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In this week’s episode, Beau Wigington speaks with Alex Rogers, an entry-level tender and diver who recently graduated from The Ocean Corporation in Houston, Texas. Alex shares his firsthand experience of entering the exciting and challenging world of commercial diving and underwater welding, highlighting what newcomers can expect from training, job opportunities, and life offshore.

Key Topics Covered:

• What commercial diving school entails, from dive science and construction to underwater welding and burning.

• Transitioning from diving school to working offshore: securing jobs, necessary certifications, and specialized offshore training.

• Day-to-day realities of working offshore, including schedules, work expectations, safety standards, and life aboard diving vessels and rigs.

• Personal adjustments required for living offshore, including handling long shifts, confined spaces, and staying connected with family.

• Insights into saturation diving and the supportive roles entry-level divers provide.

Memorable Quotes:

• “An underwater welding job is pretty few and far between. You're more likely to do underwater burning than actual welding.”

• “The rules are written in blood—safety is paramount. Everyone wants to make it home safe and in the same state they came out there.”

• “You really gotta be dedicated to it. If you're considering it, do your homework ahead of time, commitment is key.”

Resources Mentioned:

• The Ocean Corporation: Commercial diving school in Houston, known for excellent training and job placement assistance - https://oceancorp.com/

Save 20% On Related American Welding Program Courses With WELD20

• Basic Inspection Concepts and Methods - https://foxly.link/tbRDjA

• Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welding - https://foxly.link/xelOeb

Alex Roger’s Content & Contact:

• Instagram: @alex.rog_ https://www.instagram.com/alex.rog_/

Connect with Beau Wigington:

In this episode, Beau Wigington sits down with Clint Evashkevich from The Onyx Grove Company, a talented TIG artist known for creating stunning stainless steel artworks. Clint shares his journey transitioning from heavy industrial welding by day to intricate TIG art at night, exploring how his work incorporates unique techniques to achieve vibrant colors and precise textures. He discusses his setup, from laser etching to chilling plates, and reveals common pitfalls and essential tips for aspiring metal artists. Clint also highlights the collaborative spirit within the TIG art community and his partnership with his wife, who complements his metalwork with woodworking.

Key Topics Covered:

• ​How to effectively set up TIG art projects using laser etching.
• ​Importance of using chill plates like steel and copper to manage heat distortion.
• ​Layering techniques to achieve depth and realism in TIG art.
• ​Mastering color control through cup sizes and gas flow.
• ​Common TIG art mistakes, such as clear coating colors, and how to avoid them.
• ​Practical advice for newcomers on getting started in TIG art without expensive tools.
• ​Insights into Clint's creative process and his collaborative work with his wife at The Onyx Grove Company.

Memorable Quote:

• ​"Just do it. If you've got a TIG torch, find any piece of steel and play. Draw something simple, practice lines, and just experiment. It’s the best way to learn."                               - Clint Evanshkevich

Recommended American Welding Program Courses

In this week’s episode, Beau Wigington chats with Miguel Millan, aka Datboimiggz, a tank welder, about essential advice for stepping onto welding jobsites, key insights into tank welding, common pitfalls to avoid to keep your job, and how networking can lead to new opportunities. 

Key Takeaways:

• Getting Started in Welding: Miguel's journey from roofing with his father to discovering welding and transitioning into tank welding.

• Jobsite Essentials: The importance of awareness, trust, active listening, and managing complacency to stay safe and valuable on a jobsite.

• PPE Requirements: Critical PPE items you must have and why safety compliance is essential for your long-term health and employment.

• Jobsite Conduct: How improper cell phone use, failing to follow site rules, and lack of awareness can quickly end your career.

• Finding Welding Jobs: Practical tips for finding new jobs, networking effectively, and presenting yourself professionally to employers.

• Tank Welding Insights: Unique challenges, required skillsets, typical schedules, and practical welding test expectations for tank welders.

• Increasing Your Jobsite Value: Miguel’s tips on how to stand out positively, help your crew, and adapt to your foreman’s preferences to become invaluable on the job.

