1 Way Diesel Performance sparks interest in welding students

Tori Bean
·2 min read

APPLEBY, Texas (KETK) – The 1 Way Diesel Performance team transforms cars into out-of-this-world creations on four wheels.

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“You know welding, all the trades they are dying, you know it’s sad, but I love seeing new faces,” said Brody Patton, second in line of fabrication and welding at 1 Way Diesel Performance.

Patton got to show off his success at 1 Way Diesel to students from his old high school on Thursday.

“I love seeing these young kids being here and wanting to weld and stuff” said Patton.

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Patton graduated in 2022 from Logansport High School in Louisiana and joined the 1 Way Diesel team last year.

“Brody got the tools that he needed to come to work for us, and perfected them from that, but you got to have that base understanding of how to weld and that’s where they learn,” said Tommy Wells, the CEO of 1 Way Diesel Performance.

For Patton, it is a full-circle moment. For students, Thursday’s tour showed them they can use their skills to get the job they want.

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“This is the dream, this is what I like, I’m a I’m a car guy, I like cars, trucks, anything with an engine and wheels, I love it,” said Benjamin Vawter, a junior at Logansport High School.

Several of the students even want to make their way back to 1 Way Diesel Performance shop someday.

“There’s a lot of talented kids on that team, I mean, they’re ready and they’re willing to learn, and that’s hard, that’s a hard value to find,” said Chase Wells, owner of 1 Way Diesel Performance.

Patton said he hoped he impacted at least one student’s life, and left them with this advice.

“Don’t be scared of anything, just dive right in, the faster you dive in, the more hood time you get, the better off you’re going to be as a welder,” said Patton.

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