Notching

Having fun tearing phone books in all sorts of ways. Here is a 1-3/4" thick book with two notches in the top and one in the bottom.

3/8" x 7.5" Bolt "Short Bend"

I've been posting pictures of some of the bolts I've been bending lately and thought I'd put up a video to go with them. Here I am bending a 3/8" x 7.5" bolt with an overhand grip.

Fish Hook Bend

I've been having a lot of fun lately bending all sorts of different sizes and styles of bolts. Shown here is one that I bent a few minutes ago into the shape of a fish hook. The 1/2" x 18" hex head bolt is pictured with a 60 d (1/4" x 6") spike for comparison. Another nasty one for my collection.

Some Assorted Hardware

Earlier today I stopped in at a hardware store to follow up on some bolts they were locating for me. Among the things that I found there were these very strong F-911 Bolts, one is shown on the right side of the picture. I'll post more on that particular piece later. Also pictured are a 60 d that I crossed the ends on, a 1/4" hex bolt I bent into an "S", a 3/8" hex bolt as well as a big 1/2" thick bolt. Fun stuff for sure!

On Stage The Main Stage

On June 13, 2009 I was given a great honor of preforming on the main stage of the Association Of Oldetime Barbell And Strongmen's 26 Th reunion in Newark, New Jersey. This photo, taken by John Corlett, was captured just after I bent a 12" heavy duty adjustable wrench into a "U" shape as my opening feat.

Sometimes They Break

Things don't always go quite as planned. Take this pipe wrench for example, normally they will bend nicely and cooperate. Sometimes, however, the steel likes to fight back and make things more difficult. This particular wrench had been tempered a little more than normal and it barely bent before it broke in two.

Just like in anything, when you find yourself in a situation that isn't going how you anticipated or is harder than expected, set your head and dig down a little deeper. You might not end up where you thought you would, but isn't the journey as important as the destination?

Well Said, Sir.

Ireland Post 1

I just returned from a series of performances in Ireland. Aside from the formal demonstrations and motivational talks I went there to deliver, I also did a bit of impromptu feats around the country.

After hiking up 1,500 feet and breaking for lunch, I thought this would be a good place to do a traditional feat of strength. With a 1,300 foot vertical rise in the background, I wrap up a 60 D spike (1/4" x 6") in only a thin bandanna and bend it around my index fingers.

Be sure to check back for more from this incredible voyage.

Sheared

Another way I like to tear phonebooks is with a shearing motion.

Interesting Spike

I'm always on the look out for new and different items for use in my training and shows. This spike fits right into that. It's made from a piece of 15-1/4" long 1/2" thick rebar. But it gets better, this isn't regular "run of the mill" rebar. This metal has a gray tone to it and felt much tougher than what you might find at a home improvement store at the same length. Plus it is very sharp, check out that chisel point. Ouch!

1,664 Pages

Yesterday I received a call inquiring if I was interested in some 2" thick directories. ABSOLUTELY! These books are fun!

Memorable Weekend

This past weekend is one that will be in my memory for quite some time. A great friend of mine and fellow Oldetime Strongman, Aaron "Mighty Mac" McKenzie, came up from North Carolina for a visit. Friday we had made our way to the training facility named "The Dungeon" of Slim The Hammerman Farman. It's a special honour anytime you get to visit with someone you greatly admire and to be mentored to by them. Every time I visit with the "old man" (Slim turns 75 this year and still routinely performs feats of strength that no one has been able to duplicate) I come away with a deeper understanding of what it is to truly be an Oldetime Strongman. Thanks Slim.

After performing for and visiting with The Hammerman till the we hours of the morning, Mac and I made our way to Dan Cenidoza's get together in Baltimore MD on Saturday afternoon. There we got to witness some incredible feats of strength. Jedd Johnson came down from upstate PA with John Eaton from NY, John Manino came down from eastern PA, as well as Luke Whippo also from Baltimore. Every one was doing what they do and we had a great time. Thanks Dan for putting this together, looking forward to the next time we can all meet up again.

Screwdriver Scrolling

I thoroughly enjoy scrolling steel. The bends are complex, and they work the fingers and hands in different ways. Plus, once you're finished you have a one of a kind work of art.

Double Hub Lifting

A few months back I had made a post about hub lifting. Along with that, I included a video clip of myself performing the lift. This has become a regular part of my training routine and the last few days I have been thinking about attempting the double hub lift. Since today happened to be the first "nice" day weather wise in a while, reaching the low 50's, I decided to head out to the driveway and "give it a go". First attempt flew right up with no trouble at all. I grabbed the camera and here is the second attempt.

Goes to show what dedication can achieve.

Different Bicycles

I mentioned in a previous post that I like tear a deck of every brand, type, and style of plastic coated playing cards I come across. Today I added another deck to my collection.

Double Corner Tear

After I tore a full deck of cards the first time I attempted it, I have constantly looked for ways to make this feat more difficult. To add new goals, new challenges to the things I have already succeeded with. With the cards for example, I have quartered horizontally, notched, eighths, double vertically torn, and of course the double corner tear. I have wrapped them in duct tape, torn in the box, duct taped in the box, worn oven mitts, behind the back, hand cuffed, etc.,etc.,etc.

I am not mentioning these things to be boastful, what I'm getting at here is don't be satisfied and grow stagnant, every time you reach a goal add to it and go after the next one with commitment and passion. Over time you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish! Enjoy your journey.

New Years Eve Tearing

For the last workout of 2008, New Year's Eve, I thought I would tear 9 phonebooks to celebrate the coming of '09! Get ready everyone, BIG things are coming for the new year!

Tragic...

The Joker had seen me coming, then he met a "tragic" end.

Bending A Big Bolt

As a traditional strongman, steel bending is one of the main things I do. In this clip I am transforming a 1/2" thick by 18" long, solid steel hex bolt into a "U" shape during a recent performance.

Hair Lifting

In the last post I mentioned some "intense lifting". Here it is. In the video above I have a loading pin and weights totaling 300 pounds. The apparatus is then connected to my hair via industrial steel cable and pad locked in place. Then I stand up with all the weight being focused on my scalp.

In case your wondering, yeah - it hurts!