Sean Porth (FTS FAB)
Welcome to this week's #benchmarkspotlight (formerly the #weldershowcase) - we had the opportunity to sit down with Sean from Team FTS and talk a little shop.
If you would like to be featured in our weekly spotlight (100% FREE) and have a chance at winning one of our Grinder Hoods please send us an email to leo.benchmarkabrasives@gmail.com to get you scheduled in an upcoming week. And for those of you that take the time to share your story with us, we'd be happy to provide a free BA banner. These spotlights are intended to highlight your skill, your business, and your tips and tricks. Most of all it's to have a little fun!
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Name: Sean Porth
Business Name: FTS FAB
Location: DeWitt, Iowa
YouTube: TeamFTS88s
Specialties: I’m a welder/fabricator by trade and I use those skills to build demolition derby cars
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Tell us about yourself - what inspired you to get into your trade? And how long? I’ve been around demolition derby since I was 3, my older cousin Nate has been running derbies since the 90’s, my dad has always helped him and has ran some derbies as well, so naturally I always wanted to participate. I ran my first derby at 17 and I’m now in my 6th year of competition.
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What keeps you motivated throughout the day? The drive to create the best quality car that I’m capable of, something to be proud of, and something that others will see and appreciate the effort that gets poured into it. |
| My welder, without a doubt my welder is the most useful and important tool in the shop. Almost everything we do involves the welder and without a welder, there’s no way I could do what I do | 
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What's your favorite piece that you've worked on? Whenever anyone asks what my favorite demolition derby car is that I’ve built, my answer is always the same, the next one. With every car that gets built comes new ideas, I learn so much with each build, each build gets better, and not one build is the same as another. I had the most fun in last car that I built but if I had to pick my favorite would be a car that we built for my cousin Nate. It was a 1972 Cadillac station wagon, these cars are extremely rare with no official numbers as to how many were made. We caught a lot of flack for it but it had its reasons why it couldn’t be restored but at the end of the day, everyone had the same opportunity to buy it, so in comes our team mantra… none too clean, none too rare. It will be hitting the track for the 7th time here in a couple weeks. |
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If you could have any job as it relates to question 1 what would it be and what would you do with that? To build and compete in demolition derbies as a full time profession would be a dream come true, I love this sport and all the connections I’ve made and people I’ve met are 2nd to none. We travel the country competing in national level events so to do that as a profession would be amazing. |
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What BA product is your favorite and why?
Of the BA products that I’ve used and currently use, my favorite has to be the ceramic 4 1/2” flap disk. I use them all the time, they make quick work of the material I’m trying to remove, or hide and they hold up for a long time.
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What BA product surprised you in terms of quality - what about it set it apart from the competition?
Here again my answer has to be the flap disks. Like stated above they make quick work of steel and weld and they don’t give up, I was thoroughly impressed by how long they last.
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What tips and tricks do you have for us that might be different or eye opening for others to try with BA product?
The BA wire brush cups are some nice units, some tips to using them is to not press too hard, let it run and do the work for you. A bonus is to have a grinder with adjustable rpm’s so you can run the brush at the recommended speed. These things make quick work of whatever you’re trying to clean up.
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If there was one person you could collaborate with - who would it be and why?
Truthfully speaking, I’m lucky to be friends with and have worked with a lot of the guys I looked up to as a kid in the derby world, but if I had to pick someone I would choose my dad, which makes me lucky because we collaborate on each build and continue to make memories with each car we build and each derby we go to.
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Do you have any advice for the next generation that you wish you had when you first started?
Take every opportunity you can to learn, pay attention, don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid to try new things.
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What are your future plans for your shop?
Keep welding, I’ll be continuing to build and compete in derbies with the goal to continue to get better and keep learning.
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Thanks for sitting with us and sharing your story with the community - is there anything you'd like to add?
Thank you all for taking the time to read, BA products are top notch so make sure to support, and if anyone has any 1964-66 Chrysler imperials, 1969-76 Cadillacs, 1971-76 fullsize gm cars, or 1980-1992 Crown Vic’s/Town Car/Grand Marquis feel free to reach out. :)
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A Note From Leo
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Sean! Sure is great to be able to collaborate with your Father on each of these builds - enjoy every single minute of it my friend!