jordan is here tinkering with is IMS build - the cb750a. he just keeps creating new little things for it. that means, of course, dave continues to have more powder coating to do. but he's actually making lots of things for this bike rather than buying them. and some parts he's just finding laying around skidmark and customizing them.
sean is also here working on his triumph. it's monday. he's always here on monday and friday. -although this weekend he was also here on saturday, which is out of the ordinary. he doesn't have too much left.
i installed one more radiant heater over the lounge, aimed at the bar. piped it, but am missing one 90 degree elbow to complete it. then i'll do the pseudo wiring to get some heat in there for a while before i hardwire all the heaters. having the heat takes priority over the many hours of scavenging wire and conduit to reuse to hardwire all that shit.
i can't go get the elbow today because the truck broke down last night. apparently, the fuel pump took a dump. died on 77, coasted onto grant ave, got a tow to flash from a kind gentleman that happened to be at the bp and needed a few extra bucks.
so i should get it back tomorrow, buy and install the elbow, and then hopefully get the other gas valve that i fried so i can install the last heater (also over the lounge). this shit needs to be up and running well by the IMS show because that after-party is happening here that friday night.
making the powerpoint thing and laying out my talking points right now. molly is working on a flier to pass out at the ims show. wilson is updating the website with new pics.
i toyed with the idea of raising my rates, but was talked out of it. when i discuss my rates with people, they almost always say i need to charge more. accountants, members, non members, riders, non riders... they all say the same thing. since it's getting tougher and tougher to stay in business, and the price has seemingly nothing to do with the amount of members i have, i figured it couldn't hurt. but my two most trusted advisors both said i am crazy. so i'm keeping my current rates for a while. maybe once people are beating down my doors i'll raise them. maybe not...
brought in another possible welding instructor, today. he comes from a long line of welders in the cleveland area. he should be an asset. getting ready to talk with all 3 instructors, figure out who has what dates, who can be a back-up, and starting to get people registered.
craig rodsmith has been getting TONS of attention, lately. he's fucking killing it! he, justin webster, and josh allison are all beating serious motorcycle ass. can't believe i met all those dudes. i hope i get to see rodsmith's place when we go to the mama tried show. that silly tv show did nothing else but introduce me to some rad builders, and they've all been very kind to me.
the mutt is turning 12 on wednesday. freaks me out. when she goes, i'm gonna have a rough go of life for a while. not looking forward to it. and not getting another dog if i can help it.
Monday, January 8, 2018
Saturday, January 6, 2018
dude. it's cold. some poor fellow from minnesota came in for some hourly membership time to fix the drive shaft on his truck as he was passing through from the east coast. dave nolan was here to help him along. as sick as he is, he laid on his back in the snow to help this guy for about 30 minutes. nolan never ceases to amaze me.
marty and his son, jordan, came in last night as i was leaving to split the case on their quad. they brought pizza, got online, and had at it. i had to order some special tools for them to do their job, but i was only too happy to buy that stuff just to see a kid and his dad working on shit together.
thomas is back. he's replacing the rings on his pistons. after a rush song played, nolan had some unpleasantries to share with us about rush. thomas was possibly as offended as i was being a maple head and all.
jt was here and really got his seat cowl looking killer. more banging with the hammer on the angle iron i welded to the table. can't believe how good it looks.
sean was in playing with the battery box thing he's making for his triumph chopper. he'll be back monday. today was a surprise visit. he's generally a friday and monday guy.
dave smith came by to have a beer and kill time before an appt.
the heat is working well in here. most of the area that people are working in is above 50 degrees. can't wait to see the bill...
marty and his son, jordan, came in last night as i was leaving to split the case on their quad. they brought pizza, got online, and had at it. i had to order some special tools for them to do their job, but i was only too happy to buy that stuff just to see a kid and his dad working on shit together.
thomas is back. he's replacing the rings on his pistons. after a rush song played, nolan had some unpleasantries to share with us about rush. thomas was possibly as offended as i was being a maple head and all.
jt was here and really got his seat cowl looking killer. more banging with the hammer on the angle iron i welded to the table. can't believe how good it looks.
sean was in playing with the battery box thing he's making for his triumph chopper. he'll be back monday. today was a surprise visit. he's generally a friday and monday guy.
dave smith came by to have a beer and kill time before an appt.
the heat is working well in here. most of the area that people are working in is above 50 degrees. can't wait to see the bill...
