Year of the Chopper

13 Remain

2011-11-29T21:44:00.001-05:00

Maestro and Detroit Uprising have both sold in the last week, but there are 13 Choppers for Charity left!

Check out "Off the Chain", just relisted today.

Another Update, a New blog.

2011-11-15T16:56:00.000-05:00

14 of the 52 YOTC bikes are available, you can purchase them here.

I've also started a new blog on Tumblr that a little farther ranging than this purpose drive site. Come visit me at www.watchtheprettylight.tumblr.com!

Yesterday I built the first bike sculpture I've done since last winter...Here's a Yamaha based Cafe Racer:

You get Awesome, I double the Win.

2011-05-17T14:19:00.003-04:00

Out of the 52 YOTC bikes, 34 have been sold...raising a total of $2900 that's been split between Home Fur-Ever and LifeBuilders Detroit. Thank YOU so much for the help in supporting causes I believe in!

But now, for the 18 remaining pieces, let's up the ante. Whichever YOTC piece you buy, I will match the money....effectively doubling the donation.

Buy Maestro for $130, and $260 will go to charity.

Let's see how much money we can raise in the next 2 weeks.

All 18 bikes are listed in the "Choppers for Charity" section of the BDW online store.

A few of the pieces available:

A Gift that Give 3 Times.

2010-12-09T16:09:00.003-05:00

Purchase any of the motorcycle sculptures in my Choppers for Charity and not only are getting a one of a kind handcrafted item that would make a special Christmas gift, but the money you spend will go to Home Fur-Ever and LifeBuilders Detroit! 3 gifts for the price of one, you can't beat that!

Have a great Christmas!

The Final Chop

2010-08-23T10:51:00.003-04:00

52 weeks. 52 sculptures for charity. Over.

"Revelations" is the final Motorcycle Sculpture in the Year of the Chopper Project. So far half of the pieces have sold, and we've raised over two thousand dollars that has been split between Home Fur-Ever and LifeBuilders Detroit. That means that once all 52 bikes have sold we will have surpassed our goal of $4k! You can purchase one of the remaining pieces in the Choppers for Charity section of my online Etsy store. Feel free to spread the word!

So here is Revelations. Admire it carefully....or suffer the fate of my buddy Joe:

Epic way to finish! A skull, engraved flames, and a flippin' COFFIN GAS TANK!!! Too much win!

*head explodes*

-click on the pics for larger sizes and more pictures-

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and support over the last year, I truly appreciate it!

A Trifecta, the end is near.

2010-08-15T18:15:00.003-04:00

Life has been a little hectic of late, so I've been behind updating the project blog. The project itself, however, never stopped...and there is only ONE week left!

So here are the last couple of pieces....

Week 49 and 50 are available on Etsy:

"Undertow"

"Full Metal Jacket"

And bike 51 is up for auction now: "MotoHawk"

Triumph Chopper Sculpture, Bad Brain

2010-08-02T20:27:00.003-04:00

Year of the Chopper #48 is live on Etsy, it's a cool little scoot based on a chopped Triumph.

West coast dreaming...

2010-07-26T20:20:00.004-04:00

This is how I imagine a West Coast cruiser, rolling down the PCH from Orange County to San Diego.

Bike #152, the 47th Year of the Chopper piece, is called "The Pacific" and it's available in the Brown Dog Welding Etsy store right now.

2010-07-13T18:08:00.002-04:00

Year of the Chopper #46 is up for bidding for a couple of more days! It's an Ironhead powered Sportster bobber with some cool crossed exhaust pipes. Get on it here!

The First BDW Ducati, and a YOTC progress report.

2010-07-08T19:47:00.005-04:00

This is an 1198 S "inspired piece." The real deal is an absolutely beautiful machine, and I did what I could to capture it's essence with scrap metal and nuts and bolts.

It's available for purchase on Etsy. The Choppers for Charity section of my store is home to 20 pieces right now...visit it and help us add to the almost $1900 we've raised so far!

See more of it on Flickr.

Step into the Afterlife

2010-06-28T20:27:00.003-04:00

Here it is, the 44th week of the Year of the Chopper. We're in the home stretch! Next week I'll have a financial update of what we've raised thus far for Home Fur-Ever and LifeBuilders Detroit.

I'm working on doing some Day of the Dead inspired pieces. David Lozeau has been a big help to me in my fledgling art career, and his DotD work (along with his Tiki and Lowbrow Art) is out of this world! This bike was done while I was messing with some of those ideas. Look for some more "Día de los Muertos" news from me coming soon!

In the meantime, get in on the bidding action for the Afterlife!

"Shake and Bake" Harley Chopper Sculpture

2010-06-21T20:08:00.003-04:00

Ape hangers, suicide shifter, springer front, and a panhead. YOTC #43 is one tough looking chopper.

You still have time to scoop this motorcycle up for a sweet deal HERE.

After Thursday, if someone doesn't snag it you can find it with my other Choppers for Charity HERE.

The Iron Crosses in the pictures are key chains, you can buy them HERE.

Hello Maestro

2010-06-15T09:45:00.003-04:00

I was a bit under the weather last week when the idea for this bike struck me. I wanted kind of a "full body" look, from the full fenders in the back up through gas tank and the sweeping fender in the front. So I got out to the shop and made it happen, and this is the result.

It's bike #147, and I call it Maestro. It's the 42nd bike I've built for the Year of the Chopper project. I used expanded metal in some of the pics to give them kind of a "spy shot" feel.

Check the links on the right side of this page for info on purchasing this piece.

The Dark Side

2010-06-08T08:28:00.003-04:00

This is the 41st bike for my project. It's another chopper sprung from my own mind, I didn't really have any particular motorcycle in mind when I built this guy. I think my favorite little piece is the internal of a ratchet for the air intake(check it out by going to the "original size").

