American Chopper Observations

I'm not making a dig at the skill level of plumbers, I've been in equipment rooms with miles of beautifull and skillfully done copper pipe, from real small up to 6" and I can just stand there and admire the craftmanship. I don't have any interest in soldering and brasing and sweating but I get a kick out of watching real skilled hands at work. I was only pointing out that the steamfitters and pipefitters of the world don't care to be lumped in with the plumbers, it's a hangup they have .

Ho! Ho! Ho! JTMcC.

However, I don't think most of America has

I've got to agree about the level of public interest being up from the last few years. As I installed the new CD player in my daughters truck this afternoon, she commented that welding was "the" cool thing at the High school this year amoungst the young men. A few years ago everyone was being heavily directed into computer related classes. They have eased up a lot on that front. I also get a lot more folks visiting with me when I'm fueling my welding rig, asking about my machine, what we do, ect. Probably twice as many as a couple of years ago.

Deck-a-Halls,

JTMcC.

I wondered about that now thinking in retrospect. The old man said they had just a few days to get the bike together. Then at the end, the CNC candy cane wheels came in. And the paint job was delivered. If they got that kind of turnaround on those wheels, I am really impressed. And if paint will dry like that in a couple of days or less, I am more impressed.

But I don't think so.

Steve

And some watch WWF.

I think the analogy valid.

But for some reason the homeowner gets more pissed at their s*it pipe oozing than the Nuke a few counties over damned near going China Syndrome.

A better subject would be 'how to detect fraudulent x-rays'.

Being in north east Ohio and down wind of Davis-Bessie in the winter I think of these things.

Ok, I'm going to take a different View here. I see these shows as very empowering. Yes the Pauly is a system integrator with some basic metal skills. maybe more than basic. But what he is is a bike designer... he comes up with concepts (sometimes with help). He builds show bikes.

If Pauly tried to build 100% of that bike himself.... he'd build what 1-2 bikes a year maybe? That is assuming he had anywhere near the ability to design and build an engine.

The lesson of AC is that if you can concieve it clearly, there are people and companies out there with the skill to produce every part you need. The painter is incredible, so are several of the other suppliers.

The other lesson is that you need only master one facet of the process to find yourself a niche. Like the people who do the wheels, or the paint, or the engine manufacturer.

Jesse James had two specials inside West Coast Choppers that showed a lot of building the bikes, but he used outside engines and wheels and painters as well. I don't think a small custom bike shop has the volume to employ a fulltime master painter. Also even though Jesse used to make his own tanks, I believe by the second special he was farming that out too, I definately remember him farming out the seats.

I definately remember several parts being farmed out when they had competitions between various motorcycle builders.

There are just too many skills to do in low vollume for it to all be efficiently in one company. Heck even MAJOR AUTO companies purchase many of thier part assemblies rather than manufacture every part themselves from raw material.

You of course are welcome to your opinions, but lets face it, they aren't building racing bikes. Niether MPG nor 0-60 times are of particular concern. Both figures will be far better than your typical minivan. As long as the bikes do 80 MPH smoothly, the parts don't fall off, and it doesn't breakdown ... few really care about the rest.

Yes the bikes they build for the show are Themed Show bikes for displaying thier design abilities... These are not the retail bikes.

On Thu, 25 Dec 2003 20:54:32 +0000, Tom Del Rosso wrote: For woodworking

The only thing anyone could learn fron NYW is that hand tools aren't used anymore and you need a workshop the size of an aircraft hangar to fit in all the power tools that are an absolute necessity. It is entertainment not education.

Jesse James has stated that there was 55 hours of CNC time in one of his wheels, from a billet of aluminum, for what that's worth.

RJ

TLC has shows about surgery. They don't try to educate, but even those shows manage to explain some techniques. Junkyard wars explains a little technique sometimes, or at least the early ones did. AC is just drama. I just think they could put in at least some how-to as well. As every says the skilled work is farmed out, so maybe there could be a show filmed in a different shop.

There are so many home improvement TV shows out there right now. Jeeeeeeeeeeezus, if Christopher Lloyd can mince and flame his way to success with lace and spraypaint, someone should be able to do it with a metalworking show.

Show things like:

How to make a wrought iron gate, complete with bending the scrolls, how to mount hinges, lockbox, spring lock, closure spring, etc.

How to make a simple forge.

How to properly adjust an OA rig.

Welding basics.

Tool safety.

Principles of bending metal.

and on and on and on .............................

There are so many subjects that the more I think about it, the more I want to go to Hollywood (or Hoboken) or wherever these programs originate and hawk the idea.

I think enough people would watch to make it a success. And just like every other kind of show, it would help more people get into it and those who are now doing it to do a better job.

Steve

I watched part of the show where they built the Snap-On bike. The segment where Paul is pitching his ideas to the Snap-On honcho pretty much says it all. Built for show and ego, not go. If they really do build these bikes in a matter of days, that's an accomplishment for sure. But I'd rather have some quality that took time to make. Buck can probably make a knife in a matter of hours, however I'm rather fond of my hand made Randall that took 18 months to get...

But even if OCC is more or less building lightly and gaudily decorated catalog bikes, they are showing the general public that there are alternatives to the ocean of bland generic products that surround us, that individuality, if not good taste, can be obtained, and metalworking can be something other than a dull dreary dead-end job. I sure wouldn't mind the sort of income they are pulling in...

Jon

These programs often originate with an individual. Several years ago I was making parts for a company involved in skin care. The owner had met a woman that had a show on health and skin care, and I got to talk to her once. She said it's a lot like starting any business, putting together a full-on business plan. Certainly having connections helps, as does approaching the right folks. Junk Yard Wars had just come out, and I mentioned offhand I could envision similar types of shows. She offered to put me in touch with the "right people". That's not really my thing, and I let it go. I don't recall her name, but if you are serious, I might be able to track her down.

Jon

|> >

|> > It's entertainment, not a how-to show. |> >

|> > Get it? |> >

|> > No? |> >

|> > sigh ................. |>

|> That some people find it entertaining? Yeah, I get that. To me it's a |> soap opera filled with acrimony.

I think that's "antimony" :) Rex in Fort Worth

I think Norm has Father Christmas and his elves working overtime.

My uncle Webfoot once remarked that you had to learn only two things to become a plumber:

1. Your hourly rate doubles on evenings and weekends.

1. S*it won't flow uphill.

I'm sure there are lots of plumbers who take a professional attitude towards their work and won't leave their copper plumbing jobs looking like an explosion in a solder factory, but in my experience they are in the minority.

If you have a strong stomach, and for some strange reason desire to deja vu back to what the talk sounded like in your Junior High School lunchroom, visit this newsgroup:

pdaxs.services.plumbing

I lurk there to pick up useful general information and occasionally post if I think I can help someone, or just need to feel like a teenager again. But, the way some of the guys there rake the poor non-plumbers over the coals is unconcionable.

Happy Holidays,

Jeff

-- Jeff Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"If you can keep smiling when things go wrong, you've thought of someone to place the blame on."

There is the "Woodwright's Workshop" or whatever its called on PBS, about old-fashioned woodworking. Everything from old-school vises to scarphs used in shipbuilding, etc.. Not for the amateur in his/her basement, but I found it fascinating to see wood sculpted in that way. I'd also love somthing similar but perhaps more basic on the machining side of things.

Gregm