Bench Update

Yeah, kinda busy lately, but finally started back in on the bench. Primered, wetsanded, Montana Gold Vivid Blue, wetsanded, Red Orange flames, just wetsanded and need to get more tape and masking for the final 'mango' flames. So far so good, I'm fairly happy with it, I have new respect for the REAL painters out there. Masking, taping, sheesh that takes TIME......

New Shoes and Clutch Purse for a friend

So, here's another pair of shoes and purse ready for any event. The green stripes are hard to see but I lightened the paint with white to give a very slight color change. These thin lines are pretty darn tough and will probably wait until I get some proper scrolling brushes to do much more work this fine. Learning every day.

Random Pictures

Just some pictures - My motorcycle and my dog, that's all you'll see of me. That sign was in lower Manhattan.....hilarious. How do cops enforce THAT ONE????

Custom Mtn Bike Handlebars

I've been messing around with 'back twisting' steel in a welding class. Decided to try round stock, but using three smaller diameter rods. Turns out pretty cool, but I have to quench between heat cycles or it untwists itself. Had a spare piece sitting around and thought 'huh, this would make a pretty cool cross member for my townie bike (A baby blue Kona Huhunukunuku apua'a single speed - killer ride). So, I used my new favorite tool, a handheld band saw, cut the tube cross member out, split the sides, spread them, stuffed in the twisted stock, welded the seams and there it is. I wirewheeled the black powder coating off and sprayed some gloss clear heavy duty Rustoleum on there.

AAarrrggghhhh......no rationing here....

I peeled the back label off this bottle of Sailor Jerry rum (one of his sailor girl drawings was on it and it was quickly laid onto my tiki bar.....another project) so I could stripe the back. I gave this to my (now ex) boss for a trip up to Alaska. He's a big fan of MaiTai's and this rum would work nicely. It's hard to see the black stripes here and this was about the fourth thing I tried to stripe after picking my brushes back up after a year. I learned to roll the brush along a round surface and to keep the brush full of paint.

Another gardening bit, the watering can

Had this sitting around and just couldn't resist putting some lines down. Used the 'process blue' One-Shot and added a little white to get the baby blue. I think the sunflowers like it.

Did you get the memo about the TPS Reports?

One of my co-workers needed some special attention to keep her stuff from 'walking off'. Seems she couldn't keep track of her tape dispenser. I also did some work on a few clipboards. The flame job came out pretty darn nice and made a great gift for a friend who really shouldn't be with us anymore after a horrific motorcycle accident. He's doing great and I had a nice chat with him the other day. The spiderweb clipboard didn't work like it was supposed to. I had black black primer on the back with the black One-Shot. Well, after putting on a coat of (supposedly) "flat" clearcoat, it came out 'semi-gloss'. Oh well. live and learn, hey??

My 'living room' bench

Another 'found' object that made it's way to a new home and a little extra attention. This is a work in progress, but aren't we all. I added the spiderweb 'gussets' in the frame then sent it to my friend Quitin at Advanced Powder Coating. The boys there never fail me. I nice low gloss black powdercoat adds a nice touch. I've reglassed the soft spots on the bench, added some plastic filler and smoothed it out. It's ready for rattlecan primer. I've decided to use some graffiti artist paint that I found (Montana Gold) for the final layers of paint. Yeah, it will be a flame job, but colors choices are still not set.
Just did some final prepping for colors, got some primer sprayed on, filled some small cracks, and wetsanded the whole thing. Hope to get a colors chosen soon, tough decision.

A 'keeper' - My vintage cooler

Found this little gem at a garage sale. A little Simple Green, some scotchbrite, few coats of Rustoleum flat clear and on go the stripes.......I'm thinking that the line thickness is needing some work, but what's a beginner to do??? It's mine, so that's that.

Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.......

So, as tricky as it was, I think my first pair of pumps turned out pretty good. At least the wearer is happy, which is all that matters, hey?!?! This project taught me t hat I need to pick up some Virus brushes for the really small, tight work. The Mack 10's that I'm using and have cut down are just to big for such small work.

Striping a work trailer

This is starting back at striping again, taking some tips and just striping everything and anything I can. As I said above, I'm working on a vintage cooler, doing a friends shoes, already have two other friends lined up for a truck and boat motor, so it's going to be a busy fall!!!

Secret Hill Rd

BurpeeHillRd, originally uploaded by tonupyank.

almost tipped over......great little road that twistes and dips and is a nice little stretch.

Custom Wheelbarrow for friend...

For the gardener that likes to grow Scotch Bonnets, Jalapeno's, Ancho's and Chipotle's, here is the hot rod wheel barrow. Turned out pretty good I think for first time masking, fading and using the Mack brushes again. There are a few 'in process' pictures. Some of the flame work was covered up by the handles, but it's all good. Working on a vintage cola cooler for myself right now. Have in 'process' pictures of that too.