September 18, 2026 Benchmark Abrasives

Matthew Cartwright

Welcome to this week's #benchmarkspotlight (formerly the #weldershowcase) - we had the opportunity to sit down with Matthew Cartwright 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!

Name: Matthew Cartwright

Location: New Bern, NC

Socials: IG: @thats_mc_welds TikTok: @thats_mc_welds

Specialties: Combo Pipe Welding, Precision TIG Welding, Exotic Metals Welding, Structural Welding, Custom Metal Fabrication, and Marine Welding & Fabrication.

Tell us about yourself - what inspired you to get into your trade? And how long?

I'm a 23-year-old former engineering major who discovered that the career I had been pursuing wasn't truly the right fit for me. While I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of engineering, I realized I didn't want to spend my days sitting behind a desk in front of computer screens. I've always enjoyed building, creating, and working with my hands, so I decided it was time to take a different path.

When I came across a welding scholarship and a highly respected welding program at my local community college, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to step away from engineering and try something new. I planned on taking a short break to see if welding was the right fit—but it didn't take long to realize I had found what I was looking for. I immediately fell in love with the trade, the challenge of continually improving, and the satisfaction of creating something with my own hands.

I've now been in welding school for five months, have earned two NCCER certifications, and am currently working toward my final two certifications. My long-term goal is to build my own business, while gaining experience in the field as a pipeline or traveling shutdown welder. Every day I'm learning something new, and I'm excited to continue growing both as a welder and as a business owner.

What keeps you motivated throughout the day?
I have a few things that keep me motivated every day. The first is my girlfriend, who I hope will one day be my wife. As I'm working in the shop, I often think about the life I want to build for us. My goal is to create a future where I can provide for our family, and that reminds me that every hour I spend improving my skills is an investment in that future.

The second is setting a goal for myself every morning. Before I start working, I decide on something I want to accomplish that day. It gives me a way to measure my progress, and by the end of the day, I always have something tangible to look back on with pride. Whether it's mastering a new welding technique or finishing a project, accomplishing that daily goal gives me the motivation and confidence to come back the next morning ready to improve even more.
Finally, I'm motivated by knowing where I want to be in life. I've always dreamed of owning my own business, and after discovering welding, that dream finally feels within reach. I genuinely love the trade—the craftsmanship, the challenge, and the opportunity to create something with my own hands. Every morning I wake up with the mindset that today is another step closer to building the life and business I've always envisioned.

What is your favorite shop tool and why?
Without a doubt, my favorite shop tool is my Pipliners Cloud Jolly Square welding hood. It's the one piece of equipment that's with me on every project, regardless of the welding process or the material I'm working with. To me, putting my hood down is more than just getting ready to weld—it's the moment when everything else fades away and all my attention is focused on creating the best weld I possibly can.

My welding hood has been with me from my very first weld in school through every project that's challenged me to become a better craftsman. It's seen my mistakes, my improvements, and the milestones I've reached along the way. Every scratch on it tells part of that story. As I continue building my career and growing my business, I know this hood will be there for countless more projects. It's a reminder of where I started, how far I've come, and the goals I'm
still working toward.

What's your favorite piece that you've worked on?
Without a doubt, my favorite project has been creating a memorial plaque for my girlfriend's childhood horse, who passed away shortly after giving birth on Good Friday. More than any other project I've completed, this one carried a great deal of personal meaning. Knowing it would honor such a special part of her life made me want every detail to be as close to perfect as possible.

What made this project so rewarding was how much I learned throughout the process. I worked closely with my welding instructor to develop the design, brainstorm fabrication techniques, and solve challenges along the way. It pushed me far beyond the skills I had already learned in class. During the project, I learned how to braze with a TIG torch, engrave lettering using a diamond burr on a Dremel tool, produce extremely precise welds for fine details, heat treat steel to create vibrant color gradients, use controlled heat to blue the metal, and transform a concept into a finished piece through careful design and fabrication.

