WELD

In this episode, host Beau Wigington chats with Mark Levin, Nate Bowman, Jason Becker, Adam Stretch, Justin Nixon, and Austin Hargit about welding education that matches today’s work, how accredited testing actually runs, and practical technique myths, so you can pass tests, pick the right training path, and build a career you’re proud of.

Key Topics Covered

• Apprenticeship that pays: Why Welder Underground hires 18–28-year-olds at $15/hr to learn and how “show up on time + bring enthusiasm” beats prerequisites.

• Realities of training: Traditional school vs. modern apprenticeship; teaching through a live 18-ft sculpture build bound for Paris.

• “Teach for the job”: Why MIG dominates entry-level work and how to prepare for it without ditching stick/TIG fundamentals.

• Test day without panic: What hold points are, why skipping one is an automatic fail, and how an ATF routes your test.

• Certificate vs. certification: What actually counts in industry and the paperwork/logistics behind true certs.

• Technique myths with evidence: Push vs. drag (short-circuit vs. spray), polarity (DC+ vs. DC−) explained in plain language.

• Flux-core with shielding gas: Why it can look good yet break brittle—what’s happening in the flux chemistry.

• Inspection mindset: Basing welds on data and repeatability “10 times out of 10,” not opinions.

• Career ladders: From welder to CWI/SCWI, plus where NDT and phased-array UT fit.

• Social media as a help line: Getting accurate guidance vs. filtered hype; how to vet advice.

Save 20% On Related American Welding Program Courses With WELD20

Use code WELD20 at checkout for eligible courses - https://foxly.link/9T3dtc

Guests’ Content & Contact

• Marc Levin

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/b9USCroNxYb 

• Instagram - @welderundergound https://www.instagram.com/welderunderground/ 

• Nate Bowman

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/Fm1dGXvNxYb 

• Instagram -  @weldscientist https://www.instagram.com/weldscientist/ 

• Jason Becker

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/YZs86gBNxYb 

• ​Instagram: @arcjunkiespodcast https://www.instagram.com/arcjunkiespodcast/ 

• Adam Streich

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/SjMHDYGNxYb 

• Instagram - @akstreich https://www.instagram.com/akstreich/ 

• Justin Mixon

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/VEG22HKNxYb 

• Instagram - @thatclassy_diver https://www.instagram.com/thatclassy_diver/ 

• Austin Hargett

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/UCaeIVQNxYb 

• Instagram - @dr.weldz https://www.instagram.com/dr.weldz/ 

Connect with Beau Wigington

Instagram: @beaudiditwelding — https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington

E-mail: [email protected]

In this episode, host Beau Wigington chats with pipeline, shop, union, rig, and underwater welders about getting started, choosing a path, managing money, and building a reputation that keeps you working.

Key Topics Covered

• Pipeline reality for new grads, why most start as helpers, and how prior plant work translates to the right-of-way
• Shop welding as a launch pad, learning MIG aluminum at night, and stacking TIG reps until it clicks
• Union entry routes, testing in late, and navigating attitudes when you do not start at Year 1
• Rig welder vs single-hand: what the truck changes about pay, expectations, alloys, and accountability
• Underwater work safety, crew size, comms with cranes, tables, and why diver discipline matters
• Money talk without the fluff: per diem, overtime, and avoiding debt on lift kits and rims
• Networking that works: texts, referrals, timing, and demonstrating value before the test
• Parenting and welding paths: why some stick to shops, shipyards, or offshore rotation for balance

Memorable Quotes

• “All you got is your name. Everything you do affects the work you are going to get.” — Joel Welch
• “I burned through pallets of aluminum wire and TIG’d couplings all day until it clicked.” — Keenan Maines
• “People are going to have a problem when you test in late. Prove what you can do and keep it moving.” — Laura King
• “Commercial diving is safe when you respect the procedure. Most problems start with the diver.” — Jordan Moreno
• “The machine does not start until 400 dollars.” — Kenny Stu
• “If I cannot afford to buy two, I cannot afford to buy one.” — Hunter Wilson
• “Overtime and per diem are the math behind ‘welders make money’.” — Liv Taylor Dodge

