Metal work was something I became interested in only from an automotive perspective initially. It was only when I started taking courses at Southern Connecticut State University for jewelry that I became hooked on honing in on my skills and working small.

Of course, when I started these classes, I stuck to making things to compliment my bike, to make it truly custom and unique to me. After making enough pieces for the bike I wanted to play with making jewelry, knives, containers, etc. Scroll to see some projects of mine.

One of the first projects I did was a little brass fuse holder, and the magneto side cover for my CB500. I chose to make a brass rising sun to signify it’s Japanese heritage, and I lettered “Made in Japan…Mostly” to capitalize on the fact that I have been customizing the bike to be my own here in Connecticut.

Later on, I had shaped pieces to make the triple tree flush, which my friend Bobby had TIG welded up for me. I lettered onto the triple tree with “Property of M.Simos” to give it a personal touch. In the last frame you see the mockup of the indicators and another crafted piece, the steering stem nut.

The steering stem nuts shell is actually a lost cast wax technique. I cut up my original steering stem and cleaned it on the lathe to sleeve it into the bronze shell, then had it silicon bronze brazed to seal it in and finish the piece.

I’ve now started to dabble in jewelry, some as presents, others as just experiments. I enjoy both the fabrication process as well as casting. From left to right is a brass and silver ring, held upright with rivets; a cuttlefish bronze casting with a pearl, and a white bronze lost wax casting of a freshly bitten strawberry.