Combining art, metal, and friendship

Whoever said art can’t be functional? Fusion Metal Art custom fabricated the wine rack, the display case behind the bar, and the W on the restroom door for the Villaggio del Vino in Tyler, Texas.

Paul Silva, founder of Fusion Metal Art, a Hawkins, Texas-based custom fabricator, has had quite the career leading up to where he finds himself currently. While he has always had a knack for the creative, he learned how to meld that with welding and metal fabricating from his father, who opened a welding business when Paul was 12 years old. The two worked side-by-side until Silva hit his late 20s and began doing mostly fabricating and repair work for dairy companies. Every job was different, which taught him how to appreciate the whole spectrum of metalworking.

That affinity continued even after he branched out on his own, first as a metal artist making pieces for weekend shows, then as a pipe welder in Idaho working on stainless steel induction lines, and then moving to Texas to do some custom welding and fabrication for a friend’s restaurant. One thing led to another and Fusion Metal Art was born.

Art is a theme that’s woven into the fabric of Fusion Metal Art, with each individual operating on the premise that welding itself, in all of its various forms, is an art, whether the project is a decorative aluminum wall hanging, a custom steel sign, or a cast iron ornamental handrail.

Anyone can lay a bead, but only a true craftsperson can create a concept, draw the plans first on paper and then via a computer program, and from there manipulate cold hard steel to turn the concept into a reality.

Silva and his team of fabricators, which includes Charlie Fernandes and his son Anthony, Jarred Brown, Joey Nartia, and David Cole, are in many ways artists, and their work focuses on highlighting the creative side not just in decorative pieces, but in functional items like tabletops, fireplace screens, gun cabinets, and even outdoor signage. The company, which, in Silva’s words, is made up of friends and family, operates just the way you’d expect. They selflessly collaborate, they support one another, and they generously share knowledge with their younger workers.

Every day is different, and every job is unique. It’s an important lesson Silva learned from his father, and one that has helped him build a successful company, one that he is proud to share with his friends and family.

PWT: What’s your most vivid memory of working with your dad?

He taught me not to put all of my eggs into one basket. He taught me so much—we repaired tractors, did exhaust work on cars, built hot rods, fabricated railings, and, of course, did dairy repair work. We did all kinds of jobs on all sorts of materials, and I think those lessons that I learned with him translate well into what we are doing now. We work with brass, aluminum, stainless, cast iron, all kinds of different materials.

PWT: What is the most challenging part of your job?

I don’t think of metalworking as challenging. It’s fun. The challenge for us has become working with commercial customers. We went from just working with local people to doing a lot of commercial work. It’s a hard transition to make because commercial work is a very different world, especially for a small business like us. In a commercial setting, they may not pay you for six months.

Also, our work is in pretty high demand, but we have not increased our workforce at all. We are just working three times as hard with the guys that we have. The reason is that it’s very difficult to find people who have diversified skills, and unfortunately, we don’t have time to train people. Although, three of the younger guys who work here have really come a long way. One of them couldn’t even read a tape measure when he started, and now there’s nothing he can’t build.

This 75-ft. Cor-Ten® (weathering) steel planter is just another example of how vastly different each job is. Variety is one of the aspects Silva loves most about his job

PWT: What’s the best thing about what you do?

I like that we don’t do the same thing every day. We’re not always welding two pieces of pipe together, and that’s the problem I had with the pipefitters union. Don’t get me wrong, that was a great job and I learned a lot, but being in it and doing the same thing every day, it wasn’t driving me. Here I have nothing but drive. We’re always getting to do something different, and it just feels good. And now to see some of these younger guys start to learn to do things on their own is really awesome.

PWT: In the bio on your website you talk about carrying on your father’s legacy. What legacy are you leaving with your own children?

I want my kids to see that hard work can pay off. I want my boys to work here and take over someday because they would always have a job. I feel anyone in this field, or similar ones like electricians, plumbers, and welders, will always have a job. I don’t know if they’ll ever run out of work.

I see now that people just want to sit at a computer, and the trades are suffering and get no respect in large part because of that. I actually think it would benefit the youth of America to take a serious look at the trades.

I’ve had my kids here in the shop and they’ve helped me drill holes for a job. My little boy runs a drill press and knows how to use an impact wrench. I just haven’t let him weld yet because, well, he’s 5. My other son is 10. I’ve got a roller out here for flat bar and they’ll use that and I’ll let them bend stuff. When they get a little older, I’ll let them do a little more.

PWT: Of all of the projects you’ve done, what’s your favorite?

They all stand out if you want to know the truth. I was telling the guys recently … we’ve got a workbench out here and the other day I was admiring all of the cutting and grinding marks on it. I said to the guys, “If this table could tell a story.” I mean, we’ve done such different stuff that I can’t even say that one is more important than the other.

And it’s not just what I’ve done, it’s what we’ve done together. Everything is special to me. Even if it’s a tractor repair or making hay forks for people; we try to make them look just about as good as we possibly can.

It’s a team effort. Everyone is important. It’s not just about me.

Fusion Metal Art, 903-769-2000, www.fusionmetalart.com