May 2, 2025 Benchmark Abrasives

Brian Hamm (@moonpigchoppers)

Welcome to this week's #benchmarkspotlight (formerly the #weldershowcase) - we had the opportunity to sit down with Brian from @moonpigchoppers and talk a little shop.

If you would like to be featured in our weekly spotlight (100% FREE) and have a chance at winning one of our Grinder Hoods please send us an email to leo.benchmarkabrasives@gmail.com to get you scheduled in an upcoming week. And for those of you that take the time to share your story with us, we'd be happy to provide a free BA banner. These spotlights are intended to highlight your skill, your business, and your tips and tricks. Most of all it's to have a little fun!

Name: Brian Hamm

Business Name: Moon Pig Welding

Location: San Luis Obispo CA

Socials: IG: @moonpigchoppers

Website: moonpigwelding.com (coming soon)

Specialties: Fabrication/Motorcycle repair

Tell us about yourself - what inspired you to get into your trade? And how long?

After 20 something years of skateboarding and chasing that dream, I got a nasty infection in my ankle and lost my ability to skate like I used to. That being said, I was on the hunt for something else to do with my life. My local college offers free tuition to local residents, so I figured while I tried to heal, I'd take some classes. I took all the welding/ auto body classes they had to offer, I utilized all the resources and time I could there to learn everything I could. I got certified in structural welding, but that was never really my intended path. I worked on my own for a bit doing custom fabrication stuff, and jobs here and there. During covid times, I got offered a job doing oil pipe fence, and ranch style work, and I've been doing that for about 6 years now. I also have my side business in my shop after my day job where I build custom motorcycles, and pretty much take on any side work I can. I've always been very interested in welding and being a welder, so I guess it was just a matter of time before I started doing it.

What keeps you motivated throughout the day?
I am usually a very self motivated person, love to keep myself busy and make new things. Always pushed myself really hard in skateboarding and now in welding and my craft as well. I love finding inspiration online and from all the other talented people around me. But, I have to give a lot of credit to my amazing wife for pushing me even harder, and now our newborn daughter gives me even more reason to push myself!

What is your favorite shop tool and why?
I'd have to say my favorite shop tool is a good ol 4.5" grinder. I love all my tools, but the possibilities with just a simple grinder are endless.

What's your favorite piece that you've worked on?
If I had to pick one at the moment, it would be my personal motorcycle. It's just a 79 shovelhead, but I spend a lot of time making it functional and like a show bike, and I'm proud of how it held up over the years of abuse.

If you could have any job as it relates to question 1 what would it be and what would you do with that?
I think my dream job would be building custom motorcycles and machining parts all day. That being said though, I do enjoy going to work outside during the day doing relatively simple welding work, and coming home to the shop at night to work on my projects. Helps me stay fresh. I think if i did it everyday all day, I might get burnt out. I would love to find a way to start working for myself though, doing things that I enjoy, so I can spend every day with the family and teach my little girl to be good with her hands as she grows up.

My tried and true favorite are the 6" cut off wheels. I know it's a super basic tool, but I am always using them, day in and day out, and they seem to hold up and cut great every time!
I have also been enjoying the new sanding pads and 3" sander discs I got recently. They cut great, and last a lot longer than ones I've used in the past.

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What BA product surprised you in terms of quality - what about it set it apart from the competition?

The green 3" die grinder sanding discs have been amazing to me! I usually go through a handful of them doing little clean up and material removing jobs, but the 36 grit ones I have just seem to keep lasting. It's really nice only having to use one or two for a job that I used to go through 5-6.

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What tips and tricks do you have for us that might be different or eye opening for others to try with BA product?

My favorite trick lately is taking the 3" die grinder quick change sander pads and using them on a 2" rubber backer. I do this for three reasons. One, I can have a little flex on the edge for a little forgiveness while blending. Two, if the edges get worn down I can cut the edges off and keep using the pad until it has none left. Three, I learned years back from a buddy, if you cut the pad four times making it more like a square with some rounded edges, it works a lot better for grinding on welds without cutting into them too much. Especially when trying to blend a fillet weld.

If there was one person you could collaborate with - who would it be and why?

I'm not sure i can think of just one person I'd love to do a collab with, but, I love working with all my buddies and drawing a lot of inspiration from all the other guys out there that do incredible work. I do look forward to getting more involved in the custom motorcycle building world and learning more from all the great builders that are doing it. I got the opportunity this year to build a bike for Born Free Texas and I'm really excited to push myself to create something and meet a lot of new talented builders in the meantime.

Do you have any advice for the next generation that you wish you had when you first started?

My one piece of advice is don't give up. Learn all that you can from the older guys and more experienced people around you, and never think your way of thinking is the only way. Really try not to go into it thinking you know everything and that your way is the best, be open to learn everything you can and soak it all up. It goes a long way if you're willing to learn.

What are your future plans for your shop?

Right now I'm focusing on getting some more machines in here and learning more about simple machining. I really want to get set up with more sheet metal tools, press brakes and benders and start doing more motorcycle frame builds, and sheet metal work. Also, look forward to starting to play with the world of 3D printers to create prototypes and what not for product ideas.

Thanks for sitting with us and sharing your story with the community - is there anything you'd like to add?

Thank you to everyone that inspires and helps me out! I look forward to building more relationships with like minded people and will do my best to share my knowledge and pass on the craft to anyone willing to learn! I like to contribute to my local community by teaching welding classes out of my shop for people who are interested in learning the skill but don't want to spend the time in a school to do so! Thanks for the opportunity to answer these questions!

A Note From Leo

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Brian! Sucks to hear about your skateboarding career but things always seem to work out certain ways for a reason. You seem to be doing pretty well and your custom builds look fantastic. Looking forward to seeing more of your builds!