I am simply... Spike. Metalburner.
Hey Folks,
I'm brand new to the forum here this week. Thought i'd kick off my introduction here and start posting away with some of my projects.
I'm a metal fabricator that just moved to Fresno, CA from Denver, CO. I own a custom chopper and hot-rod shop on the north end of town out here, and i do everything from hand forming panels and structure to mechanic work, and i've even gotten pretty good at leatherwork over the last few years. There'll be plenty of photos here to show exactly what i mean.
I've been in the car/motorcycle industry for about 10 years now, and i've been in business myself as Spike Customs for 4 years (going on 5 this year). I started fabricating about 8 years ago now, and immediately fell in love with building.
I started simple, with mig welding, but had to quickly jump into TiG welding, because in the custom bike industry, there's just not a lot of room for welds that aren't pretty and strong. Nearly everything i weld is with a Tig machine. Frames, sheetmetal, mounts and brackets... it all has to be perfect and as strong as it can get.
I constantly work to expand my metalworking ability, continuing to work with new and harder to work metals. Currently i work with steel, stainless, aluminum, chromoly and copper. I've just barely started to dabble in Titanium.
I enjoy old ways of doing things as well, I've recently picked up Oxy-Acetylene welding and enjoy using the gas welder to weld aluminum sheet that i am going to have to shape and bend afterwards. I shape metal with english wheels and hammers, rather than setting up a "press and die" sort of fab shop. Most of my tools are manually powered... Some 100 years old or so... old style hand crank and human powered metal tools allow a certain 'spirit' to be formed into the projects. Without a motor, every shape and change must be considered, and thought out.
I'm starting to blacksmith and forge metal, continually expanding my ability to shape and make objects. Being able to forge my own tools and hammers is greatly improving my ability as a metalworker.
If you want to see my work, you can check in to project threads that i start here on the forums, or take a look at my website - spikecustoms.com, twitter - @SpikeCustoms, tumblr blog - simply-spike, or facebook page... i know i know... social networking at it's finest. it's a sign of the times, even blacksmiths and welders have facebooks and twitter accounts.
Later,
Spike
