TRAVERSE CITY -- In this week's Made with Michigan Hands, we meet the crew from a welding shop in Traverse City that has been fixing and fabricating for as long as they can remember.
Terry Walters, owner of Ace Welding and Machine, Inc. said, "Well my dad started this in 1980 and we moved here, we opened January first, 1980 and my father was a welder since like World War II... I started full time in '83... I know this shop like the back of my hand."
While the shop itself hasn't changed much over the years, their services have.
Walters said, "My father always did repair welding, it's always been our backbone. We still do it. But as everything custom, everything changes, we do a lot more custom work now, too. Ornamental, things like that, custom work. We'll take ideas from an architect or a concept. Someone might bring me a Better Homes and Garden magazine and ask me if I can duplicate things."
You've probably seen some of their designs around Traverse City, they recently made a sign for Cog's Creek Gallery on Maple St. and also completed an archway for a home near Bryant Park.
Walters said, "Right now, I have a crew of 10 guys here that help me every day and they do all my, they do all the work, I'm just the front man."
... and that work doesn't look to be letting up any time soon.
Walters said, "I just like to satisfy people and you know, try to make a living for my crew and for myself and I guess I'll keep going til I can't get up anymore."
... but as far as plans for expanding operations go...
Walters said, "No, I think I'm pretty well set right here, my little shop in my little corner of the world."
