While I was starting my freshman year of college, Chris (who had long since graduated) started on this incredible looking custom Honda CX500. The front suspension is off a mid 90s Honda CBR900RR, the rear shock is from a Yamaha R1 and the rear subframe is all custom made, including a custom pushrod suspension reusing linkages from the R1.
The seat folded up allowing storage, and had integrated brake and turn signals in the back.
Engine got a fully rebuilt top end and featured a custom two into one exhaust.
Hand made cutting boards
The majority of these cutting boards are actually made from a walnut tree harvested in his own backyard. I gifted the one with two brass pins (used as a knife holder) to Kari’s parents after helping Chris finish these boards.
A select few of the had magnets integrated underneath that held the knives to the side of the board
Hand made power tools
Building your own tools that you use every time you’re in the shop is one of the most rewarding ways to spend your time. Chris bought these gnarly motors from our favorite scrap yard in Boulder, Colorado and built this belt and radial sander years ago. They absolutely HOG through metal and wood and have been used to build so many other projects. Genuinely jealous of these tools.
Heat treat forge for knife making
I gave up the knife making hobby after failing to find a practical way to heat treat my knives (you can read more here), Chris decided to push through and come up with a proper solution. He built a proper temperature controlled heat treat oven using firebricks that he carved out using a router and nichrome wire. Nichrome wire is actually the same heating wire used in those massive vapes people had years ago. His oven used an off the shelf PID temperature controller to precisely ramp up and down the temperature. The sheet metal box was made using a sheet metal brake that Chris built. 900C max temp, the only regret is not making the interior big enough for items other than knives.
Custom made cattle brands
These make great gifts for people who like camping. The one on the left made from rebar, a garden hose and a “W” brand is actually mine that Chris made for my birthday years ago. I keep it in my camping box and any time I have a fire pit going I toss the brand in and can leave my brand on a log when I leave.
Hand made knives
Honorable mentions
Hand made wood utensils, waxed with bee wax harvested from his own bee hives
Home made sheet metal brake used on many projects including the heat treat oven
The Behemoth. 1988 chevy suburban 3/4 ton. 4 inch lift with 35’s. currently working on getting it running better to take it on long road trips and build out the back with sleeping and camping storage
A project currently under way, a mountain bike frame jig for welding my own frames
And a great view of the old shop in Colorado VS the new shop in California
If you like the projects or want to suggest a future project, please leave a comment below.
