Provocative designs and sleek curves are the hallmarks of legendary hot rod designer and fabricator Chip Foose. His work has already captured three Don Ridler Memorial Awards, one of the most coveted trophies on the show car circuit. As the lead designer and builder of the Discovery Channel series Overhaulin’ that airs weekly on TLC, Foose is a household name among those who tune in to see how he and his team of technicians radically transform a car for its unsuspecting owner. Viewers of the show are also familiar with Foose Design, his Huntington Beach, CA, shop, equipped with only the best tools to translate design ideas into reality.
Recently, after a side-by-side comparison, Foose replaced his former brand of welding equipment to outfit his shop solely with Lincoln Electric MIG, TIG and plasma equipment. Citing a better arc and improved welding performance, Foose and his fabricators are now taking advantage of the Lincoln Power MIG 350MP and Power MIG 255 MIG welders, Precision TIG 275 and Invertec V205-T TIG welders and Pro-Cut 55 plasma cutter.
"I love Lincoln’s Precision TIG with Micro-Start because you can get right in there and see what you’re working on before you start melting the metal," said Foose. "It has a much lower heat input, which gives you more control and just an overall beautiful weld. All of our craftsmen love them. Our Lincoln plasma cutter is great too. You can get into tight places with no problem."
Foose grew up working on hot rods under the watchful eye of his dad, the owner of Project Design. After graduating from the world-renowned Art Center College in Pasadena, Foose spent eight years working for Boyd Coddington at Hot Rods by Boyd, where he was responsible for many internationally known vehicles, such as the Roadster, Sportstar, Boydster I and II, and Boyd Air.
In 1998, he opened Foose Design, an automotive and product design company specializing in illustration, graphics, surfacing, and complete construction of automobiles and automotive-related products. Foose is the design genius behind some of the most exciting cars on the road and is constantly setting new design standards in the hot rod industry.
In November 1997, Foose was inducted into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame, and in 2002, was inducted into the Darryl Starbird Rod & Custom Car Museum Hall of Fame.
For more information on Chip Foose, visit his website at http://www.chipfoose.com.
