Entertainment

Sparks fly on ‘Alaskan Steel Men’

FIRED UP: Scottie Dries, who’s featured in “Alaskan Steel Men,” puts his welding torch to work on a project in his company’s headquarters, located in Kodiak, Alaska. (Discovery Channel)

You can add the gritty world of welding and pipe-fitting to the ever-growing slate of reality programming.

Alaskan Steel Men,” premiering Aug. 30 on Discovery, will take viewers inside the world of Quality Marine of Alaska, a welding/pipe-fitting company owned by Dennis Butts and his wife, Theresa — who ply their trade in the harsh environs of Kodiak, Alaska.

The show, airing at 10 p.m., will take viewers along as Butts and his team — who weld in all types of conditions, including underwater — put their lives on the line as they battle the elements and race to get jobs done on time and under budget.

And, since this is a reality show, it wouldn’t be complete without the requisite supporting cast.

Here, the crew includes welder Scottie; Cooper, an ex-Marine who’s returned to his native Alaska to seek his fortune; rookie welders Dean and Jameson; diver Duke; and George, a pipe-fitter who’s considered “the brains” behind the entire operation.

In the first episode of the three-part series, “Dead in Water,” Butts and his crew work around the clock to prepare Kodiak’s fleet of boats for a new fishing season — with a huge storm lurking on the horizon and underwater welder Duke braving the icy waters to make his repairs.

The team is also called to the local cannery when it unexpectedly shuts — with a problem worse than expected and Quality Marine is relied on to save the day.

“Alaskan Steel Men” is produced by Lizard Trading Company.