Metal Art Buisness A Tribute To Lost Son

Metal Art Buisness A Tribute To Lost Son 30-3-7 Though he's in his retirement years, Don Golden has made a fulltime business of "metal art" since 1996. He continues to be very busy filling orders across the country for "authentic, hand-torched items with a personal touch." "Golden Metal Art" came about as a sort of tribute to a son Golden lost in a hunting accident. "He had an amazing talent for metal work," he explains. "That's what inspired me, and by doing metal art myself, it helped me deal with my grief because I thought of my son every time I worked on something. It was therapeutic." Golden makes almost anything that can be made out of metal: wall signs, gate entrance signs, ranch ornaments, security fence, decorative railings, coat and hat racks, pickup headache racks, head board inserts for log beds, ornamental weathervanes, fireplace sets, paper towel holders, rodeo trophies, bookends, lamps, bar stools, and custom art in general. All of his work is hand done and he sells both retail and wholesale. Most metal art these days is done with computers, according to Golden. "Mine is not quite as perfect as the computer-generated work, but it's not far behind," Golden says. "My creations are true originals. They're all hand-cut with a plasma cutter." An extensive catalog of patterns and products provides a great degree of flexibility, since many of the designs can be mixed and matched to fit different applications. Most of the items are silhouettes done on 1/8-in. (or thicker) sheet metal, although Golden has also done two and three-dimensional projects. "I really enjoy doing gate entrance signs for ranches. I've done various western scenes with horses and cattle, or wildlife scenes," he explains. "I once did 103 feet of deck railing that went around most of the house, along with stair railing and a gate for a home in Washington. I've also done a lot of security fence made out of square tubing." Large metal entrance signs crafted by Golden, grace the cities of Salmon, Idaho and Clifton, Texas. Silhouetted signs also look extremely sharp when mounted on the flat face of a large rock, as might be used in landscaping at the entrance to a yard. Golden has also made smaller welcome signs out of old 18 to 20-in. plow disc blades. He sells those for $45 each (plus S&H). He gets a lot of orders for pickup truck headache racks and headboard inserts for log beds from Idaho and Montana. These 5 by 2-ft. pieces of art sell for $270 (plus S&H). Another unique item he makes is a 30-in. dia. "family tree" to hang on the wall. By putting a magnet behind individual pictures of family members, you can place them wherever you want on the tree, according to Golden. His most popular products include various sizes of a cowboy with his horse, praying beneath a cross, 3-D Texas stars, welcome signs and gate signs. "I will also custom design ornaments, either by doing my own drawings, or using customers' drawings or concepts," he says. "Custom items make great gifts or keepsakes." It's important that inquiries include the size requested and a phone number, he points out. Dealer inquiries welcome. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Golden Metal Art, Don Golden, 1759 Cr. 4100, Meridian, Texas 76665 (ph 254 597-1234; goldenmetalart@htcomp.net; www.goldenmetalart.com).

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