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The Best Metal Art Advice We've Gotten.... So Far
40 minutes Posted Nov 10, 2025 at 10:00 am.
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Show notes

Host Beau Wigington revisits standout moments from metal artists who turned sparks into careers. You will hear practical safety, process, and career advice from creators who weld sculptures, bikes, tanks, wildlife art, and even giant instruments. 


Key Topics Covered

  • Why “failures” are usually redirections and how to use them to grow your craft

  • Oxy-acetylene as a lost-but-powerful gateway to understanding metal behavior

  • Oxy-fuel safety, from first-time “pops” to tank awareness and best practices

  • TIG art workflow, tracing with a laser, clamps vs welding down, and chill plates

  • Getting consistent color in stainless TIG art using cup size and gas lenses

  • Welding copper for fuel tanks, heat control, filler strategy, and leak risk

  • Letting the sculpture “tell you” what to build, and iterating without fear

  • Using CAD to plan scrap-metal builds when materials are unpredictable

  • Promotion that works for artists, from mags and photos to simple outreach

  • Why networking at industry events can unlock commissions and collaborations

  • “Failures are not failures, they are redirections. Walk through those chapters, even the bad ones.” — Rae Ripple

  • “Oxy-acetylene is a great gateway process. You are one with the metal, watching fusion happen.” — David Madero

  • “For TIG art, I clamp to a chill plate. I hate grinding, so I avoid welding pieces down.” — Clint Evashkevich

  • “I make my own copper filler from the base metal so the polish hides the seam.” — Jesse James

  • “No two-dimensional picture does a sculpture justice. CAD helped me see it from all angles.” — Rich Quinn



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    • Connect With The Guests

      Rae Ripple


    • David Madero


    • Clint Evashkevich


    • Jesse James


    • Rich Quinn


    • Billy Moulton Day

    • Ivan Iler

  • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ivanilerstudios 


    Codie Aljets


  • Connect with Beau Wigington

    Instagram: @beaudiditwelding https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauwigington

    E-mail: [email protected]

    Download the WELD App: https://foxly.link/Qj0VEa