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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.

Hello there, I know this is a very small group at this point but I'm curious if any of you are currently working on any new shop projects with regards metalwork. Or are you just getting set up or interested getting into metalworking as a hobby or possible business. Personally, I'm currently working on a couple of metal sculpture projects as I am in Spain for the next couple months. Once I return to Arizona where my big shop is located, I'll get back into bigger paid projects. Here's industrial style reception desk that I worked on at the beginning of the year. What about you?

Welcome to the metal shop! A place to learn, level-up skills, interact with like minded people and most important...ASK QUESTIONS! There are no wrong questions. If you are just learning, then every question is an important one. This community exists for one purpose: Teach you the skills, tools, and systems to build a metalworking business that actually makes money. Here’s what to do first: 1. Introduce yourself - Tell us your name, where you’re based, and what you want to build. 2. Check the Classroom - Start with Module 1 so you understand the full roadmap. 3. Ask questions early - Don’t sit on problems. Welding, tools, pricing, marketing — ask anything. 4. Share your progress - Post wins, fails, shop setups, weld improvements, and the projects you’re working on. 5. This is a working community. No ego. No drama. Just real people learning real skills and building real businesses. Let’s get started.