Friday, January 5, 2018
it's 8 outside. it's 50 inside skidmark garage. there's no way that would be possible without the help of one dave nolan and his ridiculously kind donations in the form of two reznor heaters. sadly, that fucker is a little bit under the weather and hasn't been in all week.
jt is here banging away on his seat cowl. i "tack welded" some angle iron onto the sweet welding table that jim mcnaughton and mark adams built for the garage. it was the first weld i've ever tried. the angle irons are in place! i banged on them with a hammer and they didn't budge. of course, i did more than tack...i ran a few inches of a bead on both sides because the little tack didn't seem like it did shit. they're bad. they look like i was standing on a bar of soap as i ran the bead.
sean harris was in a few times this morning and afternoon. he ran to bcf and talked with larry and came back to screw around some more.
jada came in an hour late and worked her shift. place always looks better after she's been here.
thomas was in last night. he and mark worked on his stuck bolt till pretty late. eventually, they had to drill it out and tap the hole. can't believe it came to that. what a pain. but thomas just takes it all in stride. nothing rattles that dude. he rules.
poison just got played on pandora. i'm disgusted. i gotta scroll through that in a minute and give that shit a fat thumb's down. at least tom waits is playing, now. skidmark is redeemed.
gotta bail early today. spent most of the day trying to configure the security cameras. still have more to do. but i got some of the time consuming tedious shit out of the way.
gotta send out the invites for the IMS after party.
jt is here banging away on his seat cowl. i "tack welded" some angle iron onto the sweet welding table that jim mcnaughton and mark adams built for the garage. it was the first weld i've ever tried. the angle irons are in place! i banged on them with a hammer and they didn't budge. of course, i did more than tack...i ran a few inches of a bead on both sides because the little tack didn't seem like it did shit. they're bad. they look like i was standing on a bar of soap as i ran the bead.
sean harris was in a few times this morning and afternoon. he ran to bcf and talked with larry and came back to screw around some more.
jada came in an hour late and worked her shift. place always looks better after she's been here.
thomas was in last night. he and mark worked on his stuck bolt till pretty late. eventually, they had to drill it out and tap the hole. can't believe it came to that. what a pain. but thomas just takes it all in stride. nothing rattles that dude. he rules.
poison just got played on pandora. i'm disgusted. i gotta scroll through that in a minute and give that shit a fat thumb's down. at least tom waits is playing, now. skidmark is redeemed.
gotta bail early today. spent most of the day trying to configure the security cameras. still have more to do. but i got some of the time consuming tedious shit out of the way.
gotta send out the invites for the IMS after party.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
bought the lower anvils for the english wheel at eastwood, today. $150. it seems more and more skidmark members wanna try it out. jt spends a fair amount of time watching a guy named lazze on youtube. this dude is a madman. it's really inspiring to watch this guy manipulate aluminum. jt is super pumped about making a bunch of shit for his harley.
thomas is in at the moment. the engine on his kz550 is apart, but the lower half is still in the frame. he decided to refresh all his gaskets as he had some seepage all summer. he removed all the gaskets with one of those sweet scotchbrite pads that go on the electric drill. those things make such short work of stubborn gaskets. but he did break a bolt when he was taking the cylinders off and spent the last few hours dealing with it. it's been soaking in penetrating oil for a week. he heated it, banged it, soaked it, banged it... eventually he put the head on the drill press and slowly drilled it out. now he's gonna tap it. i think he'll have to helicoil it...but i dunno.
mark got his ohio license and plates for his truck today. changing his california plates, he admitted, was surprisingly emotional. i couldn't help but laugh...even though i totally understood what he was going through.
all the heaters that are hanging are running. i hope to have two more heaters up above the lounge by monday. we'll see. putting enough rubles together these days is tough. not sure how smart my english wheel anvils purchase was.
jt said he has friends that wanna come in and join. man i hope that happens. so need a few more members.
getting down to 2, tonight. i think i'm gonna be ok as far as pipes go. the air compressor that was squeaking like crazy was due to belts being...what?...too tight? i sprayed some penetrating oil in there and it fixed it immediately. crazy. and lucky.
wheeler stopped in today for the first time in a week or two. good to see him. i love getting him on a roll about something. he cracks me up.
fucking pj stopped in and worked on his savage, today! couldn't believe it. haven't seem him work in here in a while. his job has kept him away. we moved his bike from the bay by the shitter over to bay number 8. as soon as we started rolling it over, he got the itch to start fucking with it. it was really good to have him back.
