Marc Rapaport (Studio Rapaport)
Welcome to this week's #benchmarkspotlight (formerly the #weldershowcase) - we had the opportunity to sit down with Marc from @studiorapaport 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: Marc Rapaport
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Tell us about yourself - what inspired you to get into your trade? And how long? I started metalworking about two years ago as a creative outlet — a way to balance design and craftsmanship. I’ve always loved making things by hand, and working with steel lets me shape something strong and expressive. What began as a hobby has grown into Studio Rapaport, where I’m now creating pieces I hope to sell and taking on custom commissions.
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What keeps you motivated throughout the day? Figuring out how to cut, bend and shape raw steel and seeing ideas take form in real time keeps me inspired. Knowing that each new sculpture could become someone’s custom piece or part of their home motivates me to keep refining my craft. |
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What is your favorite shop tool and why? My right-angle die grinder — it’s versatile, lightweight, and perfect for shaping, blending, and detailing. Paired with Benchmark abrasives, it’s become an essential tool for every sculpture. My expandable slat-top welding table and hydraulic press also play big roles in how I work — they give me flexibility to form, fit, and finish a wide range of projects. |
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What's your favorite piece that you've worked on? My favorite is a steel cat sculpture, modeled after our two cats. I had this mental concept of a cat jumping up to play with a ball of yarn, and I wanted to capture that moment of movement and curiosity. It challenged me to balance realism with style, and it’s the piece that made me realize I’d love to start selling my work and creating commissioned pieces for others. |
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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? I’d love to grow Studio Rapaport into a full-time art and fabrication studio — making original sculptures, selling my work, and building custom metal pieces for clients who want something unique. My dream is to spend more time designing and fabricating art that connects with people. |
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What BA product is your favorite and why?
The 2” ceramic discs for my die grinder — they’re durable, precise, and stay cool even during detailed finishing. They’re ideal for smoothing welds, refining curves, and shaping smaller forms in sculpture work.
Use promo code SPOTLIGHT10 to save on these exclusive items - 1 week only!
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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?
Use light pressure and steady speed — especially with ceramic discs. Let the abrasive do the work, and you’ll get smoother results, longer disc life, and less heat buildup on thinner steel.
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What are your future plans for your shop?
To continue building Studio Rapaport into a full creative space for sculpture and fabrication — building new forming tools (I’ve started creating a slip roller from scratch and plan to create a planishing hammer as well), refining my workflow, and finding ways to bring custom artwork to more people.
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A Note From Leo
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Marc! I think it's great that you're creating your own tools as you evolve your workflow!
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