Save 20% On Related American Welding Program Courses With WELD20

Use code WELD20 at checkout for eligible courses - https://foxly.link/9T3dtc

Guests’ Content & Contact

Joel Welch

Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ZVKXL0w5eYb

Instagram - @welchwelding https://www.instagram.com/welchwelding/

Keenan Maines

Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/AZ5msfE5eYb

Instagram - @metalsmasherart https://www.instagram.com/metalsmasherart/

Stan Sherwin

Full EP -https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/8OTdMaF5eYb

​Instagram: @ss_custom_welding https://www.instagram.com/ss_custom_welding/

Laura King

Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/LEpJGFG5eYb

Instagram - @lauraxking https://www.instagram.com/lauraxking/

Jordan Moreno

Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/OsB9IRM5eYb

Instagram - @thatclassy_diver https://www.instagram.com/thatclassy_diver/

Jonathon Herrera

Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ZGfRkNN5eYb

Instagram - @jonathon_herrera23 https://www.instagram.com/jonathon_herrera23/

Kenny Stewart

Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/yYzZlbS5eYb

Instagram - @kenny.steww https://www.instagram.com/kenny.steww/

Hunter Wilson

Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/5Y7wLXV5eYb

Instagram - @texaspipeliner35 https://www.instagram.com/texaspipeliner35/

Liv Taylor Dodge

Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/xXxAua15eYb

Instagram - @livtaylordodge https://www.instagram.com/livtaylordodge/

Connect with Beau Wigington

Instagram: @beaudiditwelding — https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington

E-mail: [email protected]

Host Beau Wigington revisits standout moments from metal artists who turned sparks into careers. You will hear practical safety, process, and career advice from creators who weld sculptures, bikes, tanks, wildlife art, and even giant instruments. 

Key Topics Covered

• Why “failures” are usually redirections and how to use them to grow your craft

• Oxy-acetylene as a lost-but-powerful gateway to understanding metal behavior

• Oxy-fuel safety, from first-time “pops” to tank awareness and best practices

• TIG art workflow, tracing with a laser, clamps vs welding down, and chill plates

• Getting consistent color in stainless TIG art using cup size and gas lenses

• Welding copper for fuel tanks, heat control, filler strategy, and leak risk

• Letting the sculpture “tell you” what to build, and iterating without fear

• Using CAD to plan scrap-metal builds when materials are unpredictable

• Promotion that works for artists, from mags and photos to simple outreach

• Why networking at industry events can unlock commissions and collaborations

• “Failures are not failures, they are redirections. Walk through those chapters, even the bad ones.” — Rae Ripple

• “Oxy-acetylene is a great gateway process. You are one with the metal, watching fusion happen.” — David Madero

• “For TIG art, I clamp to a chill plate. I hate grinding, so I avoid welding pieces down.” — Clint Evashkevich

• “I make my own copper filler from the base metal so the polish hides the seam.” — Jesse James

• “No two-dimensional picture does a sculpture justice. CAD helped me see it from all angles.” — Rich Quinn

Save 20% On Related American Welding Program Courses With WELD20

Use code WELD20 at checkout for eligible courses - https://foxly.link/9T3dtc

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  Connect With The Guests

  Rae Ripple

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/S5uuhqQW6Xb 

• Instagram - @raeripple https://www.instagram.com/raeripple 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@rae.ripple

  Website - www.raeripple.com

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  David Madero

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/RybaimdX6Xb 

• Instagram -  @madero.co ⁠https://www.instagram.com/madero_co/⁠ 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MaderoCo⁠ 

• Linkedin - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/madero-co⁠. 

• Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/MaderoCo/⁠ 

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  Clint Evashkevich

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/lIhNTjkX6Xb 

• ​Instagram: @theonyxgrovecompany ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theonyxgrovecompany/⁠ 

• ​YouTube: ⁠http://www.facebook.com/theonyxgrovecompany⁠ 

• ​Facebook: ⁠http://www.facebook.com/theonyxgrovecompany⁠ 

• ​TikTok: @the_onyx_grove_company ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@the_onyx_grove_company⁠ 

• ​Website: ⁠https://www.theonyxgrovecompany.com/⁠ 

• 
  

  Jesse James

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/XrpB0HoX6Xb 

• Website ⁠https://jessejames.com/⁠

• West Coast Choppers ⁠https://westcoastchoppers.com/⁠

• Instagram @popeofwelding ⁠https://www.instagram.com/popeofwelding

• Outlaw TV - https://otlw.tv/ 

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  Rich Quinn

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/4FJ46mxX6Xb 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/quinn_metal_art/ 

• Scrapfest - https://scrapfest.com/ 

• 
  

  Billy Moulton Day

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/U7cMDZKW6Xb 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/w.moultonday_sculpture 

• Website - https://www.wmdsculpture.co.uk/
  

• Ivan Iler

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/GIOKmTPX6Xb 

• Website - https://www.ivanilerstudios.com/ 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ivan_iler 

Connect with Beau Wigington

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington

E-mail: [email protected]

Download the WELD App: https://foxly.link/Qj0VEa

In this episode, host Beau Wigington pulls together the most practical, hard-won business advice shared on WELD over the past three years—everything from getting your first customers and pricing your time, to choosing insurance, building a team, and using short-form video to keep orders flowing. 