"The Dark Side" is available to bid on at an exceptional price until Thursday.

Dirty Harry

2010-06-01T10:42:00.004-04:00

As one friend told me, I finally did a "real" bike. I've got a lot of buddies that are into dirt bikes, so I figured it was time I tried my hand at building a sculpture of one.

It's loosely based on a Kawasaki KX 250. This is the 40th YOTC, and the 145th bike overall that I've made. You can get your bidding on HERE, or if it makes it through the week without selling you will find it in my Choppers for Charity section on Etsy.

A Tribute to a Friend, a Husband, a Father, and a Veteran

2010-05-31T09:49:00.009-04:00

This is a note by my wife Darla, written as a tribute to her dad for Memorial Day.

Several years ago I found a box of letters in my parents’ bedroom. I confess that curiosity got the best of me while I was looking for the sewing kit. I saw a box that I had not noticed before. It was dusty with no markings, but it gently whispered, “open me!” Would my parents have shared this box with me had I not found it on my own? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe they wanted to keep it between them and I can understand that now, but what a treasure I found! I found over a year’s worth of correspondence between my mom and dad while my dad was serving our country in Vietnam. Nothing had opened my eyes and my heart about my parents as did this discovery. Fear and love were scribed on every page. I even read the letter that accompanied an engagement ring sent from Vietnam to Michigan. Yes. That’s right. An engagement ring! Theirs is a love story for the ages. I wish that I could scan all of the letters and allow you to read this beautiful love story, but I will respect those intimate words and keep them in my heart and in that box for now. Just trust me when I say that they are lotion-kleenex-worthy. From Dad’s descriptive letters of meals (mostly talking about Spam in a can), to the engagement, to stories of close calls, loss and pains of war - my view of Bob and Linda Burl changed forever.

Below is a photo from 1970 of my Mom (then Dad’s girlfriend) and Dad at the airport. He was heading to Vietnam. I simply cannot imagine what this moment must have felt like for them. Pride and fear must have rivaled one another in their hearts. My dad was sent to Vietnam along with other high school buddies. My dad would be one of the few who returned.

Looking back on my childhood, I remember going to various Memorial Day and 4th of July parades, knowing that my dad would jump in with a random group of Vietnam War Veterans to finish the march. I remember listening to patriotic songs for hours with my dad and I would try my best to learn them and sing them for him. I remember the flashbacks of war that he suffered when I was a small child. I remember visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and standing next to my Father who sobbed as he rubbed the charcoal over the names of his buddies who never returned to American soil. Even now there is a solemness that overcomes him when he hears a helicopter. His time at war changed him forever. In some way it has shaped part of who I am.

On Memorial Day in 2008, Josh, Mom, Dad and I visited Freedom Hill in Clinton Township to see the moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. Dad had brought several photos and newspaper clippings/obituaries of friends who died and added them to a photo album kept by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chaper 154. I ordered a brick in his name to be added to the special memorial erected to honor those who served, those who fought and those who died in the Vietnam War.

On Veterans Day of the same year, he received a very nice packet of cards and notes from a group of elementary school students. They were being taught the significance of our veterans and the need to recognize them. My Dad was deeply touched by their words.

I want to close out my thoughts by sharing a snippet of a note that Dad wrote to me on May 24, 2009:

"38 years ago today, 24 May 71, three of my friends I served with were shot down at Fire Base 5. Two were KIA (CTP Dewey and SP4 Lubbehusen). SP4 John Littleton was rescued, but was wounded. On the next day, 25 May 71, another ship flew in under heavy fire to med-a-vac John and I was supposed to be on this rescue mission. Due to other circumstances I remained at base. The rescue ship was shot down again as they were leaving. John and all aboard were KIA. They were listed as MIAs, but their remains were recovered 2 months later. The rescue pilots KIA received the CMA (Congressional Medal of Honor).

I left Nam 16 June 71 and was home for good.

My heart still hurts."

I sobbed for quite some time after reading this and it still breaks my heart. My dad remembers it all. The names. The dates. The numbers. Every detail. This is why we must remember and honor our veterans for their willingness to change their lives and give their lives for our country.

So today I honor my Dad.

Thank you, Dad. I love you.

Mom and Dad at the airport 1970. Saying their goodbyes as Dad was leaving for Vietnam.

Dad's Christmas Dinner Menu from Vietnam 1970.

Mom with flowers that Dad sent to her from Hawaii. The engagement ring from Vietnam accompanied a letter that arrived at the same time.

Back home from Vietnam, June 20, 1971. A changed man.

I just noticed that my Dad is holding my mom's bright red, New King James Bible. I'll have to ask about that!

(Note: she did ask....he returned from the war, and they went right to church from the airport)

Scoop, a Shovelhead

2010-05-26T10:29:00.002-04:00

Here is a Harley Shovelhead sculpture, it's the 144th bike I've done, and it's the 39th YOTC.

I'm kind of late to the game on the blog this week, there's only a day left to bid!

"Scoop" Auction for Charity

The Story Behind the 2011 Mustang GT Sculpture

2010-05-24T16:02:00.008-04:00

It was pretty cool how this project came about. My buddy Joe was deployed in the Middle East last year. Joe's a cool dude...he's in a band, rides a Ducati, and carries a machine gun. He was also the first person to purchase one of my motorcycle sculptures, WAAAAY back in 2008. He owns bikes #5, #13, and bike #125 was modeled after his old bike. I did that for him when he returned to the states.

