22-year-old Knox Carmichael left high school, got his GED, learned to weld, bought a $10K camper on Facebook Marketplace, and hit the road. He’s welded garbage trucks in Denver, aluminum Navy ships in Wisconsin, and now lives in his camper in Florida doing aerospace steel welding (UT/X-ray). He travels with his fiancée, plans to start Weld Fab Auto, and shares hard-won lessons on recruiters, test jitters, and why gatekeeping hurts the trade. “Confidence is 90 % of welding.” – Knox

In this engaging episode, Nathan Leiter and Kevin Johnson dive into the challenges and triumphs of the welding community. Nathan shares his journey into the business side of welding, while Kevin discusses the exciting Fabricator Olympics and his goal to unite welders from all 50 states. Tune in for insights on starting your own venture and the importance of community support in the welding industry. October 11th 2025 www.FabricatorOlympics.com

In this episode, we dive into the dynamic world of welding with Mike Krenzler, owner of KFW Welding. Discover the unique challenges faced by welders in the agricultural sector, from navigating the expectations of second-generation farmers to managing the financial demands of running a small business. Mike shares his journey from apprentice to business owner, offering insights into the importance of community, the value of investing in technology like CNC plasma tables, and the delicate balanc...

Kevin and Weston discuss the journey of Weston as a welder and entrepreneur, focusing on his innovative tool, the Picket Master Pro. They explore the challenges of running a side business while maintaining a full-time job, the importance of community and social media in business, and the future of Weston's ventures. The discussion highlights the significance of adaptability, learning from experiences, and the value of side hustles in achieving financial goals. October 11th 2025 www.Fabricator...

In todays episode we revisit Bruce Stevens from Go Wild Fabrication to see how much his business has changed in the last 4 years and what journey he's on now. October 11th 2025 www.FabricatorOlympics.com

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! In this conversation, Kevin Johnson interviews Dan Lischner, who shares his journey from being a welder to acquiring an established welding business. They discuss the challenges and intricacies of business acquisition, the importance of maintaining customer relationships, and the lessons learned in the first nine months of ownership. Dan emphasizes the significance of teaching and training new employees, the role of community engagement, and the up...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! In this conversation, Cody Highfield shares his journey from being a teacher to running his own fabrication business, Trinity Fab Works. He discusses the challenges of balancing his teaching career with his growing business, the importance of community support, and the lessons learned from early mistakes. Cody emphasizes the role of faith in his business decisions and the value of family time over financial gain. He also shares insights on time man...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you In this conversation, Kevin Johnson interviews Aaron from Wilson Products, discussing his unique journey from appliance repair to becoming a key player in the welding industry. Aaron shares insights into the gas distribution sector, including the complexities of cylinder rental and ownership, the supply chain of gases, and the importance of hydro testing for safety. He also delves into the factors influencing gas prices and how small distributors can c...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you Kevin Johnson interviews Sam Hackman, a welder and business owner, about his journey in the welding industry. Sam shares his early experiences, challenges transitioning to full-time business, and goals for the future. They discuss field vs. shop work, pricing, scheduling, and the importance of quality and customer service. Sam talks about managing employees, maintaining satisfaction, and justifying equipment purchases like his favorite tool—the press b...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you In this conversation, Kevin Johnson and Steven Sainsbury discuss the journey of building a fabrication business, FlyFab, from its early influences to current operations. They explore the challenges of transitioning from part-time to full-time work, the importance of quality control, and the lessons learned in business. Steven shares insights on mentorship, skill development, and hiring strategies, emphasizing the need for a structured approach to growt...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you In this conversation, Kevin Johnson and Jon discuss Jon's journey as a professional problem solver in the welding and fabrication industry. Jon shares insights about his business, the challenges he faced in hiring employees, and how he has navigated the complexities of pricing and estimating work. They also touch on the importance of work-life balance and Jon's daily routine, emphasizing the need for focus and efficiency in his work. In this conversati...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you In this episode we discuss a different side of the welding business. Codie is a metal artist from Colorado and we discuss the business side of metal art. Follow along with what he does at Sage Country Customs We want to hear the hard and expensive lessons you've learned while running your welding business. We also want to hear your hilarious job site stories. Share your best shenanigan story with us. Head over to www.WeldingBusinessOw...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you Austin owns Dirt Road Metal Works out of Amite, Louisiana. He is the creator and admin of the Handrail & Gate Fabrication Tips and Tricks and CNC Plasma Tips and Tricks Uncensored. You can find his pages here: https://www.facebook.com/DRMWLLC https://www.facebook.com/groups/406542684902002 https://www.facebook.com/groups/2126268564275506 We want to hear the hard and expensive lessons you've learned while running your welding business. W...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you We sit down with Jason from the Arc Junkies Podcast, Max from the CWB podcast and Frank from the Torch Tales podcast to discuss starting and running a business. I'm putting together a series of mini episodes with the most common questions I get and I want you guys to help answer them. Head over to Instagram and find the list of questions and email me to hop on a call. @ Welding Business Owners PodcastKevin@JMWfabrication.com

Send us a text, we want to hear from you In this episode we catch up with a few of the people who competed and judged the 2024 Fabricator Olympics this year to discuss how it went and what is coming up in the future. I'm putting together a series of mini episodes with the most common questions I get and I want you guys to help answer them. Head over to Instagram and find the list of questions and email me to hop on a call. @ Welding Business Owners PodcastKevin@JMWfabrication.com

Send us a text, we want to hear from you Today I give a quick look behind the scenes of the 2024 Fabricator Olympics and what it takes to put on an event like this. I'm putting together a series of mini episodes with the most common questions I get and I want you guys to help answer them. Head over to Instagram and find the list of questions and email me to hop on a call. @ Welding Business Owners PodcastKevin@JMWfabrication.com

Send us a text, we want to hear from you Dillon runs Yeti Welding, a fabrication shop out of Spanish Fork, Utah. We talk all about how he's built his business to include over a dozen team members and about the work his shop does. @Yeti_welding I'm putting together a series of mini episodes with the most common questions I get and I want you guys to help answer them. Head over to Instagram and find the list of questions and email me to hop on a call. @ Welding Business Owner...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you Dillon runs Yeti Welding, a fabrication shop out of Spanish Fork, Utah. We talk all about how he's built his business to include over a dozen team members and about the work his shop does. @Yeti_welding I'm putting together a series of mini episodes with the most common questions I get and I want you guys to help answer them. Head over to Instagram and find the list of questions and email me to hop on a call. @ Welding Business Owner...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you Dillon runs Yeti Welding, a fabrication shop out of Spanish Fork, Utah. We talk all about how he's built his business to include over a dozen team members and about the work his shop does. @Yeti_welding I'm putting together a series of mini episodes with the most common questions I get and I want you guys to help answer them. Head over to Instagram and find the list of questions and email me to hop on a call. @ Welding Business Owner...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you Dillon runs Yeti Welding, a fabrication shop out of Spanish Fork, Utah. We talk all about how he's built his business to include over a dozen team members and about the work his shop does. @Yeti_welding I'm putting together a series of mini episodes with the most common questions I get and I want you guys to help answer them. Head over to Instagram and find the list of questions and email me to hop on a call. @ Welding Business Owner...