Key Topics Covered

• Why reliability beats “stacking dimes” perfectionism for business growth (show up, do what you say)

• Budgeting and bootstrapping: paying down debt, selling online, and reinvesting in tools

• Social media that sells: consistent short-form posting, showing your face, and treating content as a product

• Getting legal and protected: LLCs, accountants, business banking, and choosing the right insurance broker

• Knowing when to hire: escaping burnout, delegating office work, and building a small, capable team

• Culture that retains welders: safe shops, good lighting, respect, and clear values people can rally around

• Mobile welding startup basics: van setup, Google Ads, word of mouth, and keeping a “day-job safety net”

• Skill growth for beginners: daily reps, letting learning compound, and not chasing “perfect”

• Sales fundamentals: websites, clear branding, phone numbers on trucks, and simple prospecting habits

• “If you’re a maker on YouTube, the video is the product—not the project.” — John Malecki

• “We couldn’t afford marketing—so we posted. Consistently.” — Jason & Miranda (Shass on Smoke)

• “File the LLC, hire a good accountant, and stop trying to do it all alone.” — Luke Labdie

• “Get decent insurance and learn the terms they want to hear—answer only what’s asked.” — Kevin Johnson (JMW Fabrication)

• “If you want a world-class team, create the kind of place world-class people want to work.” — Matthew Nix (Nix Industrial)

Save 20% On American Welding Program Courses

Use code WELD20 - https://foxly.link/9T3dtc

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/kal9F3kNUXb 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/meltinmetalmobile/ 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHt5K7OkaBivUMvwn9W9ppw 

• Website - https://meltinmetal.com/ 

• Jason & Miranda Chiasson 

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/LQanfTINUXb 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chiassonsmoke/ 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmthizFiUZOPJGHSDLQl4-A 

• Website - https://www.chiassonsmoke.com/ 

• John Malecki

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ZYAlnNONUXb 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/john_malecki/⁠ 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@JohnMaleckiUnscrewed⁠  

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@John_Malecki⁠ 

• Website - ​​johnmalecki.com 

• Luke Labdie

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/8mb48DwOUXb 

• Instagram⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/aaweldfab/ 

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lukethewelder 

• Website - https://aaweldfab.com/ 

• Kevin Johnson

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/E7z6nEdPUXb 

• Welding Business Owners Podcast - https://www.weldingbusinessownerspodcast.com/ 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/weldingbusinessownerspodcast/?hl=en 

• Fabricator Olympics - https://www.fabricatorolympics.com/ 

• Oliver Adamson 

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/lFvs4LbQUXb 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/citizen_build/?hl=en 

• Website - https://citizenbuild.co/
  

• Matthew Nix 

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/OpFUQohQUXb 

• Website - ⁠https://www.nixcompanies.com/⁠ 

• Calvin Gordon

• Full EP - https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/eN8uN3kQUXb 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/arconewelding/ 

• YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ARCONEWELDING

• Website - ⁠https://www.arc1welding.com/ 

Connect with Beau Wigington

• Instagram: @beaudiditwelding — https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington
• E-mail: [email protected]

In this episode, host Beau Wigington chats with Adam Heffner (Hero Machine Co.) about his unconventional journey from a third-generation butcher to ironworker to fabricator, and why many small shops hit a tipping point where a 2 kW fiber laser on single-phase power outperforms plasma for cost, time, and quality. Recorded at FABTECH from the Hero Machine Co. booth, Adam breaks down real numbers on consumables, cleanup time, and when to make the jump from plasma to laser.

Key Topics Covered:

• Business is a trade, too: why fab skills need business skills to turn into profit.

• From side hustle to shop: working “7-10s” for three years to de-risk going full-time.

• Insurance realities: how coverage limits push new shops toward non-critical work early on.

• Plasma → Laser math: the break-even window around 40–55 cutting hours/month.

• Consumables & cleanup: plasma (~$30/1,000 pierces + ~1 hr cleanup per cutting hour) vs. laser ($6 lower lens/week + ~5 minutes cleanup per cutting hour).

