Meet the Repairman Turning Edgers Into Artwork

Dunkin Donuts, the Brazilian flag, glow-in-the-dark—these are just a few of the requests for the customized edgers created by Aaron Stieferman, who takes broken edgers and turns them into sought-after works of functional art. A veteran of the repair business, Stieferman began working on sanding machines at his California, Mo.-based Ican Fix It LLC a few years ago. Leftover parts of edgers inspired him to try powder coating the outer shells. He began sharing his creations online and with friends, and the requests started pouring in. “It was a hit with people, something different,” Stieferman says. The powder coating process requires taking the edgers completely apart and sandblasting the outer shells before applying the powder with a spray gun. The pieces are given a negative charge that allows the powder to stick. The coated shells are baked in a gas oven for 15 minutes, then reassembled with new bearings, seals, switches and electrical components. “Powder coating is way more durable than other kinds of coating,” Stieferman says. “It lasts a lot longer, it doesn’t scrape off, and you have the flexibility to have a lot of color choices.” Stieferman has had requests for his custom edgers everywhere from Texas to Florida to Australia. But mailing them to far-off places can be tricky—for a number of reasons. “Every one of them I want to keep,” Stieferman laughs. “But you can’t make money keeping them.” (Stieferman can be found on Instagram at @ican_fixitman.)