Starting a mobile weld business

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I have everything I think I need except a welder.  I found a ranger 8 with a Onan motor for 250$ but doesn't currently run and I found a weldandpower 225 with a briggs motor for 700$ that they said it runs. Are they good welders? I kinda want a diesel cause I have a diesel pickup truck and don't want to run two different fuels. But the prices are killing me for a diesel cause I have a 1000$ budget for a welder.  What should I do? Wait till income tax and get a diesel and stick it out at my job or get a welder that will get me by?
Reply:Go see your LWS, check out their rental returns. Last spring/early summer I needed an extra machine for a month or two, my dealer had a Trailblazer 302 with 975 hrs that I got for 1500$. Now the job is done and I have a nice running spare machine.
Reply:What model of Weldanpower is that?  I have a Weldanpower AC 225 DC 210 /6k that was manufactured in the 1980's and I have had it for 15 years.  It is a strong bulletproof workhorse.  I have replaced the engine only because it was cheaper than updating the fuel and ignition system.  So if the one you're looking at works it's a better route than the Ranger 8 that may have any number of electronic problems.Lincoln Weldanpower A/C 225 D/C 210 /6kw auxiliary (code 9113 & 9108)Lincoln Weld Pak 100 MigMiller Maxstar 150 TigLincoln Scratch Tig 200 ampMiller 8-VS Suitcase Flux CoreHypertherm Powermax 30Victor Torches / Regulators
Reply:Your budget pretty much rules out a diesel welder.The older units like the weldandpower were good welders at the time. They still weld nice but lack a lot of features that today's newer machines have. The newer machines of today are much more quiet and burn less fuelJasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:So I just need more money if I want a better welder
Reply:I just need something to start out. I liked the ranger 8 cause I could tig with it if necessary. Can I do that with a weldandpower? I'm going to be doing repair work.
Reply:You can scratch start dc tig with any of those machines.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Yes, I am set up to do scratch tig off of my Weldanpower.  I don't use it much because tigging outside is not as easy as indoors and obviously you don't want to run the engine driven welder indoors...Lincoln Weldanpower A/C 225 D/C 210 /6kw auxiliary (code 9113 & 9108)Lincoln Weld Pak 100 MigMiller Maxstar 150 TigLincoln Scratch Tig 200 ampMiller 8-VS Suitcase Flux CoreHypertherm Powermax 30Victor Torches / Regulators
Reply:Under $1000 for a diesel driven welder is possible. I've seen several of them offered for sale. A few things to look at and think about however.... Most inexpensive diesels are very large older machines with a ton of hours on the clocks. Many were probably used to do bridge work and most likely had a lot of air arcing done with them and that is very hard on the machine. They are large and heavy, something to think about if you want to put them in the back of a pickup truck. Also almost all are CC only machines and typically don't have any provision for aux power. If they have aux power, it's usually very low, like 1500 to 3000 watts. Enough to maybe power a grinder or work lights but that's about it..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:I guess I have to ask , You are just starting out ,Can you tig weld , no sense looking for a starter machine to do something you want to do in the future? Just asking , didn't want you to spend money on somthing you don't need or can't use .
Reply:Right now no. I don't need tig welding capability. I just want a good stick welder and power source. Are older Hobart's good? Every one I work with is either Miller or Lincoln. The company owns both. I've welded with both. I like them both. But are Hobart's good as well?
Reply:Originally Posted by racer16jRight now no. I don't need tig welding capability. I just want a good stick welder and power source. Are older Hobart's good? Every one I work with is either Miller or Lincoln. The company owns both. I've welded with both. I like them both. But are Hobart's good as well?
Reply:Old industrial Hobarts are good machines. Issue is that they haven't made those in years. That "Hobart" is no longer around. ITW bought the rights to the name and the "home owner" level machines. I forget who ended up with the industrial end of the business, but none of that old stuff is still being produced. When it breaks, locating parts and manuals etc will be a huge hassle. If it's for occasional use they wouldn't be a bad choice, If it's for every day work, I'd avoid them.The newer Hobart engine drives are pretty basic and rugged. They are only CC though, so they can be limiting. If all I was going to run was stick I might consider one. However I'd find them to be too limiting in the long run myself. I'd rather spend that money on some thing I could grow with..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:So I'm going to start with just side jobs.  For farmers, homeowners, etc. What is a good machine. I will need a power source and a welder for now. Something used is preferred. Got about 800-1200 to spend. I've used diesel welders and propane. Are gas similar?
