Making The Most Of Your First Fabtech

V Wenham didn’t wait years to start making connections in the welding industry. In relatively short amount of time, she went from graduating welding school and competing at SkillsUSA to becoming a weld process specialist at Airgas, training with industry experts, and getting involved in AWS code committees. In this episode, V shares how genuine curiosity, a willingness to introduce herself, and a love of welding helped open doors she never expected.If you’re finishing welding school or wondering how to take the next step in your career, this conversation explores why asking questions and taking initiative can take you further than waiting for an opportunity to find you.What You’ll LearnHow a question about an aluminum weld at SkillsUSA led to a conversation with Airgas leadership and a new career opportunity.What V has learned from traveling the country and training with welding equipment manufacturers and industry experts.How she became an applicant member of AWS committees focused on structural aluminum and laser welding.What goes into reviewing welding codes, from technical details to choosing language that makes sense to the people using them.Why she uses everyday examples of metalwork and corrosion to help people understand welding and manufacturing.Why making decisions, admitting what you don’t know, and being willing to fail can help you move forward in your welding career.V Wenham is a weld process specialist with Airgas based in Appleton, Wisconsin, and a graduate of Saint Paul College’s welding program. Her work with Airgas’s Advanced Fabrication division has given her opportunities to deepen her technical knowledge through training across the country. She is also an applicant member of the AWS D1.2 structural aluminum welding code committee and the C7C laser welding subcommittee. Her story offers a practical look at how curiosity and intentional connections can help new welders find opportunities beyond the shop floor.Connect With V WenhamInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/v.wenhamm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/v-wenham/ Download The Weld AppiOS: App Store https://goweld.link/AppleAppAndroid: Google Play https://goweld.link/AndroidIf this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #WeldingEducation #Airgas #SkillsUSA

Nathan Montes spent 12 years as a Texas rig welder before building Slickman Welding Apparel. Now, he’s using his voice in the industry to ask a question a lot of welders are feeling: What happens when the cost of doing the work keeps climbing, but the pay doesn’t?In this episode, Nathan returns to the WELD Podcast to break down the Wage Wobble movement, why he started it, and what he hopes it can accomplish. We talk about the real cost of running a welding rig, his changing perspective on unions, and why earning a big check doesn’t always mean you’re getting ahead.What You'll LearnWhy Nathan started the Wage Wobble movement and how it grew from an online conversation into an in-person gathering in Monahans, Texas.How fuel, equipment, consumables, insurance, and other expenses can eat into a rig welder’s take-home pay.The four paths Nathan presented for pursuing better wages: holding out, negotiating a formal agreement, joining a union, or forming a new one.How conversations with pipeline welders’ Local 798 challenged his previous assumptions about unions.Why worker classification, access to health insurance, and retirement benefits belong in the conversation about welding pay.What Nathan says has happened since the first gathering, why individual participation matters, and where he hopes the movement goes next.Nathan is the owner and founder of Slickman Welding Apparel, a former rig welder, and a former fabrication business owner. Alongside the Wage Wobble conversation, he shares how a stinger design he’d been thinking about for seven years finally became a finished electrode holder. His perspective brings together life under the hood, the realities of running a business, and a push to help welders build more sustainable careers.Connect With NathanSlickman Welding Apparel: slickmanweldingapparel.comFacebook: Nathan Montes https://www.facebook.com/nathan.montes.7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n8_da_gr8_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nastyynateWage Wobble: Follow the Wage Wobble Facebook page for updates and community discussion.Download The Weld AppiOS: App Store https://goweld.link/AppleAppAndroid: Google Play https://goweld.link/AndroidIf this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #WageWobble #RigWelding #SlickmanWeldingApparel

