Now this is just EPIC

Kevin54 · Mar 28, 2015

I'll post this here because it has to do with Fabrication, but this is amazing. For the ones that know Bill Hines, and for the ones that don't.....look him up, he is still working and slinging lead at 93 years old. I saw him YEARS ago when he was maybe 80 at a Lead Sled show in Springfield, Ohio. Him and an apprentice were doing a 3 day chop of a '53 Chevy. Hard to believe he is still going at it, and still making customs. Here's to Bill Hines. :bowdown:

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...-is-still-slinging-lead-at-age-93/?refer=news

Aspen RT · Mar 28, 2015

Very cool!

Chevy-SS · Mar 28, 2015

Wow, that's pretty damn cool. I wonder if he ever had his blood levels tested for lead.

Jarhead0408 · Mar 28, 2015

That's pretty cool. Thanks for posting Kevin.

metalhead212121 · Mar 28, 2015

Wasn't this guy on Monster Garage with Jessie James?

Divcod · Mar 28, 2015

Not sure of the impact of a 23% lead level but would love to have a chance to work with such an artist.

8man · Mar 28, 2015

Wow! 93 - that's incredible.

Uncle_Charlie · Mar 28, 2015

From the article, "Bill Hines is a man who loves what he does, sticking to it no matter what, even with the accumulation of lead in his body—as much as 23 percent—a fact that baffles doctors." 23% of what? Total body weight? Blood content? Lead accumulation is toxic. If that statement is not tongue in cheek, he should be dead. Never the less, lead loading is almost a lost craft and Bill's work is amazing.

Chevy-SS · Mar 29, 2015

Divcod said:
Not sure of the impact of a 23% lead level but would love to have a chance to work with such an artist.

Uncle_Charlie said:
From the article, "Bill Hines is a man who loves what he does, sticking to it no matter what, even with the accumulation of lead in his body—as much as 23 percent—a fact that baffles doctors." 23% of what? Total body weight? Blood content? Lead accumulation is toxic. If that statement is not tongue in cheek, he should be dead. Never the less, lead loading is almost a lost craft and Bill's work is amazing.

I originally didn't read down far enough to see that part, but just did. I recently had a lead test done on myself and I am "high". But I am completely confused by the 23% number mentioned in the article.

I mean, 23% means the guy has ~40 pounds of lead in his body! :shocking:

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Man Cave · Mar 29, 2015

I realize lead content is serious but at 93 and still going do you think maybe Bill has done OK? In the world of cutting off lids and making them look right Bill is a rockstar.

Iron-Iceberg · Mar 29, 2015

It's all filtered through the cigar he always has in his mouth. LOL

Nick Danger · Mar 29, 2015

Chevy-SS said:
I originally didn't read down far enough to see that part, but just did. I recently had a lead test done on myself and I am "high". But I am completely confused by the 23% number mentioned in the article.

I mean, 23% means the guy has ~40 pounds of lead in his body!

-

The only way a person can get 23% lead content in his body is by standing in front of a machine gun.

Lead content in the body is measured in micrograms per deciliter of blood. The entire blood system would carry less than a milligram.

What Lead Levels are Considered Elevated in Adults?

At levels above 80 µg/dL, serious, permanent health damage may occur (extremely dangerous).
Between 40 and 80 µg/dL, serious health damage may be occuring, even if there are no symptoms (seriously elevated).
Between 25 and 40 µg/dL, regular exposure is occuring. There is some evidence of potential physiologic problems (elevated).
Between 10 and 25 µg/dL, lead is building up in the body and some exposure is occuring.

The typical level for U.S. adults is less than 10 µg/dL (mean = 3 µg/dL).

http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2584/

davewo · Mar 29, 2015

I recently bought a power tool with a lead content warning on the plug cable. It literally instructed the user to wash his/her hands after use. I washed my hands 83 times that day. Actually, now I remember it was a 110volt space heater I bought.

classicJackets · Mar 29, 2015

That's just awesome, thanks for sharing! Now I need to go waste my day learning more about this dude.. :bounce:

michel · Mar 29, 2015

It doesnt matter how much lead Mr Hines has in his blood.
Maybe his cigar habit negates the effect of the lead?, Hummm I'll go light up a Cuban after this, just in case.

This guy is a pionneer of hotrodding, like George Barris and many others.
They did miracle with what they had in hand and most of the time, not much money.
Lead is a lost art and we also tend to trash todays builder for using bondo instead of lead, maybe it's somekind of evolution, Older generation of builders like Barris and Hines used to weld with stick welder, now Jessy James, Foose, Troy Trepanier Barry White mastered TIG welding and it's much better.
Anyway, thanks for bringing it up Kevin.

Kevin54 · Mar 29, 2015

metalhead212121 said:
Wasn't this guy on Monster Garage with Jessie James?

Bill Hines and a few of the other top name Legend's of the customizers were on Jesse James show Monster Garage, and they chopped, channeled, and sectioned Jesse's '54 Chevy.

