John Tonini (Plasma Art Gifts)

Welcome to this week's #benchmarkspotlight (formerly the #weldershowcase) - we had the opportunity to sit down with John from Plasma Art Gifts 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:  John Tonini   Business Name:  Plasma Art Gifts   Location: Lanesville, IN   Socials: FB: Plasma Art Gifts   Website: www.PlasmaArtGifts.com   Specialties:  Custom Metal wall art

Tell us about yourself - what inspired you to get into your trade? And how long? My parents did wood art for 35 years, my career was in IT but was always creative. When I retired, I decided to develop my creative side in metal. I use my technical and creative abilities to design metal art. I use a CNC plasma cutter to create flat metal wall art, adding multi-layers, spacers and back lighting to give it depth. I am relatively new at just 2 years doing this full time, but I learn and make my craft better each week and on each piece I create.

What keeps you motivated throughout the day? I know that no matter what you do, any goal is built on many individual processes. I am excited each day to find out how I am going to make just one of those processes better.

What is your favorite shop tool and why? My plasma cutter. Once I dream it, design it, I know I can make it.

What's your favorite piece that you've worked on? I started making single layer, 1 color pieces. As I have progressed, I have added multi-layers, multi-colors, multi-levels and just now have started adding lights. Every generation of my art brings new possibilities.

If you could have any job as it relates to question 1 what would it be and what would you do with that? I did IT for years and that fit my thought skills perfectly but art makes me smile.

What BA product is your favorite and why? Paint and rust stripper. This item allowed me to improve on what I thought was good enough.

What BA product surprised you in terms of quality - what about it set it apart from the competition? Sanding flap disc. This is my most used item.

If there was one person you could collaborate with - who would it be and why? Elon Musk LOL, let’s be realistic. Steve Wheatley - Wheatley Woodworking. Steve is a person like me that puts more importance on the customer's love of the products than the money we receive for it.

Do you have any advice for the next generation that you wish you had when you first started? Anything you do takes time and effort. No matter how much effort you exert it still takes time to develop, learn, make mistakes, revise and perfect. Even if you have a normal 9 to 5 job, start your dreams early in your life, don’t expect perfection to ever come. Expect it to be a journey and just make it better on every try.

What are your future plans for your shop? I enjoy being a one-man operation and I love learning new skills and processes to create and help realize what my customers want. The better I can do these things is enough for me.

Thanks for sitting with us and sharing your story with the community - is there anything you'd like to add?   I enjoy making metal art, I sell it to feed the habit. LOL