• Entrepreneurship in PPE: Miguel shares his journey of launching his PPE brand, handling challenges with logistics, and his personal inspiration behind the designs and color schemes.

Miguel Millan’s Advice for Welders:

• Always be ready to adapt; flexibility is crucial.

• Be proactive and helpful to keep the job moving forward.

• Make safety and proper PPE use a top priority for long-term career sustainability.

Miguel Millan's Contact Information:

In this episode, Beau Wigington chats with William England, a seasoned blacksmith turned fabricator, who shares how his background in traditional blacksmithing significantly elevated his fabrication skills, particularly in creating ornamental ironwork. He reveals simple yet effective blacksmithing techniques that can drastically increase the value and uniqueness of fabrication projects.

Key Topics Covered:

• Transitioning Careers: William shares his journey from corporate America, where he was involved with innovative tech products, to discovering his passion for metalwork and fabrication.

• Blacksmithing Basics: Introduction to essential blacksmithing skills like twisting metal, tapering, and shaping iron to add ornamental value and functionality.

• Ornamental Ironwork: Detailed exploration of ornamental ironwork, highlighting its aesthetic and practical value in modern fabrication projects.

• Essential Tools and Techniques: Advice on affordable and accessible tools (hammers, anvils, twisting wrenches) and basic techniques to create impressive ornamental metal features.

• Forge Types: Pros and cons of using coal, propane, and induction forges, and recommendations on which might be best for beginners.

• Material Sources: Tips on sourcing metal affordably, including utilizing scrapyards, flea markets, and online retailers like King Metals for ready-made ornamental components.

• Skill Development: Importance of precision and hammer accuracy in blacksmithing and how to practice effectively.

Resources Mentioned:

• Forge Groups & Conferences:

Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil (SOFA) – Quad State

Appalachian Area Chapter of Blacksmiths

Local hammer-ins and workshops for practical learning experiences

In this weeks episode, we’re diving deep into welding consistency as Beau Wigington chats with Alex Seibert, known on social media as @CrapOutWelds. Alex specializes in both MIG and TIG welding in the aerospace industry as well as off-road fabrication. In this episode, he shares valuable insights into dialing in perfect welds, mastering the “stacked dime” technique, and crucial fabrication tips he’s learned from years of experience across multiple industries.

Key Topics Covered:

• Alex’s Welding Journey

• How Alex got started welding at Palomar Community College.

• The origin story behind his unique username, “Crap Out Welds.”

• Achieving Consistent Welds

• Tips for mastering stacked dime welds with MIG.
  

• Why controlling your puddle (wet vs. sluggish) is critical for consistency.

• Alex’s unique MIG technique, resembling “roller coaster” cursive e’s, to achieve perfect dimes.

• The importance of rhythm and how using a metronome or music playlists could help maintain consistent weld patterns.

• TIG Techniques

• Manipulating filler rod and torch motion to perfect your TIG welds.

• Tips on pulsing your foot pedal and filler dips for consistent results.

• Fabrication Essentials

• Key skills every fabricator needs, including accurate layout and precise measuring.

• Practical clamping tools that every fabricator should have in their workshop.

• Advice for handling sheet metal and avoiding common pitfalls with thin-gauge welding.

• The importance of creating a detailed build plan to avoid fabrication mishaps.

• Strength vs. Aesthetics

• Alex discusses the debated topic of stringers vs. stacked dimes, clarifying when each is appropriate and why being proficient in both techniques is essential.
  

Memorable Quotes:

• “The best way to master welding consistency is through repetition. Keep practicing, keep asking questions, and absorb as much information as you can.” – Alex Seibert

Related Courses From The American Welding Program

In this week’s episode, Beau Wigington chats with Tim Luskin from Tim Welds, a welding and mechanical engineer specializing in aerospace. Tim dives into his unique journey into aerospace, detailing the processes, metals, and meticulous standards involved. He also shares jobs in the aerospace field on the NDT side that people often overlook and gives us some insight into the inspiration of starting his YouTube channel Tim Welds

Key Topics Discussed:

• What is Aerospace Welding?

