3 AM replacement of a pump's shaft assembly and cartridge kit at a grain elevator 3 hours from home).

Rob consistently receives the highest possible ratings for "knowledge of material" and "ability to present material" on the Basic Hydraulics course evaluations.

Away from the work world, Rob coached both his sons' and daughter's soccer teams from age 5 through age 14 (and claims that teaching a one-day Basic Hydraulics class is a lot easier than getting a group of 6-year-olds to understand soccer's offsides rule).

Rob's wife, Paula, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985. When Paula's condition reached the point where she couldn't be left alone for long periods of time, Rob was faced with the choice of either continuing to work for someone else (and hiring someone to take care of Paula during the day), or starting a home-based business. As you've probably guessed, Rob decided to start a home-based business.

By this time, Rob and Paula's three kids were old enough to care for their mom on weekends, so Rob was able to teach Basic Hydraulic courses on Saturdays.

When Paula died in 2003, Rob was faced with the choice of continuing his home-based business or going to work for someone else. As you've no doubt guessed, Rob decided to keep the home-based business and continue teaching the Basic Hydraulics course.

The "Comments from Participants" displayed on each page of the web site were written by maintenance personnel, machine operators, and supervisors who took the course. As you can see from the comments, individuals taking the course find it interesting, informative, and filled with information they can use. It isn't at all unusual to hear a class participant say "I wish I'd known this last week!"