April, 2003

FLORENCE,SC - When the American Welding Society (AWS) presented Jesse James with a “Golden Helmet Award” at their 2003 Welding Show on April 8, the excitement happened in the ESAB booth. ESAB Welding & Cutting Products has a special connection with Jesse James, host of the Discovery Channel’s hit series MONSTER GARAGE. Earlier this year, James and the crews on MONSTER GARAGE began using ESAB welding and cutting equipment to create the show’s famed “extraordinary machines.” And ESAB invited James for a guest appearance at the AWS show.

Both ESAB and the American Welding Society appreciate the fact that James is a “master welder” and a strong advocate of his craft. An article in USA Today touted James’ growing “media icon” status, then quotes him as saying he’d rather be named Welder of the Year. AWS delivered, naming Jesse James a Golden Helmet Award winner in recognition of the advanced technology and creative skills he exhibits on his hit TV show. The Welding Society believes James’ popularity will expand awareness of the vital role welding plays in American industry and help attract new people to the profession.

Jesse James’ appearance was a major draw at this year’s AWS show in Detroit. Delegates lined up at the ESAB booth to get his signature and for the MONSTER GARAGE posters and do-rags given out by ESAB. James brought along another treat for show-goers – the Kyle Petty Winston Cup car that was transformed into the world’s fastest street sweeper on a special episode of MONSTER GARAGE, filmed at the Petty Garage in North Carolina (where ESAB welding equipment has been in use for many years). Fielding questions from the media, James also talked about his “other job.” As owner of West Coast Choppers, he has produced custom motorcycles for a client roster that includes Shaquille O’Neal and Keanu Reeves. His latest creation, said James, was a quarter-million-dollar project.

Fans of MONSTER GARAGE know it’s a show all about changing things, like a Chrysler PT Cruiser into a chipper/shredder or a Mini Cooper into a snowmobile. ESAB was extremely proud when the popular series decided to make another change – to ESAB yellow! ESAB provided the show with a variety of equipment and filler metals, including a MigMaster 250Plus, MultiMaster® 260 multi-process welders – with .035 Mig 6 wire on 44 lb. spools, Heliarc® 161 and Heliarc® 352 TIG/Stick machines – with All-State 275 electrodes in cut lengths, PowerCutTM-650 and PowerCutTM-1500 plasma cutters, plus an OXWELD® Trade Master outfit. And Jesse James likes it. “Our projects require a combination of down-in-the-trenches hard work and some off-the-wall ingenuity, and ESAB products deliver the results we’re looking for,” says James.

There’s lots of fast-paced welding and cutting action on MONSTER GARAGE, as “ordinary” vehicles are hacked, chopped, reconfigured and otherwise “embellished” to create some just-to-see-if-we-can-do-it alter ego machine. To see ESAB’s welding and cutting equipment in action, tune in to MONSTER GARAGE on the Discovery Channel, Mondays at 8 or 11 PM (Eastern and Pacific time). Monday shows air again the following Saturday at 7 PM. (Note, some repeat shows may not feature ESAB equipment.)