[boater bill]

This is a great thread.
I cut the forks off parts bikes I would find to make choppers, record was 8 sets long and the front so high you fell off the back. Learned to weld using my dad's 50 amp sears cracker box and cut up frames to make higher ground clearance, longer wheelbase, upside down frames, custom handlebars etc.
I would also take a roll of caps or maybe it was 3-4 and smash with the 5 pound sledge hammer for fun amd noise. Mom wasn't liking that so much.
Bottle rocket wars escalated in college. With a 3/4 inch 6 foot long PVC, I could get a star burst rocket into a guys room through his broken window pane at 30-40 feet.
About 4 years ago my step son was 11 and he came home with an aluminum bike frame and not much else and asked if we could build a bike. I said sure, whats your budget? He said I have to pay for it. uh, no this is your project. I have no money he says, so we went to the scrap yard and got the wheels, handlebars, seat and pedal of bikes heading for the shreddar for free. He stripped it and painted it lime green with left over paint from his sisters Mustang stripe. Best bike ever in his mind! He learned to strip and shoot paint, and working on a bike as well.
My kids still run off to the tree fort they built 5+ years ago and throw rocks and stuff at each other. Their friends just don't get it and would rather play Nintendo.
We are kind of looked down upon by some ofthe frilly neighbors we have. I think it is jealosy because we have fun dang it!