thomas is in at the moment. the engine on his kz550 is apart, but the lower half is still in the frame. he decided to refresh all his gaskets as he had some seepage all summer. he removed all the gaskets with one of those sweet scotchbrite pads that go on the electric drill. those things make such short work of stubborn gaskets. but he did break a bolt when he was taking the cylinders off and spent the last few hours dealing with it. it's been soaking in penetrating oil for a week. he heated it, banged it, soaked it, banged it... eventually he put the head on the drill press and slowly drilled it out. now he's gonna tap it. i think he'll have to helicoil it...but i dunno.
mark got his ohio license and plates for his truck today. changing his california plates, he admitted, was surprisingly emotional. i couldn't help but laugh...even though i totally understood what he was going through.
all the heaters that are hanging are running. i hope to have two more heaters up above the lounge by monday. we'll see. putting enough rubles together these days is tough. not sure how smart my english wheel anvils purchase was.
jt said he has friends that wanna come in and join. man i hope that happens. so need a few more members.
getting down to 2, tonight. i think i'm gonna be ok as far as pipes go. the air compressor that was squeaking like crazy was due to belts being...what?...too tight? i sprayed some penetrating oil in there and it fixed it immediately. crazy. and lucky.
wheeler stopped in today for the first time in a week or two. good to see him. i love getting him on a roll about something. he cracks me up.
fucking pj stopped in and worked on his savage, today! couldn't believe it. haven't seem him work in here in a while. his job has kept him away. we moved his bike from the bay by the shitter over to bay number 8. as soon as we started rolling it over, he got the itch to start fucking with it. it was really good to have him back.
thursday the fourth of january. it's biting cold outside. getting down to about 2 today and not looking good for the next few days. i haven't turned my heat off in about a week. i just installed another reznor last night. this place is bearable. still need to wear a sweat shirt, though. i'm not shooting for shorts and t-shirts. who the hell has money for that kind of heat...
jordan is plugging away at his ims show build. he still fabricates new things here and there this late in the game. it's pretty impressive to watch him just figure shit out. he made his own seat, yesterday. he's not thrilled with it, so he's just gonna make another i guess.
jt was here helping him and learning from him last night, too.
i am picking up new english wheel anvils from eastwood today, speaking of jt. kuzma came in here last weekend and we played around with the english wheel for a few hours. we beat the metal with the hammers on the sandbags, ran it through the wheel, used the press brake, ran it through the planishing hammer...it was REALLY fun. rather addicting. jt said he's gonna get his hands on a bunch of scrap metal sheets. i can't wait to play around with that thing some more. would love to make a fender or something simple.
it'd be rad to have a class where the attendees got to use and get an intro lesson on: the tube bender, the hammer and bag, the press brake, the english wheel, the planishing hammer, the plasma cutter, and a welder. there'd be no mastering of anything, rather everyone gets a taste of how each functions. and in the end, something is created from that bent tube and manipulated metal sheet. maybe during fuel?!
still in need of some more memberships here. now that i only have two more heaters to hang, i can start to get my head around ebay-ing some parts to make a few extra bucks.
security system is up and running and watchable from my phone. it's so rad. two cameras outside that are totally functioning in this cold and six inside. i can see everything. and the motion detection is incredible.
jordan is plugging away at his ims show build. he still fabricates new things here and there this late in the game. it's pretty impressive to watch him just figure shit out. he made his own seat, yesterday. he's not thrilled with it, so he's just gonna make another i guess.
jt was here helping him and learning from him last night, too.
i am picking up new english wheel anvils from eastwood today, speaking of jt. kuzma came in here last weekend and we played around with the english wheel for a few hours. we beat the metal with the hammers on the sandbags, ran it through the wheel, used the press brake, ran it through the planishing hammer...it was REALLY fun. rather addicting. jt said he's gonna get his hands on a bunch of scrap metal sheets. i can't wait to play around with that thing some more. would love to make a fender or something simple.
it'd be rad to have a class where the attendees got to use and get an intro lesson on: the tube bender, the hammer and bag, the press brake, the english wheel, the planishing hammer, the plasma cutter, and a welder. there'd be no mastering of anything, rather everyone gets a taste of how each functions. and in the end, something is created from that bent tube and manipulated metal sheet. maybe during fuel?!
still in need of some more memberships here. now that i only have two more heaters to hang, i can start to get my head around ebay-ing some parts to make a few extra bucks.
