Jack Gron (@gronjack)
Welcome to this week's #benchmarkspotlight (formerly the #weldershowcase) - we had the opportunity to sit down with Jack from @gronjack 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. 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!
Enjoy and Grind On!
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Name: Jack Gron
Business Name: Jack Gron Sculpture
Location: Humble Texas
Website: www.
Specialties: Sculpture in metal and wood
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Tell us about yourself - what inspired you to get into your trade? And how long? I've had a long career building sculpture and teaching all aspects of three dimensional design. I have taught for over 40 years at several university art programs. During that time I must have taught hundreds of students how to weld. Growing up in the Greater Ohio Valley I worked in industry in between my college years from the blast furnaces of Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel to fabrication and manufacturing facilities along the Ohio River. That was a profound influence upon me in applying that knowledge into my own creative expression.
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What keeps you motivated throughout the day? I am motivated daily by the challenges of a new work in progress; solving design considerations, engineering, and fabrication processes. Each new piece is a prototype and that creates new problems to solve. |
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What is your favorite shop tool and why? My favorite shop tool has to be my Miller Matic with a Spoolmatic gun. It will weld virtually any metal that I need to work with. |
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What's your favorite piece that you've worked on? One of my favorite pieces is the Hard Rain sculpture I built for an outdoor exhibition in Houston. It features welded and painted mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum. I just love the way all of the elements came together to create this colorful, whimsical work. |
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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? If I could have any job it would be a sculptor. |
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What BA product is your favorite and why?
I use Benchmark Abrasives exclusively, especially the line of flap discs available. The discs for working aluminum are phenomenal; long lasting, and easy to go from grind to polish without needing any lubricant dressing. They are unparalleled in value and longevity.
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Do you have any advice for the next generation that you wish you had when you first started?
My advice for the next generation of makers is to find your passion, become an expert in your craft, and maintain a high level of creative integrity.
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What are your future plans for your shop?
Future plans for my shop/studio is to continue adding new equipment to assist in my creative productivity.
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A Note From Leo
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Jack! The amount of years sculpting + teaching has to be one great adventure. Coming across so many new faces to educate and then at the same time always learning from new projects and it's challenges. Sounds like a pretty great adventure!