Heart Of Dixie Metalmeet 05

[bigpink187]

Hello all...
Kerry and Kris (me) will be having a Metalmeet at our shop May 20-22. Our shop is in Harvest, Alabama, near Huntsville. We will have our full line of wheels available for use, as well as the rest the toys (Pullmax, etc.) Feel free to bring your tools, and remember eye, ear, and hand protection! Jim Spratley will be there with his Henrob torches. Looks like we will have a big crowd. Camping is available. Please post or PM if you are coming so we can get a head count. We look forward to seeing everyone!

[Boogiemanz1]

Kris, I'm sure going to try and be there.........john

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Folks are encouraged to bring their personal machines, ewheels, phammers, etc as well as hand tools. We'll also have a swap meet area also so if you have any 'stuff' you'd like to sell/trade feel free to bring it. If it needs covering, bring that too. Roofed space will not be available although we can probably find space for a table full of hand tools.

The only catch is that anything you bring and don't sell/trade you can't leave here!!! We have WAY too much stuff as it is! In fact, the reason I thought of this is that we have some 'stuff' we'd like someone else to own!

We have a Niagra 36" stomp shear (20 ga), A Wellsaw Model 8 bandsaw, some woodworking tools(radial arm, router crafter), Bear wheel balancer. More as we find it. We're cleaning out the shop before we unload the trailer and just finding stuff that we don't use and taking up space.

[Bob Baisden]

Kerry,

Can you recommend a near by hotel? Looking forward to the meet!
thanks
Bob

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Just got an email from a regular reader in Atlanta who did not know about the upcoming MetalMeet at our shop this month May 20-21.

We have several folks already committed:

John "Boogiemanz" Brown
Bennett Chapman
Jim Spradley (Henrob Jim)
John Jordan
Bob Blaisen
Rickey Barber
Lewis Gilleys and a friend
David Miller (the Huntsville David)
Ed Hanish
Jack McGee our webmaster and his son
Richard Hudgkins
Larry Bishop (atlanta, met at SunNFun)
Marty Sims (Birmingham)
Robert Kempka (Wyoming met at SunNFun)
Rick Martindale (In the neighborhood)
Draper (Nashville)
Brent in TennUhSee and some of his guys
John Staincamp (NC)
Brett Thomas (NC) Are you and John going to carpool?
Jimmy (Saltydog, Atlanta)

My wife asked how many were coming? I told her somewhere between 30 and 130!!! We'll find room, come ahead but please let me know. Parking shouldn't be an issue unless we have a major soaking. When you get here, don't block the driveway. Honk and someone will direct you to a parking spot.

A liability waiver will need to be signed and a name badge worn at all times. I'm too old to remember my own name half the time and wasn't any good at them when I was younger. See what you get to look forward to?

I need to know if you are going to camp.

There are DOZENS of motels about 10 minutes away. You want to be on University Drive. That is where all the motels and eateries are. Some of the motels are:

Comfort Inn 256-533-3291
Hampton Inn 256-830-9400
Holiday Inn Express 256-721-1000
Knights Inn 256-864-0388
la Quinta 256-830-2070
Madison Inn 256-890-0700
Red Carpet Inn 256-539-8448
Super 8 Motel 256-539-8881

Our address is 284 North Day Hill Rd, Harvest, Al 35749. Mapquest should get you right to the door. If you get lost you can call at 256-859-2999. Please don't call after 9pm CST.

I also need to know if you are bringing any machines or tools. We'll have several ewheels to play with but I'd like for folks to bring some different type machines so folks can experience different designs.

We'll probably do cold cuts for lunch and fend for yourselves for supper. We might do burgers and dogs Saturday night but it will depend on how busy we get. My long suffering wife will be watching the Chairman of the board (Grandson) so she won't be able to cook. Maybe someone will volunteer. The Piggly Wiggly is about a mile away. Not too many eateries nearby, a Delissimo Deli at the Sursave pharmacy has Subway like stuff and there is a good Mexican place about 3 miles up the road. Also a local restaurant about 4 miles west. Everything you'd want is about 10-15 minutes away in Huntsville.