The best part wasn't learning the new techniques, it was seeing my girlfriend's reaction when she received it. Knowing I had created something that would help preserve a cherished memory and be displayed for years to come reminded me why I love fabrication. Welding isn't just about joining metal together; it's about creating something meaningful that can tell a story and last a lifetime.

If you could have any job as it relates to question 1 what would it be and what would you do with that?
My dream career has two parts that work hand in hand. The first is to become a traveling nuclear shutdown welder, working on high-precision projects across the Midwest and East Coast. One of the things that drew me to welding after leaving engineering was the opportunity to solve problems with my hands instead of behind a computer. Nuclear welding represents the highest level of precision, discipline, and craftsmanship in the trade, and I want to challenge myself by working in an environment where quality and attention to detail are everything.

The second part of my dream is building a successful fabrication business during my time home from shutdown work. My vision is to specialize in exotic TIG welding and custom fabrication for the aftermarket automotive and recreational boating communities, creating everything from custom aluminum and stainless components to one-of-a-kind fabricated pieces. I enjoy the technical side of fabrication just as much as the artistic side, and I want to build a reputation for producing work that is both functional and beautiful.

For me, these two goals go together perfectly. Shutdown work would allow me to continue learning from some of the best welders in the industry while refining my skills under the highest standards. Then I could bring that experience home and pour it into my own business, creating custom work that reflects the craftsmanship, precision, and pride I've developed throughout my career.

What BA product is your favorite and why?

I've always been a fan of a good wire wheel, but the Benchmark Abrasives 4" Standard Twist Knot Wire Wheel has been a game changer in the shop. In welding, clean metal is everything. Whether you're preparing material before welding or cleaning between passes, contamination and leftover slag can quickly affect the quality of your weld. Having a wire wheel that consistently gets the job done makes a huge difference.

What I like most about this wire wheel is how well it performs in the areas where other tools struggle. It does an excellent job cleaning tight grooves, removing slag from between weld beads, and getting into corners without sacrificing durability. Instead of fighting to keep the joint clean, I can spend more time focusing on producing a quality weld.

One of the first lessons I learned in welding school was that great welds start long before you strike an arc. Proper preparation is just as important as the welding itself, and that's why this wire wheel has become one of the tools I reach for the most. It's a simple product, but it plays a big role in producing clean, professional results every time.

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What BA product surprised you in terms of quality - what about it set it apart from the competition?

The Benchmark Abrasives 60 Grit Zirconia High Density Flap Disc is the product that has impressed me the most in terms of quality. The first thing I noticed was its longevity. Compared to other flap discs I've used, it simply lasts longer. Even after it's worn down much further than I would normally expect, it continues to remove material efficiently and performs almost as well as it did when it was new.

Early in welding school, I made plenty of mistakes while learning new processes, and I spent a lot of time grinding, blending, and preparing material for another attempt. Those flap discs handled countless hours of use without giving up, and they quickly became one of the tools I trusted most in the shop.

What really sets them apart is their versatility. They're aggressive enough to remove material when needed, but they also leave a clean, consistent finish that makes welds look professional. Whether I'm preparing joints before welding, blending finished welds, or putting the final touches on a fabrication project, this is the flap disc I reach for first because I know I can count on it to get the job done.

What tips and tricks do you have for us that might be different or eye opening for others to try with BA product?

One of the best habits I've developed in the shop is keeping multiple angle grinders and die grinders set up with different Benchmark Abrasives products instead of constantly changing accessories on a single tool. For example, I'll dedicate one grinder to a flap disc, another to a grinding wheel, and another to a wire wheel. That way, I can simply grab the tool I need instead of stopping every few minutes to swap discs.

It may seem like a small change, but it saves a surprising amount of time and keeps me focused on the project instead of constantly changing accessories. It also helps extend the life of the discs by making sure I'm always using the right abrasive for the job rather than trying to make one product do everything. Whether you're in a professional shop or working out of your garage, having dedicated grinders for your most-used Benchmark products can make your workflow much more efficient.

If there was one person you could collaborate with - who would it be and why?