security system is up and running and watchable from my phone. it's so rad. two cameras outside that are totally functioning in this cold and six inside. i can see everything. and the motion detection is incredible.
it's christmas eve eve. people have vacated. my security system is finally about 90% good. i have a few more tweaks, but it's RAD. i can watch all 8 cameras on my phone. and the motion detection is adjustable...so cool. i like seeing what's going on outside.
jt was in most of the day shaping the seat cowl for his harley with the planishing hammer and body hammers. dave smith came in and gave him some helpful hints. i can't believe how gung-ho jt is, man. it's so cool to watch him learning all this shit. it's inspiring. i'd like to someday have a class here. it'd be tough with only one english wheel and one planishing hammer, but i think it could still happen.
still need to run a gas line to the smaller reznor and wire it up. but tim and i vented it. i have a leak on the large reznor so i have to take that gas line apart AGAIN. fuck. that needs hard-wired, too. then i need to put on or two up in the lounge and i'll be done with fucking heating shit. what a pain. i should have started this process a month before i did, though. typical procrastinator...
alex from psi came in for a bit yesterday. i can't wait for him to get working on his water buffalo. i think dave will be painting it, too. it should be interesting to see how much alex gets done being that he is a talker. great dude, great teacher, wealth of knowledge...but he always wants to teach. i'm thinking that will impede his progress on his water buffalo. we'll see. it's gonna be rad.
muhktar said he's gonna start coming in to work on his bike that's been in storage for a few months. should be good to have some fresh blood in here to mix it up a bit.
jt's buddy have me a neon miller high life sign last week. it makes the bar look REALLY cool. can't believe i actually own one. i've always wanted a neon beer sign. hasn't every man?
mark has been working up in AO more than he works down here. it's warmer up there. i can't blame him. it's quieter and a better environment for getting computer work done. but it's weird not having him here 24/7.
i'm not coming back here till the 26th. gonna be strange. but probably good. i don't know how, but they say it'll be good to be away for a few days. sounds like bullshit to me.
jt was in most of the day shaping the seat cowl for his harley with the planishing hammer and body hammers. dave smith came in and gave him some helpful hints. i can't believe how gung-ho jt is, man. it's so cool to watch him learning all this shit. it's inspiring. i'd like to someday have a class here. it'd be tough with only one english wheel and one planishing hammer, but i think it could still happen.
still need to run a gas line to the smaller reznor and wire it up. but tim and i vented it. i have a leak on the large reznor so i have to take that gas line apart AGAIN. fuck. that needs hard-wired, too. then i need to put on or two up in the lounge and i'll be done with fucking heating shit. what a pain. i should have started this process a month before i did, though. typical procrastinator...
alex from psi came in for a bit yesterday. i can't wait for him to get working on his water buffalo. i think dave will be painting it, too. it should be interesting to see how much alex gets done being that he is a talker. great dude, great teacher, wealth of knowledge...but he always wants to teach. i'm thinking that will impede his progress on his water buffalo. we'll see. it's gonna be rad.
muhktar said he's gonna start coming in to work on his bike that's been in storage for a few months. should be good to have some fresh blood in here to mix it up a bit.
jt's buddy have me a neon miller high life sign last week. it makes the bar look REALLY cool. can't believe i actually own one. i've always wanted a neon beer sign. hasn't every man?
mark has been working up in AO more than he works down here. it's warmer up there. i can't blame him. it's quieter and a better environment for getting computer work done. but it's weird not having him here 24/7.
i'm not coming back here till the 26th. gonna be strange. but probably good. i don't know how, but they say it'll be good to be away for a few days. sounds like bullshit to me.
was on a podcast yesterday with progressive pat jansen. he asked some good questions and really seemed to have a grasp on exactly what a cmg is and how it functions. kinda refreshing to field questions from someone that actually gets it.
dave nolan finally made his way back into the garage, today. so good to see that guy. all he wanted to do today was help around the garage. he was in a great mood. stank the place up with his cigars and made me laugh all day.
tim came in and we cut a hole in the roof to vent out one of the reznor heaters that dave so graciously donated. what a fuckin project... i knew i was putting it off for a reason. thank zeus tim was around to see the task through. now i just gotta wire it up and run gas to it.
we started to do the same to the other reznor, and tim smelled gas. he found a tiny leak. this is one of the pipes that jim and i wrestled with for an hour or two trying to eliminate the many leaks. fact is...i just suck at running pipe. can't wait to take that damned thing all apart again and get pipe dope all over my clothes and hands. it washes off SO easily!
