Turning Old Car Parts Into Cold Hard Art With Tom Patsis

Turning Old Car Parts Into Cold Hard Art With Tom Patsis

From WELD by Weld.com

May 18, 2026 · 12 min · Episode 247

About this episode

Tom Patsis discusses transforming old car parts into custom trophies and the creative process behind it.

Tom Patsis turns old license plates, flywheels, camshafts, rims, and swap meet finds into custom trophies with real racing history built into every piece. If you’re a welder, fabricator, car builder, or creative maker trying to figure out how welding skills can lead to unique work, this episode shows what that process actually looks like. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How to spot parts at a swap meet that can become strong, eye-catching trophy pieces • Why Tom looks for weight, balance, color, and story when choosing materials for a custom build • How to negotiate with vendors without breaking the budget on specialty parts • What to consider when joining different metals and choosing the right welding process • How Tom built a trophy business from fabrication skills he developed in the racing world Tom Patsis is a trophy builder, fabricator, and the Season 1 winner of Metal Shop Masters on Netflix. His work blends welding, racing history, found objects, and custom fabrication into trophies shipped to customers around the world. For WELD listeners, Tom’s story is a reminder that welding skills can open doors far beyond a traditional shop job. Connect with Tom Patsis: Instagram…

People in this episode

Host: Beau Wigington

Guest: Tom Patsis

Topics covered

  • welding
  • fabrication
  • trophy building
  • creative making
  • racing history

Keywords

  • welding
  • fabrication
  • trophies
  • car parts
  • custom builds
  • swap meet
  • metalworking

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Metal Shop Masters, WELD, coldhardart

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