I'll have a couple portapotties set up also.

I have ewheels, a Pullmax with Clay Cook thumbnail dies and some beading dies in "Nadia" toolholders, (If someone knows how to set up the cutting function, I'd be thankful. I have some tool steel). A ShopDog hammer with tooling. Ivan the Red Planishing Hammer and perhaps a CP style hammer. Bob Blaisen may finish and bring his as well. We have shears, Migs, Tig, Plasma, Henrob, regular OA, hand tools, etc.

Bring your personal safety gear. Gloves, eye and ear protection. NO SANDALS. Bring your welding helmet if you want to play with the Tig/Mig/OA etc or you can use ours but we only have 3.

I have plenty of 18ga CR. If you want to work with Aluminum, bring it. If you have a small project bring it also. If it's large, please contact me first. Jack McGee is bringing a pickup cab. I've got a 71 GTO that needs some patch panels. A couple of the airplane guys want to make some leading edges using the gokart slicks. We can turn special profile wooden anvils pretty easily.

We need to talk about projects. I'm open but there is a space issue. We'll have about 1000 sq feet and can also work around our fab area if I can get it organized enough to not be a safety hazard. If I can't, I'll have to block it off. We can also roll a couple cars out of a carport and use that space if we need to.

We'll have plenty of bag stands and tucking tools. Need some beater bags. I only have 3 and don't want to use the bags I sell. Bring your favorite hammers and stuff but be sure and label EVERYTHING.

Some folks are planning on getting in early to help set up and start playing. No problem. If you get here too early, we'll just put you to work grinding frames. :)

I'll plan on doing the "Metalshaping 101" Seminar both Friday and Saturday. Probably around 10am. We can start making noise about 9 and will need to hold it down after 9pm. Don't want to abuse my neighbors goodwill too much.

[GTmike400]

Im going to try and head my way over, I might talk to one of my buddies and see if he wants to go. He doesnt shape metal, but he's interested in the area. I'll bring what I do have if I come; welding helmet, couple of hamers and dollies, and unfortunately I think thats all I have.

EDIT:

I just talked to my buddy, he has no interest, then talked to my parents and got a big ol' "Im not drivin' three hours". So, I guess thats a negative. :(

[r_barber]

I am still planning on it. Probably be there friday morning bright and early and leave saturday. Planning on bringing my p hammer, the started wheel and some 16 ga. aluminum. I am on for sure unless some disaster happens.

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Spoke with Dan Shady today. He will attend the event and has offered to open his shop for a visit on Friday night for anyone interested. After a day in my cluttered shop, a visit to Dan's will be like walking into a hospital Operating Room. I really don't understand how he can keep it so clean but he does and turns out amazing work also.

[Boogiemanz1]

Hey Kerry, Is Jim Spradley bringing his sidekick Rob (Great Day) Murray?

If anyone else is interested, best call or contact Kerry......its next weekend............

I'm planning on bringing my bead roller and my portable helve hammer................john

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Hey Kerry, Is Jim Spradley bringing his sidekick Rob (Great Day) Murray?

If anyone else is interested, best call or contact Kerry......its next weekend............

I'm planning on bringing my bead roller and my portable helve hammer................john

Don't think Jim is bringing anyone but himself. I did get a call from James Chapman, the Martin Hammer guy. He will be there with his hammers but mainly to play. Looks to be about 35 people excluding the local folks.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

What is the chance of someone that is knowledgable in doing shrinking with a Shrinking Disc doing a demonstration next weekend? I think I would buy one if I knew that I could use one with some sort of efficiency! <grin>

[Wray Schelin]

Hi Brent,

Bennett will be at Kerry's regional MetalMeet he has one of my discs and he knows how to use it.

