Jeremy Perkins 0:00
Hey, this is Jeremy and you're listening to bucket talk powered by BRUNT. This week we sit down with Sean Flatman, aka dabs Wellington, to hear how he's used his passion for welding to establish himself as a rock star within the trades community.
Eric Girouard 0:13
This is bucket talk weekly podcast where people who work in the trades and construction that aren't just trying to survive, but have the ambition and desire to thrive. The opportunity to trades and construction is absolutely ridiculous right now. So if you're hungry, it's time to eat. We discuss what it takes to rise from the bottom to the top with people who are well on their way and roll up their sleeves every single day.
Jeremy Perkins 0:41
Welcome to our show, Sean, thanks for having me. Good to be here. So you're a welder by trade stainless TIG welder
Sean Flottmann 0:48
predominantly. I mean, if I if I get to choose then yeah, you know, obviously, it's kind of nice, clean stainless steel, which is not always the case. But generally, you know, these days, 20 years into my career, you know, I've worked myself into a nice position.
Jeremy Perkins 1:07
What exactly in the welding industry, do you do, you know, automotive aircraft? You know, along those lines, where, where do you stand packaging conveyor systems currently? Okay. And you do a little artistic welding on the side?
Sean Flottmann 1:21
Oh, yeah, that side hustle, you know, is TIG welding on weird stainless, pretty typically. But it's, uh, it's, you know, I was just messing around with it at first. And then people started to like, what I was doing, and then, you know, it turned into a pretty steady weekend and evening gig as well. So yeah, it's pretty cool.
Jeremy Perkins 1:43
So give us a little background and you know, where you came from how you decided to become a welder. I mean, just a little insight into dabs Wellington's background,
Sean Flottmann 1:53
well, my welding career started pretty accidentally, honestly, in high school, I was in band, and to take welding classes, you had to get shipped off because I grew up in a very small town, so they shipped you off to the nearest town of Rolla, that had a college votec program there. So you couldn't do band and welding. And I was hell bent on being a rock star in those days. So it wasn't, you know, anything on the forefront of my mind. And after the rock star dreams fell through, I decided to go to college, for Business Management due to, you know, high school counselors advice and such. And it didn't take me very long to realize that was not for me. And while going to college, I started temping at a local metal shop in their grant polishing department. And I also quickly realized that that wasn't really for me, but it did give me my first glimpse, and kind of turned me on to the process of TIG welding. There was a guy in the shop that was, you know, he was big into wheelin. And building rock crawlers and stuff kind of took me under his wing, and gave me the ins and outs, kind of a crash course on TIG welding. And I just slowly worked my way into a full time TIG position at that shop. That's basically how I got my star.
Jeremy Perkins 3:22
Yeah, yeah. Do you? Do you like what you do during your day job?
Sean Flottmann 3:28
Oh, of course, I wouldn't still be doing it. You know.
Jeremy Perkins 3:31
I mean, that's, that's, that's amazing. Because, you know, I, I know a lot of people that exactly, exactly that they hate their, they hate their job, but they do it because either that's what they're good at, or that's what they've always been doing.
Sean Flottmann 3:43
I worked my way back into a welding position. I worked at the place where I started for quite some time, and actually worked my way into a management position there. And that I hate it. You know, I've been like, I didn't like being the guy that had to have everyone under my thumb. You know, just putting a boot in everybody's ass, honestly. Yeah. You know, I enjoy welding. I enjoy being under the hood, the solitude you get and just, you know, it's, I mean, it's every little boy's dream, I get to sit down and play with fire all day long.
Jeremy Perkins 4:19
So where do you get where'd you get your training from? I mean, they, I know that, you know, I don't have any formal training in welding other than, you know, working under a guy, but you know, my welding has only come so far. Your welding
Sean Flottmann 4:30
is unbelievable. I don't know if I'd go as far as unbelievable, but it's the product of repetition. Yeah. You know, the first shop I worked at we did a lot of large runs for clothing manufacturers. So I mean, it would be you know, a lot of the same thing week to week to week wouldn't be the same day all week long, but you had a lot of runs of 200 400 of the same pieces. So I mean, you know, repetition. You do anything a lot, dude. over and over and over, I mean, by the time you're done with it, you can do with your eyes closed. So it's just on the job training and picking up whatever, whatever things worked here and there, you know, that was long before Instagram or Facebook Messenger groups or, you know, even forums and stuff like that back then if you were having some real trouble, but there weren't the benefits of social media and all this added exposure, for welding and, you know, any trades you look out there, there's, you know, so many trades on social media, and it's really broadened the community's reach to where, you know, guys can help one another out.
