ESAB’s Extraordinary Welding Equipment Helps MONSTER GARAGE Turn Ordinary Vehicles into Monster Machines

February, 2003

FLORENCE,SC - It’s a show that changes things. Like a Chevy Impala into a Zamboni. A school bus into a pontoon boat. Or a Geo Tracker into a hot air balloon. Since January 20 th , when the Discovery Channel’s hit series MONSTER GARAGE transformed a Chrysler PT Cruiser into a chipper/shredder, there’s another change on hand. Colorful host Jesse James and crew are now creating their monster-osity de jour with welding equipment of a different color. ESAB yellow.

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products has provided the show with a variety of welding and cutting equipment, including a MigMaster 250 Plus , MultiMaster® 260 multi-process machines, Heliarc® 161 and Heliarc® 352 TIG/Stick welders, PowerCut TM -650 and PowerCut TM -1500 plasma cutters, plus an OXWELD® Trade Master gas outfit.

Fans of MONSTER GARAGE know how important welding and cutting are to the show whose mission is “transforming ordinary cars into extraordinary machines.” Jesse James says, “These ESAB machines are pretty extraordinary, too. They’ve got what it takes to keep up with our expert crews. High performance. Unique and innovative features. Reliability. Our projects require a combination of down-in-the-trenches hard work and some off-the-wall ingenuity, and the ESAB equipment delivers the results we’re looking for.”

For each week’s episode, the MONSTER GARAGE design team comes up with a plan to turn a standard vehicle into a functional “Monster Machine.” Then over the next five days, a team of talented experts – including mechanics, engineers, designers and artists – works with James to pull it off. There’s ample, fast-paced welding and cutting action on screen, as the crew performs such outrageous feats as installing a Gatling-style air cannon (for package delivery, of course) on a Mac Tool step-van-turned-ultimate-mail- truck. In the end, the modified monster must retain the look of the “stock” vehicle.

The ESAB PowerCut plasma cutters come in particularly handy, as the “core” vehicles are hacked and chopped to create some just-to-see-if-we-can-do-it alter ego machine. With plasma gouging nozzles, the PowerCut machines are also great for removing previously welded or riveted parts.

When it comes to welding equipment, Jesse James is a good judge. A recent article in USA Today touted his new found celebrity, and People magazine named him one of their 50 sexiest men. The USA Today article quotes James’ reaction to this “fame.” He says , “It’s OK. But I’d rather be named Welder of the Year.” And did we mention Jesse hasn’t quit his day job? As owner of West Coast Choppers, he does plenty of welding and cutting making custom motorcycles for a client roster that includes Shaquille O’Neal and Keanu Reeves.

To see ESAB’s welding and cutting equipment in action, tune in to MONSTER GARAGE every Monday at 8 or 11 PM (Eastern and Pacific time). Monday shows air again the following Saturdays at 7 PM . If you happened to catch the January 6 th episode, you got a preview of ESAB yellow. James and his MONSTER crew traveled to Petty Enterprises in North Carolina to transform a Kyle Petty Winston Cup car into a street sweeper. And the Petty crews have relied on ESAB welding and cutting equipment for years.

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment and filler metals. The company has North American ISO9000 Registered plant facilities in Florence , South Carolina , Hanover , Pennsylvania , Ashtabula , Ohio , Traverse City , Michigan , and Monterrey , Mexico .