You may or may not have seen these trophies at various YSA Custom Show awards this year, namely The Yorkshire Invasion 2010 and The Coast 2010, if you have an interest, here are a few photographs illustrating the various stage by stage steps of their construction, completed fabrication and their finishing, hopefully you will see them being presented at the YSA End of Season Custom Show, Batley on 16th October 2010.
Before I go much further I must tell you that I couldn’t produce these without the very generous help of others, firstly the folks who willingly donate the part, next the plinth work (in this case Stuby of the Cheeky Monkey’s SC) and last but by far least, the amazing powder coating work of Reuben Harker, which in my opinion adds an amazing quality to somewhat bland pieces of metal – I thank you all so very much. For those who haven’t seen them, they are trophies made from unwanted, broken, replaced or worn scooter parts. Incidentally, I have also had donated brand new – still in the wrapper bits – lets just say they weren’t very good copies and should never go anywhere near a scooter! I first started producing them as a unique award for the YSA custom shows after our clubs successful Mayday Mayhem 2010 where three had been made and presented for “Furthest Travelled”, “Best Turned Out Club” and “The Face”.
Believe it or not the hardest part of producing these trophies is not the actual welding/grinding/building or even the actual thought process that is required - the most difficult element is obtaining enough donated individual parts/bits to form them.
As you can see from the photos, I don’t have an elaborate work shop – or even a proper bench! I sit astride an old plastic container with a piece of ply (burnt) laid on top for my makeshift work surface. Nor do I have an array or mass assortment of tools at my disposal, an electric arc welder, a small grinder, a battered screwdriver and a pair of pliers are all I use.
After I have collected the various scooter parts I consciously aim to be as methodical as possible, trying to sort bits out into various categories, such as “round things”, “straight things”, “bases”, “tops” etc, again by the photos you can tell that this can go out the window!
Welding small, thin and sometimes intricate bits can be quite difficult and frustrating especially with the arc welder I use, however with persistence and a few burnt fingers and the odd swear-word thrown in I manage to get through.
Finally, I do hope you like the end products and if you are lucky enough to win one we hope it sits pride of place in your cabinet, on your mantle piece or simply used as a door stop.
Many thanks Andy Mc SBSC.
Powder Coating
once the trophies were dropped off at roobs workshop in Darlington they would be ready for powder coating.
It would take about 2 hours to get the finished trophies. First of all they would need to be blasted which takes 30 mins, once this is done they need to be coated wih an acid base etch primer this takes about 30 mins to do.
Soon as they have dried off, they are placed in the oven which is turned up to 200 Degrees for up to 2-4 mins, then they are taken out to be given a second coat(hot coated)then placed back in the oven for another 10 mins(200 DEGREES).
once this is done they are then taken out and left to cool until they are cold.
Now we have our finished trophies.
ELITE REFINISHING UNIT 10, BOROUGH RD IND. EST DARLINGTON DL1 1TF TELEPHONE 07791 622279
Thanks to Andy Mc,Stuby and Roob who are active members of the Yorkshire Scooter Alliance for giving there time and materials for free. thanks to all thoes who donated the parts.