Heading to FABTECH for the first time? Think of it as Comic-Con for welders. From meeting the people you follow online to trying equipment you might never get your hands on back home, there’s a lot more to the show than walking past booths and collecting stickers.In this episode, Beau shares his tips for making the most of FABTECH, including what to pack, how to plan your time on the floor, and why some of the best connections happen after the show closes. With FABTECH 2026 heading to Las Vegas October 21–23, this is your first-timer’s game plan for showing up prepared and leaving inspired.What You'll LearnWhy FABTECH is about more than equipment, and how meeting welders, creators, and educators can help you find your next goal.What to handle before you arrive, from registration and badges to packing comfortable shoes, water, snacks, and a light backpack.Why stickers and business cards still matter, and why you should have a backup plan for sharing your contact information.How Beau approaches the show floor, including walking every aisle, keeping track of booths to revisit, and finding smaller brands beyond the big displays.Why it’s worth trying unfamiliar equipment, watching live demos, and jumping into booth competitions, even if the technology isn’t something you’ll use every day.How to plan for food and after-hours events, including the FABTECH Kickoff Party at the House of Blues.Why sticking around until the end of the last day could lead to a few extra samples for your shop.Come Say HeyBeau will be filming WELD Podcast interviews throughout the week at the American Welding Program booth, S39095. Stop by, say hello, and connect with the Weld.com crew.Fabtech Kickoff PartyJoin Weld.com, WeldPorn, Blue Demon, the Arc Junkies Podcast, and other industry partners for an evening of giveaways and connecting with the welding community.Wednesday, October 21, 20267–10 PMHouse of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Las VegasBring your FABTECH badge for entry.Get there early if you’re planning to grab food, and stick around to meet the people behind the brands.Plan Your VisitRegistration, exhibitor information, and floor plans:https://www.fabtechexpo.comGot a FABTECH tip Beau didn’t cover? Drop it in the comments and help a first-timer make the most of the show.Download The Weld AppiOS: App Store https://goweld.link/AppleAppAndroid: Google Play https://goweld.link/AndroidIf this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingPodcast #FABTECH #FABTECH2026 #WeldingCommunity #WeldingCareer

TIG Devil Diesel  (Diesel D'Souza) known online as TIG Devil, is a self-taught welder and TIG welding artist whose work turns stainless steel into detailed, colorful artwork and dimensional metal sculptures.In this episode, he shares how he went from picking up a MIG welder at work to becoming a full-time welder, earning CWB certifications, learning stick and TIG welding, and eventually building a recognizable name in the TIG art world. He also gets real about the years of trial and error behind his work, why persistence matters more than instant results, and how putting yourself out there at trade shows can lead to commissions, partnerships, and new opportunities.What You’ll LearnHow TIG Devil went from being self-taught on a MIG welder to becoming a full-time welder and earning CWB certifications.Why he prefers stick welding for much of his heavy-equipment work, while TIG became the foundation of his artistic work.Why TIG art takes patience, repetition, and a willingness to walk away, reset, and come back when progress feels slow.The difference between creating flat TIG art and building dimensional or 3D stainless-steel pieces.How he approaches commissions and generates business by talking about his work everywhere he goes, not just online.Why trade shows are one of the best places for welders and artists to meet people, learn from others, and create real opportunities.How to approach brand partnerships and sponsorships with a long-term mindset, and why you have to follow through once you make a commitment.TIG troubleshooting advice for welders who are running too hot, discoloring stainless, or burning through material.How experienced welders and artists can help others grow without encouraging them to copy someone else’s style.Why mistakes, discomfort, and getting out of your comfort zone are all part of becoming a better welder and artist.TIG Devil is a self-taught welder, CWB-certified welder, fabricator, and TIG artist. He creates custom stainless-steel TIG art, detailed commission pieces, and dimensional metal projects while also working in heavy-equipment fabrication. Known for colorful stainless work, skull designs, custom logos, layered artwork, and his willingness to share what he has learned, TIG Devil represents the creative side of welding while staying grounded in the fundamentals of the trade.Connect With TIG DevilTIG Art: Instagram @tig_devil_inchttps://www.instagram.com/tig_devil_inc/TIG Devil: Instagram @tig_devilhttps://www.instagram.com/tig_devil/Fabrication / Heavy Equipment Work: Instagram @destructive_asylum_13https://www.instagram.com/destructive_asylum_13/Download The WELD AppiOS: App Storehttps://goweld.link/AppleAppAndroid: Google Playhttps://goweld.link/AndroidIf this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingPodcast #TIGWelding #TIGArt #MetalArt #WeldingArtist #StainlessSteel #WeldingTips #WeldingCommunity #TIGDevil

