The Chopper Shop is a fully equipped welding and metal fabrication studio. The shop has a welding room multiple with oxy-acetylene rigs and a ventilation system. Our work room holds a wealth of metal working tools, and is lined with work benches for machining and sheet metal fabrication.
In Chopper Shop, students learn to design and build their own high quality chopper and low-rider bicycles. Students progress from learning the fundamentals of welding and metal fabrication to building custom bikes using complex techniques needed to build show quality bikes. After mastering the skills involved in bike building and design, students are allowed to create projects on commission. Students at this level work with clients to create proposals, contracts, and budgets while continuing to improve their technical and creative skills. These advanced students are mentors for beginning participants and establish a youth driven environment for the class.
February 25, 2010
Fresh off completing their low-riders for the Los Magificos Custom Car Show in the fall, 8th grade students Clarence and Mike decided to embark on a collaborative project for May’s Art Car Parade: a hot-rod inspired go-kart.
The project is giving them the opportunity to push the skills they have acquired in Chopper Shop over the last two years and make decisions as a team. “Working on the go-kart is a lot more welding, working with angles, and geometry than my bikes,” according to Mike,”It is definitely helping my skills.” Clarence added, “I am getting better at grinding.”
The two have also enjoyed their first experience working together. In a recent Chopper Shop, Clarence was prepping part of the frame for welding, while Mike fabricated a piece of the new top. Working independently, both were on task and checking in with each other. “I like working with Mike,” Clarence said as the two flipped the go-kart on its side so he could begin grinding away the old paint.
After looking at many different possible themes on the internet, they decided to go with a hot-rod inspired look because it was unique. “We didn’t see many things like it,” Mike said, “It’s going to look awesome.”
Keep an eye out for these two speedsters and their creation at the Art Car Parade on May 8th!
December 15, 2009
Workshop Houston’s holiday Break runs from Sunday, December 20th through Sunday, January 3rd. We will reopen with regular our regular schedule Monday, January 4th, 2010! Happy New Year and see you in the next decade!
December 14, 2009
We want to extend a huge thank you to Kim and everyone at JD2 for generously donating a Tubing Bender, Die Set, and Tubing Notcher to Chopper Shop. These tools are going to allow our students to push the quality and creativity of their Chopper Projects. We are really excited and will post some pics of our new equipment in use as soon as we get it!
November 23, 2009
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Mike shows off his chopper at the car show!
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Clarence showing off the Caddy
Advanced Chopper Shop participants Mike and Clarence had a chance to show their custom bikes off at this year’s Los Magnificos 27th Annual Car and Bike Show . On Sunday we took a field trip to see the guys’ bikes and to check out the Car Show. We saw a lot of amazing work, got some good inspiration, and had a great time! Thanks to Jon Chuck and everyone from Los Magnificos for entering us in the contest and putting on a great show.
September 17, 2009
Danny, Chris Bailey and Deshon James had a great time attending the art opening at the Art Car Museum on September 12.
You can view the Stretch Limo Go Cart, made by Chris, on display in ‘Planes,Trains, Motorcycles and Automobiles’ at the Art Car Museum 140 Heights Boulevard
July 30, 2009
Directly following the End of Summer Barbeque on August 1st, all Workshop Houston programs will be closed until Monday, August 31st. Sorry for any inconvenience and see you in September!
Join us this Saturday, August 1st, to celebrate another great year of summer programs at Workshop Houston! Come by between 2pm-4pm for food, music, fun and the world premiere of the Summer Leadership Institute’s Workshop Houston Movie!
July 13, 2009
Beat shop, style shop, chopper shop, and scholar shop will be closed this Thursday as we will be on our trip to Austin. Shop schedules resume as normal next Monday.
June 5, 2009
Stretch Limo Go Cart
We are hoping to sell this unique and drivable work of art. The Stretch Limo Go Cart, created by Montrell and Chris in the Chopper Shop.
for more details contact us or check out this posting
http://houston.craigslist.org/rvs/1191858464.html