• Exploring gas turbine engines for jets and land-based turbines.

• Welding exotic metals like nickel alloys and stainless steels.

• Getting started in Aerospace:

• Importance of TIG welding and other processes like electron beam and laser welding.

• Advice on gaining industry experience through entry-level positions.

• Welding Tests & Qualifications:

• Typical tests in aerospace welding, dealing with thin materials and precision.

• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT):

• Careers in inspection, dye penetrant testing, ultrasonic inspection, and more.

• Engineering & Welding Intersection:

• How welders can transition into engineering roles.

• Understanding how engineers design welds considering fatigue, corrosion, and real-world applications.

• Metallurgy in Welding:

•  Insight into the chemistry behind welds, sensitization, and alloy selection.

• Misconceptions Between Welders and Engineers:

• The importance of effective communication and collaboration.

• Tim's Journey & YouTube Channel:

• Starting Tim Welds, transitioning from projects to educational content.

• Favorite projects including V8-powered cordless drill and custom-built go-karts.

Quotes:

• “Get a job somewhere doing what you think you want to do—even if it's deburring parts. Getting in the door is the first step.” – Tim Luskin

• “Engineers who've worked as welders or machinists are typically way better engineers.” – Tim Luskin

Recommended Resources:

In this episode, Beau Wigington chats with Brianna Harbinson, a skilled sanitary and stainless steel welder based in Denver, Colorado. Brianna shares her inspiring journey of overcoming a severe brain injury and rediscovering her passion for metalwork by mastering the intricate skills of stainless steel welding. She highlights the nuances of welding in the sanitary industry, her approach to precise fabrication, managing distortion, and ensuring weld quality through meticulous purging and preparation techniques.

Key Topics Covered:

• Recovering from a traumatic brain injury and its impact on her welding career

• Techniques for mastering stainless steel welding

• Sanitary welding standards and practices

• Managing heat distortion in stainless steel

• Proper material preparation, cleaning, and purging

• Importance of precision and attention to detail in fabrication

Memorable Quotes:

“Your brain is a muscle, and you just have to retrain it.”

“What you do on one side, you must do on the other to manage distortion.”

“Be hungry to learn and dedicated to doing things right the first time.”

Resources Mentioned:

In this week’s episode, Beau Wigington sits down with metal artist and part-time attorney, Alisyn Palla of Meraki Metalworks. She takes us through her unconventional journey from a 16-year career in high-stakes business litigation to discovering her passion for welding and creative metalwork. Alisyn shares the story behind the name “Meraki,” a spin on the Greek word “Meraki,” which means doing something with your heart, soul, and full creative energy. She talks candidly about facing her initial fears of failure, the humble beginnings of her very first Harbor Freight welder, and how she slowly pivoted from the legal world to metal art—ultimately finding a new sense of fulfillment and a thriving creative business.

Alisyn’s approach is deeply rooted in experimentation—what she affectionately calls “FAFO” (fool around and find out). She illustrates how that process has led to stunning, large-scale art pieces that beautify both public spaces and private galleries, while teaching her invaluable lessons about resilience and problem solving. Throughout the conversation, Alisyn highlights her investment in learning through hands-on workshops (like those hosted by Stephanie Hoffman, Sosa Metalworks, and Bailey Industrial) and the power of building relationships at events like Fabtech. She also reveals her passion for giving back: from speaking at local high schools and AWS chapters to empowering others—especially women—to explore the vast opportunities in welding and fabrication. 

Memorable Quotes

• “My worst day in the shop is still better than my best day as a litigation attorney.”

• “Every project is literally a puzzle. You figure out the pieces, make them, and glue it all together.”

• “There’s no such thing as failure—only lessons learned for the next project.”

