In this episode, Michael Bennett, a welder and metal artist based in Wadsworth, Ill., joins The Fabricator Podcast to discuss how an unfortunate car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down reignited his passion for working with metal, particularly scrap metal.
Michael talks about how attending mechanic school helped instill a mindset of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies, which he says inspired him to relearn how use his tools after he lost strength in his preferred left hand. It also gave him the skills to build robots to help assist him around his farm.
He also goes into detail about his love of creating metal sculptures from recycled materials and how it led him creating Michael Bennett Designs and participating in an annual event in Lansing, Mich., called ScrapFest.
At the top, a mention of a now-banned plastic toy welder that Michael said he played with as a child, sparked a conversation about other banned toys made out of metal, like sharp-tipped lawn darts and a belt buckle revolver.
Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions. Learn more about podcast sponsorship opportunities.
Winning and fabricating trophies with Tom Patsis of Cold Hard Art
The rapid pace of automation and robotics with Aaron Prather of ASTM
Go-kart fabrication, Fast & Furious, and SEMA with Red Beard's Garage
How hydroforming works and serves metal manufacturing with Schuler
Breaking stereotypes in metalworking with Nikita Adickes of CTEK
Fabricating doors, blending welds, and pricing jobs with Matt Tyler Designs
Life coach with a welding helmet: Shanen Aranmor of Weld Like A Girl
Taking an aerial equipment fabrication business to the next level
How a longtime artist became an inner-city Detroit welding instructor
Myron Elkins: From Michigan factory welder to Nashville recording artist
Buying a factory, starting a race team, and reviving Detroit with Andy Didorosi
Finding success in a new welding career with Jessica Considine of Sculpted Roots
Getting back to manufacturing apprenticeships and proper workforce investment
Blurring the line between artistic and architectural with Vector Custom Fabricating
Maker movement: How a metalworker/woodworker turned a craft into a small business
Revitalizing skilled trades: Overhauling the U.S. education system for a resurgent workforce
Turning setbacks into comebacks and investing in manufacturing culture with Andy Billman
Advice for starting a small manufacturing and fabrication business from scratch
Precision Tube Laser's metal fabrication shop for manufacturing's next generation
Revamping a multigenerational metal manufacturing business with Hickey Metal Fabrication
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Organic Marketing Simplified: Effective podcasting strategy for growth and monetization
THE GO BIZ GUY
The Sigma Femme Podcast
The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
The Tim Ferriss Show