Another friend of ours, Shaun, is just an all around good guy. He also has a deep respect for those who have defended our country in the military. He's one of those people that makes sure to say thanks whenever he comes across a veteran or an active soldier. Here's a quote from Shaun:

When I found out that Joe was going to be deployed I started to stockpile car magazines (and a few playboys). When he got over there I asked him if he needed or wanted anything specific, and there were two things he wanted: Gel to reduced Razor bumps when shaving your head and dark choc Reese cups. So I got them both (the gel was a pain to find lol).

I ended up sending 35lbs of magazines and Reeses to Joe for him and his unit to share.

To Shaun, this was just the right thing to do. But to Joe it meant a lot, getting a bit of home sent to him when he was many thousands of miles away, and when he got back he wanted to show him his appreciation.

Shaun's a Ford guy through and through, and even before the new 5.0 powered 2011 Mustang GT became available he signed his name on the dotted line. Sometime between when Shaun ordered the car and the expected delivery date, Joe decided that the best way to thank Shaun was to commission me to build him a sculpture of the Mustang GT. I was obviously excited to do so!

Another mutual friend is Matt, and he's a photographer, so we arranged to meet Shaun to do a photo shoot of the Grabber Blue GT on Belle Isle in Detroit. We let Joe know, and he met us there with the sculpture to surprise Shaun. I'm pretty sure he dug it(thanks to Matt for these pics)!

Here are a couple of pics of the sculpture. You can check out more here:2011 Mustang GT Sculpture

And the photo shoot was pretty successful too.

Matt got some really spectacular captures. Check them out here!

And some more details Shaun gave me on the car itself(he's planning on driving the hell out of it!). Rumor has it that there may be more to come :secret:

2011 Mustang GT 5.0 Premium
Grabber Blue
6spd manual
Brembo brake pack
3.73 L/S Axle
HID headlights
Security package
Navigation/10gb hard drive
Upgraded interior

Mods:
FRPP 1.5" drop springs
FRPP Adjustable dampers
Steeda adjustable front sway bar
Maximum Motorsports caster/camber plate
Steeda Bump steer kit
Reahagen Racing Brake ducts
Steeda adjustable panhard bar
Reahagen Racing Chrome Moly rear lower control arms
Motol RBF 600 Brake fluid
Roush 427R bumper custom painted, with splitter
Mustang GT/CS rear spoiler
Mustang RTR 19x9.5 wheels -Street
Goodyear Eagle F1-D3 275/40-19- Street
Roush Trak Pak forged wheel 18x10 - Track
Hoosier A6 275/35-18 -Track
It's prepped for NASA TT-A
(NASA= National Auto Sport Association)

I was stoked to be able to have a small part in this story. A huge thanks to Joe for thinking of me when he decided to repay Shaun for his good deed, and thanks to Matt for the pics!

Thumper the Pavement Pounder

2010-05-17T16:08:00.004-04:00

I tried a few new tricks on YOTC #38. I exaggerated the features height wise just slightly, as opposed to lengthwise like on the last piece.

Get in on the bidding here to help Home Fur-Ever and Lifebuilders Detroit.

Cool Custom Key Chains

2010-05-11T10:00:00.002-04:00

I've done a lot of the Tattooed Metal key chains over the last couple of year, but these are a little different. The crosses are made from stainless steel, I cut them out with a plasma torch and then heat and beat them on a copper plate to achieve the finish. The spark plugs are recycled plugs that have served their purpose to fire engines and now are gonna help you keep track of your keys!

These are available here in the key chain section of my Etsy store.

More from my mind...

2010-05-06T09:40:00.003-04:00

Like last week's bike, YOTC #37 isn't modeled after any particular motorcycle. I had an idea in my mind for a smooth, curved, and flowing design, and put the metal together accordingly. The result is a piece that looks to be in motion even as it's still, all by using the natural shape of a few allen wrenches and doing a little tweaking to some tubing, nails, and tig rod.

"Salvador" can be bid on here!

A Lowdown and Dirty Shame

2010-04-30T12:28:00.002-04:00

Here she is, Bike #140 and the thirty-sixth YOTC, "Lowdown and Dirty Shame." It's a ground hugging, v-twin powered chop that is as mean as it looks.

Bid on this piece HERE!

Click on the pics to get a bigger view and check out the details.

The "Not so Quiet Riot"

2010-04-26T12:31:00.002-04:00

A panhead powered scooter that'll get the party started, this is the bike #139 in the BDW collection. It's the 35th Year of the Chopper sculpture, and like the other 34, all proceeds go to Home Fur-Ever and Lifebuilders Detroit.

Metal Sculpture "White Noise"

2010-04-22T08:45:00.003-04:00

I gotta a little behind this week and was out of town for a few days...and totally blew posting this week's Year of the Chopper. There's only 3 hours left on the auction for White Noise, but if you miss it there, look for it in the Choppers for Charity section of my Etsy store.

Shapeshifter Triumph

2010-04-08T13:25:00.003-04:00

The 33rd Year of the Chopper bike is a Triumph, not modeled after a specific bike, just a look I dig. Low, raked out, bobbed, short pipes....nice and clean.

On this bike, my 135th motorcycle sculpture overall, I used fuel lines for the exhaust and allen wrenches for the front forks and handlebars. The engine is made from an old piece of threaded rod with a cleaned up nut making the head.

Bid on this bike here: Tig welded Triumph for Charity

The "Detroit Uprising"

2010-04-02T11:23:00.003-04:00

The Detroit Tigers Opening Day is right around the corner, the Red Wings are the hottest team in the NHL heading into the playoffs, and the Detroit Lions are prepping for their traditionally high pick in the 2010 NFL draft pick! No better time than now to bring out a Detroit inspired Year of the Chopper.

And here it is. Check out the inscribed old English D on each side of the gas tank, along with one welded onto the rear fender.

Get in on the action for "Detroit Uprising!"

