Interview with ECC Metal's Mike Laird

Apr 18, 2014

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 14980 times

Name: Mike Laird
Hometown: Greenville, NC
Occupation: business owner/fabricator/pro bike rider

You've been riding for a long time, when did you pick up welding?
Mike Laird: Sophomore year in high school I took welding at my local vocational education school. It was a 2 year program. BMX got me into welding to begin with.

What are some of the ramps you've working on that are still going?
Mike Laird: I've built 75% of King BMX Stunt shows ramps, DC

shoes ramp which I believe was sold to S&M bikes years later, Woodward's Lake Tahoe steel mini ramp and Jaycee Park here in Greenville.

What non-BMX-related welding jobs have you done for BMX riders?
Mike Laird: I've done most of my non-BMX related fabrication for Dave Mirra's latest house. I made his stainless steel stair case and handrails. I've also done some work on James Foster's car and some work for world renowned BMX tattoo artist Brian Lee's tattoo shop.

You've recently started making custom frames. How hard is it to weld a frame up?
Mike Laird: There is more to fabricating a frame than just welding. The fit is almost just as important as the finish. A good fit-up prepares you to make a good weld. It took me over six months building the fixtures before I welded my first frame. Take in consideration, I only worked on the fixtures for about an hour a day after I finished my main jobs for the day and on the weekends. So to answer your question directly it is not that easy to weld thin gauge material. It takes a lot of practice, precision and patience.

The brake bridge is where you customize you frames. What have you come up with so far for several riders?
Mike Laird: Just to clarify I do more than just seat stay bridges to make my frames custom. For example any angles the customer wants, brakeless, removable or welded on brake accessories. I can also do dropout slot sizes, tubing diameter and even a powder coat option. Here's a list of some of the seat stay bridges of done so far:

-Skull and cross bones
-Straight edge X's
-Mitsubishi logo
-turbo
-infinity scroll
-cancer ribbon
-coffee cup
-star
-company logo
-initials

Are you inspired by watching the Custom chopper/car building programs on TV?
Mike Laird: Hahahaha, I do watch a bit of those shows but they don't really inspire me. I've had a custom metal fabrication business for 13 years now. I specialize in building things you can't buy at any store. So I decided to take the same approach to building BMX frames. I just want to do my own thing and stand out from the rest of the sheep.

Have you been contacted by bicycle companies to make their frames?
Mike Laird: Yes I have.... more than I could ever have imagined. The problem is American-made frames are not cheap. I'm just not interested in mass production. I want total control over my frames and production means I would have to hire help. Hired help just wouldn't have the same passion for building frames as I do. Anyways, I like the hand building aspect of each frame, it makes everything more personal. I can't compete with China in the production sense, but what I can do is bring a personal touch that Chinese frames will never have.

Is it hard to get 4130 cro-mo tubing in all the sizes you need to weld up a BMX frame?
Mike Laird: No, Solid bikes makes it real easy. If they don't have what I want I'll go to Henry James or Bike Lugs.

What machines do you use to finish a frame? (cutters, benders, welding machines, drills, etc)
Mike Laird: The machinery I'm currently using....
-Miller Dynasty 200 DX
-Torchmate CNC
-Delta drill press
-Delta belt sander
-Milwaukee chop saw

What is a piece of machinery that you'd like to have in your workshop?
Mike Laird: A mandrel bender, I'd love to start making handlebars and forks.

What's you favourite brand of tools?
Mike Laird: Miller Welders and Bosch hand tools

Where do you want to take ECC Metal?
Mike Laird: I just don't want to work for anybody else ever again. I hate workin' for someone and not feeling appreciated. That's the worst feeling- working your ass off for someone else and all they care about is if you were 1 minute late or something. I just want ECCM to pay my bills and keep away from workin' "for the man".

Thanks to: My lovely wife Lisa, she puts up with me and handles all the bookkeeping for the company. Frank at Euro Enginuity for the shop space. And all my friends that put their faith in me and ordered a frame from me. Much love.

Contact info:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Instagram @mike_laird
Facebook.com/mikelaird

Pics by Laird Frame