Sloan Metal Works

Some things take time. I was trying to get this done on Sunday. The frame ended up being a little more tricky than anticipated, but a frame was necessary.

I love doing trophies. It’s a fun challenge and I get to make something that people will be competing for. (At least that’s what I tell myself) Trophies present a unique set of challenges, usually the people putting on the events are working off of donations and whatever that doesn’t cover comes out of their own pockets. The guys who make trophies on their plasma table usually agree that you don’t do it to get rich. I design trophies that I would want to win. Hopefully the folks that participate in these events feel the same way.

3 Divisions in this state wide competition. Hog Dog, Predator and Thermal hog. Thank you RK Custom Koates for the gold, silver and bronze vein powder job. They turned out awesome! Thank you South Texas Shootout for the opportunity!

In case you are wondering, I did channel my inner 3rd grade self to make these awesome diorama style trophies.

This was my first address marker. I’m very thankful for the experience. A few weeks ago, I got a message from Clifford Theresa Crump inquiring about an address plate for their new home. My immediate thought was that it would be a quick and easy project. I have to thank Mrs. Crump for her patience, we exchanged quite a few messages getting all the details lined out. At one point she thanked me for my patience, but in reality, I truly appreciated the collaboration. I’d rather discuss a million details to get it right than make assumptions and get it wrong. Thank you goes out to the Crumps. I appreciate your business and the opportunity to make something for your beautiful new home.

Thank you to RK Custom Koates, for the awesome textured black finish. I couldn’t blast their address, but the covered parts are self explanatory. 😂

It’s been a hot week, dealt with some mechanical problems and a broken AC. I thought I had a handle on the heat until this morning when I met up with RK Custom Koates to powder coat a few projects. Real heat is when it’s 100 degrees outside and you open up a 400 degree, 192 cubic foot oven.

I’m gonna start with a project that I’m pretty proud of. I love the signs but I really love the functional stuff. This week I got the chance to make a template for a grill insert on a sweet Can-Am Defender. Getting the outline to fit and match the factory opening was a fun challenge. Justin over at Silverback Garage, told me he was going to a car show on Saturday, so I wanted to make him something in time. It’s not refined by any means but the hard part of getting the shape and everything to fit right is done. From here on out it’s just a matter of improving.

I was in a rush and I’ve learned the hard way not to rush final assembly. That being said, I had to get a little sneak peak.

I gotta say, getting a chance to be involved with every step of the process, I am lucky to have found RK Custom Koates. He did a bang up job on this one. Good enough is not in his vocabulary, and when someone (it was me) left fingerprints on the metal, he stripped off the powder and started over.

I met Mr. Piñon during a vendor show. He was telling me some stories about some stuff he had made using a plasma torch by hand. Much respect to the folks that cut art with a hand torch. If you’ve never tried it, take my word, it’s pretty tricky. HIm and his son are building a bar and gave me an opportunity to make something to go with it. It’s real rewarding to collaborate with good people. This was Mr. Piñon’s idea, he sketched out what he was wanted and we made it happen.