1958 Harley Panhead

2010-03-26T10:47:00.004-04:00

I came across a picture of a '58 HD Panhead earlier this week, and it was the inspiration for this bike. Mainly the tank, the handlebars, and the chopped rear fender, and it wasn't so much an end, but a jumping off point for my version. I must apologize, I can't find a picture of that bike now.

But here is my interpretation, this week's YOTC, "The Ringer" :

More pictures here: Panhead Harley Sculpture

A Harley Chopper, YOTC #30

2010-03-22T15:24:00.003-04:00

So far we've sold 19 of the bikes, raising almost $1300! I want to thank everyone that has supported our efforts to raise money for Home Fur-Ever and Lifebuilders Detroit. There are currently 10 YOTC bikes available in the Choppers for Charity section of BDW's online store, and all proceeds still go to those two charities!

This Chopper is the 132nd bike I've done overall, and it's the 30th bike built for the Year of the Chopper. Get a bid in for "Off the Chain" now!

'32 Ford sculpture to benefit Jason Graham

2010-03-12T11:45:00.009-05:00

Jason Graham's Hot Rods was recently ripped apart by a fire.

Here's one of the many cars destroyed...from this:

To this:

John Jackson from NotStock Photography flew up to take aftermath pics, and he's selling prints to raise money for the shop's owner. The bottom picture above is one of the examples.

The pictures are really pretty amazing. They had already cleaned the building and moved the cars around, but he still got some great shots. Check them out, buy them here: Prints to benefit Jason Graham

There is also a Facebook Group set up to help.

I've set up an auction on the HAMB for one of my hot rod scultures...this '32 Ford.

"Warpath" Flathead Indian Bobber

2010-03-11T11:00:00.004-05:00

We've made it to week #29, and this week's bike is way cool. It's a flathead Indian bobber, old school with a leaf spring front end.

You can get in on the bidding fun and games here: Warpath Auction

And check back this week, I should have a couple of more interesting posts!

Here is the Indian:

Steve McQueen's Triumph from "The Great Escape"

2010-03-04T12:35:00.004-05:00

For this week's bike I had asked for suggestions on Brown Dog Welding's Fanpage. The first one I got back was the Triumph that McQueen rode in "The Great Escape," and I thought that was a great idea. I've been told over and over again to see that flick, so last night I finally did. It's definitely a classic for good reason.

Here's a clip of the famous jump, where stuntman Bud Ekins jumps the Triumph over a 6' fence.

And here's my version of the TR6, it's up for bidding now and all proceeds go to charity.

The "knobby" tires are a first, I'm happy with how they look!

Yamaha XS 650 Chopper

2010-02-25T15:17:00.004-05:00

I just put up the bike for week 27, it's this Yamaha bike I call "Spinster."

Get your bids in here: Bike #127 YOTC Auction

Harley "Ironman" Motorcycle Sculpture

2010-02-18T12:24:00.003-05:00

This week's Chopper for Charity was inspired by this '74 Custom Sportster.

"Ironman" is a pretty mean looking piece with the short pipes, ape hangers, and the suicide shifter. Keep up on the bidding here!

And a shot for size perspective(yes, I love sugar)

Another "Hot Rod" Abrams

2010-02-16T15:32:00.004-05:00

A couple weeks back I was asked about doing another tank sculpture. I had done the M1 Abrams a few months ago, and a similar look was what was desired. You can see the first one here.

I changed a few of the lines a little bit, and played around with a different way to raise and lower the barrel. The friction is adjustable, so that it moves stiffly or freely. The turret rotates 360*. Here's the latest "Hot Rod" Abrams:

2010 Harley "Dark Custom" Sportster Forty-Eight Sculpture

2010-02-11T13:16:00.003-05:00

Harley has a wicked new Sporty hitting the pavement soon, and it's called the Forty-Eight. It really caught my eye, so this week's Year of the Chopper is modeled after it. You can check out a few progress pics of the sculpture here(click on the "slideshow" button to watch it in sequence).

The Forty-Eight charity auction started today, and the beginning bid is only $65!

I always try to keep things fresh and interesting with my "product" pics...feel free to let me know what you think! This week my Palm Pre got a co-starring role with the Forty-Eight. Go to Bike #124 Set to see all the pics.

1929 Seagrave Fire Engine, the build and the finished product

2010-02-06T16:35:00.003-05:00

I was recently asked to come up with a sculpture for a retiring firefighter. The piece is based on a 1929 Seagrave. I visited the Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to get some pictures of the truck, which they have on display. It's a pretty interesting place, I definitely would suggest checking it out if you get the chance!

Here is a slideshow of the sculpture's progress

And here are a couple pics of it completed:

1962 Matchless G50

2010-02-04T16:19:00.005-05:00

From 1958 to 1963 only 180 of these 50hp racing motorcycles were built. The only thing rarer than an original Matchless G50 is a BDW Matchless G50 sculpture!

This is the 24th Year of the Chopper motorcycle sculpture auction for charity, it starts today and ends one week from now on 2/11/2010. Get your bids in now!

Matchless G50 sculpture auction.

"Silvertongue Devil" V-Twin Chopper for Charity

2010-02-02T19:30:00.000-05:00

Here is the 23rd YOTC piece, a chopper dubbed "Silvertongue Devil." Check out the auction here. The folks at Lifebuilders and Home Fur-Ever are extremely grateful of your support!

Win Sleepy the Metal Mutt!

2010-02-01T18:30:00.000-05:00

Become a fan of Brown Dog Welding on Facebook, comment on the "Win Sleepy!" album, and you'll be entered to win the nap taking pup. I'm going to do the drawing on Friday of this week.

Two new Harley sculptures, and some cool shop shots

2010-01-27T13:36:00.004-05:00

For the last couple of months I've been doing mostly commissioned work, along with the YOTC bikes. Last week I decided to weld a couple of sculptures for myself, for my store.

