Metal Fabrication Gallery

From farm fields to river docks, metal fabrication has been my way of solving real‑world problems with practical, durable design. What began as necessity grew into a methodical craft — one that now blends hands‑on work with precise 3D modeling.

🌾 Foundations on the farm

Farm workshop with welding and machining tools — Where skills met necessity

College training: Olds Agricultural College taught repairing, fabricating, welding, and machining.
Hands‑on ethos: Farming demanded self‑sufficiency — fix it, improve it, or build it.
Family workshop: With my father, we turned skills into action and projects into proofs of concept.

🧰 Tools and early projects

Welders, cutting torch, and torque wrenches on a bench — Several shops over the years equipped for problem‑solving and solutions

Shop setup: Welders, cutting torches, torque wrenches, and a deep parts bin.
Practical upgrades: Adapted electric and hydraulic motors to power augers for feed, grain, and fertilizer.
Efficiency wins: Replaced hand winches with hydraulic cylinders to improve safety and speed.

⚙️ Prototyping on the river

Floating dock with stabilizer hardware on a river — After field‑testing a simple design for a season. a 3D model was created of final design for the dock stabilizer units

After field‑testing a simple design for a season. a 3D model was created of final design for the dock stabilizer units

Real challenge: Stabilizing floating docks in a steady river current.
Iterative builds: Fabricated several prototypes and tested them over a full season.
Design evolution: Modeled an improved version in AutoCAD, then built five final units that worked reliably for years.

🧠 Modern workflow

3D model of a metal assembly in CAD software — Start with the model, finish with precision

Model first: Begin complex builds with a virtual 3D model.
Refine and de‑risk: Expose interferences, optimize materials, and clarify assembly steps.
Shop‑ready results: Better designs, fewer reworks, and innovative, durable solutions.

🖼️ Visual inspiration

Picture a clean 3D model becoming cut lists, jigs on the bench, and welds that fit perfectly the first time — where imagination, measurement, and metal come together.