Edwards Unlimited Inc

When people hear the phrase  custom metal fabrication , it can sound complicated or too “industrial.” But the truth is, fabrication is everywhere. From railings on a front porch, to a heavy-duty truck bumper, to parts inside a factory — metal fabrication is what brings designs and raw ideas to life. At  Edwards Unlimited Inc  in Henderson, NC, we’ve been working with steel, aluminum, and stainless for years. What we’ve seen is simple: when fabrication is done right, it gives you strength, precision, and reliability that last a lifetime. What Custom Metal Fabrication Really Means Fabrication is the process of taking raw metal — like flat sheets, tubes, or plates — and shaping it into something useful. That might mean: Cutting and bending sheet metal into panels. Welding aluminum for lightweight strength. Building structural frames out of carbon steel. Creating decorative railings that are both strong and stylish. When you add the word “custom,” it means the piece is design...

We hear this question almost every week:  “How long does powder coating last?”  People want to know if the finish is worth it before they drop off their wheels, railings, or custom parts. The honest answer? A good powder coat can last years — sometimes even over a decade — but it depends on where the piece is used and how it’s taken care of. Why Powder Coat Outlives Paint Paint looks good for a while, but it chips, peels, and fades. Powder coat is different. It gets baked on in an oven until it fuses with the metal. That’s why it stands up to scratches, weather, and road salt so much better than paint ever could. At  Edwards Unlimited Inc , we’ve coated wheels that were still holding strong five, six, even eight years later with nothing more than regular washing. Compare that to painted wheels, and it’s not even close. What Makes the Biggest Difference The coating itself is tough, but how long it lasts comes down to three things: Preparation  — If the surface isn’t c...

If you’ve ever worked with  aluminum , you know it’s not the same as steel. It may look smooth and easy to handle, but welding aluminum takes a different skill set, different tools, and a lot of patience. At  Edwards Unlimited LLC in Henderson, NC , we provide  aluminum welding services  that cover everything from small repair jobs to large fabrication projects. Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of aluminum come through our doors, and we’ve learned exactly what it takes to get a strong, clean weld. Why Aluminum Welding is So Tricky A lot of folks ask why aluminum is harder to weld than other metals. The short answer? It’s because aluminum behaves differently under heat. Here’s what makes it challenging: Soft and Lightweight  — Aluminum melts at a lower temperature than steel, so it’s easy to overheat. Oxide Layer  — The surface naturally forms an oxide coating that melts at a much higher temperature than the aluminum itself. If you don’t clean it properly, y...

  If you’ve ever had to deal with rusted steel, peeling paint, or a surface that just won’t hold new paint, you’ve probably heard someone mention  media blasting . Around here at  Edwards Unlimited INC in Henderson, NC , we get asked about it a lot. Folks want to know:  what is blasting media and why does it matter? The short answer is this — blasting media is the material used in blasting equipment to clean or prep a surface. Instead of sanding by hand, which takes forever, blasting shoots tiny particles at high speed to strip away rust, paint, or grime. It’s fast, it’s thorough, and if you pick the right media, it won’t damage the metal or wood underneath. Why Blasting Media Matters Think about trying to weld on top of rust, or putting fresh paint over a dirty surface. It’s not going to last. The weld won’t bond right, and the paint will chip in no time. Blasting media solves that problem. It gives you a clean, even surface so the next step — whether that’s welding...