Click on any of the pics to get a bigger version and to find more photos.

Th first one is a Panhead, named "Nobody" after Terrance Hill's character in the old spaghetti western "My Name is Nobody." Cool movie to check out if you've never seen it.

You can buy the bike here: Bike #120 "Nobody"

The second one is an Ironhead chopper called "Hustle," available here: Bike #121

And while I was building "Hustle," my buddy Matt got some cool shots...

1969 Harley Davidson XLR Flat Tracker

2010-01-25T18:53:00.002-05:00

Week #22 of the Year of the Chopper project is here, and this week's motorcycle is a '60s flat tracker. Bid on it here for a few more days!

Five Finger Death Punch, YOTC #21

2010-01-19T19:45:00.002-05:00

Bidding ends Thursday, get in now! This is a mean little knucklehead powered Harley bobber.

Petey's Tankcraft Hauler

2010-01-17T18:16:00.004-05:00

This is a piece that was commissioned by a fuel tank manufacturer in Wisconsin. It's actually 4 separate pieces, and the "fuel tank" is stainless steel. It will be engraved with the company's name.

First off, here's Petey the French bulldog astride the fuel tank

The "tow vehicle," a Harley Softail

All together now

A little perspective

And finally some phone pics from during the build

Week #20 is here already.

2010-01-10T18:06:00.003-05:00

Out of the first 19 bike sculptures, 13 have sold through ebay, etsy, Jalopy Journal, and even a raffle! So far the Year of the Chopper project has raised $820 for Home Fur-Ever and Lifebuilders Detroit.

The 20th YOTC is a Panhead called "Elbow Grease." Check out the auction here!

2005 Kawasaki Ninja 650 Race Bike Sculpture

2010-01-07T20:00:00.001-05:00

This is bike #114, it is a commissioned Ninja sculpture. I was just shown how to embed slide shows, so lets try that out today!

The Evil Evo, YOTC #19

2010-01-05T19:57:00.003-05:00

This is an Evolution powered hardtail Sportster with a springer front end, and it's only got a day and a half before bidding is done.

1972 BSA Lightning

2009-12-30T13:02:00.005-05:00

This is the 18th Year of the Chopper sculpture, it's a '72 BSA Lightning. One more day left to bid!

As a reminder, the YOTC bikes that do not sell at auction are available in the Choppers for Charity section in my online store.

The family Christmas gift post.

2009-12-29T13:18:00.004-05:00

The last couple of years, rather than fight the crowds, I've made Christmas presents. This year was no exception, and after the rush of commissioned gifts this year, I set aside a couple of days last week to get my personal gifts done. Many thanks to my wife Darla for her help with ideas!

I come from a large family, so we draw names for gifts. This year I got my brother Seth's name. He's an extremely talented artist, and one of his recurring characters is a killer rabbit.

Check out this vid for an example of his work:

So I did this metal version of his rabbit. It's actually about 20" tall, and it has a hook on the back to hang on a wall.

My wife drew my younger brother Travis, so I made this Tattooed Metal old english D belt buckle for him:

For my mom and Darla's mom, Darla suggested some type of pendant, maybe a heart. So I came up with this simple design:

And then for my sister Amie and brother in law Kris, we came up with the idea of a "stick figure" family made from nuts and bolts...complete with Dakota the mutt!

Shovelhead bobber, Year of the Chopper #17

2009-12-23T12:02:00.002-05:00

I guess it's actually week 18 of the Year of the Chopper project, but I've been behind when I actually blog about the bikes! So this is the motorcycle for week 17, and the auction ends tomorrow(Christmas Eve). I saw Phil Kilburn's Shovelhead in an old issue of Cycle Source that I had in the shop, and that was the inspiration...although I didn't put a springer on it and added the suicide shift.

2009 Ram R/T Sculpture Progress & Finish Shots

2009-12-22T14:43:00.004-05:00

This is my truck:

It's a 2009 Ram R/T, one of the few built before Chrysler's bankruptcy. It's a nice compromise between the quick car that I wanted, and the utilitarian truck that I needed. I can haul my welding bottles and steel around when called upon, and it'll run mid 13s in the 1/4 mile. It's definitely a fun driver.

So I finally decided to do a sculpture of it. I took some liberties, but I'm happy with the result.

I started with the bed. The wheel wells are plasma cut with my Hypertherm Powermax30. Using the plasma is not something I'm as proficient at as I'd like to be, any advice is welcome:)

I put a little "wing" in the tonneau cover

The cab is started with the "tinted window" in place

Farther along on the cab

Front fenders cut

The bed and the cab are two separate pieces, I just push them together for the pics. The hood is starting to take shape

The Ram grill

Front bumper, headlights

Rear bumper, tailgate

The exhaust

The bed and the cab actually bolt together

And the finished Ram R/T

(I torched the metal behind the grill for contrast)

Hellcat Customs Buell Blast drag bike

2009-12-21T22:03:00.004-05:00

This piece was commissioned as a Christmas gift, but some people are no good at keeping secrets! The gig is up, so I've been informed I can share the pics of bike #109, a sculpture of Kelly Roger's Blast.

Motorcycle Sculpture #108, YOTC Week #16

2009-12-16T13:38:00.003-05:00

A Harley Panhead, "McMurphy" is named after the character Jack Nicholson popularized in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Cool, slightly temperamental, and crazy like a fox.

One day left to bid, win this auction and I'll get it shipped out Friday!

Artic Cat Sabercat Snowmobile Sculpture Progression

2009-12-14T13:11:00.003-05:00

Here is another commissioned piece, and some progress shots I got of it...as well as some final pics.

Week 15 of the Year of the Chopper...

