I’ve been working at Arc-Zone.com for almost a month now and every day I have the opportunity to learn something new regarding the welding industry. Prior to joining the Arc-Zone.com team I had no idea how broad and expansive the welding and fabrication industry truly is…people use welding applications for almost everything! Read about this group of Michigan teens who are leading America’s innovative youth movement.

DPS “innovators” second in car-creation competition Jason Carmel Davis, Press & Guide Newspapers, 11/30/2008

DEARBORN- A group of 10 Dearborn Public School District (DPS) students-seven current and three recent graduates-worked seven days a week for 15 months to create something most teens dream about producing.

The team of students built a car.

The finished product can seat two people. It has a seat from a 2001 Ford Escape and neon green flames that start on the hood and make their way around both sides. The drive system on the car combined an 18:1 limited ship differential and axles from an electric golf cart, with a custom 36V, high-speed golf cart motor. The combination of the two provides excellent torque, traction and limited off-road capability, according to the team’s Web site, ivd.dearbornschools.org. CONTINUE READING ONLINE –>

My co-worker sent me this article about a graduate student who could not afford the high-cost associated with the custom archtop bass guitar that he wanted. Instead of giving up on his dream, he took matters into his own hands– Jim Normancy, CEO of Normandy Guitars, took his dream and welded it into reality:

Manufacturing is a High Note for Aluminum Guitar Maker


Bass electric-guitar player Jim Normandy once shopped around for an archtop guitar–an acoustic guitar with a full body and distinctive arched top.

But the $3,000 price stopped him short. “Manufacturers were making custom guitars from solid billeted aluminum. I was still in graduate school and couldn’t afford such instruments. So I decided to make a competitively priced guitar. Instead of wood or plastic, I opted to use 0.080-in. aircraft-grade aluminum sheet metal because of its quality and durability,” says the then-future CEO of Normandy Guitars, Salem, Oreg. CONTINUE READING ONLINE AT MachineDesign.com–>

Are you or anyone you know currently working on an interesting welding application or project? If so, feel free to let us know and…SHOW ME THE METAL™!

One of the wonderful things about this industry is the amazing things that people do with metal. I ran across Guy McIntyre’s story out there on the internet. My favorite quote from the article is a little further down– in other words you’ll have to click to read the rest of the article, but I’ll share it with you: “I believe if I can’t make it I don’t need it.”

This guy uses any kind of metal he can get his hands on, from the hub of a snowmoblile trailer, to a rusted 55 gallon drum.

Salvaging the scrap heap

By Bea Lewis
CITIZEN.COM, Article Date: Sunday, November 16, 2008

Guy McIntyre of Tilton showcases his welding skills by creating animal sculptures as well as abstract art.

“It takes all my talents as a welder and fabricator to make something like that,” he says as he stands next to a giant blue heron he crafted out of aluminum. The wings are made of diamond plate creating the appearance of feathers.

“I’ve worked on planes, trains, automobiles, ships, bridges and high-story buildings,” he said.
CONTINUE READING ONLINE –>

What are you working on? Show Me The Metal™ !

Humboldt County resident utilizes welding and metal fabrication techniques to restore a vintage 1950s handmade trolley!

Bringing history to life
Sharon Letts, The Times-Standard, 11/11/2008

As a boy, Gerry Tomczak grew up with the clanging, rushing sounds of the “L” train, or elevated trains, in Chicago, but it wasn’t until he came to Humboldt County in 2002 that he was able to be a part of the history of this mode of travel.

”I joined the Timber Heritage Association — which at the time called itself the Northern Counties Logging Interpretive Association — and I volunteered to work at the steam-ups of the small gypsy locomotives at Fort Humboldt,” he said.

Tomczak, who resides in Eureka, served on the association’s board of directors, with a three-year stint as its vice president. He also played a part in getting the 1950 Arcata & Mad River Railroad #101 returned to Humboldt County from DeRidder, La., as well as overseeing work done on the machine — from restoration to getting the diesel operating.

Tomczak believes the past is an arrow that points to the future. ..CONTINUE READING ONLINE->

If any of you are currently using metal fabrication or welding techniques on a restoration project or have before in the past, feel free to share your stories with us!

If you google “Tony Welding” you’ll find a link to a cache of videos posted online and the opportunity to “attend” welding classes taught by Tony Marsden, a welding instructor at the Simi Valley Career Institute. Funded by the state of California, the Institute’s welding program is free, however, there is usually a waiting list.

An instructor for over 25 years, Tony has always used videos to supplement his instructions. “It did not occur to me to put them on google video until recently,” he says. There are 54 videos in total, covering everything from equipment and accessories, metal identification, welding symbols, tube bending, fabrication, and structural codes in the areas of Arc Welding, MIG, TIG and Oxy-Acetylene. These videos offer a way for students who can’t get into the program either by limits of space or geography, to learn from an instructor with over 40 years of welding experience and certifications in SMAW, FCAW, GMAW and GTAW.

The son of a general contractor, Tony was introduced to the construction industry and welding at an early age. Over the years he was told many times he would make a great teacher. When he was offered a position to teach part time, he accepted and part time soon led to full time. “I have always enjoyed sharing information,” he says.

Working at the largest and most comprehensive adult school in Ventura County, California has allowed Tony to share a lot of welding information. And place over 3000 students in good jobs over the last 25 years.

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