Jeremy Perkins 5:37
Yeah, yeah. I mean, I speak to this a lot, you know, we talk about our network and you know, I got a vastly growing my network now, but it's more to you know, gain knowledge and pass the skills and, and knowledge we have on and, you know, I'm even doing that with, with my daughter and the younger generation now, because I enjoy having the skill set that people passed on to me that I'm eager to pass it on to, you know, to the generation below, below me, and, you know, I do do still do the same thing you get, I mean, I enjoy it. So, learning the way I did
Sean Flottmann 6:12
in a, in a factory setting, it was very, very hit and miss, you know, like you were saying earlier, a lot of people go to work and they don't like their job, it's really hard, getting a guy that hates his job to take any time out of his day to show you anything.
Jeremy Perkins 6:28
For danger,
Sean Flottmann 6:29
you know, he, you know, he's been watching the clock since noon, for 330, just so he can get the hell out of there and crack a beer open, you know, it's far and few between you run across someone, when you're coming up that is willing to take gender ringside, I have no problem doing that, in my day job or doing it online, you know, on Instagram or anything, if someone is willing to learn, and actually, you know, putting effort into it, I feel like they deserve, you know, their time or, you know, whatever a little bit of advice or nugget I can offer.
Jeremy Perkins 7:03
And it seems like your daughter has taken an interest in, in welding seems like a chip off the old block
Sean Flottmann 7:08 to a certain extent, she, you know, as much as any 1011 year old girl could be into welding, she's into it, you know, but she's, uh, she's got a steady hand. And I don't think that having a little knowledge into the processes can hurt whatsoever it at least let her know what's available to her. If she decides to go that direction, you know, I don't want to push her into anything, but I'll, I'll sure as hell help provide her with whatever she needs, if that's what she decides.
Jeremy Perkins 7:40
Well, and, and that's, and that's a, you know, a big takeaway, too, is, you may not be grooming a tradesman, but you may be grooming a consumer that understands the trades, that, you know, when, when a contractor does, you know, talk to her in the future or, or, you know, whoever they that that consumer understands where they're coming from. And, you know, I think it's good to see all spectrums. So yeah, I doing the same with my little ones is trying to instill some sort of blue collar value, and it doesn't matter if they go this route or not. And, you know, at least they have some sort of insight into it, and how to deal with it. And, you know, maybe maybe I do rub off on them a little bit.
Sean Flottmann 8:21
I don't know, every child likes to create things with their hands. You know, I mean, that's, that's how you begin learning. So I mean, it's just, it's something that if you nurture it over time, I don't think it goes away. But you know, a lot of people completely forget about it. You know, so I, I like to at least give it a shot. You know, it's it's like, grown up arts and crafts,
Jeremy Perkins 8:45
gluing pieces of metal together.
Sean Flottmann 8:47
Yeah. You know, it's like, it's, it's, it's art class where you could potentially burn the building down. So just a couple extra protocols. You know? Yeah, absolutely.
Jeremy Perkins 8:56
Do you guys have any issues in your trade that you want to speak of, you know, lack of skill, workers lack education, anything that you see that that is a problem, or, you know, even even some good things? I mean, I know that you talked about YouTube and, and a few other places being readily available for information that, you know, people might actually become more aware of things that just wanted to CVI. The insight on that? Oh, well, I
Sean Flottmann 9:26
mean, the the resources available anymore are incredible. You know, I mean, every major manufacturer has got a YouTube channel, you know, I mean, you've got you know, welding tips and tricks, you've got weld Comm. I mean, there's so many resources out there now that have endless hours of video, you know, with voiceover walkthroughs and everything. And then I mean, you get on YouTube, and there's countless other accounts that are, you know, spanning the entire spectrum of metalwork from you know, Pipe welding out in the oil fields to building rock crawlers and you know, just awesome badass machines. I mean, it's, I mean, you could just get lost and you go down a rabbit hole in there, it's never ending, you know, and like I said, you know, 20 years ago, when I was learning it, you were lucky to get a 45 second, you know, tutorial before someone was like, pissed off, man. The benefits are measurable, you know, it's just, if, if a young guy is out there, a young guy or girl, excuse me is out there. I mean, there's no excuse, if you've got a thirst for knowledge, it is out there and available at your fingertips, you know. And then on Instagram, once you get involved with the community, I mean, there's a lot of people out there that are willing to, to help and point you in the right direction if you have questions or things. So I mean, it's, it's awesome.