2009-12-08T18:34:00.003-05:00

And it's a Harley Softail chopper. Bid for it here until Thursday afternoon!

Thanks to Matt Trombley Photography for the first two pics.

"Flame Hardened", a piece to help Hellcat Customs rebuild

2009-12-07T11:09:00.004-05:00

At the beginning of Novemeber, Kelly Rogers and Jason Sarratt suffered a devastating loss by fire. Working from his dad's garage while his shop, Hellcat Customs, was in the process of relocating, a spark ignited a blaze that destroyed his equipment, his bikes, and the garage.

To help them put things back together, many have folks have united to donated their time, resources, and money. If you are interested in making a monetary contribution, Rob Dale has set up a way to make a direct donation through his blog. Fred Horton and others have been setting up a "Rise from the Ashes" poker run that will take place on December 12th. If you can't make it in person, you can also participate by proxy.

Click on the flier for the full size.

I'm hoping to help out a little bit too. Bike #106, "Flame Hardened", was created to be raffled off at the poker run on the 12th.

"Exhaust Notes from the Underground"

2009-12-01T18:14:00.002-05:00

This is Year of the Chopper bike #14. The name is a nod to my favorite author of all time, and the bike is up for auction now to benefit Home Fur-ever and Lifebuilders Detroit.

Custom Bicycle

2009-11-30T10:58:00.003-05:00

This is a cool little piece I finished up at the end of last week. It's modeled after this custom bike, made for the bike's owner:

Allis Chalmers WD45 from start to finish.

2009-11-26T10:22:00.003-05:00

Here is a sculpture of an old Allis Chalmers that I was commissioned to do.

The rear tires were originally used as spacers under the rear springs of my former whip, The Mother of Violence. I know, she doesn't look violent...but the MoV made Chucky look like a Cabbage Patch doll...

Washers, bolts, and presto! You've got wheels..

A couple of 7/16" allen wrenches make up the rails...

In goes the engine...

I plasma cut the curved shape of the sides out of some scrap sheet metal, and the front grill is discarded tig rod framed by old allen wrenches.

The exhaust stack..

Fenders are on..

And the finished product!

A great Saturday night party , and new YOTC sculpture.

2009-11-23T10:51:00.004-05:00

This weekend we put together a little art viewing/music listening/wine tasting get together at Wine Sync in downtown Mount Clemens. We had a great turnout of friends, family, and supporters, and it looked like a good time was had by all. Darla and Terry performed a very eclectic set of acoustic songs, from Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" and Patty Griffin's "Up to the Mountain" to "Use Somebody" by the Kings of Leon and yes, even Michael Jackson's "Bad"! I'm hoping we can do something similar in the future, and next time I'm going to make sure we get video.

We also raffled off a Chopper for Charity(Bike #100), which raised some money for Lifebuilders Detroit and Home Fur-ever.

This week's motorcycle sculpture is a Harley Ironhead Sportster, it's bike #103 overall and the 13th YOTC bike.

Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic

2009-11-18T13:46:00.000-05:00

Here is a commissioned piece I finished this week. Contact me for info on custom work!

"Point of Impact" Motorcycle Sculpture

2009-11-17T10:06:00.000-05:00

This is the 12th YOTC bike, and the 101st motorcycle sculpture overall that I've done. This Panhead chopper on the auction block for two more days.

The progression of a M1 Abrams tank

2009-11-11T17:04:00.000-05:00

I'd like to thank my family, my friends, and everyone else that have served our country in the United States military.

I can't lie, I didn't do this piece because it is Veteran's Day...but I think it's kind of cool that it turned out that way.

I took some liberties with the tank to give it a "moving forward" look.

The turret rotates 360* and the barrel moves up and down.

Click on the pics for high res versions, and check out the flickr album for a bunch more.

The progression of a Harley

2009-11-10T19:50:00.000-05:00

Last week I made a sculpture of 1991 Harley Custom Softail. I snapped some pics of it with my Palm Pre as I went.

not much yet..

the Evo is in the frame, the tank is on, and the forks are attached..

the rear wheel is on as well as the rest of the frame...

rear fender and seats are in place...

next is the exhaust...

front fender, headlight, handlebars, ballgame.

The finished product:

Bike Number 100, Harley Knucklehead "Nail in the Coffin"

2009-11-09T09:39:00.000-05:00

Year of the Chopper #11 is also the 100th bike over all that I've built. The first 4 were made as gifts 5-6 years ago when I was first learning how to weld. The last 96 have all been made since the beginning of 2008.

This is a Knucklehead powered Harley, and you can bid on it here for 3 more days.

1957 Harley Davidson Panhead

2009-11-03T10:54:00.000-05:00

This is my take on a '57 Harley, with a panhead motor, drag bars and and a sissy bar, and a pretty cool set of pipes. It was "inspired" by this motorcycle, all though I put my own twist on it.

This is the 10th Year of the Chopper bike, and all proceeds from it's sale will go to charity.

1974 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

2009-10-31T10:57:00.000-04:00

This 350 powered FJ is ready to hit the trails.

"Back in Black" Year of the Chopper Number 9

2009-10-27T12:57:00.000-04:00

Bike Number 97 overall, the 9th YOTC sculpture, is bad and it's black.

"Bonny goes Boom" 1971 Triumph Bonneville

2009-10-22T13:52:00.000-04:00

I was looking through the Jockey Journal last week and came across a thread about "raw" bikes, motorcycles left unpainted. There were a couple of cool Triumphs in there that caught my eye, so I built this sculpture.

It is currently available in my store's "Chopper" section.

Supercharged Hemi Model A Sedan

2009-10-20T10:36:00.000-04:00

Model Hey! as I like to call it. It was inspired by this blown hemi A sedan "Mother's Worry", a '30 Ford owned by Jalopy Journal member blown32.

