About Hans Early-Nelson

Hans was born to be a maker. His passion began with a boat-building upbringing from his father. In his late teens he embarked on a blacksmithing and furniture making apprenticeship in Germany. He quickly followed that up with a welding and machining diploma from Dunwoody Institute of Technology. Fully rounding out his education, he had an internship with a local jeweler. Then in 2004, Hans began his welding career working for a small stainless steel fabrication company. 

With his sights set on creating custom metalwork matching old world quality with modern innovative design, he founded Primitive Precision in 2007. He brought his extensive work experience – along with his appetite for designing and creating in metal. 

Hans was insatiable for his craft. The joinery of wood from boat-building and furniture making mixed with jewelry and blacksmithing opened his mind to a myriad of possibilities that could all be made a reality in the metalworking industry. His mastery of these skills deeply inform and shape the offerings of Primitive Precision.

And about Liz Parent

Liz officially began working for Primitive Precision at the start of 2020. Liz has a degree in art and design. She spent a decade in the craft maker space selling handmade jewelry while working as an apprentice for a few local jewelry designers. Metalwork and business became a strong theme for her. The evolution from solo jewelry maker to Chief Operating Officer at PPM included many twists and turns along the way.

Amidst the journey of Hans and Liz’s business and life partnership were many weekends spent at local farmers markets, craft fairs and art crawls. Liz with her handmade wares and Hans with his unique forged metal goods, the couple effortlessly made connections with clients from all walks of life, many of whom were looking for custom metalwork both large and small. The word of mouth connections with folks around the Twin Cities went from handrails and vent hoods to custom-forged wedding rings. 

The evolution of metal in the lives of these two creative-preneurs has taken on many forms, but over the course of the last four, Primitive Precision Metalcraft has become their singular focus (along with raising their two incredible young children). 

They are serious about the business of detailed architectural and structural metalwork, fabricating high quality metalwork with the most talented team of fabricators in the industry.