Dave Emery is an art major turned professional welder for the oil industry. “I would like to go back to being an artist, except this time, not a starving one,” Dave says. To that end, he started a small business called Churnoble Forge to do custom fabrications and artistic creations such as furniture and sculpture that utilize his welding skills. This giant spider was created to be part of an alumni art show at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. He has also made several other artistic creations, some of which he sold and some he gave as gifts.

“They are constructed mostly of pipe and solid bar with an assortment of odd machine parts,” he says. “They are primarily welded with my ESAB Migmaster 250 wire feeder using .035” E70S6 wire and 75/25 gas. I have been favorably impressed with ESAB products both professionally at work and at home with my own projects. I think their Dual Shield wires are the best. I had the privilege to use an identical machine for more than three years at work before I bought the one I now have at home. During that time I had very few problems with it.”

Dave also used ESAB equipment and wire to construct a 30’ x 48’ all-steel shop complete with bridge crane and 4’ x 12’ fitting table for his business.

 
Click Image for Enlarged View   The spider won an honorable mention at the show, and Dave has received a tentative offer to do a show of his own in the future. You can check out more of Dave’s creations at www.churnobleforge.com. Dave lives in Soldotna, Alaska, with his wife and three sons.