We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful W. Otis Mamed. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with W. Otis below.
W. Otis, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I think I became aware of my interest in metal, when I was considering retirement, and decided to take a welding night-class at the local trade school. I had always been a bit creative and like building things out of metal and decided that I wanted to dive deeper into learning how to make objects using tools such as a lathe, mill and plasma cutting table. I retired and with my sick day payout, purchased the lathe and mill, and using my welding skills, built a steel workbench, lathe and mill stands.
After spending hours on YouTube watching and learning how to use the tools, began making simple items, and eventually, more tools! A brake, a press, a band saw and ring roller were great for learning how to make items on the lathe and on the mill. I was always a bit of a computer nerd and that helped tremendously with the plasma table software, and controllers. But something was missing for me. I had made tools for others and custom shafts and other repair items which I sold for income to support my new hobby, but I felt like my creative side was not being developed.
I had always been interested in art. Not just paintings, but sculpture, and the different media employed to create beautiful objects and replicate nature for peoples visual enjoyment and pleasure. I liked working with clay, wood and, of course metal. I started “drawing” using CAD software… basically a way to do digitally what I had always dong with pencil and paper. After making simple items, I found people interested in what I offered, especially nature, and the humorous items I had made. That was it, I was hooked and love learning more each day. Getting better a drawing and using the tools together to get people to smile. Seeing people smile is a rewarding experience.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
When I started to think about retirement around age 50, I decided I wanted to make sure I had something to work toward. I decided that metal work had always interested me and thought, maybe something where I could create 2D images in steel from drawings or pictures. I then took a night class on cutting steel with torches and shears, as well as a course on welding with gas and stick. My interest grew from there. I decided to purchase a lathe and a mill to learn those skills. And it has come in handy for building tools that I use daily. I also realized that I enjoy putting current and new technologies to work for me. Figuring that out was a challenge I liked. When I actually retired, my sick day payout was enough to buy a CNC plasma table and cutter and associated equipment. I learned how to use this equipment mostly from watching videos, and online blogs and groups. But what to make? I talked with a lot of people who said they would like me to create images of animals, nature, cars, symbols… so many things! I decided that my effort would be to try and work with folks who had an idea, and wanted to see it come to fruition in metal. I also started to create on my own to display what I could do. Some folks also just wanted “parts”. Brackets and such, but with an artful flair for their own projects. I think my ability to do “almost anything” is both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes it is producing a bracket for a shelf, and other times, a large trinity ring for the front of a home. It runs the gamut. I think my favorite piece is a four foot tall Eiffel Tower made for a person who wanted to create Paris in miniature for his wife in their yard. But I also love taking on small projects. A torch and fire extinguisher holder that says “More Fire” “Less Fire” on the front of it. Or a customer that wanted a table top memorial for her pup that passed over the rainbow bridge. I do work that makes not only me smile, but them smile, or laugh or tear up with emotion. That’s what keeps me going each day. And recently, I moved from plasma… to laser style cutting. I can do much more detailed work, and smaller works.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
It certainly isn’t the income for me. While I make enough to keep my “hobby business” going, and pay for equipment and supplies, the money was never the reason I wanted to work with metal. I think it was always about my wanting to do creative things. I always liked music, art, sculpture and the like. It made me feel and enjoy life more. So I think trying to do that for others is part of my motivation. The result is that it’s important for me to see people love or hate my product. A funny sign for someone is too naughty for someone else, or a horse standing in a farm field with barn and mountains in the background is either too boring for one person, and just the best memory of their childhood for someone else. I have had so many folks have tears of joy over something they desired, with a little twist in it, that together we created, and that is an amazing feeling! Too many like this to list here.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I think resilience is a constant thing. Every week I find something that sets me back on a project, and need to find a new way or approach to making it a reality. I needed a belt grinder for shaping and cleaning up work. I looked on the marketplace and my jaw dropped when I saw the prices on so many of them. I decided that for half of that cost or less, I could build my own. Motor, belts, pulleys, shafts, bearings, wheels and drives… all had to be created and assembled. It took some time, but I have a machine that I made to help me be creative. It really works perfectly! When I decided to get into CNC Plasma cutting, I had to learn CAD. OMG! I was so overwhelmed. I just wanted to draw something out and cut it using the CNC. How can anything be so complex!? After finding some tutorials on-line, video training programs, and with a LOT of hours at the keyboard and screen, I learned enough to get started. It took weeks to learn enough to get started. I did not think at the start of the process, that I would be able to learn all the features and processes to cut steel. At first I thought, what have I done? After all the money I spent, only to get thwarted here. But, through some perseverance, patience, plenty of coffee and time, I got it. There are still things I learn about the software here and there, but overall, I’m pretty good at it. So many times along the way, I just wanted to throw my mouse at the screen and give up. But then you take a break, come back with a clear head, and move forward.
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