Articles written by Amanda Carlson

Amanda Carlson

Associate Editor

FMA Communications Inc.

833 Featherstone Road
Rockford, IL 61107
phone: 815-227-8260

www.thefabricator.com
Contact via email

Results: 61

	Tinkerer, welder, teacher, artist As the welding instructor at Albion Correctional Facility in Albion, N.Y., Jeffrey Benfer is constantly dealing with teaching new batches of inmate workers the ins and outs of production gas metal arc welding, keeping up with their mandatory vocational qualifications, and meeting project... Publish date: May 15, 2013
	Taking it to the next level A welding instructor and two of his seniors have been working together since early November to fabricate a smoker of epic proportions. But in the process the students have found their future calling and their teacher has found a kinship with both. Publish date: April 24, 2013
	Bottle tree boom Mississippi metal artist Stephanie Dwyer never knew she was an artist until she relocated from Washington and began building bottle trees. Today her bottle trees can be found all over the U.S., which has led to opportunities in custom metal art fabrication. Publish date: April 16, 2013
	The quest to get America’s heroes hired National unemployment rates for Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans are high and the state of Michigan is toward the top of list of states with the highest number of unemployed veterans. The Merrill Institute of Welding is working to combat that by providing unemployed veterans with welding,... Publish date: March 15, 2013
	An alchemy of intentions METAL LLC of Ann Arbor, Mich., is not your typical custom fab shop. Along with taking on architectural fabrication jobs, the company also handles restoration of antique and contemporary vehicles, performs product research and design, and fabricates custom sculptural projects. If that weren't... Publish date: March 1, 2013
	Bolt people: There’s an Appel for that Steve Appel of Prescott, Ariz., has been making his bolt people full time for the last 23 years. The variety of requests and the kick he gets out of people’s reactions have turned this one-time hobby into an enjoyable career. Publish date: February 15, 2013
	Three under-the-radar dangers in weld shops Most of us are very familiar with the hazards of breathing in toxic fumes, but here are three not-so-obvious reasons that you need to pay close attention to your dust collection practices. Publish date: January 16, 2013
	Sticking it to vertical-up, overhead SMAW Three weld instructors from across the country share their classroom tips and tricks for helping welders tackle vertical-up and overhead SMAW. Publish date: January 14, 2013
	The real deal in stainless steel A careful examination of metal artist Dave Regier’s work reveals a seamless melding of abstract and realism. Publish date: January 7, 2013
	Burning the torch on both sides For a project involving structural columns made of 4-in. plate, Owen Steel Co. Inc., Columbia, S.C., had two choices when it came to cutting difficult transition bevels. First, it could use a manually guided track torch system and bevel one side of the plate at a time, which would open the door... Publish date: November 14, 2012
	One man’s artisTIG endeavors When he’s not TIG welding at his “normal” job, career welder and metal artist Roger King uses his skills with a TIG torch to create metal sculptures. Publish date: November 5, 2012
	The Lombardi Trophy, with a “Girly” touch Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis earlier this year featured athletic prowess and classic gridiron toughness with a little speed and finesse. But also on display outside the stadium throughout the heart of downtown was a combination of strength and artistic flair that only a metal art sculpture can... Publish date: November 2, 2012
	Metal fab heads west Previewing FABTECH® 2012 in Las Vegas. Publish date: October 8, 2012
	A fabricating home run Kohler High School’s Engineering Club captured the attention of the Milwaukee Brewers, the MLB Network, and thousands of others with its Miller Park replica grill. Publish date: August 30, 2012
	Beyond the “signage” quo Custom sign-maker and architectural ironwork fabricator Blackout Signs & Metalworks, San Marcos, Texas, is a shining example of how a little bit of good luck mixed with confidence, fearless creativity, tireless work ethic, and a penchant for true old-school craftsmanship can create extraordinary... Publish date: July 30, 2012
	Welding fascination leads to spinoff writing career Author Frank Marlow recently sat down with Practical Welding Today® to discuss his new book, which was released in March. Publish date: July 23, 2012
	The gravity of one weld instructor Jaime Shaker, head instructor at Calumet Welding Center, is driven and tough. His goal is to push each student to strive for excellence and reject the notion that good enough is good enough. Publish date: July 10, 2012
	Visual reality Who says art and science can’t intersect? Publish date: June 13, 2012
	Aluminum MIG The push for lighter, corrosion-resistant components has brought aluminum to the forefront of the minds of traditional steel fabricators. Those that approach the material the same as steel often run into weld quality issues that can prove costly. But those who are committed to putting together a... Publish date: May 25, 2012
