The Union Brotherhood

Old vid.

2012-11-15T10:48:00.001-08:00

Here's a video from a couple years ago of Jesse getting interviewed at Hunnert car pileup about The Skunk. This was our last show as OSK right before the business split and Jesse and I continued on together as Union Speed and Style. I think his assessment of man hours was a little off, haha.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXl7qGxAY9M&feature=youtube_gdata_player

2 More for the road.

2012-11-12T15:06:00.001-08:00

Popped another set of '32 rails in the jig an got the boxing plates all tacked in and ready to weld. This frame is going to be for our good friend Trent's model A. We'll keep you updated as things progress.

Show class shows some love!

2012-11-02T07:49:00.001-07:00

Show class magazine put a little write up about our shop in their latest issue. This particular issue is entirely about St. Paul so there are a couple bikes featured in it that we've done some work on as well. Go pick up a copy here:
www.showclassmag.com

Finished 1950 Chevy Fleetline floors

2012-07-10T08:45:00.001-07:00

I haven't written a post in a while, I suck at this blogging thing. I've been catching a lot of flack for it so I I figured I would post a picture of the floors for the fleetline now that they are all finished, these are completely scratch made. I will put together some more posts soon, there's a lot you've been missing out on. We've been busy running around like idiots all summer. Stay tuned.

Here's what the hat channels look like from underneath.

A closer look at the raised seat area.

Thanks for looking!

Scotts 50' fleetline trunk

2012-01-05T17:00:00.001-08:00

Trunks finished in scott's 50' fleetline. Completely scratch made, check it out......

Stop......chopper time!

2011-12-23T10:22:00.001-08:00

10 years ago I purchased this steering neck with the mindset that someday, sometime, when the universe allowed, I was going to build the most Bitchin murdersickle I had ever laid eyes on. I promptly placed it on the top shelf in my toolbox so that I would be forced to gaze upon it everyday all day. I even wrote a note on it from the neck to me: some day I'll be a chopper. Money came, money went, projects came, projects went. All the while this piece of a very large puzzle lay waste to my reckless abandon. I think somehow it summoned magical powers and has dropped almost all parts and pieces needed for this machine on my doorstep. I think it's finally had enough, it's trying to tell me something, it's trying to tell me......it's time to build a fucking chopper.

Clamps are your best friend.

2011-11-21T10:41:00.001-08:00

You can never have enough vise grips. I mean really.

Thanks Brian!

2011-11-04T06:48:00.001-07:00

I just got our tags from Brian over at Dick and Jane letterpress in St. Paul. Boy he does some snazzy work, these turned out great! Just one more piece to the puzzle for the big machine.

When he's not slamming paper in his giant presses Brian runs a pretty kickass MC blog, it's neato. You should check it out here: www.speedclubinc.com

New fixture table.

2011-10-27T13:39:00.001-07:00

Just picked up this beauty. It's a giant ass old mill top which we are going to run all of our welding fixtures on. It probably weighs in somewhere between 3500-4000 pounds. It's 30"x72"x8" it's a beast and the s10 didn't like hauling it one bit, but it made the 2 hour trek. Check it.

Branding

2011-10-14T13:58:00.001-07:00

Branding......it's coming along.
Here's a little teaser for the new tags in the back of our vests. Dig it.

Tuesdays are for metal finishing.

2011-09-13T13:10:00.001-07:00

Almost finished up metal finishing this little gem. Then off she goes to a far away land to ride atop someones trusty stead. Can't wait to see the pictures of this one mounted up.

Hardtailing jakes xs frame

2011-06-04T08:03:00.001-07:00

We finished up jakes xs650 hardtail for his frame this week, Here's a couple of progression shots.

Laying out the jig...

All bent up and ready for welding...

And the finished hardtail. We need to finish a couple braces for the rear, and then on to the rest of the build. Also check out the front gusset area, we cleaned all the factory junk up and added our own window gusset.

This is going to be one cool little ripper. Oh and notice the step van has made it into the shop and the frame is missing? Updates coming soon.......

Free shipping on union speed t-shirts until the end of the week!

2011-05-25T11:26:00.001-07:00

Check it out free shipping until the end of the week on t-shirts!

Click here:
http://unionspeedandstyle.bigcartel.com/category/tees

Location:Union speed complex.

Couple more vests...

2011-05-19T20:12:00.001-07:00

Finished up a couple more vests and sent them out this week.

This went out to Larry at garage company customs in Alabama:

And this leather one with diamonds front and back went out to a guy in Ohio:

Thanks for the support guys! It's much appreciated.

New store items!!

2011-05-08T21:42:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody, we finally have shirts available and a few other items that have just been added to the online store.

Check em out:

Shirts.....

Gas cap and bung....

We also added our sportster tank stampings. Go check everything out here:

http://unionspeedandstyle.bigcartel.com/

Thanks!

Location:Union speed complex.

Torquefest

2011-05-03T12:05:00.001-07:00

So we made the trek down to Iowa last weekend to check out Torquefest again. This was the second year that John wells has put the show on, and I have to say we were thoroughly impressed with how great the turnout was for this only being the second year. It was good to have a nice presence from some of the other Limpnickie lot crew as well. We met up with some old friends and made some new ones throughout the weekend. At one point I think Don wood and Chris Callen may have both tried to sneak me into one of Don's gypsy bed rolls. I'm not sure what their intention was, but I have a sneaking suspicion it may have been against my will. Allegedly.

