William Wasilchen
William Wasilchen, a senior at CORE Butte High School in California, has been hard at work the past few years, designing and making all sorts of masterpieces through his welding experience.
Wasilchen started welding when he was 13 years old. He started seeking interest in automotive experience through his family’s business, Payless 4 Wheel Drive, but little did he know, this would spark his curiosity for welding. Since then, he has created numerous projects and actively learning new skills and techniques needed throughout the industry.
Wasilchen says he loves his creations he has made, but the one that has stood out to him the most was his table, which was made for the Butte County Fair Welding Competition. Wasilchen says the table started as a bit of a challenge, forcing him to make some changes along the way. Through these challenges and a month of hard work, however, he successfully completed his table.
Wasilchen’s table exhibited at the Butte County Fair.
Wasilchen’s favorite part about welding is the ability to be creative with the designs and make use of limited resources. His projects include tables, decorations, light stands, wall hooks, coat racks, shoe racks and more. Some of the resources used to make these projects included horseshoes, scraps of metal, nuts and bolts.
Safety Tips
Wasilchen shares some important safety tips he has learned throughout his welding journey. He says it is important to not wear a flammable shirt to ensure you do not get exposed to flames. You must also wear the proper-sized gloves. “If the gloves are too big, it can cause sparks to get inside, which can burn your skin,” he says.
His final statement is to always wear a helmet, rather than safety glasses. This will help protect your face and eyes from the light and heat created.
Overall, Wasilchen’s welding experience has been a journey filled with creativity, a few challenges and, most of all, personal growth.
Wasilchen’s horseshoe project.