• Power & air you already have: running a 2 kW laser on 220V single-phase with a standard ~10 HP compressor + dryer.

• Cut capacity: 2 kW fiber laser cutting 5/8" mild steel—and why power isn’t the whole story.

• Build vs. buy: lessons from DIY presses and tables, and why support/QC matter.

• Supply chain + QC: avoiding bait-and-switch by inspecting at the source.

• Winning architectural work: translating “pretty” drawings into constructible submittals, staying on schedule, and protecting margin when delays escalate.

• Systems that scale: MRP, workstations, and process flow so the shop runs on rails.

• The “Hero” idea: giving small shops a superpower that lets them price competitively and win bids.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Business is a trade, just like metal fabrication.”

• “If you’re cutting more than ~40–55 hours a month, you really should have a laser.”

• “You can unplug your plasma table and be cutting 5/8" mild steel on a 2 kW fiber laser, on single-phase 220V.”

• “My mantra was: make the means of production.”

• “I didn’t want to die with a dream.”

Learn more Hero Machine Co.

• Website - https://heromachineco.com/ 

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574579615110 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heromachineco 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3LhWJjQrF4bmbdffkSbE8A 

Connect with Beau Wigington

• Instagram: @beaudiditwelding https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington 

• E-Mail : [email protected]

Host Beau Wigington chats with Bill Pharmer (National Senior Director of Advanced Fabrication, Airgas) and Bryan Thomas (National Director of Package Gas Services, Airgas) at FABTECH about unlocking the hidden cost of welding. You’ll hear how to spot leaks in your workflow including spatter, over-welding, wrong gas selection, slow change-outs, and how small fixes compound into cleaner welds, faster throughput, and healthier margins.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why labor dominates cost per weld foot (≈85–90%) and how to focus on the variables that actually move profit.

• Baseline first: measure wire-feed speed, amperage/voltage, travel speed, gas flow, gas type, burn time, and consumable usage.

• Operator Factor (arc-on time ÷ total time) as the north-star KPI for rework and throughput.

• Common profit leaks: loose electrical connections and resistance, poor gas-to-wire ratios, excessive gas flow (“blasting”), and “75/25 for everything.”

• Over-welding math that hurts: a weld spec’d at 3/16" laid at 5/16" is ~78% more labor, wire, and gas, for zero added value.

• KPIs that tell on your process: wire-to-contact-tip ratio, gas-to-wire ratio, melt-off rates, and contact-tip consumption patterns.

• ARCAL® in five mixes (Prime, Flux, Speed, Force, Chrome): when to choose each to improve cleanliness, penetration, and speed without helium guesswork.

• Change-out efficiency: how Viper (valve-integrated pressure regulator) and quick-connects cut 10–15 minute bottle swaps, protect calibration, and maintain consistent flow to low pressure.

• Tracking improvement: digital welding efficiency analysis when available; simple manual logs and calculations when it’s not.

• Change management that sticks: coach, show results, and iterate—don’t just “turn the knobs and leave.”

Memorable Quotes:

• “Spatter is rework and that does nothing but eat up the labor piece.”

• “Labor is at least 85% of your cost per weld foot; gas and wire are the small slice.”

• “If it’s over-welded by 1/16", you’ve over-welded it by ~78% too much labor, too much wire, too much gas.”

• “The first thing everyone blames is “bad gas ". I promise you it’s usually not that.”

Learn More About Airgas

• Unlocking the Hidden Cost of Welding™ program - https://www.airgas.com/industries/metal-fabrication/products-and-services/unlocking-hidden-cost-of-welding

• ARCAL™ Gas - https://www.airgas.com/solutions/arcal

• Contact the Advanced Fabrication team at Airgas - [email protected]

• Website - https://www.airgas.com/ 

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/airgasusa/ 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/airgas 

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/airgas 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzsrLNYAZh7VzLUbgxLLrhw 

Connect with Beau Wigington

• Instagram: @beaudiditwelding https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington 

• E-Mail : [email protected]

In this episode, host Beau Wigington chats with Alexander Purvis, Senior Welding & Automation Engineer at Novarc Technologies, about pairing TipTIG with a spool welding robot (SWR) to boost pipe-shop speed, consistency, and operator safety.

Key Topics Covered:

• Learning curve & training: 1–1.5 hours to get comfortable for hands-on folks; standard onboarding is one week for three operators (3:1 trainer ratio).

• Fit-up tolerance: Built to handle real-shop conditions (nominal 3/32" root opening; workable from ~1/16" to heavy 1/8") without demanding “perfect” hi-lo.