Daniela Torelli didn’t take the traditional path into welding. After realizing a career as a veterinary technician would not give her the financial independence she wanted, she started looking through the skilled trades, and welding stood out.In this episode, Daniela, Membership Services Lead for the CWB Association and the welder and artist behind Think Pink Welding, talks about mentorship, community, and why one conversation can change someone’s entire career path.From learning the hard way without a clear roadmap to becoming a resource for new welders across Canada, Daniela shares why mentorship does not have to be formal or complicated. Sometimes, it is simply answering a message, welcoming someone into the shop, sharing honest advice, or giving somebody the confidence to take the next step.What You'll LearnHow Daniela found welding after exploring career paths that could offer more financial independence and long-term opportunity.Why her path into the trade felt unconventional, and how that experience helps her guide younger welders today.How an early connection with a woman ironworker became one of Daniela’s first experiences with mentorship.Why mentorship does not need to mean holding someone’s hand or telling them exactly what to do.How a few encouraging words helped one welding student push through test-day anxiety and successfully pass her weld test.Why responding to questions, being approachable, and welcoming people into the industry can make a major difference in retaining new welders.What the CWB Association does to connect welding professionals, students, educators, and industry members across Canada.How CWB Association chapters create opportunities through networking events, technical presentations, student outreach, and community meetups.Why Daniela believes the welding industry needs both mentors and mentees to keep the next generation moving forward.How Think Pink Welding gives Daniela a creative outlet through metal art, fabrication, and time under the hood.What Daniela is looking forward to next, including handheld laser welding education, women in metal industry events, and more opportunities to connect with the welding community.About Daniella TorelliDaniela Torelli is the Membership Services Lead for the CWB Association, where she works alongside chapters and volunteers across Canada to support welders, educators, students, and industry professionals.With more than a decade in welding, Daniela has built a career around creating opportunities, sharing knowledge, and helping people feel welcome in the skilled trades. She is passionate about mentorship, community building, welding education, and increasing awareness of the many paths available in the industry.Outside of her work with the CWB Association, Daniela is the owner of Think Pink Welding, where she shares her welding journey, metal art, and creative fabrication projects.Connect With Daniela TorelliInstagram: @thinkpinkweldinghttps://www.instagram.com/thinkpinkwelding/Facebook: Think Pink Weldinghttps://www.facebook.com/thinkpinkwelding/CWB Associationhttps://www.cwbassociation.org/CWB Association events and local chaptershttps://www.cwbgroup.org/Email the CWB [email protected] The WELD AppiOS: App Storehttps://goweld.link/AppleAppAndroid: Google Playhttps://goweld.link/AndroidIf this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #Mentorship #WomenWhoWeld #CWBAssociation #ThinkPinkWelding

Michael Klee’s path into welding started with a skateboard rail. After growing up around his father’s machine shop, Michael learned to stick weld so he could build his own rail—and that one project turned into a 23-year career in the welding industry.In this episode, Michael joins us in person at the show floor to talk about his path from shop work and welding technology school into automation, sales, applications, and his current role as a Welding Specialist with Messer Gases in Ontario. We get into real-world troubleshooting, common setup mistakes, shielding gas choices, high-deposition processes, cobots, handheld laser welding safety, and what shops need to have in place before investing in automation.What You’ll LearnHow a homemade skateboard rail helped Michael discover welding and set him on a new career path.How he moved through shop work, automation, sales, and applications before becoming a Welding Specialist with Messer Gases.How Messer specialists help shops evaluate their current welding process and identify opportunities to improve throughput, reduce spatter, and eliminate unnecessary grinding.Why the numbers displayed on a welding machine do not always reflect what is happening at the arc.Why common issues often come down to incorrect machine setup, drive rolls, contact tips, wire selection, gas flow, or shielding gas choice.What welders need to understand about short-circuit, globular, and spray transfer when selecting a shielding gas mixture.How shops can use process changes, wire selection, and gas mixtures to reduce spatter and increase welding speed.Where handheld laser welding fits, why it is a powerful process, and why safety procedures need to be taken seriously.Why cobots can be a practical entry point into automation for the right shop.How high-deposition processes like dual shield, submerged arc welding, and modern heavy-deposition MIG systems help shops put down more metal with fewer passes.Why there is no single career path in welding—and how welders, technologists, inspectors, salespeople, and automation specialists all play important roles in the industry.Michael Klee is a Welding Specialist with Messer Gases, serving customers in Ontario and Manitoba. With a background in welding technology, automation, applications, and sales, Michael works with fabrication shops to evaluate welding processes and find practical solutions for challenges like excessive spatter, slow throughput, process selection, shielding gas optimization, and automation readiness.If your shop is working through a welding-process issue or looking to evaluate new equipment, wire, or gas options, Michael recommends starting with your local Messer representative. From there, the Messer team can assess your current state, identify the biggest opportunities, and help build a plan for a better future-state process.Connect With Michael KleeInstagram: @thecanadianweldingguy https://www.instagram.com/thecanadianweldingguy/ Messer Website: https://www.messer.com/Download The WELD AppiOS: App Store https://goweld.link/AppleAppAndroid: Google Play https://goweld.link/AndroidIf this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingSpecialist #WeldingTroubleshooting #ShieldingGas #WeldingTechnology #WeldingEducation