If I could collaborate with one person, it would hands down be my welding instructor, Ben "Mr. H" Hixenbaugh. Being one of his students has been one of the best parts of my welding journey. He's had an incredible career, built an impressive amount of knowledge and experience, and has a genuine passion for helping the next generation of welders succeed.

What makes him such a great mentor is that the lessons don't stop when the welding hood comes off. Of course, I've learned countless welding techniques and fabrication skills from him, but I've also learned about life, professionalism, and the importance of taking pride in your work. I love listening to his stories from years spent on the road, the tips and tricks he learned from old-timers in the trade, his history lessons, and the advice he's shared about building a successful welding business.

Even after I graduate, I know there will always be something new I could learn from him. More than anything, I'm grateful to have him not only as an instructor, but as a mentor and someone I can call a friend. Every welder hopes to have someone like that in their corner, and I feel incredibly fortunate that I do.

Do you have any advice for the next generation that you wish you had when you first started?

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this: there is no such thing as a bad day if you're willing to learn from it. Some of the biggest lessons I've learned have come from my mistakes. In fact, I'd argue you often learn more from a failed weld or a difficult project than you do when everything goes perfectly. Don't let failure discourage you—let it teach you.

Another habit that's made a huge difference for me is setting small, achievable goals every day. Don't spend all your time focused on where you want to be five or ten years from now. Focus on becoming a little better today than you were yesterday. Those small daily victories add up, and before you know it, you're much closer to the life and career you've been working toward. Always do honest work and treat every customer the way you'd want to be treated. Your
reputation is one of the most valuable things you'll ever build, and it's earned through integrity, quality, and consistency.

Finally, don't compare yourself to other people. Everyone learns at a different pace and follows a different path. Instead, compare yourself to the person you know you're capable of becoming. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to improve. Find a mentor who is where you want to be and never stop learning from them. At the same time, be willing to help someone who's just getting started. The best tradespeople don't just build great projects—they build up the people around them. That's the kind of welder, business owner, and mentor I hope to become and strive to be every day.

What are your future plans for your shop?

My long-term vision is to build a business that is known for quality, precision, and craftsmanship. In the beginning, I plan to operate as a mobile welding and fabrication business while gaining experience as a traveling nuclear shutdown welder. My goal is to use the knowledge and skills I develop in the field to continually improve the work I produce for my own customers.

As the business grows, I'd like to specialize in custom TIG welding and fabrication for the marine and aftermarket automotive industries, focusing on aluminum and stainless-steel projects that require a high level of precision and attention to detail. I enjoy taking an idea from a sketch or conversation and turning it into a finished product that customers can be proud of. Eventually, I hope to expand into a full-service fabrication shop equipped with advanced tools and technology, where I can offer services like custom fabrication, CNC cutting, powder coating, sand blasting, and specialty metal finishing. My dream isn't just to build a successful business—it's to build a shop with a reputation for honest work, exceptional craftsmanship, and treating every customer like family.

Thanks for sitting with us and sharing your story with the community - is there anything you'd like to add?

I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who has invested in me throughout this journey. To my family, my girlfriend, my instructors, my classmates, and the experienced welders who've taken the time to answer my questions and share their knowledge—thank you. I wouldn't be where I am today without the people who were willing to teach, encourage, and challenge me to become better.

I'm still early in my welding career, but that's what excites me the most. Every project is another opportunity to learn, every challenge is another chance to improve, and every person I meet has something they can teach me. My goal isn't just to become a great welder—it's to build a reputation for honesty, quality craftsmanship, and treating people the right way.

I hope one day I can do for the next generation of welders what so many people have already done for me. If I can build a successful business, create work that I'm proud of, and help someone else discover the same passion for this trade that I have, I'll consider that a successful career. Thank you to Benchmark Abrasives for giving me the opportunity to share my story, and I can't wait to see where this journey leads.

A Note From Leo

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Matthew! Having multiple angle grinders with different product on them definitely comes in handy and saves you a lot of time - and time is money.