Resources & Mentions

• Meraki Metalworks

In this week’s episode, Beau Wigington chats with self-taught fabricator and structural engineer Jake LeGrand about his journey from college research labs to hand-cutting custom metal signs and flatbeds in his Kansas City–area shop. Jake shares how learning a broad range of skills—from plasma cutting to welding—opened new doors and fueled his passion for “collecting” techniques. If you’ve been curious about taking on sign-making, turning your hobby into paid work, or just leveling up your fabrication game, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. Jake’s Beginnings

• How a college job in a research lab led Jake to discover a love for welding and fabrication.

• The crucial first “yes” moments that sparked his passion for fabrication.

2. From Hobby to Side Business

• Making pheasant silhouettes and farm signs for friends and professors—and how word-of-mouth grew his clientele.

• Balancing a day job as a structural engineer with an after-hours metalworking hustle.

3. All About Plasma Cutting

• Going from a compact Hobart unit with an internal compressor to setting up a larger shop space.

• Why dry air and proper equipment maintenance can save you money on consumables.

• Hand-cutting vs. CNC: Why Jake still loves the artistry and freedom of freehand plasma cutting.

4. Building Large-Scale Projects & Shipping

• Creating oversized signs and the shipping challenges that come with them (including freight costs and oversize fees).

• Safety tips for cutting into tanks, including thorough cleaning and venting.

5. Sign-Making Logistics

• How Jake sketches sign designs using an iPad and overhead projector to achieve accurate proportions.

• Lighting options (like Govee LED strips) for durable, easy-to-control sign backlighting.

• Simple mounting solutions that help customers install heavy metal signs.

6. Tool Talk & New Adventures

• Jake’s recent partnership with ESAB and how it aligns with his preference for genuine, “non-salesy” endorsements.

• Venturing into building custom truck flatbeds and the opportunities on social media platforms (like TikTok) for new projects.

7. Mindset & Advice for New Fabricators

• Keeping the passion alive and avoiding burnout: why loving what you do is key.

• The importance of doing your own research and respecting others’ time when asking for help.

• Embracing a “skills collector” mentality—never know which skill you’ll need next!

Connect with Jake

In this episode, Beau sits down with Lucas D’Angelo—better known as “MannMadeInMA”—to explore his one-of-a-kind path in fabrication, welding, and machinery rebuilding. Lucas operates a full-blown machine and fabrication shop right in the basement of his home in Massachusetts, turning small-run and often overlooked jobs into his specialty. He reveals how he got hooked on metalworking and why he never shies away from a new challenge—even if it means rebuilding massive vintage machines and hoisting a Bridgeport mill into his basement with a DIY crane setup.

Join us as Lucas shares his best tips for:

• Building a Personal Brand: How social media helped him showcase his range of skills—and why being genuine and excited on camera can make all the difference.

• Taking on “Odd Jobs”: Why small-scale fabrication and custom repair work is surprisingly lucrative, and how your most valuable tool might just be a simple bracket or weld-on trailer part.

• Vintage Machine Rebuilds: How Lucas scores old industrial machinery on the cheap, then breathes new life into it with a little elbow grease (and sometimes a bucket of sand for welding cast iron!).

• Embracing the Side Hustle: Balancing a full-time day job with a thriving “second shift” business—and the freedom that comes from being able to say “no” when he needs a break.

• Dealing with Haters: Why he posts his mistakes just as often as his wins, and the surprising upside to going viral for a shop-fail video.

Connect With Lucas D’Angelo

In this week’s episode, Austin and Beau recap the past year, including trips across the country to check out different shops and schools and all the lessons they learned along the way. They talk about some of their biggest failures and learning moments, some of their favorite experiences, and some goals for videos to make next year. 

Thank You To Our Trusted Partners

In this week’s episode, Beau explores three different ways to learn how to weld: attending school, learning on the job, or teaching yourself. He begins by sharing his own experience of going through a welding program at a local community college, offering insights into what you can expect from trade school.

