Strain Metalworks is a small, but industrious metal fabrication company who wants to make your vision a reality. We are owned and operated by Joe Strain himself. Joe has many years of metalworking experience, and has been featured in many news stories, magazines, and even on television. Here is an excerpt from a Times Picayune article written by Stephanie Stokes:

'Strain ran Joe's Bike Shop in New Orleans, where he specialized in painting bikes and glass. During that time, he became friends with some of the city's leading glassblowers, he said. He began experimenting with metalworking while piloting yachts in the '90s and "just started making stuff," he said. "I just kind of got into it" is a typical explanation Strain gives for his professional turns, and it seems a fairly apt description of his ability to observe and learn by doing. "You learn by looking at what other people have done in the past," he said. "You just get an idea and do it." "Traditionally, people worked really hard to build what New Orleans has, and I think now people don't really want to work that hard," he said. "Because this is difficult work. It's hot, it's dirty, and you usually get burned." Over time, Strain began making connections, doing work with the Preservation Resource Center, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Tipitina's, "This Old House" TV show and a bevy of residential clients. Strain's business, originally in Slidell, was wiped out in Hurricane Katrina. The loss was profound, but Strain soon found a new workshop in typically serendipitous fashion. While driving around the north shore looking at properties, Strain came upon the piney lot along a dirt road occupied by other manufacturers. The owner happened to live nearby, and after the two men talked for a while, Strain was sold the property
on a handshake. Strain's focus is on creating pieces that have as much old-fashioned blacksmithing quality and method as possible, he said.
"It's a lot of fun to do it old-school, and it's really fun to do something both practical and architectural," he said. "We try to do how they did it years ago."'

Joe also took part in an episode of "This Old House", and was featured in "New Orleans Homes And Lifestyles" (the article can be seen on the right). We are extremely passionate about our work, and strive to exceed expectations. Please contact us to tackle your next project.