My name is Jim Watson or “Joe Welder™” as my friends call me. I have always enjoyed building things, first it was model airplanes, specifically scratch built free flight gliders — very technical machines — Then I began working with metal, customizing my Schwinn Stingray bicycle, complete with molded frame tubes and candy apple blue and silver paint.

My dad taught me to look at things differently– to be a creative thinker, and to never stop improving on what you have.

My first real motorcycle was a Yamaha 80 that my girl friend’s dad was getting rid of– he backed over it with his car and bent the frame, so I got it, then modified it for TT and
Flat track racing.

We didn’t have the money that other competitors had, so we built everything ourselves: bikes, trailers, fuel cans, we even made our own leathers, skid shoes and custom painted my helmet.

I bought my first TIG welder when I was 19 years old, and now here we are. . . more coming soon!

For The Record:

1. I am the owner of Arc-Zone.com®, Inc, WeldShop.com™, ShowMeTheMetal.com™, CarmenElectrode.com™ and JoeWelder.com™

2. I currently have no financial interests in any other welding equipment companies.

3. My companies distribute some products which will be mentioned in this Blog.

4. A number of companies have paid for advertising and sponsorship on this site.