@javier-polanco-6383 @joe-clark-5587 @shae-miller-6450 @ron-reynolds-1693 @osman-salazar-1870@ne-ma-5633 @mark-christoffersen-4116 @michael-hayes-8875 @jodi-stull-4940 @johnny-tayn-5395 @michael-weitzel-9714 @don-gertz-5782 @jeff-goddard-1563 @maggie-faust-5918 @greg-painter-8911 @nick-julian-4191 @david-tyrrell-9846 @keagan-headley-4197 @growth-professional-6704 I thought I would moment to introduce myself. My name is Doug and I live in the Tucson Arizona area where I own a custom metal fabrication shop. Full disclosure, I am not a certified welder. I am a guy that welds. That being said all of my projects are artistic in nature and not structural or regulated by building codes. My work consist of commission projects only. I feel that I can offer you an understanding of the MIG and TIG welding processes, technique to improve your welding, how to start your own local welding service business, and a place where if you have questions about welding or business operation you can feel comfortable asking those questions. I don't say this to brag but I earn a six figure income with my custom metalwork business and if that's a direction you want to head, maybe I can help you get there. If interested you can check out my websites www.ArtfullyRogue.com and www.FountainMetalworks.com to see the type of work that is allowing me the lifestyle I currently enjoy. Half of my year living in Arizona and the other half living in Spain. Why wait to retire when you can create an enjoyable right now.

Not long ago I published a video on the Artfully Rogue YouTube channel show the basics of flux core welding. This is a great place to start if you're thinking about starting a welding journey and are not sure where to start. Let me know what you think or if there are other topics you might find useful.

Click the Classroom tab above and check out the cool easy to build DIY metal fab tools

We all start somewhere. And often times that journey begins with an interest in welding and or metal fabrication. Or maybe you have a project that requires welding and you want to fix it yourself, so you buy a welder and learn how to use it and fix your project. Regardless of your current skill level, I would like to share what I know about the welding industry and good making a living in it.

Whether you need welding certification depends entirely on what you plan to build and who’s relying on it. When certification actually matters If your welds are: - Structural - Load-bearing - Supporting human life - Subject to inspection, code enforcement, or permits Examples: - Commercial stair rails - Handrails in public buildings - Structural steel - Anything with an engineer, inspector, or liability paperwork attached Then yes—certification isn’t optional. In those cases, certs aren’t about skill pride; they’re about liability, insurance, and legality. When certification is often unnecessary If your work is: - Artistic - Decorative - Functional but non-structural Examples: - Fire pits - Gates and fences - Water features - Sculptural or landscape metal - Repairs where no inspection is required Then certification is usually not required to make money. Clients in these spaces care about: - Your portfolio - Your reliability - Your finished product Not what piece of paper you have framed on the wall. The uncomfortable truth. Plenty of certified welders can’t build clean custom work. Plenty of non-certified welders run profitable shops. Certification ≠ success. Skill + judgment + knowing your lane = success Bottom line Don’t chase certifications out of fear. Don’t avoid them out of ego. Choose the path that matches: - Your market - Your liability exposure - Your long-term goals Welders get into trouble when they cross lanes without understanding the consequences. If you’re unsure where that line is—ask before you build, not after something fails.