Today we’d like to introduce you to John Cobb.
Hi John, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started this business seven years ago honestly as a side hobby and creative outlet. Automotive themed furniture wasn’t anything new and there were some really cool pieces out there however I felt like much of it was the same. I felt like the difference came down to attention to detail. Taking the time to clean parts fully, paint correctly and not cutting corners to make the builds easier to finish. The first piece I did was a camshaft lamp. Just a long cylindrical engine part from a muscle car. A friend of mine brought me an Ls1 cam from his build and asked if I could make him a lamp. I was a welder at the time and new to the fabrication world but eager to take on any related projects like such. The lamp came out well and my friend was very pleased with the finished piece and encouraged me to make more. The next real opportunity to get into the world of engine themed furniture, came by accident.
I had a ’78 el camino at the time that I drove as my daily and with pride. Yes, not the prettiest or most sought-after classics but I loved it. One hot Houston summer day, unknown to me, my temp gauge stopped working. This combined with a bad radiator cap led to the engine overheating and catastrophic failure, blown heads and a cracked block. Although initially devastated, this now incidentally gave me more parts to build furniture. I replaced my blown motor with a donor from a local junkyard, then focused on what to build next with these seemingly worthless parts. The camshaft became a lamp and the engine block I turned into a coffee table. Once finished I placed an ad on craigslist and quickly turned what would have been $50 worth of scrap into a thousand dollar piece of usable and cool furniture. This was the start of a new passion that would eventually turn into a full time business. The years following I went back to school and got my business degree from the University of Houston downtown. I worked for a few companies but soon realized I was making less than I had as a welder and was more unsatisfied because I had less time for my creative outlet and the business that I loved.
Over the years, I slowly grew my business on the side. Building custom pieces for customers as I got orders from social media and other sites like Etsy and eBay. The beginning of 2020 is when I finally decided to step out and started building automotive themed furniture full time. This was when things really started to change. I was burned out on working for others and not getting anywhere and mostly I wasn’t happy. I wanted to build, create and make more new and exciting pieces but working full time elsewhere I didn’t have the time or energy to do it all. My decision to step out on my own was a bit frightening with no guaranteed or steady income. I was quickly reassured in other ways that I was on the right path.
That January a production company in L.A. came across my shop on Etsy. They approached me about flying out to interview for a tv show they were working on. I was skeptical as this seemed too good to be true however I agree. A month later was flown out to L.A. and I found myself in a room with 20 of the biggest youtube stars and HGTV personalities around. We sat in front of the two producers of “Extreme home makeover” who were now making a similar show for Netflix. The meeting was preceded by pairing us up 4 at a time for unscripted interactions on our ideas for mock projects for the show. A “chemistry test” to see who the best combination of people was on camera. The experience was humbling but also exciting and somewhat empowering. A nobody from texas was trying out for a reality show because they liked the things I built, absolutely surreal. Once I returned home I learned that I hadn’t gotten the spot but the opportunity and experience was motivating and validated that I was on the right path, making the right choice to pursue my business, my passion full time.
It was also during this time a local painter and craftsman opened up a boutique a block away from my home where I was working from home. A friend introduced us and the shop owner, Troy Garza, said he liked my work and offered to showcase some pieces in his storefront to help kick off my now full time endeavor. This was a great help but as we all know 2020 quickly became a hard year for many businesses and with shutdowns business started to slow. However, even with this I still managed to have customers come to me for builds. In August, I made a unique 1930’s ford flathead engine block coffee table for a customer who wanted it in a faux patina green/turquoise that I had managed to perfect over the years.
After posting pictures of this on social media, I got approached by a lady from Calgary, AB in Canada. She loved the last table I built and wanted to get her husband one but with an unusual twist; a table that also was a fire pit. These requests for something different, unique and challenging is what I love. I explained I had never built anything like that but would be up for the challenge as long as she would be patient with me as I tried to figure it out. She agreed and the process began. I wasn’t aware this would be a challenge but didn’t anticipate the trial and error and number of designs it would take to build something that honestly didn’t seem to be terribly hard.
My customer was very patient with me and after 3 months of refining the design, it was close to ready. I told her as part of being so patient with me that I wanted to surprise them with a few added designs to the fire pit that they had not requested. Each build that I do I become completely submerged in it. I build these tables by myself and one at a time. I make them as if they were my own so I want them to be perfect.
While working on this and test firing everything I felt like it could be a little better, more of an experience. I thought personally if this was my table it would be cool to have an electric key start and a gas pedal to rev the flames. It had already been a lengthy build but knew I had to add these things especially for my customers that had waited so graciously. Building and incorporating these components from scratch was difficult but finally, it all came together and worked perfectly.