[danlshady]

Brent,
Although I don,t have a lot of experience yet with a shrinking disc I will be glad to share with you what I've learned so far. It is one of those tools that makes you think "boy why didn't I find one of these a long time ago".
Am looking forward to your visit to Huntsville.
Gary Drake and his friend Roger, both from Hamilton, Ohio stopped by today riding their Harleys. They were headed to Mississippi and points west, taking a three week ride. Retirement must be great.
Dan

[Kerry Pinkerton]

I have one of Wray's disks also as well as one of John Kelly's. Bennett can give us a demo and I have LOTS of scrap Imperial fenders we can play with. I've only used one once and I over shrunk a door skin!!!!!!!

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Which one of these motels is the closest --OR the one where everyone is staying?

[Kerry Pinkerton]

They're all within a mile or so on University Drive. I haven't heard where anyone is staying Brent.

[metalchomper]

I hate to do this. Been looking forward to this, but I have a deadline to meet at work on a new project and looks like I'll be working on it through Friday and maybe Saturday. If anyone wants to stop by my shop this weekend on the back and see my helve, ewheel, or shrinking disk, you are more than welcome. I'm near the I-40 and I-77 corridor. Shoot me a PM.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Last minute stuff.....

I am booked at the Super 8 motel I suppose. Kerry, have you established a "start time" per se' on Friday??

Any last minute changes or things we should know/bring/plan on?

Thanks!!!

[Kerry Pinkerton]

I'll be in the shop by 7:30 or so but I don't want to start making noise until at least 8.

You never know who will show up or what kind of questions/problems they will have so it's just winging it. I'm no expert so I'll just be flapping along with everyone else....

We've still got to clean the shop today....

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Well, I had planned on bringing two employees along with my 10 year old son. Well, the employees have "backed out" but my son Blake was about to have a fit --SO ... I guess it will be me & him, and my wife Pennie, and daughter BreAnna will come along and use this as a shopping trip for them in Huntsville.

Blake has his baseball shaping mallet, his glasses & face shield, his gun muffs, (and no telling what else) all loaded since 9:00 this AM so he will be "wide-open" the whole way to Alabama tonite. I am guessing we will get up at about 3:00 AM and leave as soon as everyone gets ready. That should put us into Harvest about 10:00 AM +/- on Friday We may have gotten lucky with Pennie coming as she may become the "volunteer" we needed as the cook!! See y'all there.

[r_barber]

i have not been on here in so long i just now decided to look and see when this was. TODAY!! o well, i guess bright and early is out of the question. I am sorry kerry but this totally slipped by my feeble mind. I have to be in greenvile sc sunday so maybe i can make it up there tommorow. I was really wanting to see some professional metalworking and now i am gonna miss it.

[Kerry Pinkerton]

As of about 11am, we had about 25 folks making noise. Having some thunderstorms come through today but tommorrow and Sunday should be super nice.

Lots of folks taking photos.

[Pedalcar]

Hi Kerry,

i hope you all have a great time and that the pictures will be posted.

say hallo to Bennet from the both of us out of a rainy Holland.

Ben

[admin]

Well, i didn't get a chance to make it back today, but I had a great time there for 2 days. This was my first meeting of anyone here at metalmeet and my first introduction to any type of real metalworking. Not only was I impressed by the knowledge and skill of everyone, but I don't think I have ever met a nice group of people.
Thanks to everyone that I met and that brought tools to use and mostly for the knowledge shared and gained by me and my son. Thanks to whoever rolled up my truck windows during the monsoon that came through on friday And thanks to Kerry and his family that hosted the get together. I got some cab corners made for my studebaker truck and will work on the other sections one at a time.
My arm is wore out since it hasnt seen that much movement in the last 20 years combined and my heads is full of ideas.
Hope everyone made it back safely and soundly to home and I look forward to meeting more folks and learning new tricks, tips and techniques.
Jack

[rmrtndl]

I had a great time at the meet. I learned a lot! Thanks to everyone that helped me. Thanks to Kerry for hosting.

