#WhyWeWeld
53 articles
#WhyWeWeld: Emil — 150 Flag Hours Toward the American Dream
Emil Hasanof came to America for one reason: to work and provide for his family. From Sweden’s trade schools to his own auto repair business, he built his path by refusing to stay in one lane.
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#WhyWeWeld: Dakota — From a Blue Light to a Blessed Life
Dakota’s love for the arc started early, but welding became his purpose after a life-changing accident changed everything. His story is about faith, resilience, and building a future through the trade he loves.
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#WhyWeWeld: Dehjay — Arcs and Hope: How Welding Saved My Life
Dehjay shares how welding became a turning point in his journey from addiction to a life of focus, work, and purpose. What started as a spark in a school shop class became the trade that helped him rebuild his life. Through robotic welding, fabrication, and Grit & Grace, he found new skills, new purpose, and a new direction.
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#WhyWeWeld: Barry of Joe Daddy's Garage
Barry grew up around cars in his father’s salvage yard, then spent 29 years repairing aircraft before finding his way back to the garage. For him, welding became a way to restore old cars, keep family memories alive, and continue a lifelong passion for bringing worn-out metal back to life.
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#WhyWeWeld: PJ of @pfe_works
PJ Kennedy first saw welding through his stepfather, then found his own way into scrap metal art years later. For him, welding became therapy, creative escape, and a way to turn discarded parts into something personal.
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#WhyWeWeld: RESTORE IT, RALPH
Ralph Miller started posting videos to show his family what he was building. Now the automotive instructor behind “Restore It, Ralph” shares the projects, lessons, and stories behind the cars he brings back to life.
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#WhyWeWeld: Toby Vega Dadurian
Meet @TobyVegaD, a Florida-based YouTuber and fabricator known for building custom cars from scratch. We spoke with him about his journey into welding, his passion for building and modifying vehicles, and the projects that keep him creating in the shop.
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#WhyWeWeld: Backspeed Boys
Two Southern California brothers turned crashed cars into a welding-fueled side hustle and a growing YouTube brand. Lenny and Noah, the Backspeed Boys, share how their “buy, repair, sell” loop grew into bigger builds and bigger dreams.
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#WhyWeWeld: Queen Street Motorcycles
“Just get a grinder and start cutting stuff up. Even if you mess something up, you can fix it.” Kevin Charland is a builder with Queen Street Motorcycles—a metric chopper crew based in Ontario, Canada. In this interview, he shares how the team builds affordable custom choppers, learns by doing, and keeps classic chopper culture alive.
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