	Like a rock Kay Minto has a lot in common with the lava that she welds to make sculptures. The rocks, after all, are a product of a Mother Nature temper tantrum. Minto has been through her fair share of natural disasters, too, but all roads have led to a life that she says she wouldn’t change, and an art... Publish date: May 9, 2012
	“A creation of me” When photography lost its luster, a happy coincidence sent Dick Roberts on a quest to learn everything he could about metalworking. The result has led him to appreciate how new technology and an old processes can work in unison for his newfound method of artistic expression. Publish date: May 9, 2012
	Tales of TIG welding Welding professionals of varying backgrounds share their personal journey through TIG welding; the helpful advice theyíve learned along the way; and the lessons learned from the occasional blunder. Publish date: March 9, 2012
	Three’s company Many weld instructors will tell you that the ability to hear plays a critical role in developing a skilled welder. But a deaf student from Tennessee is proving that character traits like determination and a strong work ethic are more important. It also helps to have a creative, patient teacher... Publish date: March 9, 2012
	New year, new welding helmets Taking a closer look at a few new welding helmets. Publish date: February 1, 2012
	The melding worlds of motorsports and metal art A community college motorsports fabrication instructor finds common ground in race car fabrication, metal art. Publish date: February 1, 2012
	SMAW is in session Welding educators discuss why SMAW still holds a relevant place within their classrooms and in today's high-tech industry. Publish date: January 10, 2012
	Where the rubber meets the road Joshua Shaw describes himself as half archaeologist and half fabricator. Those qualities come in handy when he's restoring vintage Sprint race cars, which can provide a number of historical and fabrication and welding challenges. To do it right requires patience and flexible welding equipment. Publish date: November 7, 2011
	Sawing potential Saw operator discovers artistic talent in the discarded metal pieces from his saw and around his job shop. Publish date: October 20, 2011
	Discover technology, opportunity at FABTECH® 2011 North America's largest metal finishing, forming, fabricating, and welding tradeshow returns to Lake Michigan shores Nov. 14-17. Publish date: October 10, 2011
	Full steam (chest) ahead Welding and fabricating using exotic metals requires a special touch, one that Schwabel Fabricating Co., Tonowanda, N.Y., has built its business on for the last 53 years. Publish date: July 26, 2011
	Adventures in metal sculpture Ray Carrington will tell you that he is not an artist. However, the 81-year-old retired math teacher has metal sculputres on display throughout the nation, and continues to work on pieces to give away. Publish date: July 18, 2011
	A journey of 1,000 welds Seven years ago Doug Wilkinson of Reinke Mfg., Deshler, Neb., set out to start up a welding education program for high school and adult students that would give them the opportunity to earn AWS D1.1 or D1.2 qualification. It's been an uphill battle but Wilkinson is still at it--and the welding... Publish date: May 9, 2011
	Little by little Determined to make a life for herself and provide for her family, Mioshi Neal juggled full-time work,night classes, and single-parent duties to ultimately land her dream job—welding instructor. Publish date: May 9, 2011
	Taking the load off material handling A manufacturer of healthcare products automated the material handling and welding of a popular line of medical tables. Publish date: March 14, 2011
	Life in abstract Artist mi Chelle Vara is one of the lucky ones. She has found a way to combine her two passions—art and welding—into a career and a business that she loves. Publish date: March 14, 2011
	Changing up the daily grind A manufacturer of aluminum radar arches found that a simple change in grinding discs yielded big results. Publish date: March 14, 2011
	Meeting the new EPA regulation head-on Publish date: January 25, 2011
	A feminine approach to PPE Women welders face many challenges, and one of the most overlooked is finding PPE that fits women welders properly, while providing them with a safe level of protection and allowing them to showcase their own personalities. Recently, some equipment manufacturers have stepped up their efforts to... Publish date: January 10, 2011
	Metal Sawing 101: Cold saws and band saws The process of deciding between a band saw and a cold saw is not always clear-cut. Here are some short answers to this and other frequently asked sawing questions Publish date: November 22, 2010
	How can laser work for you? In an area where manufacturing has been hit hard, one Machesney Park, Ill., job shop found that an equipment purchase was all it needed to gain momentum. Publish date: September 24, 2010
	Accelerating business with EB welding Thanks to a specific vision and a high-end equipment purchase, C.F. Roark Welding & Engineering Co. Inc. is anything but ordinary. Founded in 1949, the company specializes in electron beam (EB) welding of complex, specialty parts and components for the aerospace, defense, and research industries.... Publish date: July 16, 2010
