Tips/Advice on doing Shutdowns/Perdiem Jobs

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So I used to build armored cars in South Carolina, the shop ran into some trouble and I had to fold my hand and move home. While waiting for a job at Mack Trucks to come through (Crosses Fingers) I was doing home foreclosures for some cash under the table. The guy that ran the crew ended up being an older guy that did a lot of Perdiem/shutdowns and I told him I was a welder we talked and said he'd pass me info along on jobs that he still gets offered alot.Well today it happened he wants me to do a 10 day Shutdown 24:70 Tons of OT he says... I told him great I'd do it, he said I can partner up with his son. I told him yeah I'd do it waiting for more specific info.There's only one problem I see with this. I can weld like a son of a bitch but I never did a shutdown or traveled for Perdiems or anything this is all new to me.So I need some advice, what to bring? How does this work? I have my own toolbox with tools that I needed for my previous job, hammer, level, brushes tip cleaners, helmet, leathers, allen keys, torqes, cordless impact, airhose, full socket sets. Do I bring my whole tool box? Just my welding stuff?Crash course needed for sure.
Reply:just bring the welding stuff.
Reply:What company, I live in SC doing shutdowns all over the country. And what part of SC I live in blythewood.Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:If you get a liking for road whoring i am booked solid for 6 months doing the shutdown circuit. I can get you leads. We make 10-12k a month(before tax) half the year.
Reply:I second what tig monster said, if you know howto weld tube and can pass a restricted tube test you can pull about 5k in a 2 week shutdown. You dont gotta work 9 to 5 either you work 7 12's bout 6-8 months out of the year and fish the rest(if thats what you wish to do that is)Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:Originally Posted by smilexelectricWhat company, I live in SC doing shutdowns all over the country. And what part of SC I live in blythewood.
Reply:Originally Posted by JgambucciI worked for Streit USA Armoring they are right outside of Charleston. I don't live in Charleston anymore sadly, back to bumble **** Pennsylvania  them's the breaks I suppose. If you meant what company the shutdown was for I'm not sure I work tomorrow for him hopefully he'll have some more details for me.They always said in school that being on the road was how you make the most money. I'm single with nothing holding me down ATM so I'll do what I can to make that money while I can.
Reply:Some suggestions.....although the company usually supplies these, I usually pack a 'goody' box.  Sometimes in belt pouches, sometimes in a cheap tool bag.  I need an assortment of cheaters for different tight spots.  Sets of wrenches that will fit both the straight and angled pencil grinders.  A batch of cut to size and sharpened tungstens, we only use 1/8".  A comfortable pair of tig gloves.  You never know when they buy a batch of crappy ones.  Some emery paper.  Thin wafer disks and mandrel.  A couple different shape rotary files.  Matches or whatever lighter you can use to test for drafts.  Clean-up file and 'toothbrush'.  A mirror can come in handy even if not needed for actual welding.  A nifty little magnet with attached washer for holding troublelight.  Penlights.  Couple of small wedges.  Never started out with all this.  Collection just kind of grew over the years.  Don't necessarily need to bring everything the first day but have them available until you get a feel for the job.
Reply:I uzed to do the power station shutdown run here in aus.Id always take a 1' magnetic level, assorted bur grinder bits, x2 6" and 1 12" adjustable wrench, a box of clear welding lenses, a custom made "cheater" helmet (front cut out of a cheap plastic flip jelmet with elastic rivited to it) to fit the  head into tight spots, a small blade file and a 8" half round file, big box of sharp tungstens, small pipe clamp   (to suite up to about 3" pipe), a welders cap, spare tig gloves, a hood, respirator, small telescoping mirror, small LED torch, oxy flint, spare cutting and gouging tips, for O/A, size 12 oxy welding tip (never know when there will be to much draft for TIG and they want that boiler going NOW!) and a good sense of humor, some of the spots ive had to crawl into to get a boiler tube either make you laugh or cry
Reply:I used to do mill shutdowns across Idaho, Washington, Montana. Mostly lumber mills. And fisheries up in Alaska.After signing the paperwork, I was normally on my own to get to whatever location and find my own accommodations for the duration of the job by the time it was scheduled to start. The cost of housing was usually covered by per diem which varied depending on how far away the job was from my house. Usually I was required to bring all my own tools. Some jobs even had a list of tools they wanted me to have. The only things I didn't need were consumables, welding leads / machines, safety harnesses, things like that. Everything else was my responsibility. If I didn't bring something I would have to do without or try to borrow one. So I would usually just bring all of my tools in a job site box.
Reply:Well just an update for you guys. The name of the company that sent the alert out for the job was 4-MMS Industrial Staffing LLC anyone dealt with them before? It wasn't for welders specifically it was for Millwright job which I have zero experience in...My foreclosure boss wanted me to lie and say I had millwright experience. Which I could not do I can't think of something more embarrassing then getting kicked off a job site because I was a lost puppy. I told the staffer that I was a welder though and to keep me in mind if he has anything. If at any rate now the staffer knows I'm not a scumbag...I hate to think the worst of people but its hard. I think he wanted me to take his son out there no matter what happened once we got on the site.
Reply:Advise on per diem, if the company gives you it in advance don't go out and blow it all on crack before the job even starts like some of the winner road warriors they have hired at my old job.
Reply:95 degrees. 7/12's at the (sideways) mill
Reply:Uh, for those of us who are ignorant, what is a "shutdown"?-RuarkLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:Originally Posted by RuarkUh, for those of us who are ignorant, what is a "shutdown"?
Reply:Originally Posted by TigMonsterWhere an industrial site shuts down for days or weeks for repairs or new construction.
Reply:Working these "shutdowns" , what kind of welding are you doing?  Pipe welding with tig and stick?  If your interested in getting into this thing, what kind of skills should you better bring to the party?Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450