trying to plan more welding classes for 2018. hope to have one a month on a solid schedule.
marc bouchet left for chicago today. he took his 71 bmw with him. this is the 2nd or 3rd time he's left cleveland for home. hope he comes back to at least visit. hopefully he shows up on his bike this summer. that thing needs to run. it's just too cool.
jordan continues to plug away at his ims show bike. he's made some parts with the english wheel, welded a bunch of stuff, powder coated and painted a bunch of things... i'm excited to see what it'll look like when he's all done.
kevin dunworth, of loaded gun customs, had a gnarly flat track wreck recently. -not as bad as greg boyd's crash, but bad none-the-less. he's apparently needing some help with making ends meet cuz he's selling his builds and rides and trying his damnedest to keep his head up. not much i can do for the guy but offer kind words. i'd like to go visit him, though. maybe i'll see him at mama tried or something.
al came in today to fuck around with his wing a little and dropped off 6 haynes manuals and a clock with the skidmark garage script on it! what a guy. fucking love that kind of spirit in here.
so thrilled with how the culture of this garage has grown. it's EXACTLY as i always hoped it'd be. everyone contributes, everyone is kind to one another, everyone is accepted, nobody is douchey... i love to hear about members contacting each other outside the garage to hang out or ride together. i wish the success of the culture had a direct and immediate relationship with being able to pay the bills, though. that's a continual challenge. if it wasn't for bear at old bike barn and his corporate sponsorship, i don't know how i'd be making ends meet. he stepped in at the 12th hour and saved my ass.
i gotta start spending time putting parts on ebay. it's gonna bring in that extra one or two hundred bucks a month that will REALLY help, right now. short of gaining another few members super fast, it's the fastest way to get a few bucks. but there's still so much infrastructure to deal with, that i just can't dedicate the time. will the upgrades and building maintenance ever fucking stop?
dave nolan finally made his way back into the garage, today. so good to see that guy. all he wanted to do today was help around the garage. he was in a great mood. stank the place up with his cigars and made me laugh all day.
tim came in and we cut a hole in the roof to vent out one of the reznor heaters that dave so graciously donated. what a fuckin project... i knew i was putting it off for a reason. thank zeus tim was around to see the task through. now i just gotta wire it up and run gas to it.
we started to do the same to the other reznor, and tim smelled gas. he found a tiny leak. this is one of the pipes that jim and i wrestled with for an hour or two trying to eliminate the many leaks. fact is...i just suck at running pipe. can't wait to take that damned thing all apart again and get pipe dope all over my clothes and hands. it washes off SO easily!
trying to plan more welding classes for 2018. hope to have one a month on a solid schedule.
marc bouchet left for chicago today. he took his 71 bmw with him. this is the 2nd or 3rd time he's left cleveland for home. hope he comes back to at least visit. hopefully he shows up on his bike this summer. that thing needs to run. it's just too cool.
jordan continues to plug away at his ims show bike. he's made some parts with the english wheel, welded a bunch of stuff, powder coated and painted a bunch of things... i'm excited to see what it'll look like when he's all done.
kevin dunworth, of loaded gun customs, had a gnarly flat track wreck recently. -not as bad as greg boyd's crash, but bad none-the-less. he's apparently needing some help with making ends meet cuz he's selling his builds and rides and trying his damnedest to keep his head up. not much i can do for the guy but offer kind words. i'd like to go visit him, though. maybe i'll see him at mama tried or something.
al came in today to fuck around with his wing a little and dropped off 6 haynes manuals and a clock with the skidmark garage script on it! what a guy. fucking love that kind of spirit in here.
so thrilled with how the culture of this garage has grown. it's EXACTLY as i always hoped it'd be. everyone contributes, everyone is kind to one another, everyone is accepted, nobody is douchey... i love to hear about members contacting each other outside the garage to hang out or ride together. i wish the success of the culture had a direct and immediate relationship with being able to pay the bills, though. that's a continual challenge. if it wasn't for bear at old bike barn and his corporate sponsorship, i don't know how i'd be making ends meet. he stepped in at the 12th hour and saved my ass.
i gotta start spending time putting parts on ebay. it's gonna bring in that extra one or two hundred bucks a month that will REALLY help, right now. short of gaining another few members super fast, it's the fastest way to get a few bucks. but there's still so much infrastructure to deal with, that i just can't dedicate the time. will the upgrades and building maintenance ever fucking stop?
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