Co-Owner

A good friend of mine once said, “some people collect stamps, I prefer to collect skills.” I seem to be following his advice.

I started welding over 35 years ago. I have worked in railway museums, regional theatre, and architectural iron work. I got into welding initially as another tool in the tool box, but I also connect with the duality of metal’s nature. Strong but flexible, mechanical but also organic. It’s a modern material but also how humanity has defined itself for millennia (bronze age, iron age, steel age).

I see my ownership of Mclean Forge and Welding as a stewardship of the business. This company has been in Boulder for over 60 years. I look to keep it functioning as a source of metal work in the area, as well as helping the next generation of metalworkers learn and grow in the craft.

Co-Owner

What I love about my job: I love solving problems, so when people come to us with a small repair or large project, I feel like we are the ‘can do’ guys who will make it happen and make it look beautiful along the way. I also love keeping material out of the landfill and re-using when we can! I love the creative and iterative process with customers and seeing the light go on when they see what we do first hand. I love that I may be measuring with clients on one day and installing a staircase with cranes the next.

When I am not working, I am out with my wife hiking, biking or traveling. I also enjoy doing my own art form of Scherenschnitte, an ancient form of papercutting that I sometimes convert to laser cut wood and or metal screens.

Lead Fabricator

I think my favorite thing about working with metal is getting to take a material that’s characterized as being strong, heavy, and tough, and then using it to make delicate leaves and flowing curves. There’s a certain kind of power in commanding a seemingly immovable material to take whatever shape I want it to, and getting the opportunity to expand my skills to do this better and in more varied ways is one of the best parts about my job. Playing with fire is an added bonus.

When I’m not welding or blacksmithing, I love doing pottery, leatherwork, and lapidary—basically any craft I can get my hands on. I get nerdy about coffee, Lord of the Rings, and cooking Asian food.

Fabricator

I started welding 25 years ago when I was 15 years old, and from that moment on, I was hooked. Working in the custom fabrication industry has allowed me to obtain several skill sets that could also be applied to other construction trades. Projects range from short and simple to large and complex. This diversity that often requires thinking outside the box is what I love most.

Fabricator

I’m Chloe! I’ve been with McLean since April of 2023. I love getting to create something different and unique each day. Whether it’s a shop day or an install we are always having a great time together!

Outside of work I enjoy doing farm work at home, playing dnd, dancing, and spending time with my dog. Though one hobby that’s always present is singing, in the car, at home, and sometimes even the shop!

Fabricator

The first question I’m asked when people discover I weld; is what kind of art I make? Which is a fair question, but I come from a structural background. Years ago, I was hired with minimal wood working experience, to a small niche construction company that builds indoor climbing walls.  As soon as I saw someone welding I knew THAT’S what I wanted to do…. and now I’ve been welding for 7 years and am confident in considering myself a metal fabricator. I see the “art” and find joy in building large structures and functional fixtures such as hand rails, staircases, decks and pergolas. 

Fabricator

I began my artistic career at a very young age. From detailed art into rendering, I have always had a creative mind and heart. My foray into art as a career began at a fabrication shop over 20 years ago where I was able to blend artistic knowledge using multiple crafts, ranging from metallurgy where I was responsible for crafting and designing authentic and beautiful gates and metal hoods into creative solutions where I found my unique woodworking widely useful. I have always had a unique ability to bring customers' dreams into reality. While cultivating my capabilities through the years, I can bring truth to concept and a level of sophistication that is unmatched in the field of creative creation. This field has allowed me to open doors through traveling across the country, all while perfecting my craft, and it has been a blessing to land a position with Ray and Paul's shop, where I work with the most amazing team.