• Low-maintenance mechanics: Air-powered manipulator (no hydraulics; sealed bearings) to cut downtime.

• Assist vs autonomy: AI reads variable root opening/hi-lo in real time and switches among seven root-save levels to keep the root on track.

• Process flexibility: Dual-torch MIG option (short-circuit root → flux-core fill/cap) and a TipTIG hot-wire TIG package for stainless/critical work.

• Where it fits: Prefab spools for mechanical contractors, expanding into oil & gas and nuclear work.

• Safety & ergonomics: Operate 4–5 ft from the arc, reduce fume exposure (especially on stainless/hex-chrome), and ditch the “bent-over all day” posture.

• Operator buy-in: Find a shop “champion,” then let them own the cell and rack up reps.

• Throughput story: One SWR operator reportedly laid ~158 in/day, edging five manual welders combined (~148–150 in).

• See it yourself: Demo-on-demand videos and an in-person Customer Experience Center (Houston).

Memorable Quotes:

• “We don’t expect a perfect fit up… the system accommodates that variance.”

• “Set it on a tack, press start, and the operator can walk away.”

• “He out-welded five manual operators,158 inches in a day.”

Learn more about the SWR from Novarc Technologies

• Website - https://www.novarctech.com/ 

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/novarctech/ 

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/novarctech 

• X - https://x.com/novarctech 

• LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/company/novarc-technologies-inc- 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChc6v5nXWaUU5g9eakabdNw 

Connect with Beau Wigington

• Instagram: @beaudiditwelding https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington 

• E-Mail : [email protected]

In this weeks episode, Beau Wigington & Austin Hargett visit the CN-Seamless booth at Fabtech to chat with Josh Cooper (CEO) and Sam Marcom (COO) to unpack how a class project at NC State turned into a portable CNC cutting system built for welders in the field.Key Topics Covered:Origin Story: How three classmates (Josh, Sam, and Dario) turned a senior design idea into CN-Seamless and the Mach 1 portable CNC.Why It Works in the Field: Off-the-shelf components, low upfront tooling, and a form factor that mounts anywhere—flat plate, vertical, even overhead.No G-Code Needed: A welder-friendly, four-step workflow—Design → Place → Materials → Run—plus DXF import, built-in shape library, and on-the-fly speed slider.Cleaner Cuts, Faster: Preloaded parameters by material/thickness, improved piercing (no oxy-fuel “plunge”), and practical tips for getting a clean kerf on day one.Mounting Options: Electromagnet base for steel, vacuum suction for aluminum/stainless, and pipe magnets for round work.Attachments & What’s Next: Oxy-fuel and plasma today; a beveling attachment (circles, arcs, complex profiles) in the pipeline—backward-compatible with Mach 1.Real-World Feedback Loop: How shop visits, FaceTime support, and customer videos drive software updates (dozens shipped) and new shape templates (fish plates, pin flags, gussets).Social to Sales: From ~500 to 100k+ combined followers after creators started testing it; why “see it in person” still matters.Buying & Lead Times: Website + select distributors (e.g., Arc3 Gases, Earlbeck, Airgas/Linde). Small team scaling production; typical lead time targeted at a few weeks.Future Tools: Concepts for a pin-lancing machine and a beam crawler for shops that don’t need a full beam line.Memorable Quotes:“We really try not to call it a robot—it’s a tool you’d keep in your back pocket… just with a tablet.”“Making it so you don’t have to see a single line of G-code—that was the hardest (and most important) part.”“Customers told us what shapes they cut every day. We added templates so they can just pick, place, and run.”=Check Out The CN-Seamless Products Mentioned In The PodcastCN-Seamless Website - https://foxly.link/Y9vM8zConnect with CN-SeamlessInstagram - @cn_seamless https://www.instagram.com/cn_seamless/ TikTok - @cn_seamless https://x.com/cn_seamless YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@CN-Seamless Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553048445096 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/cn-seamless-inc/ Connect with Beau WigingtonInstagram: @beaudiditwelding https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington E-Mail : [email protected]

In this episode, host Beau Wigington chats with artist David Madero (@madero_co) live at FABTECH in the Walter Surface Technologies booth. They dig into stainless MIG for sculptural texture, a step-by-step path to mirror polish (without those heartbreaking last-step scratches), and where automation fits in for grinding and finishing.

Key Topics Covered:

• Mirror polish without surprise scratches: working through ~5–6 abrasives and why a consistent sequence matters.

