Overkil Metals opened its doors Friday, May 23 at 116 Main Ave. S. in Park Rapids.
Owned by Tennille Carlson and Brad Brecht, the store features detailed artworks cut out of sheet metal with a computer-driven plasma cutter, then colored by hand with automotive paint.
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“I’d been a mechanic my whole life,” Brecht said. “Into hotrods and race cars. Made my own little pieces for my cars, or had to make a bracket, or had to do something, and I saw one of these machines working one time, and I said, ‘I’ve got to have one.’”
Brecht said they use the computer to create or modify designs, ranging from college sports mascots, fish and wildlife, the U.S. flag and military branch insignia to beer brand logos, Star Wars characters, Minnesota lakes and their best-selling sign, the “go away yeti” – and they can make designs to order.
They also make benches and fire pits. “The possibilities are endless,” said Brecht. “All of them can be personalized.”
For the past five years, the couple took their wares on the road, traveling to craft fairs, sports shows and conventions.
“There’s a lot of people that we run into who are doing metal,” said Brecht, “but they don’t do it to the extent that we are,” such as the time-consuming painting process or the amount of metal they cut out of their signs to create depth of detail.
Every time Brecht ignites the plasma cutter to add a hole to an image, it puts wear and tear on his machine, “but I think that it brings it to life more,” he said.
While Brecht runs the cutter, he credits Carlson with doing the design and computer work, grinding and more.
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The couple create their artworks in a shop at their home just outside of Park Rapids, where they have lived full-time for the past year. Prior to that, they lived in the small town of Nowthen, near Elk River.
“My family had a cabin here for 40 years,” said Carlson. “We decided we wanted to live there, so here we are.”
Shop visitors may be greeted by the couple’s mascot, a friendly yellow Lab named Timber. Brecht also has an adult son from a previous relationship, and they have six grandkids.
“We’re looking forward to having them come up here and work,” Brecht laughed.
They acted fast when they saw the former Final Frontier Toy shop was up for sale, after it had been on sold contingent status. “Three weeks ago, we closed on this place,” said Brecht. “We feel really behind. We don’t have the inventory that we want to have. But I think we did really well, considering our situation and wanting to be open right now.”
He added that they will try to be open seven days a week, while also finding time to make new pieces. Meanwhile, they plan to add inventory as fast as they can, and expect a couple vendors to join them with their work. “It’ll be changing constantly,” he said.
Robin Fish is a staff reporter at the Park Rapids Enterprise. Contact him at rfish@parkrapidsenterprise.com or 218-252-3053.
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