Just bought a TIG welder, ideas for making money?

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Hooray, I just bought a Lincoln invertec v205-t AC/DC and am stoked! It was a pretty big investment for me and I'm trying to figure out some ways I can make some money with it. So far I have the following suggestions:repair cracked alloy wheelsrepair/resurface alloy headersfence repairBut, I need more ideas. I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on how to hustle up some work with a portable TIG welder. I'm in So-Cal, just in case you are worried about losing some of your own business locally. I also have a plumber who needs some small-bore pipe welded from time to time....
Reply:I'd probably toss cracked wheels in the trash. That's a liability issue you might not want to get into. There are wheel refinishers out there, but I'd still do a lot of research before jumping into that one.Just my thoughts.KevinHobart Handler 210Tweco Fabricator 181iLincoln Squarewave Tig 175
Reply:I agree with trackbird im not to sure you want to jump into a liability thing such as welding rims. just let people know that you have one and with in a week or two you will have someone asking you to repair something. but just make sure you know what your getting into when you repair things. and some people will ask you to build other things from a fresh start
Reply:Contact some boat repair shops, if you like welding cracked aluminum boat hulls and fabricating various stainless parts.I do aluminum rim crack repairs, as long as they're forged, billet machined or spun.  No cast though.  Be sure you know what you're doing, if you want to work on wheels that go on cars.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by insternoHooray, I just bought a Lincoln invertec v205-t AC/DC and am stoked! It was a pretty big investment for me and I'm trying to figure out some ways I can make some money with it. So far I have the following suggestions:repair cracked alloy wheelsrepair/resurface alloy headersfence repairBut, I need more ideas. I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on how to hustle up some work with a portable TIG welder. I'm in So-Cal, just in case you are worried about losing some of your own business locally. I also have a plumber who needs some small-bore pipe welded from time to time....
Reply:Mark up the price and re-sell.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:insterno,just want to say, we have the Lincoln Invertec 205 at work.  It is a really nice capable machine with all the features of preflow/postbflow, upslope/downslope, DC/AC, AC frequency, %DCEN/DCEP, lift arc/HF arc start, and more.  Good score for you.  Wish I had this at the house.(Hey, one more post closer to graduating from "craftsman", sorry it had little quality, just support for a brother).
Reply:Weld up cracked Aluminum heads off local hot rodders and let the machine shop do the cleanup  SQUARE WAVE 175 TIG   DUAL MIG 151
Reply:Insterno, I've ordered the Miller Dynasty 200DX, and am targeting the local dirt and street bikers, snowmobilers and ATVers (all these people are very hard on their equipment), as well as local auto machine shops that subcontract their welding. I looked at the Lincoln before deciding on the Miller. What was your deciding factor(s) with the Lincoln?
Reply:First question I'd ask the OP is "Does he know how to tig weld?"Just because you have a tig welder (machine), doesn't mean you know how to use it. Making money with a machine is more a factor of what he's capable of, not what the machine can do.I know guys with Dynasty 350's and Sync 350's that I wouldn't trust to repair a lawn mower deck.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by trackbirdI'd probably toss cracked wheels in the trash. That's a liability issue you might not want to get into. There are wheel refinishers out there, but I'd still do a lot of research before jumping into that one.Just my thoughts.
Reply:Originally Posted by PeterTrocewiczInsterno, I've ordered the Miller Dynasty 200DX, and am targeting the local dirt and street bikers, snowmobilers and ATVers (all these people are very hard on their equipment), as well as local auto machine shops that subcontract their welding. I looked at the Lincoln before deciding on the Miller. What was your deciding factor(s) with the Lincoln?
Reply:Wrong machine to make money... You need a printing press for that.  Its illegal to make money too!  You can earn money but only the government can make it.  The only time your going to earn money is when your income exceeds your expenses.  Put a posting on craigslist to repair implements for farmers in the farm and garden section.  Also put adds in the automotive, motorcycle and rvs sections about your ablilites to weld etc.  Go to equipment rental shops and see if they have any work they will contract with you on.  Visit construction companies for broken buckets, etc that you can weld up for them.  There are many things that you can do to get your name out there, but the only way that it will profit is that you actually get the work.  That lawyer might get $250 an hour, but he will only get it if someone is willing to pay it.
Reply:Originally Posted by Bartcephus ...Put a posting on craigslist to repair implements for farmers in the farm and garden section.  Also put adds in the automotive, motorcycle and rvs sections about your ablilites to weld etc.  ...
Reply:Zip: that link goes to a shielding gas/argon problem not a legal business issue...are you sure it's the right one?
Reply:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=35394oops... cut off the last digit of the thread #...  Long post, makes for an interesting read.
Reply:Thanks, that's an interesting thread/topic
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIFirst question I'd ask the OP is "Does he know how to tig weld?"Just because you have a tig welder (machine), doesn't mean you know how to use it. Making money with a machine is more a factor of what he's capable of, not what the machine can do.I know guys with Dynasty 350's and Sync 350's that I wouldn't trust to repair a lawn mower deck.
Reply:Well Ed Hack,I must say that having to deal with dolts like you has a lot to do with establishing my "attitude".First thing so many new welders want to do is figure out how to make money welding with their new machines.  Little do they realize that the customer pays for training and experience.  Something most hacks like you lack.  All you're doing with your "carport welding" is taking food off the table of a professional welder WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING and driving up the liability insurance rates for those truly running a business.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Ed you are a sad case just sad.Ranger 250 GXTSmith Gas Axe
Reply:Originally Posted by insternoHooray, I just bought a Lincoln invertec v205-t AC/DC and am stoked! It was a pretty big investment for me and I'm trying to figure out some ways I can make some money with it. So far I have the following suggestions:repair cracked alloy wheelsrepair/resurface alloy headersfence repairBut, I need more ideas. I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on how to hustle up some work with a portable TIG welder. I'm in So-Cal, just in case you are worried about losing some of your own business locally. I also have a plumber who needs some small-bore pipe welded from time to time....
Reply:Why does every thread have to turn into some drama fest on here.  I've been on this forum for about a week and can't go a day without reading some insulting comments from one poster to another.
Reply:Originally Posted by Freestyle72Why does every thread have to turn into some drama fest on here.  I've been on this forum for about a week and can't go a day without reading some insulting comments from one poster to another.
Reply:personally I think the ed mac v. sundown fued is the most entertaining thing on since the office season finale. go get some popcorn
Reply:You can repair car parts, ie exhaust pipes, but probably better off working with bike parts. Many motor bikes now have stainless steel parts. I know a friend of mine who works for a few bike shops making and repairing parts in his spare time. He is a sheet metal worker by trade.iron gatesOriginally Posted by Birdwell4personally I think the ed mac v. sundown fued is the most entertaining thing on since the office season finale. go get some popcorn
Reply:Thanks Iron Welder, not a bad idea. I'm a sheet metal welder/fabricator too, with quite a bit of stainless experience.Proud to support Reliable Sheet Metal Works, in Fullerton, CA.Full service sheet metal fabrication serving Orange County since 1926.http://www.reliablesheetmetal.com