SPARKS FLY!

A welder places the safety helmet on his head and pulls down the face shield. Within seconds sparks flutter about like a swarm of lightning bugs as two pieces of metal are joined together.
This isn't a welder who has been in business for many years, although you would never know it by looking at some of the finished products. This skilled craftsman is 15-year-old Chase Laleman, a sophomore at Minneota High School.
Chase is the son of Jason and Jessica Laleman, who live south of Minneota along County Road 3. He also has a younger brother, Max, 9, who is also getting interested in welding and has made a few pieces.
"It's been mostly trial and error at first," said his father, when asked how Chase learned to weld so well. "He's getting really good at it. I'd say he's a little better at it than I am now."
Jason showed his son the basics of welding and from there it has evolved into a profitable venture and possible future career.
"The first thing I welded was a bumper on the front of my truck," Chase said. "After I figured out how to do it, I decided to try some other things."
His grandfather, Jim Goblirsch, gave Chase his old welding machine when he got a new one in order to encourage his grandson into continuing to hone his skills. His grandmother, Paula Goblirsch, collects pistons and other objects to give to Chase so he can make some artistic pieces.Chase doesn't have to purchase items for the pieces he makes. He just scours the farm site for tractor parts or other objects no longer being used and turns them into art with his welding prowess. As with many farms, there are always unused vehicles, tractors or other equipment on the property.
"It's better than having him in the house playing video games," Jason said.
Some of the items Chase has made were created from ideas he saw online or some other place. Many of the items, though, have come from his own design.
He has made a lot of "piston guys" with the piston from a tractor or truck used as the head and valves uses for the legs. The eyes and teeth are cut out with a Dremel. They are all done with the precision of a veteran craftsman.
"Sometimes I'm not sure what I am making, at first," Chase said. "I just have a bunch of parts and pieces and try to make something out of them."
One of the most impressive pieces he makes are scaled-down motorcycles where he uses bearings from a truck for the tires and push rods for the handlebars.
Chase put one of his finished motorcycles on TikTok and it has garnered over 1.7 million views so far. One of his "Piston Guys" has over 250,000 views.
The replica rifle and pistol art Chase makes is also impressive. Think of having a dirt bike chain, some spark plugs, a metal pipe and some other "junk" pieces and welding them together to make a rifle. One of the pistols Chase constructed can be seen at Gislason's Hardware, where it is for sale.
Jessica then goes into the house and comes out with a decorative bowl she displays in the house with dried flowers. Chase made it out of a chain from an old baler.
He is currently working on a replica of a gatling gun, a rapid-firing multiple-barrel firearm that was invented in 1861 and was occasionally used by the Union forces during the Civil War.
"I don't work on things all the time," he said. "A piston guy takes me about three or four hours to make, and a gun about an hour and a half."
Minneota will soon be offering a welding class taught by Minnesota West. When a student completes the class, they are given a certificate that can replace going to college to learn the craft.
"I'm definitely going to take that class," Chase said with a smile.
At this rate, he might be able to help teach it.