A question for Slowhand

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I've been following your pipeliner adventures since I signed onto the forum. Great reading.  I see where you got the idea for your xmt / 3 phase generator rig.  I was wondering if you have found a contractor willing to sign you, your partner, and your rig  onto a job?  Seems to me any pipeline contractor would be way ahead to let the welders use their own equipment thus relieving them of all the headaches associated with matching up good welders with good equipment.  I used to run my own excavation equipment, sometimes leasing out hourly.  I did not like hourly as no incentive to produce.  Do you guys go out on contract, or , through the hiring hall?   I work out of the hall now ( operator's local 66) because I got too worn out.Best of luck, Ralph
Reply:Thanks man .  I know I can be long winded sometimes.  I work union and have for almost 35 years now.  And I have several operator friends out of 66 and they are great guys and good at what they do, as I'm sure you are too.  I've worked jobs in that area a few times over the years.Me and my current friend and welding pardner met on this job and we're still together.  Its the longest term pardner me or him has ever had.  And we still get along good.  Thats saying something about him.  My machine came along partly out of necessity and also from wanting to experiment.  Its a good machine I think.  I like hauling it around.This contractor pays us full rig pay but we don't get to use our rigs much.  I've used mine 4 hours this year I think.    Because of the way this job is we must use his stuff.  Having rigs out there just won't work.  He's mentioned putting our machines on his equipment but that won't work either.  We'd all be mad in a very short time I think.  Good luck