Inside the Monster Garage With Jesse James

Crafting mechanical works of art is bike builder Jesse James’s passion. See the process through the lens of photographer Nathaniel Welch.

By Chuck Tannert

Photographs by Nathaniel Welch

Published in the November 2007 issue.

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The Right Steel. James prefers to work with German steel. He feels it’s the purest: “You can tell because it has a great look and feel to it after it’s been welded. Plus, while you’re welding it, the metal doesn’t sputter and pop.” Low porosity is another reason to use the best steel. If there are pores and other imperfections in the metal, they will compromise the strength of the weld. When you’re building, say, a gas tank or frame, such as the one shown here, the welds between the metal sheets or tubing have to be rock solid, otherwise they’ll weaken the integrity of the bike. The stress of being on the road could cause a gas tank to leak or, worse, a frame to separate.

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