The Fabricator Podcast

This episode of The Fabricator Podcast features a conversation with Chris Rusch, formerly of Rusch Machine & Design, and Mike Wagner of Cornfield Customs. They discuss the history and development of metal shaping equipment, particularly the power hammer, and how it has enabled a resurgence in this specialized craft. Chris and Mike describe the techniques and approaches they use to shape metal, inc...

Kent Brown joins The Fabricator Podcast talk about becoming CEO of O'Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) in 2018, his leadership philosophy, emphasizing safety, empowering the OMS workforce, expanding the company's geographical footprint, and what it means to be a mainstay on our annual FAB 40 list. Brown discusses how OMS has experienced significant growth and transformation in recent years, going...

Steve Kost of Chicago-based Metal Health Artwork joins us this week to talk about how he turned to creating metal sculptures to help him cope with PTSD after serving in the military, and what started as just a hobby has become full-scale effort advocating for better mental health practices among veterans and other adults. Steve talks about his time serving with the Navy Seabees , his career as an...

In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Kirk McCauley, owner of American Engineering and Metalworking (AEM) in North Canton, Ohio, shares his journey from the tool and die world to running a modern, full-service metal fabrication shop. McCauley explains how embracing automation, laser welding, and robotic material handling has helped AEM stay competitive, and why investing in people and creatin...

In this episode, we sit down with Hector Ortega—sculptor and founder of Ortega Sculpture and Silver Lining Metals Stamps , based in the Phoenix metro area. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and problem-solving as an artist, from developing fabrication skills to exploring different materials and processes. Ortega discussed the challenges of sustaining an artistic career, the need...

Lucy Minturn and Liz Kloster co-own FosterWorks , a sheet metal fabrication shop in Chicago. After purchasing the business a couple of years ago, they’ve worked to shape it with their own vision, despite having no prior experience in the industry. By combining their complementary skills and building a strong team, they’ve successfully grown the manufacturing business. FosterWorks operates out of 1...

Mike McCarthy, VP at Design Communications Ltd. (DCL) , joins The Fabricator Podcast to talk about how DCL is at the intersection of engineering, design, and fabrication of some of the most recognizable creative large-scale projects around the country. DCL specializes architectural custom elements like signs, sculptures, and tech installations. They work closely with designers to engineer and buil...

This episode of The Fabricator Podcast features an interview with Professor Jo Mackiewicz , an English professor at Iowa State University who also happens to be a welder. Mackiewicz discusses her research on communication and learning in the welding and fabrication trades, as well as her experience working part-time at Howe's Welding & Metal Fabrication, a small job shop in Ames, Iowa. She shares...

Mike Finnegan joins The Fabricator Podcast live from the PRI Show in Indianapolis. The long-time host of Motor Trend's Roadkill series on YouTube, discusses his background in journalism and media, how he taught himself welding and fabrication skills, and his current focus on his Finnegan's Garage YouTube channel. The conversation also includes insights from guest co-host Tom Patsis of Cold Hard Ar...

On this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Aaron Montello of Jet Edge Waterjet Systems joins us with Paxton Shantz of Beckhoff to talk about water jet cutting machines in the sheet metal fabrication industry and how automation is helping drive the technology. This episode was recorded at FABTECH 2024 in Orlando, Fla. Learn more about our sponsor Beckhoff . Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any c...

This episode of The Fabricator Podcast features a conversation with Dustin De Haan of Trick-Tools, a company that distributes tube benders and other metal fabrication tools. The discussion covers Trick-Tools' experience serving a wide range of customers from hobbyists to large manufacturers, and the role of tube bending and fabrication in the racing and automotive industries. The podcast also touc...

Chris Zeppieri of Make Everything joins us on this episode of The Fabricator Podcast to talk about his fabrication shop in New York, his popular YouTube channel , and educating people interested in working with their hands. He goes into detail about his early days working in construction and how that led to growing his business with creating how-to videos, social media, digital marketing, and beco...

