In an age of plastic bumpers, bedazzled wheels, and other bits of faux off-road virtue signaling, the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon is breath of fresh, argon-tinged air. It looks and feels substantial, more “fabricated” than merely assembled. With a high-strength yet lightweight steel frame, aluminum body, sturdy metal bumpers, heavy-duty skid plates, and rock sliders throughout, the Gladiator … Read More
(This story was originally published on the now-defunct JeepWave.com.)Back in the days of my youth, before the internet and GoPros and streaming videos, before social media, before Starbucks and Nirvana and the proliferation of ready-to-go pizza, before we had cable TV or CDs, back when rotary phones where the only way to make a call … Read More
Over the last few years we’ve been featuring young, blue-collar workers in our Still Building America blog series at thefabricator.com. Once in a while a story leaps out at me, and this is one of those. My wife Darla shared Melissa Gillespie Davis’ industrial paintings with me, and they stopped me cold. Themes of tradeswomen, … Read More
Whether you’re a mechanic, a fabricator, a machinist, or a writer, there’s no such thing as free time. Over the span of many years, you’ve spent long hours nearly every day of every week honing your talent, developing your skills, and gaining knowledge that only comes from such experience. Both the time it takes you … Read More
There is a sense of pride associated with working for yourself. The idea that you’re self-reliant, self-made, and answer to no one is enticing. It’s a romantic notion. We’ve all heard and read about the successes of individuals who make it work, from rock stars to actors and from artists to, yes, welders. But for … Read More
Looking for inspiration, then you must read this story. Escaping a violent relationship, Sharon Hall and her young daughter endured a series of moves and events that ultimately led to Sharon embarking on a welding career. Her inspiring story illustrates what can happen if you persevere, take advantage of opportunities, and stay focused. (Continue Reading)
