Am I an IDIOT/FOOL?

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Last fall I had to rent a Bobcat welder, and weld up some tabs to secure cages that I made around some air conditioners. Just trying to make the thieves work for their money. My work has allowed me to do various welding jobs, but this was the first time I had to use a portable welded, and I found I really liked it. I liked to so much that now I would like to start a portable welding business, and take it to the point that it becomes full time.My problem is I see every Tom,Dick, and Harry around here seems to have a portable welder in his truck. Welders seem to be the new accessory to make a pickup look cool. But it does make me wonder how much need there would be for me. Second, I have no idea how to get my name out there, plus I don't want anyone thinking I have stopped doing my regular HVAC business now. I still need to put food on the table. The third question is what to charge. Right now I know what to charge for my business, but not sure what to figure for welding. In my industry you are lucky to bill out 5 hours per every 8 hour day. Lot of wasted time, and after 20 years I can believe it. I didn't mention what I charge now because I don't know If that is allowed. New this forum.Any advice would be a help.As a side note, I am looking at a used Miller Trailblazer 250G with only 15 hours (supposedly) on it and it comes with 50ft leads, and an old suitcase wire feed unit for $2,200. It also has a 20 hp Onan. Is this a good starting point and maybe back up welder? Ultimately I would like to have a new 325 Trailblazer with Excel power, but that will have to wait until this adventure starts to pay for itself, or shows that I really need that to make the money. At least that is my uneducated thought.
Reply:I think coupling your welding skills with HVAC is a great idea. I don't know what you charge but perhaps welding can get you better jobs that you can bill for more hours. I would not depend on welding jobs alone as it may put you in the same boat as your HVAC situation. With that said I do some portable tig that comes from reference by my shop work. I bill full hours plus travel time. 90% of the time I get the gig and then I start regretting it. The payceck at the end of the gig corrects my regrets until the next time. The last one was a couple of months ago. I billed $1k for 3 hours travel and 1 hour labor and security clearance. They could not tell me what was involved until I got to the work site, and if I tell you what it was you would laugh your head off. I was chaperoned by engineers and they did half the work. Do great work and great work comes to you.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Originally Posted by Baloo2327Last fall I had to rent a Bobcat welder, and weld up some tabs to secure cages that I made around some air conditioners. Just trying to make the thieves work for their money. My work has allowed me to do various welding jobs, but this was the first time I had to use a portable welded, and I found I really liked it. I liked to so much that now I would like to start a portable welding business, and take it to the point that it becomes full time.My problem is I see every Tom,Dick, and Harry around here seems to have a portable welder in his truck. Welders seem to be the new accessory to make a pickup look cool. But it does make me wonder how much need there would be for me. Second, I have no idea how to get my name out there, plus I don't want anyone thinking I have stopped doing my regular HVAC business now. I still need to put food on the table. The third question is what to charge. Right now I know what to charge for my business, but not sure what to figure for welding. In my industry you are lucky to bill out 5 hours per every 8 hour day. Lot of wasted time, and after 20 years I can believe it. I didn't mention what I charge now because I don't know If that is allowed. New this forum.Any advice would be a help.As a side note, I am looking at a used Miller Trailblazer 250G with only 15 hours (supposedly) on it and it comes with 50ft leads, and an old suitcase wire feed unit for $2,200. It also has a 20 hp Onan. Is this a good starting point and maybe back up welder? Ultimately I would like to have a new 325 Trailblazer with Excel power, but that will have to wait until this adventure starts to pay for itself, or shows that I really need that to make the money. At least that is my uneducated thought.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelon. . . and if I tell you what it was you would laugh your head off. I was chaperoned by engineers and they did half the work.
Reply:Originally Posted by Baloo2327Any advice would be a help.
Reply:Make sure that trailblazer isn't a Craigslist scam, there are many out there. I would think you would charge almost the same as you already do for HVAC work.
Reply:Oh yeah. I replied to one ad asking where it was because I needed to come try it out before purchasing. Guess what - he never replied. I had no intention of buying, I knew it was a scammer I just wanted to see what he'd say.