• Why he chose MIG on stainless (coming from oxy/acetylene) and what that unlocked for texture.

• Shielding gas on stainless MIG: opting for straight CO₂ to encourage artistic porosity and surface character.

• Pre-polish prep that won’t bite you: why sandblasting can pit stainless and how wire wheels & careful prep help.

• Tool stack for speed: Walter Big Buff, Linemate for line effects/cross-hatching, plus a powerful die grinder and wire brush.

• Workflow for the neurospicy welder: using strict, written step-by-step instructions to avoid backtracking.

• Automation vs. artistry: PushCorp’s automated grinding and the question of “can a robot grind with soul?”

• Safety & visibility: welding hood with side windows and gel-pack headgear for comfort and awareness.

• Community matters: why Walter’s “big company that feels like family” vibe supports creative work.

• Future builds: figurative pieces shaped with grinder-carved textures and cross-hatched finishes.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Don’t sandblast when you want a mirror finish.”

• “I’m looking for those happy accidents, that texture most welders try to avoid.”

• “People still appreciate hand-made, it has soul.”

• “With the right sequence, those last-step scratches don’t show up.”

Check Out The Walter Products Mentioned In The Podcast

• Walter Surface Technologies Finishing Tools - https://foxly.link/SLZ32J 

• Walter Surface Technologies Grinding Tools - https://foxly.link/mhF6s9 

• Walter Surface Technologies Abrasives - https://foxly.link/CS6grF 

• Walter Surface Technologies Welding Hoods - https://foxly.link/uWo6yg 

Connect with David Madero

• Instagram - @madero_co https://www.instagram.com/madero_co/ 

• TikTok - @madero_co https://www.tiktok.com/@madero_co 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MaderoCo 

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MaderoCo 

Connect With Walter Surface Technologies

• Website - https://www.walter.com/us/ 

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WalterSurfaceTech 

• Instagram - @waltersurfacetech https://www.instagram.com/waltersurfacetech/ 

• TikTok - @waltersurfacetech https://www.tiktok.com/@waltersurfacetech

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/walter-surface-technologies 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYqYBAv0JZD0Zg0cm0sXcg 

Connect with Beau Wigington

• Instagram: @beaudiditwelding https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington 

• E-Mail : [email protected]

Download the WELD App:

• https://foxly.link/Qj0VEa 

In this weeks episode, host Beau Wigington chats with SendItRubi, a car builder, race car driver, and founder of Send It Nation and the Welders Foundation about real-world trail repairs, building off-road rigs on a budget, and creating opportunities for new welders.

Key Topics Covered:

• Field fixes that hold: why most trail repairs default to stick, and when a ratchet strap and recovery plan are the right call

• What’s in Rubi’s trail-welding kit: portable TIG/stick options, grinder, hood, PPE, and a couple of universal brackets/plate

• Battery-powered vs. alternator-driven welders: Elevate vs. Premier Power, plus old-school battery welding

• “Bougie on a budget”: sourcing junkyard axles and Marketplace parts without sacrificing safety

• Budgeting a first build vs. a race build: where the big dollars actually go

• Events that move the needle: why face-to-face at SEMA, PRI, and King of the Hammers beats posting from home

• PRI vs. SEMA for fabricators: which is better for workshops, one-on-one brand time, and hands-on learning

• Skills that pay in off-road fabrication: consistent MIG/TIG/stick, out-of-position welding, body support, and visibility (good hood!)

• Entering a male-dominated space: taking yourself seriously, choosing the right rooms, and being coachable

• The Welders Foundation: scholarships, bootcamps, and gear that remove barriers for new welders

Memorable Quotes:

• “You don’t want to carry too much stuff… the Elevate with a grinder, a hood, and a long-sleeve shirt, you can fix most things.”

• “There are some boogers that hold really good… but you don’t know what you don’t know.”

• “Seat time is everything, whether it’s in the driver’s seat or under the hood.”

Save 20% On Related American Welding Program Courses With WELD20

• See all the courses available to start learning today - https://foxly.link/t8aJ0M

Connect with SendItRubi

• Instagram - @SendItRubi https://www.instagram.com/senditrubi/ 

• TikTok - @senditrubi https://www.tiktok.com/@senditrubi 

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SENDITNATION 

• Website - senditnation.com 

• Welders Foundation - welders.ai 

Connect with Beau Wigington

• Instagram: @beaudiditwelding https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington 

• E-Mail : [email protected]

Download the WELD App:

• https://foxly.link/Qj0VEa