About 'Mr. Fix-It,' Jim Bernacki
Langley resident, Jim Bernacki, has been a welder and builder for more than 30 years. Some of that time he spent minding his own welding business Welds on Wheels in Chicago. There are countless beautiful iron handrails and fences throughout Chicago, thanks to Jim.
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Jim was certified as an Underwater Welder and worked many years as a diver for several marine construction companies in Hawaii and Seattle, including Waterfront Construction where he made hydro-plane landing platforms, The Gates Family's private salmon run on Lake Washington and crucial work for the houseboats that make up the Lake Washington floating communities. ​
Most recently, Jim was the C.O.O. of the Divers Institute of Technology in Seattle, where he began as the head of the welding program and as the lead Welding Instructor and where he was also an alumnus of the program.​
Jim has been part of many housebuilding and renovation construction crews, which makes him pretty handy at anything that needs fixing. His welding machine is still on his Ford-150 and remains mobile for any welding needs that come up on the island, including having helped the late sculptor Hank Nelson complete several metal sculptures at his Cloudstone Sculpture Park in Freeland, WA or creating pedestals for Rob Schouten Gallery sculptors/customers, as well as creating the beautiful iron fence surrounding that gallery's wonderful sculpture garden. Jim also has created many handrails and fences for island residents and businesses at a reasonable cost, in addition to volunteering his skills to Whidbey non-profit organizations such as OutCast Productions, Island Shakespeare Festival and South Whidbey Hearts & Hammers.​
Remember, before sending that broken piece to the landfill, ask Mr. Fix-It first!