Reply:If you can do both & and can afford to buy the equipment without putting yourself in too much of a bind, I say give it a try. Yes there are a lot of people doing welding these days, but there are also a lot of HVAC guys too. Leave your options open, but there is nothing wrong trying new things, if you don't try you'll never know. Take your time.Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.
Reply:From the comments it looks like I might be a little crazy for trying to do this, but unfortunately nothing that will get me certified. LOL! I've talked with the seller of the welder, and made plans to see it tomorrow, and if it is what he says, I'll come home with it. It's in my price range. I'm also doing this with cash. My plan is to make this adventure financially speak with just hobby money. This will be a lot less then a new Motorcycle like my friend got last year.Thanks for the comments, and if anyone has any ideas for helping get my name out there I would appreciate it.
Reply:Just start telling your existing customers, you also do welding. Have some new business cards made & add welding service to them. Basically mention it to everyone you encounter, if you have a sign at your place of business, add welding service to that also. It sounds like a good on the welding equipment.Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55Been there.  9 hour flight each way for a 20 minute fix that I just talked them thru (not covered by their insurance to perform the actual physical work).  $X,XXX/day portal-to-portal plus all expenses.  That's just one case.
Reply:I started back in 1982 as a basic mobile welding business ....As you mentioned " everybody and there brother has a welder in the back of their pickup" ......So in turn competition for any type of small/ average repair work is vicious.... Ended up I found a niche in using my equipment to install/erect steel jobs........As time went by I also built and opened a nice size fab. shop......Most of my portable equipment is used to install/ erect my own work.....Also I do small piping jobs with it.......As far as equipment repair or even general steel repairs , the work is few and far between........JMHO
Reply:If your just doing basic stuff that augments your HVAC biz than what about a small portable machine like a Maxstar 150? It would have handled your cages and likely fits behind your seat. Sometimes it's a pain to fire up the engine drive to burn a rod or two.
Reply:Heading out to look and hopefully get the Trailblazer. I agree that I need to find a niche for where I fit. I'll keep the maxstar in mind. Don't know anything about it. It might of worked, but I also love small engines.
Reply:Originally Posted by Baloo2327Heading out to look and hopefully get the Trailblazer. I agree that I need to find a niche for where I fit. I'll keep the maxstar in mind. Don't know anything about it. It might of worked, but I also love small engines.
Reply:I have a Maxstar 200 STR I'm looking to sell if you're interested at all. Probably around the $1200 mark. I'm working out of GA right now and heading through Jacksonville FL in a couple weeks, then up to Denver and can meet up if you're along that route if you are interested.Last edited by TheBFA; 04-14-2016 at 12:25 PM.
Reply:Denver is still a bit of a jog from eastern Oregon.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Yeah it is. I can't see where people are from on the mobile site for some reason. That's why I haven't just listed it for sale because I don't want to deal with shipping. I wss planing on just waiting till I get back to Denver and sell it locally.
Reply:Just a quick update.I just got back from picking up the Trailblazer. The good news was I was able to get for $1,500 with an old suitcase unit. The bad news it has a stuck intake valve. Just got home tonight, and by looking down the spark plug hole, and taking the cover off the rest of the welder looking everything over, it looks like the hour meter is right, which says it has 16 hours. With that in mind my dad and I both think the valve is stuck from bad gas, and never having a chance to break in. By the serial # of the engine it is a 1993. Right now we are soaking the valve by filling the cylinder with a mixture of automatic transmission fluid and acetone. In the morning we'll pump the cylinder out, and see if that freed things up, or if I need to pull the head off. I'll update more then.I will try and upload a couple of pictures from my iPad here in a moment. Still need to download the manual for the welder too.
Reply:It still has the tag on the dipstick about break in oil. Attached Images
Reply:It has a new battery it came with, but is the wrong size to let the cover fit. The owner thought the cover was lost, but it ended up being under the battery.
