Russell Makes is the work of Austin J. Russell, a sole proprietor maker type - an artist cursed with an engineer's brain - who works with metal and shares his love for creativity in craftsmanship through video.

Story

People who see my workshop always ask me, “What do you make?” I never know how to answer. My goal is not to make XYZ widget, but to push myself technically and creatively, to have fun, and inspire others to do the same through my videos.

Beginnings in Welding: In 2014 I started Russell Makes to pursue metal working skills like welding. Rather than enrolling in a welding course, I obsessively watched instructional YouTube videos from creators like Welding Tips and Tricks. Then I bought a used 115v wire feed welder set up with flux core wire and started practicing. After a while, I picked up a bottle of C25 for my little welder and I was MIG welding. Then I bought a TIG machine. The challenge of TIG welding coupled with such [potentially] precise control over the arc and weld quality had me hooked.

Machining: At some point my YouTube watching habit shifted in the direction of machining. I found creators like Keith Fenner, then Ox Tool Co, then Abom79. Soon, I added a small 115v bench-top lathe/mill combo to my collection and started playing. I made brake caliper pistons for my motorcycle, bicycle hub adapters for some local customers, and countless other doo-dads. The bench-top lathe was the perfect machine to learn on (the belt would slip before a tool would break), but I wanted more power so I picked up a 1960s 15” Leblond Regal - still the lathe I use today.

CNC: In 2019, my friend was looking to re-home his CNC milling machine (Bridgeport Torq Cut 22) and he cut me a deal I couldn’t refuse. One catch - I had to come and get it as soon as possible, and he was 650 miles away. So I bought a one-way plane ticket and we loaded it on a rental trailer with questionable tires and pulled it back home in one very long weekend. Then all I had to do was learn how to use it. Fast forward 6+ years, and with this machine, I’ve prototyped and manufactured products, made custom tools for customers, machined objects out of aluminum, acrylic, steel, stainless steel, and titanium, made a pile of custom fixturing, and even formed sheet metal parts using single point incremental forming.

Future: While it may look like I just have an obsession with machines and all things technical, my creative mindset is really what drives my work and allows me to approach problems from a unique perspective. My goals are to use my problem solving skills and metal working expertise to help others, and to continue pursuing creative expression through metal work, or any other means really.

Thanks for reading.

-Russell