Next, we dive into the world of on-the-job learning with a clip from Stan Sherwin, who honed his welding skills working alongside his father, practicing on scrap metal during lunch breaks and after hours. We also hear from Laura King, who started her welding journey after a chance conversation at her liquor store job led to a helper position.

Finally, we delve into self-taught welding with Hayden Barnes, who mastered the craft using YouTube tutorials and the support of an online community.

By the end of the episode, you’ll have a clearer picture of each path and which one might be the best fit for you. Tune in and find the inspiration to start your welding journey!

Listen to Stan Sherwin’s Full episode 

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Dan Lucianek & Jakub Stawinski from Markal celebrating 90 years in the marker business about the different types of markers they have to fit a number of applications. They talk about the types of feedback they hear from welders in the industry that have lead to them developing markers that can cut through grease or oil, show up under a welding hood, or even glow in the dark.

In this week’s podcast, Beau stops by the IPG Photonics booth at Fabtech to talk to Dean Brennan, the National Sales Manager for LightWELD, and Rex Alexandre, the President and Principal Engineer for The Handheld Laser Institute, about the future of laser welding in the industry and different applications that might become more commonplace. They talk about the benefits of laser welding, the pathway to laser welding certifications, and advice for people interested in adopting the process in their business. 

Learn More About The IPG Photonics LightWELD Systems

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Matthew Nix, President and CEO of Nix Companies INC., about scaling their family business from 4 people to over 200 employees. He talks about his company's history, starting in 1092, the unique strategies they used to grow through acquisitions, creating a workplace culture that attracts world-class employees, and his upcoming book, “Forging Ahead,” which will be released next week.

Connect with Matthew Nix

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with David Madero, a metal sculpture artist based in Torreón, Mexico who has created sculptures for ESAB, Miller Electric, IPG Photonics, UniWeld, and games like Activision’s Call of Duty & Diablo. He talks about catching the welding bug at the age of 5 by watching his father who was a sculpture artist, different techniques he uses to make his artwork, and gives people advice on how to get started with art.

Connect With David Madero

In this week's podcast, Beau sits down at the ESAB booth at Fabtech this year in Orlando, Florida with Scott Raabe to talk about the path way to starting his school Precision Welding Academy, and then Ian Johnson pops by to talk about what you need to get started in automotive fabrication. 

Connect with Scott Raabe

Instagram 

@scott_raabe https://www.instagram.com/scott_raabe/

@precisionweldingacademy https://www.instagram.com/precisionweldingacademy/

Precision Welding Academy Website - https://www.precisionweldingacademy.com/

Connect with Ian Johnson

Instagram

@ianfrombigtiregarage https://www.instagram.com/ianfrombigtiregarage/

Learn more about the ESAB equipment mentioned in the episode

In this week's podcast, Beau sits down with Ronnie Dunne, a regional sales manager for Gentex‘s PureFlo division at their booth during this year's Fabtech Expo. Ronnie talks about the long-term health risks of breathing in welding fumes, and ways to protect yourself from them with things like their PureFlo all-in-one PAPR system that delivers fresh air on demand keeping you safe from welding fumes. Outside of just fume protection, Ronnie shares the different equipment they make, from high heat resistance equipment for foundry work to the helmets in the fighter jet's cockpit. 

In this week’s episode, Beau and Austin recap their most recent trip where they visited The Maker Camp in the Catskill Mountains of New York and then flew directly down to Orlando for this year's Fabtech Expo. They talk about what it is like to go to Maker Camp and what you can expect to see and do if you haven’t had the chance to attend as well as recapping the experience of building a BBQ Smoker in around 12 working hours. Then give us a recap of everything they did at Fabtech this year at the Expo and a look into the different networking events at night throughout the week. 

Thank You To Our Trusted Partners

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Sharon Guerrero aka Miss.Welds a welder and fabricator based in Houston about emerging leaders in the welding industry helping people learn though social media and YouTube. She talks about learning about different pathways outside of welding, it increase of women getting into the industry, sharing the struggles of messing up, and her future plans for her career. 