The build was finally finished and I was tired but very pleased with the results. I excitedly called Troy with the boutique down the street and we staged it on his patio for the photoshoot and videos. I relayed those to my customer. She was so excited that this surprise present for her husband was too exciting to keep a secret any longer. They both loved the fire pit and were excited to finally get it.
Years ago when I started doing this the purpose was always to build pieces that were cool, functional and different from what was out there. I wanted to make things my customers loved that function almost as an art piece that you can actually use. A piece that’s practical, durable, beautiful to look at and tells a story.
When the couple received the engine fire pit they sent me videos and pictures of them using it. They said it had been worth the wait and were so grateful. I was pleased to let them know that while the table had shipped that the quick video we had shot of it went viral online to the tune of 6 million views. I explained that their table was now popular and had a following of its own. We both laughed and I thanked them again for the opportunity and the challenge to make something so fun.
2021 Pushing the envelope and growing the business name.
After the success of the engine fire pit table, I decided in 2021 to push myself and try to build another one that would far exceed the last. This one would end up taking a painstaking 6 months, thousands invested and all without a prospective buyer. The gamble, in the end, proved to be worth it. This new fire pit table far exceeded expectations. I started the build off with a very unique engine, a V10 Dodge Viper motor. An expensive investment but worth it for such an iconic car. The next change on this table was plumbing the gas so that the flames would come out of each individual cylinder. This was quite a challenge all while having the flames simultaneously ignite from one key. Another pedal was made to rev the flames but I matched the design of one from a viper. An open glass top was custom made to allow as much of the fire to be seen as possible. The last major additions to this table were by far the best and made the whole piece and experience just that much better. Instead of just the fire pit table, I wanted chairs to compliment it. I bought some real racing seats and made custom bases turning them into outdoor chairs. I also made a custom mock console to go in between the two to hide the propane tank for more of a clean look. The combination of all these details pushed this to be the coolest and most complicated engine fire table I’ve made. Once finished the set promptly sold before I could even advertise it. I was also lucky enough to shortly after get articles published on three different sites; “The Rob Report”, “Motor1.com” and my favorite “Top Gear-Spain”.
The past couple of years have been stressful, uncertain but also exciting and fortunately rewarding. I’ve been blessed enough to be able to do what I love full time. Lucky to get to build, create and essentially make art you can use. The support of my family, friends, community and loyal customers have all made this possible and I look forward to what all 2022 has in store.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The road has definitely not been smooth. Trying to grow the business and pursue it full time has had financial ups and downs as well as physical and emotional tolls. Long hours, minimal work space and doing it solo. Finding customers, building what they need in a timely manner on budget, while managing all the administrative duties from communications, social media, advertising, and finances. I’ve lost relationships partly due to the stress and uncertain of income I could provide into the foreseeable future. Even was called “unemployed” by a significant other once for pursuing the business full time. It has been difficult on almost every level from business to personal life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My business is Called Alaris Invent where I make, build, created high end custom metal furniture and art. Much of my home decor and furniture is made from performance car engine parts that have a very industrial but modern look. I mainly specialize in Lamps, End tables, Coffee tables and Engine Fire Pit Tables. However, I jump at the opportunity to build something new or outside my current build profile. I am probably most known for my engine block fire pits. These builds have probably set me apart from most because there’s nothing out there on the market or even exists elsewhere.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
This is a very loaded question and hard to predict given the volatility of the market especially over the past year and a half. I have definitely seen a slow down in business some now as a delayed effect of the shutdowns, shortages and job losses. The pieces I make although custom and expensive are also very practical for daily use and are strong, durable and will last many years into the future. Lamps, end tables, coffee tables and even fire pits are all very useful practical home decor. My market is a little more of a niche market usually catering to higher end customers who are typical like industrial or muscle/supercar themes and have the disposable income to purchase custom furniture that’s practical but also doubles as a conversation piece or art. I believe although the market is a little slow, however, I think more specific target marketing to that group will help keep sales growing.
Pricing:
- Camshaft Lamps: $500
- Crankshaft End tables: $1500
- Engine Block End table/wine rack:$1500
- Engine block coffee tables: $4500
- Engine block fire pits: $5500
Contact Info:
- Email: john@alarisinvent.com
- Website: www.alarisinvent.com
- Instagram: @alaris_invent
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlarisInvent/
- Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlarisInvent?ref=profile_header
Image Credits:
Jon Stacy