	Successful plasma cutting counts on consumables Clayton Gould, product marketing manager of torch consumables at Hypertherm, Hanover, N.H., discusses the five hand-held plasma consumable components, how they work with one another to achieve a successful cut, and what operators should look for when evaluating whether consumables require replacing. Publish date: July 9, 2010
	Prioritzing U.S. infrastructure needs Author and co-founder of New America Foundation gives his insights regarding the U.S.'s crumbling infrastructure and provides tangible ways the federal government can address the situation. Publish date: June 11, 2010
	Wire welding in the structural steel world Many structural steel fabricators are loyal to shielded metal arc welding (SMAW). But technology advancements in the wire feed process known as flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), paired with an increasingly competitive market, have changed the landscape of structural steel environments, and by... Publish date: June 1, 2010
	Love your gloves Pulling on a pair of welding gloves, for many welders, is like second nature. What may not be second nature, however, is choosing the right glove to fit your needs of protection,comfort, and dexterity. Just as welding processes differ, so do the gloves that are best-suited for those processes. Publish date: January 14, 2010
	Welders to the rescue In times of trouble we depend on firefighters and rescue personnel to provide assistance.But who do they depend on when they need assistance, particularly when their equipment is worn down or broken? In the areas around St. Charles and Aurora, Ill., they depend on Custom Welding & Fabrication. Publish date: November 6, 2009
	A streetcar to desire [again] Welder/fabricator Bernie Bisnette takes the corroded, worn-down,and skeletal remains of trolley cars and restores them to their originalappearance for the Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport, Maine. Publish date: July 27, 2009
	Back to school with robotic welding Northwest Iowa Community College decided nine years ago that it would commit itself to leading the way in welding technology education. That commitment has not changed as the school recently replaced its 16-year-old robotic welding cell with a Robotic Education cell provided in conjunction by... Publish date: July 6, 2009
	Focus, passion, integrity Be True To Your School winner Lebanon Technology & Career Center gets visit from 17-year-old welding and racing phenom Brennan Palmiter. Publish date: March 14, 2009
	It takes two, baby Hybrid laser-arc welding has been around for a while, but only recently has it gained steam, with more industries turning to the technology for a faster way to make components lighter with less heat input and minimal distortion while still maintaining part tolerance. Publish date: March 10, 2009
	Shake, rattle, and the toll Operating an angle grinder is a tough job. Find out what angle grinder manufacturers are doing to make the tools more user- friendly, including lightening the weight, enhancing antivibration measures, and improving safety. Publish date: August 26, 2008
	See Brennan go Brennan Palmiter may look like an ordinary teenager, but behind the youthful grin is an incredibly driven16-year-old who has his sights set on a career in racing and welding. Publish date: May 13, 2008
	Flat, straight, and shiny Two community college weld instructors and a student collaborated to create a welded metal art sculpture for a silent auction benefiting the college's foundation. Publish date: March 11, 2008
	Helium: In short supply Shops that perform stainless steel, aluminum, or laser welding are feeling effects of the current helium shortage. Looking into gas blends with lower percentages of helium or alternative gases, and ensuring that day-to-day welding practices are not resulting in helium waste, will help these... Publish date: March 11, 2008
	Spin city Welding workpieces with circular components can leave welders spinning, literally. By keeping three considerations in mind, welders can stop spinning and start welding. Publish date: March 11, 2008
	It's a wrap A recap of the 2007 show, including products, the the panel discussion, and final attendance numbers. Publish date: January 15, 2008
	9-1-1: Weld Emergency! Toolweld Inc., a microwelding shop run by a father/son duo, faces the challenges of providing quality welds while working against the clock. The shop utilizes both micro-GTAW and laser equipment to meet the demands of a variety of customers. Publish date: November 6, 2007
	Examining respiratory safety In the wake of the implementation of OSHA's hexavalent chromium standard, read three fab shops' efforts to provide safe breathing conditions for its welders. Publish date: September 11, 2007
	Lost and found A welder from Bost makes realistic scupltures depicting boats, motorcycles, cars, and planes using discarded junk found in garbage piles, yard sales, flea markets, and dumps. Publish date: July 10, 2007
	A recycled dream A Tennessee artist and welder uses scrap metal parts to create one-of-a-kind metal sculptures. Publish date: April 10, 2007
	Home-court advantage A company bid and won a contract from a company who was previously sending its work to Mexico. The company bought a computer-controlled pipe cutting machine to automate the process and cut lead times. Publish date: April 11, 2006