Connect with Sharon Guerrero

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Rodney Ross owner of Midstate Welding about transitioning from pipeline work to running a custom fabrication company. He talks about working with his brother Austin Ross on organizing jobs, the balance welding business owners need to have between working for or on your business, custom fabrication projects he has built for the show Building Outside The Lines, and advice for people looking to get into the custom fabrication and mobile welding industry.

Connect with Rodney Ross

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Brett McColl from Industrial Source who is coming up on 80 years in the welding supply business about ways they are helping make customers' lives easier by setting up delivery schedules, what the industry is like up in the Pacific Northwest, who would be a great fit to work at a welding supply store, and how they are trying to help the future of the industry grow by partnering up with local schools.  

Learn more about Industrial Source

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Austin Hargett about what led him to teach instead of fieldwork. He talks about some of the first jobs he had and what you have to get a foot in the door sometimes, taking a job at a school to focus on honing his pipe welding skills, things that he feels would improve the welders coming out of trade schools, and the new teaching opportunities through YouTube to show different parts of the vast welding industry. 

Connect With Austin Hargett

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with EJ Naegeli a welder and fabricator who moved across the country to follow her dream of building custom racecars. She talks about getting inspired by working on her first project car to get more involved in the automotive industry, learning to weld by the guide of a teacher Brett Fenning who got her started in TIG welding aluminum and stainless steel, and what she thinks the welding industry could do to attract more people from the younger generations.

Connect With EJ Naegeli

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Austin Handel who started Maker Camp with the help of his friend Jimmy Diresta to give makers a weekend to come together and learn new skills in all kinds of disciplines such as blacksmithing, woodworking, leatherworking, power carving, and many more. This year Austin and I are going to be in the fabrication tent building a smoker with Chris Verde from Green Money Fab to demonstrate some stick welding. He talks about his inspiration for starting the camp, gives some history to his family’s business The Black Thorne Resort, and he tells us about some new activities to try out this year up in the Catskill Mountains.

Connect With Austin Handel

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Jason & Miranda Chiasson owners of Chiasson Smoke about building their business starting off making horse riding spur and taking jobs that came their way to making rocket stoves and BBQ smokers after finding an audience on social media. They talk about the dynamics of working together as husband and wife, tools that helped their business grow, utilizing social media to get “paid to market your business”, and the importance of networking and building relationships. 

Connect with Chiasson Smoke

Website https://www.chiassonsmoke.com/

Instagram @chiassonsmoke https://www.instagram.com/chiassonsmoke/

TikTok @chiassonsmoke https://www.tiktok.com/@chiassonsmoke

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Eric Pleil owner of Elite Welding Business about common pitfalls people run into when starting a welding business. He talks about breaking through limiting mindsets, having a 6-month emergency fund, setting up systems to help your business grow, and advice for people who are struggling to find success in their welding business. 

Connect with Eric Pleil

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV56B3BUHXgtFT9FZY57aUg

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/eliteweldbiz

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Brett Fenning owner of Fen Fabrication about welding custom car parts and the importance of building your welding foundations one step at a time. He talks about his approach to teaching someone to weld aluminum, his favorite equipment, working on a postioner, and starting his own business.

Connect With Brett Fenning

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Jason Hurst a metal sculptor, and artist that aims to inspire people to learn welding and metalworking by taking a slow approach to get little wins. He talks about how he first got the welding bug by restoring a Volkswagen Rabbit, getting inspired to try art after being encouraged by friends, finding a passion for building Star Wars models out of scrap metal, transforming an ambulance into a tiny home, and gives his advice to people looking to get into making art with welding.

Connect With Jason Hurst

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Kevin Johnson, Owner Of JMW Specialty Welding And Fabrication, and host of the Welding Business Owners Podcast about September's second annual Fabricator Olympics. He talks about what makes someone a good fabricator, the most important skills that will make you a better one, what winning a welding or fabrication contest can do for your business, and some advice for people looking to learn the art of fabrication. 