And did I mention how sore I am today?

[Boogiemanz1]

Well, once I realized that the meet started on FRIDAY, (at about 10 AM thursday) I scrapped all my preparation plans, loaded the truck and Boogied! After a 12 hour drive I made it in the wee hours of Friday morning. Catch some needed sleep, breakfast, and begin a great fun weekend!

Met some new folks, renewed some friendships, made some noise and some scrap.

You always pick up some new things at these meets. This one was loaded with info!. Several seminars were given, and lots of new tools to look at and play with.

I just got in a couple of hours ago, had a great time. Kerry may have been to more of these meets than anyone, and the way this one came off showed he learned to do it correctly. The hospitality of whole Pinkerton family made my weekend enjoyable and worthwhile.

I hope the pictures I took come out, and I'll put some up in the next day or so..............john

[Bob Baisden]

I had a great time! very fun to meet new friends and catch up with old buddies. Big thanks to the Pinkertons for hosting this event. You all should of seen our very own "webmaster" and son whip out a couple cab corners for his studebaker truck. Very impressive. The martin guy, Jame Chapman put on an excellent siminar on hammer and dolly work. Jim Spradley as usually gave everyone great gas welding lessons. Bennett gave me and Kerry an awesome lesson in bridgeport milling. I owe Bennett a new metalmeet shirt as my new cp hammer dosed him with a oil mist. lol.

thanks
Bob Baisden

[admin]

well, bob is being nice, those cab corners whipped me!! I believe that swinging a hammer requires muscles that I must not use that often! I see the need for power tools!
All I can say is I do appreciate everyone there that not only showed me the basics, but opened the eyes of my son to new ideas. Learned that although i was wrong, I was knocking out dents in the same way everyone else is! I look forward to the next learning session and the chance to get some new power tools!
Jack

[rchudgins]

What a great weekend! I learned so much my head hurts. Learning how to shrink with tucks was worth the trip by itself, not to mention Kerry's explanation of wheeling and flexible pattern making. Boogiemanz showed my a great deal, too. I've been around cars and bodywork my whole life, and banged on more than a few airplanes, but I never really saw the hows and whys of auto body working until I saw Bennett and James Chapman work metal. Met a whole lot of genuinely nice people people, too. Thanks to Kerry for his time and effort doing this. If any of guys out there have a chance to attend a regional meet, by all means do it!

[Kerry Pinkerton]

A local state technical school invited us over to give our Metalshaping 101 Seminar a few weeks back and today was the day. Had a good group of interested young adults and older teachers and spent about an hour and a half talking to them.

One of the senior staff threw out the idea of hosting a metalmeet at the school. They have quite a bit of space available. The auto mechanics shop we were in today has about 6 bays. There is a welding shop in the next building and they commented they could clear out a bunch of space.

They don't have a sheetmetal program or even autobody any longer. When I was just out of high school, I started at a State Junior College that was next to the state tech school which had a very good autobody program. A few years back they moved all the autobody to the prisons so now to get a tech diploma in auto body you have to get sent to a state prison. That is bound to make sense to someone but not to me.

Perhaps we will investigate this for the next Dixieland MetalMeet. And trade schools may be an option in other places as well as a location to hold get togethers.

[CASPER]

KERRY,

I'm in AMORY MS., would like it if you would keep me updated on a meet in our area. We have several custom & street rodders in this area, my boss is one (Mike Crump ) he's good friends George Pottet of MEMPHIS (He ownes the SNIPER car that TROY T. built ) .

Thanks,
CASPER

[Kerry Pinkerton]

We may try and do another one around the first of the year if there is interest. Keep watching the site for the announcement.

I had a guy call me last week wanting to know about the meet in Sedalia, Mo. I told him he missed it by one week. He was bummed but just had not kept up on the site to see what was going on.

[CASPER]

KERRY,

My boss will be at the nationals, I will try to get him to come by your spot.

CASPER