Michael and Tracy Walden
Forging Dreams with Perfectly Rusted Ironworks
story by NAKEISHA DAWSON THOMPSON photos by RICHARD STEINBERGER
Fire has always been at the center of Michael Walden’s story. Born in upstate New York, he grew up as a Navy brat, moving frequently until the military brought his family to South Carolina. As a teenager, Michael spent his afternoons volunteering as a firefighter, drawn to the adrenaline and service that came with the job. At the same time, he was developing another skill, welding. What began as a high school elective soon became a passion and a way to earn extra money on the side.
After graduation, firefighting became Michael’s career. Welding was a second job that filled in the gaps. For years, the two worlds coexisted, until one day in 2011 when everything changed. While battling a house fire, Michael fell through the floor of a burning home. The accident left him with serious injuries that would end his firefighting career.
“It was devastating,” Michael recalls. “Firefighting was who I was.” The years that followed were grueling — surgeries, recovery, and the weight of PTSD. But through the ashes of loss, a new path slowly began to take shape.
FORGING A NEW BEGINNING
Looking for an outlet, Michael turned to blacksmithing as therapy. With nothing more than a small hammer, a cheap anvil, and sheer determination, he began teaching himself the craft. He worked slowly at first, learning how to bend steel and master the fire.
His first creation, a simple oyster knife and bottle opener forged from a railroad spike, was the spark that would ignite something bigger. “I didn’t know it at the time, but that oyster knife was the beginning of everything,” Michael says.
In 2017, after years of tinkering and learning, Michael officially launched Perfectly Rusted Ironworks. What started under a backyard canopy with borrowed tools has since grown into a full-fledged business with a 2,000-square-foot workshop. Today, his work is recognized across South Carolina and beyond for its artistry and craftsmanship.
A PARTNERSHIP FORGED IN LOVE
While Michael was building his business, another life-changing event was about to unfold. In 2020, he met Tracy through a Facebook dating site. Their connection was instant. “We both just knew,” Tracy says. By 2021, they were married, and Michael moved from Walterboro to Okatie to begin their new life together.
Tracy’s story is one of resilience as well. Born in Kansas to a U.S. Air Force father, she spent her early years traveling the world before her family settled in Charleston in 1986. After graduating high school in 1989, she pursued nursing, dedicating 25 years to the profession. When she moved to Bluffton in 2019, it was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she worked tirelessly on the front lines.
But in 2022, Tracy was forced to retire after being diagnosed with dysautonomia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Both conditions affect the body’s autonomic nervous system, causing dizziness, heart rate issues, and fatigue.
“It was a tough transition,” Tracy admits. “But working alongside Michael has given me a whole new sense of purpose.”
Together, the two have turned Perfectly Rusted Ironworks into not only a business but also a shared passion.
ART, HISTORY, AND LEGACY
Michael’s creations are as varied as they are impressive. His large-scale sculptures include an 8-foot hammerhead shark and a 13-foot triceratops, both displayed at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. He also creates custom gates, railings, and furniture pieces, blending centuries-old blacksmithing techniques with modern welding.
Recently, Michael and Tracy completed one of their most meaningful projects: designing and installing a new gate at the Baynard Mausoleum in Zion Cemetery. Crafted with 75 percent traditional blacksmithing and 25 percent seamless modern welding, the gate honors history while showcasing their artistry. They also created steel crosses to mark newly discovered unmarked graves at the site.
Another proud moment came in 2025, when they replicated a stolen gate at the Thomas Heyward Cemetery in Jasper County. Working from a single historic photo, they faithfully recreated the origina gatel, earning recognition from the Jasper County 250 Committee on July 4.
CREATIVE SPIRIT AND COMMUNITY ROOTS
Not all projects are monumental, some are simply fun. At Brays Island, the Waldens designed handrails that appear to float like cattails, a whimsical piece they aptly named “Cat Tails.” For another client, they crafted a nine-foot wall display of a 150-year-old ship’s wheel, preserving a family heirloom with artistry and care.
Community involvement is just as important to them. They are active in the Freedman Arts District in Historic Beaufort, supporting events like Chalk It Up! and Artists Sunday. The District works to preserve homeownership and celebrate creativity, missions that align closely with Michael and Tracy’s values.
Their playful project Magnolias in Random Places has also gained a following. The couple crafts magnolia sculptures and photographs them in unexpected spots, sharing the images online with the hashtag #MagnoliasInRandomPlaces. It’s a lighthearted reminder of how art can brighten everyday life.
In May 2025, they hosted an all-day oyster knife workshop at Margaritaville on Hilton Head, teaching 20 students to forge their own pieces. Workshops have become a growing part of their business, giving people of all ages the chance to experience the fire, tools, and creativity of blacksmithing firsthand.
LOOKING FORWARD
From a borrowed welder and backyard canopy to a thriving shop with pieces displayed nationwide, Michael and Tracy’s journey has been one of resilience, creativity, and love. They take pride in knowing that every piece they make is custom, meaning no two are ever the same.
“We love that each piece has a story,” Michael says. “It’s never just metal. It’s something personal, something lasting.”
Looking ahead, the couple hopes to continue growing their reach, locally, regionally, and nationally. Their ultimate dream? To one day see one of their works displayed in the Smithsonian.
Until then, they remain dedicated to their craft, their community, and each other. From monumental gates to playful magnolias, Perfectly Rusted Ironworks is proof that even through life’s toughest challenges, something strong, lasting, and beautiful can be forged.
For commissions, workshops, or to see more of their work, visit Perfectly Rusted Ironworks on Facebook.
