🌮Taco Tuesday, Welded in Metal: Why JonnySWeld Celebrates Intl. Taco Day

At first glance, tacos and welding might not seem like they go together — one’s all about spicy, savory flavors; the other’s about heat, sparks, and molten metal. But for me, taco stories and torch stories share more in common than you’d think. Every Tuesday I post a taco story because food is one of the everyday things that makes life richer — just like turning raw metal into art.

The Tale Behind Taco Tuesday

Tacos have deep roots in Mexican culture. Some historians say the word “taco” comes from the silver mines of Mexico, where miners wrapped gunpowder in paper called “tacos” before detonating. The lunchtime tortilla–filling combo looked similar, and the name stuck. (Yes — even taco origins have a bit of fire involved — not unlike welding.)

Over time, tacos traveled from Mexico to cities across the U.S. and became an iconic food for everyone — just like good metal art travels beyond the shop to find its home.

Welding, Metal Art, and Tacos — What Connects Them

Heat & Transformation
Just as tortillas get warmed and filled, metal gets heated and shaped. Whether it’s a taco or a welded sculpture, things change under heat — and that’s where the magic lies.
Craft + Detail
A great taco is about balance: tortilla, filling, sauce, texture. A great weld is no different. You’ve got to balance heat, filler, angle, flow. Every joint, every seam matters.
Cultural Pride
Tacos celebrate Mexican heritage. I celebrate the heritage of welding and metal art — honoring the sweat, the sparks, the legacy of craftsmen before me.
Community & Stories
Taco Tuesday is a moment people share with family, friends, or on social media. Likewise, metal art tells stories — of who commissioned it, what material it came from, where it will live.

Mexican Welders, Metal Art, & Influence

While there’s no huge archive of famous Mexican welders in popular media, the influence is there. One name to watch is David Madero, an amazing Mexico-based metal artist who works mainly in oxy-fuel and shares how his roots and his family’s traditions shape his metal work. Check out the article in The Fabricator and you can also find him on Instagram: @madero_co

Also, Mexico is historically rich in metal crafts. In places like Santa Clara del Cobre, artisans hammer copper, continuing centuries-old metalwork traditions. Wikipedia These traditions remind us that metal art is more than technique — its culture, memory, heritage.

Celebrate Taco Day with JonnySWeld

So here’s what I’ll be doing this International Taco Day:

Sharing a taco-story on Instagram and FaceBook (with some shop pics, because why not)!
Encouraging you to support local taquerias and metal artists alike!
Serving up something new in the shop next week (maybe a small metal taco-inspired art piece…)!

Because at JonnySWeld, it’s not just about welding and art…
it’s about life, culture, and the sparks that connect them.

Find some Mexican inspired art made by Jonny at JonnySWeld at Los Chiludos Mexican restaurant in Anna Maria Island, FL where you find custom made bathroom signs featuring a mixed medium of wood and metal, hand forget rose, copper nails, steel skeletons and copper woven hair. You can also find a one-of-a-kind stick welded art pieces of a large Mayan calendar on 1/2 in. steel round plate hanging in the hallway. Last is a 4”x4” - Will Weld For Tacos magnet on the top right of their stove hood. So if you are ever in the area, stop by, check out some of my metal art and eat some amazing tacos!

🌮Taco Tuesday, Welded in Metal: Why JonnySWeld Celebrates Intl. Taco Day