Senior Airman John Abbott, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron metals technology journeyman, welds a piece of metal using a plasma cutter at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Jan. 12, 2016. A plasma cutter can heat up to approximately 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit and can cut metal up to 10 inches thick. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom)

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Senior Airman John Abbott, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron metals technology journeyman, grinds a piece of metal at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Feb. 2, 2016. The metals technology shop is notoriously the last stop for broken parts with the motto: “if we can’t fix it, no one can.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom)

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Senior Airman John Abbott, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron metals technology journeyman, welds a piece of metal at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Feb. 2, 2016. The 20th EMS metals technology flight uses their welding skillset to support the 76 F-16CM Fighting Falcons assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom)

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Senior Airman John Abbott, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron metals technology journeyman, stands in the metals technology shop at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Feb. 2, 2016. Abbott has been in the Air Force for just over four years providing the base with welding, grinding and other metal alteration services. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom)

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Senior Airman John Abbott, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron metals technology journeyman, welds a piece of metal as sparks fly around him at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Feb. 2, 2016. The 20th EMS metals technology flight uses their welding skillset to support the 76 F-16CM Fighting Falcons assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom)

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Senior Airman John Abbott, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron metals technology journeyman, welds a piece of metal at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Feb. 2, 2016. The 20th EMS metals technology flight uses their welding skillset to support the 76 F-16CM Fighting Falcons assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom)

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Senior Airman John Abbott, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron metal technology journeyman, uses a plasma cutter to weld a piece of metal at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Feb. 2, 2016. A plasma cutter can heat up to approximately 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit and is used to cut metal up to 10 inches thick. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom)

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Melting metal for stronger bonds

Published Feb. 3, 2016

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