Reply:We had one of those at work That was brand new but had sat unused for a long time. If I remember those Onan engines have a weird valve train and I think we found a cam follower that was stuck in its bore that caused a valve to stick open. Get a manual and check it out. Ours worked out fineSteveLincoln SA200 (1966 Redface)Lincoln IdealArc 250Steve1990 Miller Dialarc 2501993 Miller Maxstar 140 STR2015 Lincoln MP2101966 Lincoln SA200 Redface
Reply:Originally Posted by Baloo2327Right now we are soaking the valve by filling the cylinder with a mixture of automatic transmission fluid and acetone. In the morning we'll pump the cylinder out, and see if that freed things up, or if I need to pull the head off.
Reply:Damn, sweat deal on the Trailblazer. I think those older AC/DC TB's were one of the most versatile machines out there. You could pretty much do anything with one, mig, tig both AC and DC with a remote, stick, carbon arc cut... 16 hours for that price is a steal even with a minor engine issue. The feeder is just a bonus. I wish I could find a deal like that..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Bad news and good news update.The witches brew didn't free up the valve, so I pulled the head off to look inside, and see what is going on. The intake valve would move a little out, but wouldn't close. Then I noticed a small bolt that holds the air filter base to the carburetor was missing. Great, now what else can go wrong. Lack of sleep made me slow to realize the bolt was what was holding the valve open. I got it out, and looked the seat and valve over, and found it all good in the area the valve seals. The bolt just got wedged, and never bounced around. So easy fix.With the head off, I could easily see there was no wear in the cylinder. This was also on the side where the oil filter is, and I could see that it was also original. I took the cover off the welder part on top, and yes this is a very low hour machine. Put it all back together, and it runs great. The more I played with the idle and run, working the rpms up and down to help break things in, and the better it got, and no smoke.I plugged a grinder in, and it ramped up, and I welded on all setting, and everything works. I am one happy camper. I was able to even find oil filters in stock locally, along with a new air filter, and a couple of fuel filters. So the oil is draining now. I'll replace all of the filters, put a can of Sea Foam in the fuel tank with fresh premium non ethanol fuel, and hit it with some soap and a pressure washer and she'll be ready for work.I think I'm going to order a cover for it to keep it looking new, and plugs on the leads, and a lighter whip for the stinger. I might even change the stinger, but these are all things I want, not what the welder needs. I almost feel guilty for getting so cheap now. Almost.. . . so what's the bad news? MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Sounds like a win-win to me!Sent from my iPad using TapatalkSteveLincoln IdealArc 250Lincoln SA200 1966 RedfaceSteve1990 Miller Dialarc 2501993 Miller Maxstar 140 STR2015 Lincoln MP2101966 Lincoln SA200 Redface
Reply:Quick update and question.For those who recommended the Miller 150, I'm not sure whether to be amazed or annoyed by a welder that weighs less then my tool bag. That being said, I will pick one up just a soon as I have a job to use it one, or there is a great sale on it. Definitely opens up the possibilities.The welder I got came with 50ft leads, so I am thinking of getting 50ft extensions, and a new stinger with a lighter whip. I am thinking of Jackson JH-1 with a 15 ft with #2 orange super flex whip. The question is should I just get the extensions in the 1/0 super flex or just get standard cable. And what are your thought on different colors? They have blue that I thought of for the Miller theme, or maybe red for the stinger line, and leave the ground as black. I am also going with Lenco LC-10 connectors all around. Black for ground, and red for stinger lines.One last question is should I build a skid to put everything on, and slide in the back of the pickup or should I just build a small little work trailer for just the welding. I am leaning to the trailer for weight concerns. My pickup is a 3/4 ton, and I know how quickly tool and box weight can add up.Next project is a gantry set up to make moving things around easier. The adventure continues.
Reply:A local family of refrigeration mechanics sent one of the young nephews to welding school.  Being a refrigeration mechanic and having pressure tickets opens all kinds of doors in the field of ammonia systems used in cold storage plants... just a thought.