Daily Inspiration: Meet Josh Welton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Welton. 

Hi Josh, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I was born into a big family, the oldest of 9, and homeschooled until high school. My parents both had incredible work ethics and that was passed down to my siblings and me. At that time, in the mid-90s, there was still this push that you had to go to college, so I did. After focusing on drafting and architecture in high school, I studied psychology in college before dropping out. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or be, but I’d had my first taste of factory life during the summers starting right after high school and I found I liked that life, at least at that time, more than sitting in a classroom. I did meet my wife Darla at Hillsdale College here in Michigan, and her dad was a millwright and the skilled trades trainer for Chrysler, in Detroit. He opened the door for me, and I began my journey as a millwright apprentice. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road, but the journey has made me who I am. Being in Detroit and working in both the automotive and defense industry, especially during local and national economic turmoil, lay-offs (and the threat of them), were always part of life. Physically I’ve had 4 major arm surgeries and lingering chronic pain that have definitely taken their toll. But I could disappear tomorrow and have lived a life I’m proud of in the work I’ve done, the experiences I’ve had, and especially the relationships I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a millwright by trade, so the first part of my career at Chrysler’s Mack 2 engine plant involved rigging heavy machinery, operating cranes, and repairing gearboxes and conveyors. Welding was part of the job, too, from fabricating carts for cylinder heads to repair details made from tool steel and everything in between. And welding was the part of the job I fell in love with. Over the last 12 years, I’ve been a fabricator and driver/mechanic for General Dynamics Land Systems in their prototype shop, so I get to build and drive super cool military vehicles. I have a license to drive Abrams tanks, so that’s fun. 

In 2008 I also started Brown Dog Welding, which has served as a creative outlet for me as an artist. I enjoy sculpting and the process of evolving from a welder who was just sticking nuts and bolts together to an artist crafting fine art. My art often carries an automotive or motorsports theme, however, I also like to create sculptures that focus on the tradesperson and also on a possible utopian future where AI and humans live in harmony. My metal sculptures often take on an impressionist style that highlights my artistic welding techniques. 

The business has also given my wife and me an avenue to provide welding workshops for folks who either want to improve their welding skills or maybe have never welded and want to see what it’s all about. We have proudly hosted young students, veterans, retirees, automotive execs, artists, dealer techs, Ph.Ds., surgeons, families, cosmetologists, urban farmers, automotive designers, engineers, and many others! I truly love teaching and sharing my experience, knowledge, and passion for the trade. 

I’ve been doing all this since before social media, and I was one of the first to document my journey from a newbie to old experienced guy completely online. Instagram and Facebook are now chock full of talented people posting pics of pretty welds and projects, but that wasn’t a thing 20 years ago. I received so much negativity from posting my work as it was either “showing off” or “a waste of time”, but now it is commonplace, and the welding community is better for it because folks worldwide are being exposed to styles, techniques, and processes that before were isolated and hidden in pockets. I’m most proud when someone tells me they were inspired by my work to get into the trades, become an artist, or just carry on. 

I also write for The Welder magazine and TheFabricator.com which gives me a platform to speak both on welding and fabricating, but also the state of the industry itself. I have incredibly supportive editors who allow me to speak truth to power regarding issues near and dear to me, i.e., that the constantly pushed idea of a “Skills Gap” is misinformed and that our country is gripped not by a lack of skilled workers, but by poor pay, mistreatment of workers, and a less than diverse workforce. 

I have also been a contributing writer at DodgeGarage.com too, where wax poetic about fast cars and epic road trips, as well as the lesser-known history of Chrysler and the Dodge Brothers, Detroit’s industrial scene past and present, and the Arsenal of Democracy. Detroit is the industrial mecca of the world, and the untold stories are legion. 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’ve always enjoyed reading on a multitude of topics from physics to philosophy, from Carl Sagan to Fredrick Nietszhe, but physical books have been replaced by earbuds and Audible. Mostly my hit lists now are focused on non-fiction historical pieces, but my favorite author is still Fyodor Dyostoevsky; The Brothers Karamazov is still the best epic and I’ve read Crime and Punishment a half dozen times. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.browndogwelding.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welderassassin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Browndogwelding
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/joshwelton
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/browndogwelding/

Image Credits
Josh & Darla Welton