The dirt track was running crazy all weekend with both flat track races and nut jobs in their hot rods tearing it up. At one point somebody put their 50' merc over the barrier tires and jacked the front end all up. Unfortunately no pictures of that. Anyway, enough jibber jabber, here's some pictures of what I did see.

Show cars in the colosseum:

This guy has the coolest tow rig ever.

I only wish I could have bought this. I want one for when i have a kid someday....

I would even settle for this if I had to...

Heading home was one of the most scenic rides I have been on. 52 runs right next to the river, so there's plenty to look at. The only shitty part was that it was 38 degrees all the way home, all 300 miles of it. Every part of me froze up like a dreamsicle.

Midstream pitstop...

Until next time, stay classy Iowa.

Location:Moquoketa Iowa.

Joshes Shovelhead seat

2011-04-26T16:27:00.001-07:00

Finished up Josh arment's Shovelhead seat last night and brought it down to teach's place. This bike is probably the raddest thing I've seen in a while. Check it out....

Ghetto booty

2011-04-21T19:13:00.001-07:00

Oh man, I swear to god if I was any more behind I would be attached to this monster.....

Between all the tools deciding to break down one after another and jobs flying in like mad I think I might actually lose my cool, hopefully I don't. I try and make sure I can keep it cool as ice. Like this....

He's a ruler in my book. Now I just need to find one of these kickass jackets, and a 5.0 drop top. A1A!

Later fools, I gotta get back to the grind. Detroit avenue!

New show rig.

2011-04-19T17:47:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah!
The new show rig was dropped of yesterday night. I'm in love. Wait Til you see what's in store for this beast.

It's in need of a drop. Soon.

Corbetts grocery getter....

2011-04-14T09:04:00.001-07:00

Mr. Corbett's 57' chevy 2 door wagon is coming along nicely, here are a few progression pictures.

Stay tuned.....

Happy Wednesday.

2011-03-30T10:28:00.001-07:00

I'm declaring it national flashers day today. Annnd, back to work.

Seats seats seats

2011-03-27T19:36:00.001-07:00

The Donnie smith invitational was this weekend. As with every other year, I had to get a few last minute seats all wrapped up beforehand. I had a lot of fun working on these seats, and I hope you enjoy looking at them. Here they are:

My friend Donna built a Bitchin little xs650 that they debuted this year, we kept it simple and straight forward on the seat. The bike turned out pretty damn sweet.

And her bike...

We also tooled up a seat for Teach and the kids. I think it's safe to say that we need more teachers as passionate as Kevin baas to be educating our youth. You can't imagine how hard he works to keep the Kennedy high school chopper program running. Not only do I enjoy helping him out because of that reason, but I also enjoy working on stuff for Teach because its pretty much left in my hands with a loose artistic direction to finish it. Those are the best jobs I can ask for.

Here's how the seat went from start to finish:

I did it for the kids......

This last seat wasn't for the show this weekend, but i just finished it for a customer in Florida and I thought it was worth sharing. It's a factory HD shovelhead seat that we cut down and shaved the foam on.

Thanks for looking, See ya soon kids.

-J

Daytona bound....

2011-03-04T22:26:00.001-08:00

So we decided it was time to do Daytona bike week this year. After much preparation, a serious lack if time, and a gigantic late start out of the Union compound, we finally made it down to pick up Jeremy from Relic Custom painting and pinstriping. He does phenomenal work and I think it would be worth your time to check out his website, especially if you need paint or striping done. Relicstripes.com
I rolled in about 3 hours late and was happy to see Jeremy had all of his swag together in neatly stacked piles ready to hoof into the trailer. After all the headaches and roadblocks from the rest of the weeks preparation, I took this as a sign that the trip was finally going to stop fighting me and start going in a good direction. However, I should probably know better by now considering most of my friends are like me and feel the need to squeeze every ounce of productivity down to the last minute.
We made it to Papa Clutch just in the nick of time to help finish some last minute loose ends they were trying to tie up on there Daytona builds. Unfortunately when it comes to last minute loose ends, there's usually nothing short about the time frame you are about to enter into. Tools go inexplicably missing, nuts and bolts turn into gremlins, the previously fine tuned machinery that is your hands turn into useless sausage, and finally.......minutes turn into hours. Hours are like rabbits, always multiplying at an alarming rate and before you know it you've got a major problem on your hands. In our case we obviously weren't dealing with floppy eared bug eyed pellet droppers. Nope. We were dealing with the elusive time bandit. The natural human reaction in this situation is to freak out, smash shit and let tempers flare. Luckily, everyone involved is in this for the same reason. That reason being the 18 extra hours we spent hanging out with friends getting the job finished and inevitably holding a little piece of the project and the experience with us forever. If you don't see how wasting 18 hours of your timeline is what it's all about, I fear for you and I strongly believe you should stay out of the garage.

That being said here's a teaser pic of the seat we made for Tim and the boys latest panhead chop, we think it's pretty neato.

Also, I woke up this morning on Tim's couch disoriented and feeling like his dog probably poo'd in my mouth, only to be pleasantly surprised to see his Bitchin econoline. It made me miss my econoline pickup even more.

And it was mad reppin bob Ross. Respect.

Anyway, we managed to pack some miles on today and everything seems to be within closer reach now. Stay tuned.....

By the power of THOR!!!

2011-01-24T20:55:00.001-08:00

Almighty hammer of THOR!

2011-01-24T20:43:00.001-08:00

The best hammers are the ones you need to make.