Pursuit of Perfection: Murpho’s Rods and Customs
Listening to Murpho, owner of Murpho’s Rods and Customs in Austin, Texas, you can’t help but sense the peace and wisdom of a man who’s found his niche in life. “What do I do?” He reflected, “I think really what I do is… an endless pursuit of perfection. It’s… not quantifiable, this thing, perfection, but…
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A Relationship with Metal: Josh Freeman and Freeman Fabrication
Some people seem to light up when they talk about their passions. Josh Freeman is one of them. Watching and listening to Freeman in his Denton, Texas shop, Freeman Fabrication, you can’t miss the joy and contagious enthusiasm for metal fabrication. As Freeman explains, “The ‘less is more’ doesn’t work for me. I like to…
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Passionate About the Craft: Mike Wagner and Cornfield Customs
Mike Wagner of Cornfield Customs Ltd. has made a name for himself with masterpieces on wheels. He’s a metal shaping star on social media. But the craft is its own reward for this self-described introvert. “I like to work, but the only time I really feel free is when I’m shaping metal,” he says. “I…
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Keeping the Craft Going: American Metal Customs
Hot rods. Motorcycles. Whisky. Rock and roll. American Metal Customs builds, modifies, and services epic bikes and cars while celebrating the mystique that goes with them. American Metal owner Chris Bishop and lead builder and shop manager Josh Allison have teamed up to exemplify the best in American craftsmanship and, as their website promises, “build the…
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Wheel Guy: Austin Paruch and Paruch Automotive Craftsmanship
“I never have any days where I’m worried about getting up or not going to work and enjoying what I do,” says fabricator, restorer, and coachbuilder Austin Paruch. “Life and work are one and the same. This is what I do. This is what I was intended to do, I believe.” At Paruch Automotive Craftsmanship,…
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Preserving WWII History, one part at a time
Vultures Row Aviation in Cameron Park, California specializes in the restoration and reproduction of World War II Warbirds. Many have been shot down or recovered from oceans and jungles. All being rebuilt or repaired with surgical precision, newly fabricated parts or hand shaped panels. President, metal shaper and visionary Chuck Wahl is a rare breed.…
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Master Coach Builder Trains the Next Generation of Metalworkers with Baileigh Machines
Renowned in the world of custom vehicles for over 35 years, Mark Gerisch has built cars for Jay Leno and ZZ Top. Now he’s keeping the art and trade of metal shaping alive by leading intensive classes. In 2014, Gerish founded the Academy for the Art of Metal Shaping in Green Bay, Wisconsin. For the…
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Baileigh Metal Shaping Classes Create a Global Network of Fabricators
Not too long ago, serious metal shaping classes were hard to find in the U.S. That began to change in 2012 when Baileigh first offered trainings led by top-notch metal shapers. We set a trend that rippled through the industry. As Baileigh Social Media Coordinator Shane Henderson says, “We kind of started a metal shaping…
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