Grizzly if you go the tig route without making a patch...you might consider shaping a little copper sheet 1/16 or so to fit behind it as tight and close as you can...that will help suck up a little heat and cut down on draw and warp. Be carefull not to weld to the copper, it will not wet nearly as easily as the steel so little chance of that, it will tear away easily if you do though. Interesting project, post pics as you go if you don't mind. That thing could be worth a good chunk of money to a collector when you get it done. Might see you on that American Pickers show in the future.
Yep lead was the thing way before Bondo came along. Some high end restoration guys still use the technique, probably videos on it somewhere.
I agree with the Orange County comments....anybody can order parts and slap something together. They do CNC some of their own wheels though.
Jessie James has a lot of respect for fabricating and metal working. I could learn a ton of things from him. Maybe since he moved to Texas his personal life might get better. He will have a show coming up on the History Channel where he goes to Israel to learn blacksmithing techniques from Uri Hofi. On that bike build off fiasco against the Tuttles it looks like he has acquired a nice forge/furnace and a heavy looking powered forging hammer. Nice toys.
Which makes me think of that street tracker project out in my shop collecting dust....Anybody got a vertical mill I could get a few hours on around Little Rock in trade for some welding work? Oh and a Lathe with a 12" four jaw or a rotary table? Few more parts to make, and about an hour of lathe work left to do on a wheel. Some people buy boats, some motorcycles...the toys I want all go in the shop!
