Dealing with rust

Here is a photo of a home made sand blast cabinet I built this summer.  It's basically a re-purpased corner kitchen cabinet that has had it's shelves removed.  I added a re-purpased glass door and an exterior light for visibillity.  The gun is from Harbor Freight and cost around $20.  If you want to build this, it's easy.  Just seal it up first before you get blasting.  Better yet, put it on rollers and use it outside.  The better the ventillation the better.

These 33 year old stock risers looked pretty rough.  So in the cabinet they went.  This is my first time really using this cabinet on a project.  It took around an hour and a half  to get the results I got.  Next time things should go a little faster though.  I've got some changes in mind already that might help speed up the process.        

It got a little humid and my blast media stopped feeding through the hopper.  I'm still pretty excited to see some results.  Getting this rusty stuff cleaned up will save me some cash.  These guys will get powdercoated soon (most likely black).  I'd like to get a few more parts ready so I can send it all in at one time (or possibly do it myself). 

New grips. Like them a lot, but now I'm thinking black might have been better.

I saw these grips at Posh Factory's website a month ago and really liked them.  You can check out more of their stuff here...http://www.posh-factory.com/catalogue.htm
I got mine off of Ebay from this guy...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LIGHT-BROWN-Early-Barrel-Grip-7-8-handlebar-/250855101850?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a6821159a

They are dam good quality and look even nicer in person.  I might still use them.  Just have to wait and see how they look as the bike comes togethor.

Special delivery

This beauty (or is it a beast) arrived in the mail yesterday.  I couldn't wait to tear into the frame shaped box and see it.  This model 1978 Yamaha XS650 started in Japan and found it's way to the hills of Tennessee.  It arrived on my front porch in Baltimore, MD with a wasp nest already tucked into the frame (no wasps).  This is photo #1 of a project.  Who knows about anything, let's just say I hope it will have a rebirth.  It's got all my attention, and I'm super stoked to have it.  It's hard tailed finally.  Looks really nice.  Monstercraftsman put on a TC bros tail for me.  I shopped around and just found they were the best price going.  I'll have to post some photos of it later.