Demi Knight Clark joined us on The Fabricator Podcast to talk about her efforts to open career pathways in the welding and manufacturing industries to people of all backgrounds and genders. She talks about how her grandmother's work as a Rosie the Riveter during World War II fueled Clark's own interest in the trades, pivoting from a career in construction, focusing on workforce development initiat...

On this episode of the Fabricator Podcast, Blake Hamar, the founder of Cali Raised LED and Apex Fabworks, joins us to talk about starting a manufacturing business in high school, growing it into a successful aftermarket and job shop operation, and implementing an unconventional management structure. Hamar started his business in high school while attending boarding school in California, selling LE...

Metal artist Sarah Stork joins The Fabricator Podcast to talk about creating intricate, lifelike sculptures using welding techniques. The Texas-based artist discusses how she stumbled into sculpting through a welding class and has since honed her skills to produce detailed dozens of works like a blue heron with thousands of individually welded feathers, large intimidating cassowary, endless amount...

Nate Bowman and Kyle Worzala join Dan Davis and Josh Welton to talk about 3M Clash of the Grinders , a student-based competition sponsored by 3M that teaches proper grinding techniques and safety. It features 12 contestants who receive hands-on training from industry experts. Bowman, known as the Weld Scientist, hosted Season 2, and Worzala, a welding instructor at Gateway Technical College in Ken...

BlueForge Alliance Chief Strategy Officer Tim Shinbara joins The Fabricator Podcast to talk about how BFA serves as a neutral integrator for the U.S. Navy, focusing on improving the capability and capacity of the submarine industrial base. The conversation delves into BlueForge's outreach and workforce initiatives, including Build Submarines campaigns and partnerships with organizations like Major...

Drew Crowe shares his inspiring journey from a teenage felon to a leading manufacturing advocate and speaker to creating The New American Manufacturing Renaissance . Crowe stumbled into the metalworking industry by chance, finding a job at a machine shop that put him on a path to success that he never expected. He now travels the country inspiring the next generation to embrace modern manufacturin...

Emily Wilkins, founder of Marketing Metal , helps job shops, machine shops, metal fabricators, custom equipment builders, and other small manufacturing businesses build their brands and tell their stories. She returns for her second appearance on The Fabricator Podcast, and provides comprehensive marketing services, including website development, content creation, and social media management. Wilk...

Sharon Cobb, the associate program manager for NASA's Space Launch System, discussed the innovative technologies and manufacturing processes being used to build the massive rocket that will enable this new era of space exploration. Cobb is one of the forces behind NASA's Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years and develop plans for a sustaine...

Jay Lockett of Kansas City-based Jay Fabwerks joins us to talk about how he made the jump from a hobby welder working on cars to creating a metal fabrication business that serves everything from working on custom railings to structural fab projects, and how he did it in a non-traditional way without formal welding education. Jay also chats about embracing an entrepreneurial mindset, hiring workers...

Jason and Miranda Chiasson, owners of Chiasson Smoke based in Blue River, Wis., discuss their journey developing their metal fabrication business. They share how they went from creating custom spurs to expanding a product mix focused on rocket stoves, grills, smokers, fire pits, custom signs, and more. They share the growing pains of running a small business on their family homestead, the role soc...

Adam Fullerton is a Toronto-based metal fabricator who specializes in creating railings, doors, and other accent pieces for commercial and residential settings. The wanderlust tradesman talks about his career working in different trades (like car restoration and masonry) around the world, from England to Australia to Canada, and how it all led to him starting his own small business, Fullerton Meta...

Jamie McMillan, founder of Made in the Trades and Kick Ass Careers , is a Canada-based advocate for the skilled trades industry. She discusses her journey in the trades, her efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the industry, and her work in schools and communities across Canada. Jamie also talks about her coloring book project that aims to educate children about different career opportuni...

Diane Reko, CEO of Reko International and Concorde Precision Machining, joins us to chat about her father starting the business in 1976, her taking over the company, implementing automation processes, and her thoughts on maintaining a strong manufacturing base in Canada. She also talks about her family's Hungarian roots, the automotive industry, the construction sector, developing skilled trades i...