I used some scrap galvanized steel for the body. I ground off most of the coating, especially around the edges that were to be welded, and made sure I had good ventilation when tigging it. I think the different levels of grinding on the galvanized give it a cool look. The front radiator is a piece of stainless pipe cut at an angle. It was from a box of stainless pieces my wife's grandfather had given me, stuff that he used to make belt buckles from. The tank in the front is a piece of broken tooling.

Model Hey! is in my online store HERE!

"WILD WEST", We are in week #8 of the Year of the Chopper

2009-10-15T11:58:00.000-04:00

This week's sculpture wasn't modeled after any specific motorcycle, but the shape was inspired by the stance of a couple of my favorite West Coast Chopper bikes.

Bid now, Bid high, Bid often!!! All proceeds for 2 great non-profits!

Cornhash and Plato

2009-10-14T12:58:00.000-04:00

Just a few shots of these guys that I put together yesterday.

Cornhash was made with a socket, some nuts and bolts and washers, and a piece of roller chain.

Plato is built from nuts, bolts, roller chain, and a steel ball out of a bearing.

They will both be in my Etsy store soon!

Choppers for Charity

2009-10-12T13:55:00.000-04:00

We are now auctioning off the 7th Year of the Chopper sculpture. Out of the first 6, 4 of them sold. Rather than re-listing the non-selling bikes on Ebay, I have started a new section, "Choppers for Charity" in my online store. The bikes that make it here will be listed as I would normally list one of my sculptures, at a price more typical of what I would normally sell one for. All proceeds with STILL go to Lifebuilders and Home Fur-Ever!

Right now "Slipstream" and "Smoke" are listed in my store.

YOTC Week #7 "Halftime" Bobber

2009-10-09T08:41:00.000-04:00

The 7th Year of the Chopper sculpture is now listed here!

"Halftime" is a single cylinder bobber with a one side dual exhaust.

Slipstream, Year of the Chopper #6

2009-10-05T19:34:00.000-04:00

For your bidding pleasure I give you Slipstream, my efforts for the sixth week of this project.

Bid on it HERE

It's raining cats and....ok, no cats, just dogs.

2009-10-01T18:17:00.000-04:00

Today the fifth Year of the Chopper Bike sold, and later on tonight I will have the 6th bike up for bidding. Here is a sneak peak from my phone....it will be one of these:

I did some more metal mutts this week, including some cool boxers for Erika and her boyfriend David Lozeau, a west coast artist. Do yourself a favor and check out his work, it's really, really dope. www.davidlozeau.com

Here are their boxers, Papi and Guapo

And a few other pups:

Dyson

Picasso and Jet

Blaze and Jughead

A variation on a theme, another 1948 Harley Davidson FL Chopper

2009-09-28T16:25:00.000-04:00

This is the 5th Year of the Chopper bike, a sleek Panhead chopper I call "Top Chef." This was originally going to be what "Jungle Jockey" became, but as I did the front forks and sat them to the frame I decided to go a different direction. It's got a laid back look with the bigger rake and swept back handlebars. I think the carriage bolts work well for the heads, and the slash cut exhaust looks killer!

Bid on "Top Chef" now!

One take on a '48 panhead

2009-09-25T13:57:00.000-04:00

"Jungle Jockey" is a chopper based on a 1948 Harley Davidson FL, it's a panhead powered bike with ape hangers and a jockey shifter. I'm pretty stoked with how the exhaust turned out too!

More pictures here!

The same....but better

2009-09-24T09:27:00.000-04:00

The 4th Year of the Chopper auction ends today, bid now and you could get a sweet deal AND help two very deserving non-profits!

Here are some more pics of the '41 Indian, taken by Izthistaken.

1933 Ford Hot Rod "Fear Factor"

2009-09-21T12:37:00.000-04:00

My buddy Kenny and I went on the Hot Rod Power Tour this year, and one of the sponsors was Factory Five Racing. The car that really jumped out at me was their '33 Hot Rod, a ride with the classic look of an old school Ford, but with the chassis of a track star. I've been meaning to do this piece for a while, and when November's issue of HOT ROD showed up and the '33 was on the cover, it was the kick in the butt I needed!

Oh, yeah....it's got a removable hard top too!

The big block:

The Monster can for size perspective:

Click here to see this car listed in my online store.

YOTC #4, 1941 Indian Flathead Bobber

2009-09-18T12:01:00.000-04:00

I decided to do an Indian for this bike, and while searching for inspiration I came across this at Indian-Bobbers.com .

So here is my version, dubbed "Smoke":

Bid on this bike now! Year of the Chopper #4 Auction

This One is All Locked Up

2009-09-15T20:35:00.000-04:00

At the end of last week I was getting the itch to make a hot rod, so I scratched it.

I've had this old Masterlock laying around forever. I've tried to make it fit in various projects, and it just never quite felt right. It finally found it's home as the radiator for Lockdown.

These pics were taken by Matt, check out more of his work!

"Strength & Beauty", a metal bra for a cause!

2009-09-14T16:42:00.000-04:00

A couple of months ago, our friend(and cancer survivor) Catie Hormel asked my wife if I could make an "art bra" for the Bras for a Cause benefit. Darla obviously thought this was a great idea, and she was certain I'd come up with something terrific...I wasn't quite as positive. Actually, I was pretty skeptical at the start of the project. But I couldn't be happier with the end result! The event was Saturday night, and through a silent auction "Strength & Beauty" raised $400 for Gilda's Club Metro Detroit.

Buckle Up!

2009-09-12T10:25:00.000-04:00

Tattooed Metal. The torch is my gun, rod is my ink, steel is my skin. Tig welded designs on 304 stainless. Every part of the buckle is formed by me.

