The Journey of a Master Welder
I was 14 when I started in metal work.
I wanted to be a blacksmith. But when I tried to get an apprenticeship with Rod Picket, the most accomplished blacksmith in Southwestern Colorado (who I now have the honor of working with on local projects), he suggested I start in welding. He pointed me across the street to the Melcher Brothers Welding and Machine Shop.
I started as a welders’ helper for Bill Melcher. I immediately knew I was in the right career.
How many teenagers get a chance to work in their desired career and discover it’s their lifelong passion?
Bill is a master ARC welder. Under his tutelage, I learned precision layout and how to work hard. I learned my way around machines and fork lift operation, took multiple OSHA and MSHA courses, and all the production related aspects of the welding business.
My next metal work role was building windows. The windows were aluminum-clad casement windows. Due to the material and the use-case, they had zero tolerance for error. Each window had to be dead straight and perfectly measured. This was an opportunity to hone precision, and my dedication to perfect specs hasn’t wavered since.
I followed an opportunity to South Dakota to fabricate car crushers. I was welding 16 hour per day doing six stacked 22-foot long continuous welds. In layman’s terms, that means I learned how to do a perfect weld in my sleep.
I estimate that by 25 years old, I had accumulated the 10,000 hours of practice welding required to be considered a true expert, according to Malcolm Gladwell.
When I came back to my hometown of Durango, I worked for a local metal working shop running my own welding bay. I was responsible for every product came through my bay. I quickly became the fastest, most trusted fabricator there. Some noteworthy projects I did while there include this starburst gate, a massive structural welding project for Berndt Hall at Fort Lewis College (this was the first time my welds were x-ray tested for porosity and my welds passed every test), and railings on Main Street in Downtown Durango. I was the lead on every ornamental project and on most structural welding projects.
I moved on to be foreman of an artistic metal shop in Durango, and we collaborated on modern metal art projects in homes and businesses.
After gathering welding experience that was both wide and deep and discovering I had a knack for leading projects, I struck out on my own.
I founded Steelburner Welding in 2014.
Being a business owner has challenges and opportunities. I get to set an extremely high standard for my company’s workmanship, and I don’t deviate from it. I am grateful to work with other expert tradesman and to continue to learn and hone my trade. I’ve even gotten to pursue my original dream of blacksmithing with Rod Picket continuing to be an inspiration. (After lugging the anvil around for nearly 20 years, it’s great to finally use it!)
I’m proud to be among the small business owners who embody the hardworking, reliable spirit of southwestern Colorado. As a born-and-raised Coloradan, I enjoy collaborating with long-standing respected local companies to restore and refurbish historic buildings as well as create new art and structures to beautify our area.