Sophia is the managing editor of the Make: blog. When she’s not greasing editorial gears, she likes to run, ride, climb, and lift things, and make lo-tech goods like zines, desserts, and altered clothing. @sophiuhcamille
View more articles by Sophia SmithName: Mike Fulkerson
Home: Carlsbad, California
Makerspace: San Dieguito High School Metal Shop ; San Diego Maker Lab
Day Job: Precision Inspector for Solar Turbines Inc.
Metalworking : Robotics : Steampunk : Education
In the simplest terms, Mike Fulkerson works with metal. But his projects are more than just the sum of their metal parts. Mike loves to make beautiful, awe-inspiring things, and he makes them to cast a “fishing lure, to hook people on upping the stakes of their making.” He advocates for a resurgence of the hands-on skills of the past, with the hope that a world full of makers will be more adept at solving the increasingly worrisome problems we see in our economy, environment, and culture.
Recently he’s been working on AR-Duo with his team and a group of students (school-age kids, but also students of an adult welding class) at San Dieguito High School. AR-Duo helps Mike raise awareness about the school’s metal shop, and by extension, the school’s other hands-on facilities (auto, wood, and photography shops). Check out this short video from Will Ferrari about the making of AR-Duo:

You can find Mike online at:
AXR Projects
and check out his recommended local San Diegan organizations:
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum | Craftsmanship Museum | Makers of San Diego Central Library
Every day we highlight a different maker from our broad community. Meet all the amazing people featured in Maker Spotlight. Want to nominate someone, maybe even yourself? Send a note to makerspotlight@makermedia.com.
Sophia is the managing editor of the Make: blog. When she’s not greasing editorial gears, she likes to run, ride, climb, and lift things, and make lo-tech goods like zines, desserts, and altered clothing. @sophiuhcamille
View more articles by Sophia Smith