Any input would be great!

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I've been browsing through topics and have gotten alot of useful information, but I would still like as much input as possible. Something about life feedback stirs the braincells.I have recently been displaced from chosen career. I have always been interested in welding and been around it from time to time, so i've come to the decision to go to school and hit this full bore with everything i have. I'm too old to try after this. I have some equipment questions and some job path questions.I would like to get a welding unit mounted on my truck for some onsite general welds, farm equipment fences and such. suggestions?Any ideas about the best way to start in this field. Any advice would help and be appreciated. To narrow a couple of things down. I've been thinking about the miller/bobcat/225. I would love to hear some oppinions on that. Im using a small miller thunderbolt right now and have just been burning through stick trying to make the perfect weld. I am a perfectionist and welding is humbling to say the least. I know I can get it because i'm having a blast doing it. My first practice project is going to be a trike, but I can't have any shoddy welds on it so i'll burn through another 40 dollars worth of rod untill it looks like someone else did it.
Reply:Hey mate, my advice would be to get a job working for somebody else for a couple of years before you go out on your own. There is a lot to learn that you will simply not pick up just by trial and error or at any school. Good luck
Reply:Originally Posted by stampHey mate, my advice would be to get a job working for somebody else for a couple of years before you go out on your own. There is a lot to learn that you will simply not pick up just by trial and error or at any school. Good luck
Reply:That is good advice and I appreciate it. I'm not thinking about going out on my own and experimenting with someones 25,000 dollar tractor, but at the sametime I know what my goal is and I don't want to go drop a couple of grand on a welder as a way to pass the time i'd rather invest it in what I need for the long term plus take the time getting to know the welder i'll be using for years to come. I've thought about doing this for years and looking for it. Work did not permit the time to learn a new trade it barely gave me time to appreciate my family, I see this as an oppurtunity worth going for. and don't mind putting some money and time into it I just don't want to spend money twice i'm not made of it so I'm going to make the most of what I can scrape together.
Reply:Since the post was in 2011 I will answer.I would not weld the trike with stick welding unless you are an absolute expert.Even then it is difficult.TIG  or MIG would be a better choice.Not saying stick cannot be done but it would take a lot of care.Before you buy a truck ,equipment and insurance.EXAMPLE: Remember when two county workers in Marin county California went out to repair/weld  a fenceand caught the grass on fire, and then Grace Slick's house? Then one of the firemen was caught with memorabilia from her house.She now lives in L.A. An experienced welder would have forseen the danger in the summertime,  and hosed down the area before doing the repair. Right?I would do as STAMP suggested and get a job first and see what type of welding situation would fit you best.Some welders like sleeping in motels and being away from home and traveling, and some like to be shop rats.Also a beginning welding course at a junior college would help a lot.I cannot imagine just showing up and applying at a job with no experience and no formal training. You would be setting yourself up for failure.In a night welding class you may meet other welders that have great information to share also. Like jobs ,job experiences etc.,.As far as equipment for being in business for yourself... Go to some welding shops and ask questions.Many mobile welders are based out of a welding shop.They do both shop and mobile.For instance building a gate in the shop on a flat straight table, THEN taking itto the jobsite and finishing the details and installation.Last edited by Donald Branscom; 01-10-2011 at 03:07 PM.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:I support the work for somebody else for a while idea.  There is so much to learn when you start in a new career path a person can not grasp everything.  Most of what I have learned that is worthwhile I learned by watching & listening to.  A lot of other lessons were learned "the hard way".  If yu are supporting a family please don't put their financial future at risk by learning the slow, hard route of trial & error.  Take advantage of somebody else's knowlegde for a while.
Reply:The more I learn/see while welding, the more Ive come too accept that I dont know ****. Im ASME Certified pipe welder, but that doesnt mean too much from what Ive seen on jobsites.To run your own business, you must master a great many things, stick, MIG, TIG, cutting devices, and a host of other things.I fought for my company to send me to welding school, as far as I know, the AVG age of welders is like 55...Guess whos gonna be in big demand in the next 5 or so yrs...I may not be at my comapny in 5 or so years...lolI got a Bobcat 250, nice machine, but I dont like the lag it has when I strike an Arc, it could be me, but the shops old Ranger 8 didnt do that... It chugs gas when Im burning rod 8hrs a day. Cant say bout the Wildcat though...Welding is a blast, and when you "get it" its even more fun...Trying to lay a sexier bead than the previous, learning new techniques, or methods. Or even your co-workers faces when they see what you created out of a pile of steel in a boiler room. Or how tight your caps are on pipe... I live for "Atta-Boys", it means Im doing my job right..Lincoln Power MIG 210 MP ( boat anchor )Lincoln Weld-Pac 100 HDHobart IronMan 230Cutmaster 42Jackson NexGenSumner Ultra ClampsDWM120
Reply:You can work for someone else and still do your own thing. Where I am its near impossible to find a job welding for someone else theres maybe only 4 welding companies within 100 miles. So I took classes and built up my skills slowly over the past 2 years. I just got my workshop on the first and setup my own buisness. As in any buisness you shouldnt expect to make money for the first couple years. So I figure I will take it slow for another 2-3 years and by that time will have 4-5 years under my belt. In the meantime building up networks. I have a verbal agreement to share work with one mobile welder I have met who does all big equipment repairs. He doesnt like doing small stuff and thats exactly what I like to do. Also if he ever needs an extra set of hands he may call me. Another plus is if your setup as a buisness with your own insurance it is alot easier for another welder to take you on. Essentially they could just pay your buisness to do a job instead of you being their employee.There is alot of things to be learned by working for someone else. You will just have to compensate heavily by studying and haveing your wits about you at all times. You will have to be a very quick thinker and knowledgable about a lot of differant things. Being good on the internet is a big plus so maybe invest in having a computer in your shop or a smart phone where you search for answers on the fly.As long as you are insured and not taking jobs that you know you wouldnt be able to do safely then I think the only real risk is dissapointing your customer. I know all the people I have worked with loved how I was just starting out and wanted to help me grow.Last edited by Skeluhtor; 01-10-2011 at 05:36 PM.
Reply:I just wanted to give my $.02 here and say if I were you I would look into the union side of things. See if you could get into an apprenticeship program with someone. You could look into Pipefitter/Steamfitters, Iron Workers, and of course BOILERMAKERS. Getting into a union trade has so many benefits. The training you will receive is second to none, and the pay is some of the best in your area I would bet. If you have ever known anyone in a trade like this you will also know that there is some downtime in their schedule as well. You will likely be laid off for some of the year which would give you the time to pursue your goal of welding for other people. If you could get the chance to get into the union of your choice I feel like you would benefit in more ways than you could imagine.