Reply:Side jobs is such a wide range that doesn't narrow things down at all. The machine that's perfect for fixing mower decks and small items wouldn't be suitable for welding up tractor buckets and vise versa.I'd look for a decent engine drive with a reasonable aux power output. That way you can stick weld anything over 1/8" and get a small 110v mig for thin stuff. Those little migs don't require all that much juice.In fact there are a number of small to mid sized multi purpose machines out there now, some that will run on 110 or 220v power. That and a medium sized genny would also work as a possibility.For small portable stuff I have a 4500 watt genny and a small 130 amp 110v mig or my Maxstar 200 which will do stick or tig off 110v or 220v power . I'll probably have the Maxstar out later this week for a small fence job for a buddy of mine. He needs plates welded to some posts to anchor them to concrete and a 14' cantilever gate built. Probably all stick welded. My Maxstar is probably out of your price range, but a small machine like an Esab 16i LST  would work really well for what you want to do. It will run off 110v or 220v power and has enough output for most small and medium sized jobs with stick. Team this up with a medium size genny if you need to.Last option not covered yet is to rent. My local rental place rents the Honda powered welder generators for about $85 a day. They also rent small migs. If you find a job that requires a generator welder, bake the rental into the price. That way you aren't out a ton of ready cash, and don't have to worry about maintenance on a machine that never gets run. One of the issues with the new gasoline blends is that they tend to gum up carbs if they sit unused for a while..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:Ive used several of the smaller gas powered welders with success so you might at least look at them.  The little Miller bluestar 185's are nice little welders for the type of work you are doing.  Just depends how thick of metal you plan on welding.  I've got a little Multiquip and if all you are doing is running 3/32 and 1/8 rod it does just fine.  I've also been impressed with the Honda brand welders.  You can get those for under $1,000 that are still in pretty good shape.
Reply:Well I'll have a total of 11 farmers in my area that will need things done when I get a welder. Fixing fences and welding on farm equipment. And if I run out of work there is a small weld shop in my area that is will to subcontract me for jobs.  I have everything I need except a welder. He does some light industrial work. 1/8 rod is about as big as I need.Last edited by racer16j; 11-17-2014 at 07:53 PM.
Reply:I have a longevity stickweld 140 welder now you think it would be alright to just buy a generator and run my welder off it for a start or just buy a welder/generator?
Reply:"I have everything I think I need except a welder" Would that include insurance, some experience, and a couple fire extinguishers?
Reply:I'm unfamiliar with the exact specs on that machine. 1/8" 7018 usually wants to run between 115- 140 amps on average. 6010/11 1/8" runs about 85-105 roughly.If you need to ask how many amps you need for 1/8" though, I question if you are really ready to do side work. That's pretty basic question.How much genny you need for your machine, I can't answer. I'd see what the manufacturer recommends. However welders draw quite a bit more than you might think when you strike an arc, so err on the side of caution and go at least 50% bigger than you might think. Inverters especially don't like power spikes and low voltage that you get when pushing genny's to their max.As far as a dedicated welder generator vs your machine and a genny, that's hard to call. If it was me, a lot would depend on what I could find used. If a nice welder came along in my price range with the options I want, I'd take it. However I also wouldn't pass up a really good deal on a basic genny big enough to do the job with my existing machine. Especially if I could turn right around and start making money back right away.One thing I've learned in business, you can never have enough cash readily on hand. I wouldn't blow your whole budget on a welder and gamble you can make it work. Usually about that time, you'll get a job that needs some specialized piece of equipment, or something you have will break and need to be replaced, then you are stuck between a rock and a hard place unless you have enough of a reserve set aside.I never gamble on large capitol investments unless it's almost too good to be true. I want to know I'm going to get a fast return on my investment. Preferably I'd have a job that would cover most if not all my expenditure on the tool as well as pay my expenses ready to go. Right now I have a couple of jobs that are that way. When the customer finally commits to the project, I'll invest in the tools I need. Until then, I'll hang on to my money and wait and see. Some times though when deals come along you just have to take a chance and jump on them. If I saw the machine I need at say 1/4 to 1/3 what it would normally cost me, I might gamble that I'll close the deal within a reasonable time frame.There are simply too many variables to make good suggestions with what little we know..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:Well I found a ranger 8 for 250$ runs welds and generates power.  I'm going to jump on it. I just did I side job for a farmer replacing a blade on his snow plow. Luckily he brought it to me. It's paying for the welder. Plus I'm buying a 6500 watt Genny for a backup for my longevity 140 for a backup. Leaving me with 4500$. Thanks for the advice guys.  I'm living the dream.
