January 23, 2026 Benchmark Abrasives

Jeremy Werkheiser (@metalrelic)

Welcome to this week's #benchmarkspotlight! - we had the opportunity to sit down with Jeremy from @metalrelic 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: Jeremy Werkheiser

Business Name: MetalRelic

Location: Kingsley, PA, USA

Socials: IG: @MetalRelic FB: MetalRelicArt X: @MetalRelicArt Tiktok: @metalrelic Etsy: MetalRelic

Website: www.MetalRelic.com

YouTube: @MetalRelicArt

Specialties: Welded steel sculptures built from repurposed metal, nuts and bolts, organic forms, and gallery pieces.

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

The first time I ever welded was on the job, using an old Lincoln tombstone stick welder. I had one of the best Mentors who had the patience to teach a kid a thing or two. I didn’t come into this through art school or anything formal. I learned by doing, watching, messing things up, and figuring out how to fix them. I’ve always liked building and working with my hands, and welding just clicked. Over time, that turned into using steel to create and repurpose. Metal Relic started nights and weekends while I was working in the industrial maintenance field. It slowly grew from there into what I’m doing today. I've been a hobbyist for almost ten years and fulltime artist for two.

What keeps you motivated throughout the day?
Seeing progress. Even when a day is frustrating, if something looks better than it did the day before, that’s enough to keep going. I’m also motivated by showing my kids that you don’t have to follow a straight line if you’re willing to work for it.

What is your favorite shop tool and why?
My favorite shop tool I use is my Andeli non-touch pilot arc plasma cutter.

What's your favorite piece that you've worked on?
My Kraken sculpture, The Deep Sleep. It was a long build and pushed me in ways nothing else had before. There were a lot of moments where I had to slow down, rethink things, and trust the process, which made the finished piece that much more meaningful.

If you could have any job as it relates to question 1 what would it be and what would you do with that?
Honestly, exactly what I’m doing now, just on a bigger scale. More time spent building larger sculptures and getting them into public spaces where people can really experience them.

What BA product is your favorite and why?

The flap discs. I use them constantly for shaping, blending, and finishing. They hold up well and give me good control, which matters when I’m working on organic shapes. They work great for me when I'm knocking the dross off of plasma cut parts. I feel like I have more control with a flap disc than I do with a hard rock for light materials.

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

The cutoff wheels. They last longer than I expected and cut clean without a lot of vibration. Not having to stop and change wheels all the time makes a big difference during long builds.

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

Don’t think of abrasives as just cleanup tools for bad welds. I use flap discs to actually shape metal and add texture, especially on things like sculptural details. A lot of the character in my work comes from that stage.

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

Mike Rowe. He’s always been a big supporter of skilled trades, and I think there’s a strong connection between what he promotes and what I’m trying to show through my work.

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

Have patience with yourself. Skills don’t come overnight, and being able to look back at your progress helps more than you realize. If someone offers you tools that you don't know how to use, take them. You can learn how to use it later.

What are your future plans for your shop?

Bigger and more involved sculptures, more public-facing work, and continuing to share the process so others can learn from it. I want to grow without losing the hands-on side of what I do. It is where I find my peace.

A Note From Leo

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Jeremy! That's a great tip on using the Flap Discs to shape metal and add texture. It's important to not forget how versatile a good flap disc can be!