Connect With Kevin Johnson

Websites

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Adam Streich a CWI and welding instructor at Pellissippi State Community College about common misconceptions around welding from pushing vs pulling with MIG, welding downhill, what kind of welding can make you the most money, and where to go to find good information for those looking to expand their welding knowledge.

Connect With Adam Streich

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Jonathon Herrera a rig welder and owner of Pearl Snap Pimps about finding success after welding school chasing jobs that took him overseas to work at the US Embassy, Hawaii to work at Pearl Harbor and back home to build a solar plant with plenty of jobs inbetween. He talks about working his way through school and putting in extra hours to improve his skills, talking the talk when it comes to getting jobs, and starting his brand Pearl Snap Pimps to give welders clothes to help express their lifestyle and trade. 

Connect With Jonathan

Instagram

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Ronnie Bowen a journeyman pipe fitter in the Local 803 about what it looks like joining the Union with field or welding school experience. He shares some common red flags he sees in new welders joining the union, things he does to try and help his apprentices grow, starting a business that is signed on with a union, and advice for people trying to figure out if joining a union is right for them. 

Connect with Ronnie Bowen

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Justin Mixon, the Assistant Director of Quality at Crystal Steel Fabricators Inc., AWS chapter treasurer, and newly appointed district chair, about obtaining his CWI, CWE, and CWS. He talks about beginning his welding career in a job shop where he learned how to weld different alloys, testing for his CWI, and taking a different approach to his 9-year renewal by testing for his SCWI. He leaves the listeners with advice about how the AWS can help welders grow in their careers and how to get involved.

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Jesse James, a renowned custom fabricator know for his custom choppers West Coast Choppers and wild builds on the show Monster Garage. He talks about how he first got into TIG welding, learning the art of blacksmithing which he uses to forge Damascus steel to make custom guns, and welding exotic materials like copper. He also dives into the importance of fixturing and developing a flow in your workshop. 

Connect with Jesse James

In this week's episode, Beau chats with Andrew Brown an advocate of the skilled trades & founder of Toolfetch.com, and Host of The Lost Art Of The Skilled Trades. He talks about how he was inspired to start working with the trades after helping with the aftermath of 9/11 working to help side by side with tradesmen and first responders. He talks about the growing skills gap when it comes to the trades, working with the AWS to help inspire the next generation to consider welding, and a new foundation called the Skilled Trades Advisory Council that he is helping to get up and running to provide funding and scholarships to people looking for a career in the skilled trades.

Connect with Andrew Brown

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Joel Welch a pipeline welder based in Mississippi who shares his journey to becoming a pipeline welder and dispels some of the misconceptions for new welders looking to break out on their own. He talks about the progression from working on service lines before getting his shot on the main line, how long jobs typically last, how long it takes to find new ones, and then how he plans on setting himself up for success in the future. 

Connect with Joel

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Bob Higg owner and operator of Franken Fab out of Tampa, FL about repairing Heavy Equipment and hardfacing. He talks about the common types of repairs they do to help get construction companies back up and running, hardfacing work that helps to extend the life of equipment, and the importance of safety when doing this work. He then leaves new welders looking to start their own business with some advice about buying what you need without going into a ton of debt. 

Connect with Bob

Instagram @frankenfab813

Thank you to our Trusted Partners

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Jason Becker, Host of the Arcjunkies podcast and Owner of Underground Metal Works and Weld Works Training Center about the difference between a welding certificate and a welding certification. In a recent video, Beau visited Jason’s facility to show the process of getting certified to D1.1 using Dual Shield Flux core and in the podcast Jason elaborates on the process of getting certified and making sure you are getting the right one. He emphasizes that welding certifications are specific to processes, positions, materials, and thicknesses and that a basic welding certification is not a requirement for all welding jobs. 