It was Bill Hines, Bill Hines son, in which he mentioned that Bill would probably never make it through airport security with all of the lead in his body. :lol:

I think it was **** Dean, who is one of the Dean Brothers, Gene Winfield, Norm Grabowski, and Fat Jack, that makes the custom front ends and/or chassis.

Also, IIRC, I think it was Norm Grabowski that couldn't finish out the show as he got sick soon after they started. Something like on day two they had to take him out. He may have cam back on a day or so later but I can't remember whether he did or not. And I think Tom Taylor may have also been on the show on the first day to design the car. For ones that used to build model cars, you surely have to remember Tom Daniels. Not only did he do a lot of illustrations for magazines, and design a lot of cars, but there was a lot of Model Cars on the shelves that had Tom Daniels name on them. I have a few diecast cars. Bad Medicine, Paddy Wagon, Tijuana Taxi, and the all famous Red Baron.

And there may have been one or two others on there, but I can't remember right off. There were five or six of the "Legends" of the car customizing world on the show. I don't believe George Barris was on there, nor was Darryl Starbird as far as I know, but Jesse tried to get the best of the best, and it was probably one of the better shows of Monster Garage there was.

I believe it was Gene Winfield who painted it with his fade paint technique. I'll see if I can find a pic of the car.

BTW.....if you ever get a chance to see Bill Hines in person, or happen to see a close up shot of his hands, check out his fingernails. They are about solid black from the lead in his body :scared:

He's overcome a lot of obstacles in his life with whatever it was he was born with, but he has lived a good long life, and is still going strong. I sort of remember an interview they did with him one time a few years back, and he said he has slowed down some, as he don't do the long days he used to do. He only works like 12 hours a day now or something like that. :lol:

It will be a sad day when he passes, but then again, to the car fanatics, it is a sad day when any of the famous car customizers leave us for the other side.

Kevin54 · Mar 29, 2015

Found a few pics, but nothing in order.

I ran across this pic also. Bill Hines in his shop. It looks like he may have a little room left in there for something :spit:

Kevin54 · Mar 29, 2015

Here is a good article from Custom Rodder. Bill Hines built the car in '62, and reworked it again in '12. That's something in it's own right, to be able to work on the same car you built 50 years earlier. Not too many can say they have done that. :bowdown:

http://customrodder.forumactif.org/t2336-buddha-buggie-tats-gotanda-s-1959-chevrolet-bill-hines

d.mcfarland · Mar 29, 2015

This is the stuff where imagination meets skill. This is what Walt Disney is to theme park history.

Kevin54 · Mar 29, 2015

I'll also post this here as it is like a branch off of Bill Hines. When looking for the pics of J.J's '54, I ran across this and have been reading about Dean Jeffries, who has done a shitload of fabrication. In fact, he was contracted to build the Batmobile until they kicked the deadline up to three weeks, so he turned it over to George Barris for whom he worked for previously. But Dean Jeffries built the Green Hornet's Black Beauty, and was commissioned to rebuild one to almost concours restoration, which by that I mean that they wanted it to be restored to how it was exactly made for the show the Green Hornet. It's a pretty interesting read with something like 165 pics, and the read is rather long, so if interested, here you go, and if not, then just skip over this reply. http://www.theblackbeauty.com/bb2/restore/index.php

colt zantop · Mar 29, 2015

Awesome! Thanks for posting.

Kevin54 · Mar 29, 2015

If I'm correct on this MP&C (Robert) goes to a Metal Meet every year that is put on by Gene Winfield. That is something that I would love to attend before the passing of one of the "Great Legends" of car customizing. Robert may have to jump in and make sure I'm correct, but I'm certain that he has attended his seminars quite a few times.

The greatest ones out there that are still left, if anyone of them is close, get a chance to meet them. Once they are gone, then all of it is just history. Today, there are not the greats like there was years back. Granted that there may be one ore two, maybe a couple more, but they will not make the history books like the older ones. Customizing and fabrication like they do or did is a dying trade. Hopefully they have had the time and opportunity to mentor others to carry the trade on.

Just like Bill Hine......lead is dead. There are not very many people today that know how to properly lead a vehicle. Granted, it is hazardous, and many product have came out since that eliminates the need for lead, but then again, how many cars with poly fillers last 50 years? I was lucky enough to learn it from my dad years back, but I also haven't done it in what seems like forever. Today, no one even keeps a vehicle, or names a vehicle that makes it into the automotive history books. So if anyone gets a chance, read up on the Rembrant's of auto customizing and pass it down to your young ones.

iajonesy · Mar 29, 2015

I heard a reporter on some Sat. morning t.v. show about Bill,say that he had so much lead in his body,the Doctors could not x-ray his hands to see how bad his arthritis had become. I can't say if that is a true statement or not but I heard it with my own two ears.He is very interesting to listen to,his conversations kind of wander a bit but he is always in tune with the leading he is doing at the time.
Not too many of his skill level around any more.

Mike

zmaxmotorsports · Mar 30, 2015

Ive been watching/reading about him for years,hes been a hero of mine for many years. :bowdown:

kbs2244 · Mar 30, 2015

I want to need a pocket comb handy when I am in my nineties.