Reply:Originally Posted by racer16jWell I found a ranger 8 for 250$ runs welds and generates power.  I'm going to jump on it. I just did I side job for a farmer replacing a blade on his snow plow. Luckily he brought it to me. It's paying for the welder. Plus I'm buying a 6500 watt Genny for a backup for my longevity 140 for a backup. Leaving me with 4500$. Thanks for the advice guys.  I'm living the dream.
Reply:Maybe....... But I'll have everything for when I want to make it reality.
Reply:Mind me asking how old you are and how long you have been welding?You get what you put in and people get what they deserve...
Reply:I'm 19. 3 years of sheet metal fabrication at my local trade school during high school. Welding class after school there too for 2 years. I've been working in the industry for a year and a half on work release from school. I'm a industrial mechanic I guess you can call it. We do welding, millwright, pipe fitting, work with mobile cranes. My dad has worked in the trade for 40+ years and is here for my assistance. I know I don't know everything but to learn it you have to do it. And I think I can do it on my own.Biggest reason I see guys business fail is not because they can't do the work. It's because they can't manage a business.This applies if you do this FT or even PT. In fact it may be even more important if you do it PT as it's easier to over look things a FT guy might not forget. It's easy to bill for materials  and supplies you buy to do the project. It's harder to bill for materials you have on hand, possibly left over from another job. It's hard to keep tract of miscellaneous things like hardware, paint, and occasional consumables you have to replace like grinding disks, mig tips, gas etc. Then there's stuff like cost for advertizing like business cards, permits and license fees, phone, electric, wear and tear on the vehicle, fuel and insurance on the vehicle, work clothes and so on. Then there's always the big one, insurance. Don't think just because you do this on the side you can skip that. Go to some guys farm to weld up a small fence and set fire to something that gets out of control and you'll be in big trouble without insurance. Fire is a VERY real danger with what we do, especially if you work on farm and heavy equipment where you may have oily weeds and grass in hidden spots, or have to work on a machine in a dry grass field. Then there's always the liability if some one gets hurt because your work fails in some way, even if it's not your fault.Most guys who do side work don't realize that much of the expense of a full time business also applies to them as well. They just don't have the cash flow to cover it as easily. It takes a lot of work to offset $2K worth of insurance.I know a lot of guys who do side work and loose money. They'll do a job for $100 and $50 of that is steel. They forget about the 2-3 pounds of rod they used they had on hand that costs 3 /lb. Right there your $50 in "profit" has dropped to $41. Did you use a grinding disk or sanding pad? There's another $6 out of the "profit". What did it cost you in gas to go get the steel and go to the job? At $3/gal and if you get 10mpg in the truck, lets say that's another $10 out of the "profit". did you paint or prime? Deduct another $10 for a couple of rattle cans. We are already down to $15 and we haven't even put aside anything to pay for the machine you just bought, business cards, phone wear and tear on the truck....Real quick you are in the red, yet you "made" $50. You just don't realize all that missed stuff cost you more than you got paid, so you lost money to work. That's why it's so important to learn business skills and learn to track ALL your expenses..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