Milena Stevanov is one of the owners of GS Engineering, a structural consulting firm supporting fabrication, welding quality programs, structural design, and more. In this episode, she shares how she and her business partner acquired the company they once interned for, what it takes to become a welding engineer, and why the best results happen when engineers and welders work together.What You’ll Learn● How Milena and her business partner went from interns at GS Engineering to acquiring and leading the company.● Why mentorship, family-business experience, and a strong support system were critical in making the transition to ownership.● What GS Engineering does, from structural design and equipment certifications to retained welding-engineering support.● What a welding engineer actually does and how they help clients build quality-control programs, develop procedures, and troubleshoot production issues.● Why practical feedback from welders and fabricators matters just as much as calculations, codes, and engineering requirements.● How Milena approaches the classic welder-versus-engineer relationship by listening first, explaining the “why,” and working toward practical solutions.● Why process choices matter when qualifying welding procedures, and how understanding the pros and cons helps shops make better decisions.● A realistic look at the pathway into welding engineering, including welding-inspector training, metallurgy knowledge, mentorship, shop exposure, and working with clients.● Why young people entering the industry should seek mentors, surround themselves with supportive people, and explore the many career paths available in welding.Milena Stevanov is a civil engineer and co-owner of GS Engineering, a structural consulting firm serving clients across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Along with structural design, certifications, and industrial consulting, GS Engineering provides welding-engineering support to fabrication clients, helping them manage welding procedures, quality-control programs, and certification requirements. Milena brings a collaborative, practical approach to the role, connecting engineering theory with the real-world needs of welders and fabrication shops.Connect With Milena Stevanov / GS Engineering● Website: https://gsengineering.ca/ ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milena-stevanov/ Download The WELD AppiOS: App Storehttps://goweld.link/AppleApp Android: Google Playhttps://goweld.link/Android If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #WeldingEngineering #StructuralEngineering #Fabrication #WeldingQuality #EngineeringCareer #GSEngineering