Jeremy Perkins 10:54
I mean, as an influencer, you you're doing just that, I mean, I reached out to you asked you if you wanted to come on this podcast, and you had no problem doing that. And, I mean, that speaks volumes for, for people out there that, you know, we are a community and, you know, we're we're out there to share our story and shared trips, or sorry, tips and, and tricks. And, you know, I think that, that kind of takes the the stigma of the old way of doing things away, I mean, it was kind of keep your skill and trade to yourself, or you need to earn it or, you know, all that to where now it's kind of lightening up. It's like, Hey, you want to come in, we'll help you get in, you know, you want you you want to you've got the eagerness and the willingness to do so let's do it. You know, so I think that's great, though, that we've come this far. I don't think secrets make friends, you know,
Sean Flottmann 11:46
for us as a collective whole, you know, we're capable of a lot more than we are if everyone, it just doesn't make sense to me. I mean, if that's, if that's your prerogative, fantastic. That's not you know, how I operate.
Jeremy Perkins 11:59
Cool, build a project you working on anything that's that are wanting to work on something that you haven't gotten around to something big NAFTA, you know, nasty, you know, awesome. Well, the biggest thing I recently did with Scott Robbie, yeah,
Sean Flottmann 12:16
we did a piece for the American Welding Society that was supposed to be on there, like student outreach vehicle that was supposed to be going to colleges and all kinds of different events, all summer long, I'm not entirely sure what the tour schedule of that is going to be given current circumstance. But that was a big sugar skull. And Scott made the frame. And he makes really ornate roses. So they were flame treated along with the frame. So it was really cool. It was 26 by 26, I think was the final dimension. I don't know, I just did the inner mirrored TIG welding, and he did the other parts. So we, you know, he assembled it after I sent him the, the initial part of it. And now Other than that, you know, I do I try to do a couple different artwork pieces every weekend, I do whatever comes across the table as quickly as I possibly can. There's not, not a lot of projects that I don't jump right on.
Jeremy Perkins 13:17
Yeah, well, and you know, I've noticed with your stuff and you know, only recently through Instagram, I've
Sean Flottmann 13:23
it's opened up a whole nother view of welding is is that the color that you can get from from heat. And, you know, you could actually use it as a as a, essentially a coloring book, it's, it's amazing that you've, you've kind of mastered it. And you can get these different colors to come out of, you know, different heat ranges. And I think it's amazing. I mean, it's almost an art it welds and it's actually art. And that's, that's wild that you can go from having a trade as a welder and do something functionally. And now you're, you're actually creating art and with the same resources and tools and his reinvigorated my passion for the process as well. I mean, of course, doing something for 1520 years, I mean, Hell, even 10 years, there's going to be stages of your journey where you're getting burnout, or where you've just, you know, you're mailing it in. And when I started the artwork, it not only made me more proficient at my day job, but it, like I said, made me look forward to welding as well. And at work, I was thinking about my next project I was going to do, you know, that evening or that weekend, I don't know if you've noticed this when you're under the hood. You know, your mind tends to wander and it helps if you've got something to kind of focus on. But otherwise, you know, you can go a little, little crazy little box. Yeah, it gave me something to think about. Well, well, they get done. Like I said, it really did help hone the process even more because it's another fast That I wasn't focused on before. Yeah, so And I mean that, that goes with any new part of the process. I mean, just TIG welding, what I do is just a very minute division of you know, what, gas tungsten arc welding covers, I mean, it, it's used in many different fields across, you know, every different, you know, venue, it's a very versatile and, you know, highly used process anymore. So,
Jeremy Perkins 15:27
so for those so for those that are interested, I kind of wanted to talk about we'll have you talk about more about your gear stuff you use in the trade actually, whether it's, you know, building the conveyor systems or or you know, at home doing your, your art, I just kind of wanted to let our listeners know what, what you're using what what type of stuff you you got going on.