Kevin54 · Mar 30, 2015

Just like Bill Hine......lead is dead

I don't know what I was trying to say when I said that. One thing on my mind, while my fingers were typing something else. In no way was I trying to disrespect Bill Hines as he is one of my heroes, and I just want to make that clear. When I was at the KKOA Lead Sled show, I stood and watched that man for hours. And no way is he dead yet.

Something was truly ******* on my part in that remark :tard::tard::tard:

K13 · Mar 30, 2015

Bill really is a remarkable guy. To say that the art of lead is dead or dying is not even close to accurate there are lots of custom car builders, especially younger ones who are using lead again.

Kevin54 · Mar 30, 2015

K13 said:
Bill really is a remarkable guy. To say that the art of lead is dead or dying is not even close to accurate there are lots of custom car builders, especially younger ones who are using lead again.

I'm going to totally, but respectfully disagree. Lead started going out years ago. My dad taught me the fine art of leading when starting when I was around 12 or 13, and I did it for a number of years. With the new fillers, and ones learning how to properly work metal on the older cars, plus the hazards of lead in both the manufacturing side, and retail side, it is dying out. It's so much easier to grab a can of filler and a tube of activator to fix what is wrong, to most people, than it is to do the job properly.

If lead WAS making a comeback, then almost every automotive show on the tube would show how to properly do it. Plus for a lot of people, it just isn't cost effective or practical to use lead. You need to have the torch, gas, paddles, beeswax, acid, solder, flux, and above all "knowledge" to use lead.

Don't get me wrong, there are ones that still go "old school" and do it the way it used to be done, or if they are going for a concours restoration, will still use lead, and some may be wanting to try their hand at it, so they will get in touch with Eastwood's and pick up the materials, but to say that it is coming back.......ain't gonna happen. Even the fillers of a few years back, are constantly getting reformulated to make them safer. With EPA restrictions on everything anymore, lead can only be made so safe. That is why faucets in your house, some solders, and countless other items or being made lead free, or close to lead free.

The true die hard, old school, lead slingers are close to nothing compared to the ones using the new polyester fillers we have today. Safety, convenience, cost, disposal, are all factored in too. You get caught throwing a few pounds of lead dust into a waste site, and it will be someone's ***.

:beer:

K13 · Mar 30, 2015

Kevin54 said:
I'm going to totally, but respectfully disagree. Lead started going out years ago. My dad taught me the fine art of leading when starting when I was around 12 or 13, and I did it for a number of years. With the new fillers, and ones learning how to properly work metal on the older cars, plus the hazards of lead in both the manufacturing side, and retail side, it is dying out. It's so much easier to grab a can of filler and a tube of activator to fix what is wrong, to most people, than it is to do the job properly.

If lead WAS making a comeback, then almost every automotive show on the tube would show how to properly do it. Plus for a lot of people, it just isn't cost effective or practical to use lead. You need to have the torch, gas, paddles, beeswax, acid, solder, flux, and above all "knowledge" to use lead.

Don't get me wrong, there are ones that still go "old school" and do it the way it used to be done, or if they are going for a concours restoration, will still use lead, and some may be wanting to try their hand at it, so they will get in touch with Eastwood's and pick up the materials, but to say that it is coming back.......ain't gonna happen. Even the fillers of a few years back, are constantly getting reformulated to make them safer. With EPA restrictions on everything anymore, lead can only be made so safe. That is why faucets in your house, some solders, and countless other items or being made lead free, or close to lead free.

The true die hard, old school, lead slingers are close to nothing compared to the ones using the new polyester fillers we have today. Safety, convenience, cost, disposal, are all factored in too. You get caught throwing a few pounds of lead dust into a waste site, and it will be someone's ***.

You can disagree all you want but if you follow custom car building like I do you would see that it is being used again and a lot more than it has in a long time. To say it is dying is just not true if anything it is gaining in popularity. Will it be at the same levels as it was in the 50's, of course not, only an idiot would think that that would happen but it is being used more and more and a lot by young guys who are embracing the older building styles and techniques. And to base the claims that it is not being used by what is shown on T.V shows is nothing short of foolish as you know darn well that the only products that get shown on shows are those that pay for advertising. I am not saying every shop will be using it in 10 years again but it's certainly not the case that when we unfortunately lose guys like Bill and Gene that there will be no one left to carry on the traditions and techniques that they were so well known for which is what a "dying art" suggests. And don't worry I know all about the new fillers I sell them for a living and still use lead on my projects. :thumbup:

MP&C · Mar 30, 2015

Kevin54 said:
If I'm correct on this MP&C (Robert) goes to a Metal Meet every year that is put on by Gene Winfield. That is something that I would love to attend before the passing of one of the "Great Legends" of car customizing. Robert may have to jump in and make sure I'm correct, but I'm certain that he has attended his seminars quite a few times.

Nope, haven't had the pleasure of meeting Gene yet. I've been to quite a few workshops and did learn some leading techniques from Tom Mancuso at one of them.