Secret Shop Weapons

Andy Cooperman’s pulse-arc welder and ring benders.

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(Originally Published by MJSA September, 2025)

This month we asked Andy Cooperman of Andy Cooperman Metalsmith in Seattle, “If you were stranded on an island (that just happened to have a bench and some metal lying around), what tool would you want to have that allows you to do things you can’t do with any other tool?”

So, tell us. What’s your secret shop weapon?

That’s a tough question, but these days, I’d say I have two: my pulse-arc welder (micro TIG) and my ring benders—yes, plural. Both tools have become essential to my studio practice, opening new doors into fabrication, especially in stainless steel.

Why do you love them so much?

The pulse-arc welder lets me fuse metal using intense, localized heat—without solder and the problems soldering can bring, such as unwanted annealing. That’s a game-changer for stainless steel, which can be tricky to silver or gold solder. The welder is an excellent way to build small-scale work in stainless.

The ring benders help me form curves in even the toughest metals. I use a cast iron version for forming thick or resistant metals—it’s an absolute beast. But I also have a newer version with interchangeable dies, and that offers a top-down view, which gives me greater control and nuance. Between the two, I can bend anything from thick shanks to sculptural stainless forms.

How do you use them in your work?

Together, these tools let me build complex structures in stainless wire and sheet. I can bend sweeping forms from the ring bender, then weld components together just millimeters from my fingertips. The welder’s versatility also lets me join dissimilar metals—18k yellow gold, platinum, bronze, and sterling—with seamless results.

What discoveries or breakthroughs have you made with them?

Like laser welding, pulse-arc welding will never replace the torch—but it complements it. I can add metal exactly where I want it, build up sculptural elements, and even fill holes with the same metal for a perfect color match. It gives me freedom to create dimensional, layered designs that feel almost grown, not built.

As for the ring bender, I’d used it for years before trying it on stainless. I was surprised how easily it handled the material—even the newer, look-down-on version proved to be a tougher tool than I expected. That said, not all brands are created equal, and when it comes to tools, quality matters.