Hot Rod Revolution

Yesterday my brother Steve and I went to the Hot Rod Revolution in Austin. It was a show that strictly focused on pre '48 traditional American hot rods, so the turn out was rather limited.  The venue was Camp Mabry military base, so combined with some WWII re-enacters the event was very cool. Sadly I had no battery to take photos, but I did score this rad new patch to add to the collection.

Blacksmith Apprentice

Last week I got a part time job working for an architectural metal fabrication company called Precision Iron.  I've been really craving some steelwork experience to help round out my metalsmithing education, so I've been practicing Some MIG welding and now am employed as a blacksmith apprentice.  The job is great but hard, lets just say I wont be needing to go to the gym. I've been forging these guitar pieces for some new railing at Hard Rock Cafe in San Antonio.

Sprocket Belt Buckle

This is my sprocket belt buckle, once I find a source of more sprockets these will be available for purchase.

RC hot rod continued

This week I got to work on the hot rod some more. I got some stainless sheet for the floor pan and have started creating a component layout.

I also made some progress on the front suspension. For the leaf springs I utilized a recoil spring from the pull start on a Briggs and Stratton engine.

 Im most likely going to re-do the spindles, and either cast these wheels in metal or try and find some others with bearings.  The spindles rub the tire, and I know that the plastic rc airplane wheels are going to me a major weak link at speed, I can just foresee them melting while the car is doing 40+ mph. But for mock up sake they will work.

R/C Hot Rod

 I have been working on a radio controlled hot rod for the past 2 weeks for my metals class.  The assignment was to create a mechanical object based on "migration." I've got roughly 65 hours into this thing so far, and am expecting to put in around 50 more to complete it (Update- its going to be longer, im thinking 50 hours will get me to rolling chassis with the components mostly mounted). This is 100% custom fabricated except for the mechanical parts I stripped from the donor car (Traxxas T-Max).

to do list:

fit floor pan and install running gear (mount engine, transmission, radio, servos)

decide what springs to use for front suspension

rear suspension and springs

die form body panels and do body work

machine rear axle bearing spacers

set up steering linkage

fabricate and mount gas tank

maybe powdercoating?

Custom metal signs

Here's my first custom metal sign. Its a sign for the Motel Ball Band's practice house. 

More signs to follow.

Metalsmithing

I am currently a student at Texas State.  When People ask me what I am studying, I answer "Metalsmithing." This almost always results in blank "huh" faces or "what is that?" I usually reply "well... it's pretty much anything you can do to or with metals."

Wikipedia says:
A metalsmith, often shortened to smith, is a person involved in making metal objects. In contemporary use a metalsmith is a person who uses metal as a material, uses traditional metalsmithing techniques (though not necessarily the material), whose work thematically relates to the practice or history of the practice, or who engages in any number metal related activities.

Heres some examples of my work:

Disclaimer: One was professionally photographed, the others were poorly improvised at best.

 This small scale FMX ramp is composed of brass and aluminum.  It was inspired by 

my passion for dirt bikes and ramp building.

This hunk of metal was my first attempt at casting and lathe work. It was cast in 

bronze using the lost wax method.

Commander Cody's "Hot Rod Lincoln" inspired this work in progress.

first post

Well.... I've been thinking of starting a blog for a few years, so here we go.  Since i've decided to dive into entrepreneurial endeavors I figured a blog would be a great tool to document my efforts.