Sean Flottmann 15:50
Oh, currently, I am running a fruitiest magic wave. And it's, it's a pretty incredible machine. The Arc stability on it is second to none, you get a clean start at three amps and anywhere above it. I'm running it right now just off my 110 wall outlet.
Jeremy Perkins 16:12
Oh, wow.
Sean Flottmann 16:13
Yeah, I mean, it maxes out at 170 amps, just through the wall outlet. And I've you know, I don't do anything over half an inch really at home. So it's not that big a deal. But even my consumables are basically the same whether I'm doing the artwork at home, or building the conveyors and stuff. I use a larger style flooding cup made by Michael Furyk, usually a 12 to 14 Cup at work. And then when I'm doing the artwork, it's a size 24 BB w so it is quite a bit larger, and it does pump quite a bit more argon 30 to 35 cfh. Then I'm just run a blue demon multimix. tungsten. That's about it. Really, other than that, it's just practicing the process.
Jeremy Perkins 17:05
So where, where others may run races and go home and drink beer and stuff? I actually think I know the answer this question is, you know, I kind of want to know what you do on your off time. But I'm starting to think that dabbs Wellington is, is essentially something that breathed life back into your welding career. And I think that it also is your release, is that is that true or?
Sean Flottmann 17:32
Oh yeah, my little welding area or the dabbler story is I call it my little out there. You know, I mean, that's, that's where I go. And, you know, I wake up early on Saturday and Sunday mornings and go out there just like I'm going to work. I mean, I I put that diligence and determination into someone else's dream. I owe myself the same thing. I need to be out there building my dream as well. You know, and I go out there, I enjoy what I'm doing. I set my own schedule out there. And it's my little my little slice of the American dream. You know,
Jeremy Perkins 18:08
so did you build that fabrication? shop yourself? No,
Sean Flottmann 18:11
it's 40 by 30. Wow. But it was it was already built we bought a new house this we've been here I guess. Almost a year. Yeah. It was my my birthday present to myself last year. Gotta be tough to top I thought 40 was gonna be my here and well, you know, now we can't even leave the house.
Jeremy Perkins 18:36
But you're But what's even crazy and so I'm kind of getting into it myself and for for anybody that does any automotive photography or, you know, trade photography or whatever you're, you know, you got I got to give you credit on on your video editing. And, you know, your filming skills are, are actually pretty good for a tradesman. I mean, we're not known for for that, that aspect of it. And you your videos are you know, here's
Sean Flottmann 19:01
your high school. Oh, really? Yeah, that's right. Yeah, I was I was really into black and white photography. I thought that was gonna be my shoo in. And then this whole digital photography, they came around and totally blew all of my practice out the water. There's no need for a darkroom anymore. So yeah, it turns out that experience, you know, put it in my pocket and 15 years later came in pretty heavy.
Jeremy Perkins 19:25
So as you've probably heard on prior episodes, I am huge botai Chevy guy. I want to kind of see what people drive what they don't like. I mean, I don't think you have a work truck. So what's your personal vehicle and do you love it? I actually drive the Chevy Malibu nice. GM through
Sean Flottmann 19:51
it's a you know, it's nothing fancy. I have a like three mile round trip commute to work every day. So my vehicle is not You know, a necessity really, I could almost ride a bike there if I had to. But
Jeremy Perkins 20:04
you know, some guys have these huge welding rigs that they built the body themselves and everything but, you know, I kind of want to show the dynamic of everything. Not everybody needs a monster truck. I've got a little grocery getter and that's, that's all I need. So, I'd like to thank you, Shawn, for being on the show with us. I wanted to take this opportunity to give you a second or two to say anything else I don't know if you had any mentions you wanted to talk about a podcast or whatever. Um, well, I
Sean Flottmann 20:35
guess I should say. following me on Instagram at dabs Willington
Jeremy Perkins 20:41
nice. Well, once again, thank you very much for being on the show. I look forward to your posts as you post them. And thanks for giving us an insight into the welding trade and Oh, thanks for having me on. I really appreciate it. Alright, buddy.