Montana Woolley’s welding career has taken her from a first-day beginner in the booth to shop work, inspection, supervision, and now education with CWB Education. In this episode, she shares how following curiosity, showing up ready to learn, and staying open to new opportunities helped her find a career path that keeps evolving.What You’ll Learn● How Montana went from having zero tool experience to falling in love with welding through a pre-apprenticeship program.● Why working in smaller fabrication shops gave her experience with a wide variety of projects, processes, and problem-solving.● What she learned by moving from welding into visual inspection, supervision, and education.● How CWB Education builds custom training programs around real shop challenges, quality issues, and workforce goals.● Why inspection can be a strong pathway for welders who are also interested in becoming supervisors.● How micro-credentials can make welding theory and inspection education more approachable for people working while they upskill.● Montana’s advice for new welders: look at the jobs available in your area, choose a process to focus on, learn the theory, and introduce yourself to shops in person.● Why welding is such a versatile trade, from structural work and inspection to custom fabrication, artistic projects, and new technology like laser welding.● How Montana turns scrap and drop material into garden trellises, metal bugs, dragonflies, and other whimsical welding art.Montana Woolley works with CWB Education, where she oversees custom training programs and public courses. She helps companies identify training needs, build curriculum around specific welding and quality challenges, and create practical education pathways for welders looking to grow into inspection, supervision, and other roles in the industry.Connect With Montana Woolley● CWB Education: https://www.cwbgroup.org/education● CWB Group: https://www.cwbgroup.org/● For questions about CWB Education training pathways, custom training, or public courses, contact Montana through CWB Education.Download The WELD AppiOS: App Storehttps://goweld.link/AppleAppAndroid: Google Playhttps://goweld.link/AndroidIf this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #WeldingEducation #CWBGroup #CWBEducation #WeldingInspector #WeldingSupervisor #WeldingTraining #MicroCredentials #MetalArtCollaboration LinksWeldhttps://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCM0kHJXSHR1k1wtLuliKmHg/collaboration/UCnqsXS9XPRa6vQvKoDdOkRgCWBhttps://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCVbLbc7goDa6FxauaveyUHA/collaboration/UCnqsXS9XPRa6vQvKoDdOkRg  

Al Theriault built 575 Custom Fabrications the hard way: first as a welder, then as an inspector, then in sales, and finally by turning a garage shop into a full-time fabrication business. If you’re a welder thinking about going out on your own, trying to price custom work better, or figuring out how to turn skill into a sustainable business, this episode is packed with practical advice and real-world perspective.What You'll LearnHow Al went from welding and inspection into sales before deciding to go all in on fabrication.Why he built 575 Customs as a tiny garage shop and reinvested every dollar back into tools and capability.How he prices custom work based on materials, complexity, lead time, and the real value of the job.Why finishing, material choice, and corrosion prevention matter just as much as the weld itself.How his inspection background shaped the way he thinks about blueprints, metallurgy, efficiency, and quality control.Al is the owner and operator of 575 Customs, also known online as the 575 Shop, where he shares behind-the-scenes looks at his work and custom fabrication projects. After years in welding, inspection, and sales, he now focuses on one-off custom pieces, TIG work, finesse fabrication, and finishing details that make a project last.Connect With Al TheriaultInstagram @the.575.shop https://www.instagram.com/the.575.shop/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@575customs Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p/575-Customs-100088256534836/ Download The Weld AppiOS: App Store https://goweld.link/AppleApp Android: Google Play https://goweld.link/Android If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #fabrication #weldingbusiness #the575shop

Sarah Stork has built a name for herself by creating strikingly realistic metal animal sculptures that blend welding skill, texture work, and artistic vision.If you’ve ever wondered how a welder turns scrap, wire, and texture into lifelike animals, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at Sarah’s process, inspiration, and approach to sculpture.What You'll LearnWhy Sarah chose animal sculptures and how that subject matter opened the door to her artistic style.How she builds sculptures from the inside out, starting with a concrete base and developing the form piece by piece.What role texture plays in her work, including how welding imperfections can become part of the final artistic effect.Why she values simple starting points for beginners, especially for welders who want to try sculpture for the first time.How competitions like SkillsUSA helped shape her path and connected her to the broader welding sculpture community.Why respiratory protection matters in welding art, and how safety should stay part of the creative process.Sarah Stork is a welding artist based in Georgetown, Texas, who has been creating sculptures since 2015. She is known for realistic animal pieces that combine TIG welding, texture creation, and creative material choices to bring metal to life. Her perspective is especially valuable for welders who want to explore sculpture, improve their artistic side, or better understand how technical welding skills can translate into creative work.Connect With Sarah StorkInstagram @sarah_stork ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarah_stork_/⁠ TikTok @sarah_stork_ ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@sarah_stork_?lang=en⁠ Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/sarah.scott.33865/⁠ Download The Weld AppiOS: App Store ⁠https://goweld.link/AppleApp⁠ Android: Google Play ⁠https://goweld.link/Android⁠ If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #metalart #metalsculptor #sarahstork