Connect with Jason

Instagram @arcjunkiespodcast @underground_metal_works 

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Marc Levin who started an apprenticeship program called Welder Underground, in Brooklyn, New York. It aims to teach welding skills to young people aged 18 to 28. Unlike traditional schools, Welder Underground pays apprentices $15 per hour, eliminating the need for them to work multiple jobs to support themselves. The program provides a welcoming environment for those with no prior skills or training, emphasizing the importance of showing up on time, having a passion for learning, and a desire to use the skills for a positive purpose. The program currently involves building an 18-foot-tall sculpture designed by artist Eric Orr, which will be donated to Paris as a permanent reminder of the first Olympics to feature breaking as a sport. 

Connect with Marc & Welder Underground

Instagram @welderunderground

Website https://www.welderunderground.org/

Thank You To Our Trusted Partners

Stop toxic welding fumes at the source with the Abicor Binzel xFume Pro https://foxly.link/ghoADW

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Keenan Maines, a seasoned welder fabricator, who recounts his 35-year career. He talks about getting his start in welding at Braun where he held multiple positions and advises new welders to get into manufacturing to get exposure to all kinds of jobs. He then talks about learning to weld aluminum after hours at a shop to get another job building car wash systems before walking in the door of DeAngelo Marine Exhaust and telling the owner's wife he could weld better than the guy out in the show who happened to be the owner and put his skills to the test getting a job right off the street. He then left to pursue work building turbine boats and power generators before coming back to DeAngelos where he currently works in the fabrication department. He leaves the audience with advice to own up for mistakes you make, and do you best every day and the money will find you.

Connect with Keenan

Instagram @metalsmasherart

Thank You To Our Trusted Partners

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Brain House from Housemade.us about the power of collaboration. Recently we popped by his shop and raced to see who would put together one of his Revolution 2x72 belt grinders the fastest.

In this week’s episode, Beau sits down to chat with Stan Sherwin who we recently visited at DeAngelo Marine Exhaust where he raced against a Cobot to see who could weld a 32” flange the fastest. Stan shares his beginnings in the trade under his father's guidance, overcoming challenges and embracing the opportunities that led him to specialize in various welding techniques, particularly TIG welding different metals. He emphasizes the importance of practice, patience, and never shying away from challenging tasks to master the craft. Stan's stories shed light on his philosophy of striving to be the best, his adaptive learning through trial and error, and his advice to upcoming welders on pursuing excellence. We dive in after a quick word from our trusted partners

Connect With Stan

Instagram @ss_custom_welding

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Hayden Barnes who taught himself to weld and changed careers by starting his business @tookiesshop named after his grandfather, leaving a desk job to work with his hands. He talks about how he has reached out to people in the online welding community for advice and tips to learn, built up his business via word of mouth and handing out flyers and business cards, and then leaves us with some advice about not being afraid to ask questions because you don’t know what you don’t know until you come across it. 

Connect with Hadyen

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Nate Bowman who you might know as the Weld Scientist about the upcoming season of Clash Of The Grinders which he will be hosting this year. Students will have a chance to win up to $15,000 for first place and Nate dives into some of the things students should keep in mind for the competition. He talks about working the application engineers over at 3M learning a ton about their products with hands on experience, and then leaves us with advice about learning to really dial in your machine by knowing what the knobs do. 

Connect With Nate

Instagram @weldscientist

In this week’s episode, Beau chats with Codie Aljets, a metal artist based in Gunnison, Colorado. He talks about finding inspiration in nature which is the subject of a lot of his art. He talks about trying to grow as an artist as well as in business with the help of a coach, meeting other artists when traveling and asking them questions, and a little behind his motivation in the art world, and giving it your all because you only have so much time to live in life so you might as well make the most of it. 

Get in contact with Codie

Instagram @codiealjetsart

In this week’s podcast, Beau chats with Jesse McCollum from Everlast Welders about their new line of handheld lasers and all the different things that people need to know when it comes to safety when acquiring one for your shop. He talks about his journey to working with Everlast, the learning curve with their new laser machines, and where he sees lasers fitting into the industry in the future. 

Connect with Jesse

Instagram @mccollum.weldfab @everlastwelders