ARTIST OR WELDER?

One might think that after seeing welding helmets all day long from the view of the instructor, another welding helmet would be the last thing a teacher would want to lay his eyes on at night! However, when Welding Instructor Kevin Scott sees just a plain welding helmet, he may instead be visualizing how to enhance the surface.

Kevin enjoys customizing those helmets for students by airbrush painting them with challenging designs.

"I'll try just about any design that a student wants," Kevin says.

"I don't see much of Kevin in the evening," says his wife Brenda, Administrative Assistant to Hobart Institute President Phil Pratt. "He is generally out in the barn, airbrushing a helmet or some other item."

While he has already completed 25 or 30, Kevin's talents are not limited to welding helmets. He also customizes motorcycle helmets, car hoods, and has even done a wastebasket. And painting isn't his only "art" form. He has also welded the numbers on a few helmets creating clocks for the shop or office wall.

"I really enjoy doing it," says Kevin, "Although I don't think I'm ready to retire from teaching yet!"

One of his clock helmets brought in $75.00 in an auction for charity.

"It amazed me!" Kevin commented.

Kevin has been an instructor at the Hobart Institute since 1989 and has also worked in industrial settings. He is an "artist" with a torch as well. His gas tungsten arc - titanium welds are nearly flawless, according to comments heard from some of his students. Kevin's one of the best!

Kevin receives orders by e-mail to: ScottAirbrush@yahoo.com