JeftaDavid.com was created out of a desire to have a place where I, Jefta David (1997), can showcase my projects, essentially a personal portfolio, and connect with others who share the same interests.

For a long time, I struggled to find my path, both in school and in figuring out what I wanted to do later in life. At seventeen, I decided to quit my studies, hoping I would naturally come across something that suited me. That didn’t happen, and I started to view my future rather negatively. I wanted to move forward, but I had no idea how or where to start.

At eighteen, with few options ahead of me, I began working at a metal processing company as a CNC press brake operator. At first, I didn’t think metalworking would be something for me. I also felt that everyone around me was focused on school and knew exactly what they wanted, while I was still searching.

To my surprise, the opposite turned out to be true. Through that company, I met the right people who gave me the opportunity to obtain my diplomas, something I’m still very grateful for. It gave me clarity, self‑confidence, and a push in the right direction. Metalworking became more than just a job; it opened up a world of possibilities.

Because I worked daily with all kinds of sheet materials, I quickly developed the ambition to learn CAD software. It allowed me to work out my own ideas and, for example, have them laser‑cut or bent. I’m still learning every day, but thanks to various courses and training programs, along with hands‑on experience in my current role, I’ve gained more skills than I ever expected.

Today, I work as an engineer at a door manufacturing company specializing in the life‑science and healthcare segment. Think of doors for operating rooms and laboratories. My focus is on maintaining and developing both existing and new components, and ensuring they move through the production process in a smart and efficient way.

My work in the sheet‑metal industry also sparked a bigger dream: to one day build a car inspired by the craftsmanship of the pre‑ and post‑war era. During a visit to a model shop in my hometown of Winterswijk, I saw a CMC Modelcars 1:18 Bugatti Type 35. I immediately knew that this was the car I wanted to try to build. Fun detail: that model stayed in the shop’s display case for years, and it’s now in my possession.

Two years later, in 2021, I started pursuing that dream in the form of a cyclekart, a small kart at roughly 75 percent scale, inspired by classic race cars. After a year and a half of work, it was finished. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to confirm something important: this is what truly makes me happy.

In the coming years, I want to keep learning, exploring, and creating meaningful projects. I want to focus on building junior cars as well as making furniture, so I can further develop my feel for working with materials like aluminum.

And who knows, maybe all this work will eventually lead to building a fully roadworthy car..