Tay Whiteside

A person welding metal in a workshop, wearing protective gear including a helmet and gloves. Tay Whiteside as a professional welder. Mr. Machine in real life.

Tay Whiteside is a skilled tradesman, creator, and on-camera personality best known for his work on the hit TV series Salvage Dawgs and as the founder of Lift Arc Studios. 

Tay’s father, Mike Whiteside, is the co-founder and owner of Black Dog Salvage, an architectural salvage company based in Roanoke, Virginia. Tay grew up surrounded by machines and tools, spending much of his childhood at the shop.

A man with glasses, a beard, and curly hair smiling with arms crossed standing in front of a reflective surface with a building and sky in the background. Tay Whiteside from Lift Arc Studios.

As he got older, his interests and skills developed, and he was mentored by experienced tradesmen and craftsmen at Black Dog. At just 19 years old, Tay began his television career when Salvage Dawgs premiered on the DIY Network in 2012. The show followed the crew at Black Dog Salvage and ran for 11 seasons and 143 episodes before concluding in 2020.

A man with glasses and a beard smiling, holding a large metal sign that reads 'Lift Arc Studios' in a workshop with tools, machinery, and industrial equipment in the background. Tay Whiteside.

After Salvage Dawgs ended, Tay decided to branch out on his own to open Lift Arc Studios, a metalwork and fabrication shop in the Roanoke Valley. As a professional welder, Tay has built his career around hands-on craftsmanship, problem-solving, and bringing new life to raw materials. His experience in the trades has given him a deep appreciation for the work, tools, and people that keep industries moving every day.

Group of five smiling people sitting on steps outside, wearing Salvage Dawgs shirts. Tay Whiteside from Salvage Dawgs.

Through the Lift Arc Studios YouTube channel, Tay shares his passion for welding and fabrication with a growing online audience, showcasing real projects, shop builds, and the creative process behind turning ideas into finished products. His content highlights not only technical skill but also the satisfaction that comes from building something real with your own hands.

Now, as the host of The Mr. Machine Show, Tay is expanding his mission to inspire the next generation. Drawing from his real-world experience, he introduces kids to machines, tools, and the skilled trades in a way that is engaging, educational, and accessible.

Tay Whiteside is the perfect host for The Mr. Machine Show because his real-world experience in the trades and lifelong passion for machines bring an authenticity that can’t be taught. He isn’t simply playing a character on screen—he lives the values and curiosity of Mr. Machine every day.