Shovelhead Sportster

2009-09-10T20:17:00.000-04:00

This is the third week, the third build, and the third auction of the Year of the Chopper project! It's Harley Sportster with a shovelhead. Bid on it HERE!

Hot New Shots

2009-09-07T11:51:00.000-04:00

My good friend and photographer Matt Trombley came over and got some dope pictures of my last few projects this weekend. You can click on the pics to go to where they are hosted on my Flickr gallery, and there you can enlarge them to their original high resolution.

The second Year of the Chopper bike:

The '73 Honda Cafe Racer:

And Alien Robot with Robot Dog:

The Dog Pound

2009-09-04T16:41:00.000-04:00

I was out in the shop on Wednesday and didn't feel like getting involved in a long project, so I decided to build some metal mutts. Each one is different, and I try to give them each their own personality. Naming them is harder than welding them together!

1973 Honda CB450 Cafe Racer

2009-09-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

This is bike #85, a commissioned piece based on a '73 Honda cafe racer. With bikes like this, or the Yamaha chopper, this Harley , and this Triumph chopper , it's always tricky to set up the exhaust so that both sides are even and symmetrical.

Harley Knucklehead Bobber

2009-08-31T12:44:00.000-04:00

Wow, I hadn't ebayed in quite some time....man do they kick your tail with fees! The first Year of the Chopper bike is sold, and the second bike is up for bidding!

Alien Robot loves Robot Dog

2009-08-29T11:36:00.000-04:00

These pics are pretty self explanatory. Alien Robot meets Robot Dog, Alien Robot falls in love with Robot Dog.

This duo is up for adoption here:BDW Etsy store.

Alien Robot is made out of roller chain, a bearing, a sparkplug, a wingnut, a couple allen wrenches, some washers, and a couple nuts. It's about 6" tall, 4" wide, and it swivels in the middle.

Robot Dog is born from a 5/8" half inch drive socket, some bolts, a few lock washers, a ball out of a ball bearing, some nuts, and a clevise. It's 2 3/4" tall, 3" long, and 2" wide.

Alaska Mission Bicycle

2009-08-26T19:48:00.000-04:00

My wife's cousin Jesse Boyd is a missionary who is currently biking his way to northern Alaska. To commemorate the trip, I was asked to build two sculptures of his bike.

Take a look at his website for some amazing pictures and crazy stories!

More pictures here:Jesse's Bike

The First Auction Bike!

2009-08-24T09:41:00.000-04:00

"Number One with a Bullet" is bike # 83 overall, and the first bike in the "Year of the Chopper" collection. It's kind of an old school/new school mix, with a panhead motor on a rigid frame with a nice rake.

Check out the auction here, and bid knowing that all proceeds are going to good causes! "Number One with a Bullet" Auction

Nuts, bolts, tubing, pipes, screws, bar stock, and even a rod bearing out of a LS1 motor were used to put this bad boy together. I tig welded every part of if, then cleaned and clear coated it for corrosion protection.

For more pics of this bike, click HERE.

Photos by Matt Trombley

I'm on a boat.

2009-08-23T19:05:00.000-04:00

The last couple of days I spent most of my time working on a commissioned piece, a Sabre 38 Express yacht. It took me a bit longer to finish that I was hoping, but I think the result was worth it! Let me know what you think. More pics are here: Sabre Flickr Set.

Look for more on the initial bike sculpture auction tomorrow!!!

Figuring out the Details

2009-08-21T21:38:00.000-04:00

I'm working out the plans for the auction, trying to figure out the rammifications of doing a sale where 100% of the proceeds go to charity. I've heard less than glowing reviews of Ebay's charity auctions. For right now, I think I'm going to do a straight up regular Ebay auction. I'll still have documentation from the benefiting non-profits, so everyone will know it's on the up and up. I'm thinking about adding a PayPal button for donations that can be earmarked for Home Fur-Ever and Lifebuilders Detroit.

Today I built the first bike to be sold. I need to finish clear coating it, but I'm excited about how it turned out! It's panhead powered rigid chopper with a pretty decent rake. My friend and photographer Matt Trombley stopped by to get some pics today, they will be up soon!!!

The Beginning

2009-08-19T13:19:00.000-04:00

Well, here it is. Over the next 52 weeks I'm going to build one bike per week that will be sold or auctioned off to benefit two non-profit organizations that are important to me: Lifebuilders and Home Fur-Ever.

First off, a little bit about me. My name is Josh and, along with my wife Darla and dog Woodson, I started Brown Dog Welding last year. I'm a former "Big Three" employee, having spent 6 years as a millwright and maintenance welder for Chrysler. The unprecedented economic events of the last couple of years have forced some difficult personal decisions for a lot of people, and my wife and I are no different. I officially left Chrysler in May, and I'm now putting all my energy into BDW. Attempting to build a lasting business and a brand in the worst economy since the Great Depression is a daunting task, but one that seems a little less "pipe dream" and a little more possible every day.

Now for the inspiration. While Detroit's(and the entire country's, for that matter) hardships have had an effect on us all, none have been hit harder that those that depend on the generosity of others to survive. Those in need are "needier" than ever, but the organizations that offer that support are getting less support themselves. My hope is that I can give some financial aid to Lifebuilders and Home Fur-Ever, and at the same time increase awareness for my business and what I do.

So every week for the next year I will build one bike sculpture specifically to sell or auction off for one of these two organizations, with 100% of the proceeds going to them. I'll also be posting stories, musings, pictures of the bikes(obviously!) and other things I do, links to things that I dig, and so on and so forth.

The bike sculptures I do are one-off creations, each one is numbered, named, and signed. No two bikes are ever alike, and I will NEVER mass produce my work! The very first "Year of the Chopper" bike I do will be bike number 83.

Here are some pics of previous bikes.