Mobile Welding Starting Up.

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Hi All, Though I am busy with house renovations now, in my spare time I am looking at getting myself set up to do some mobile welding on the side so that when the reno’s are done, I am ready to start welding. I have an SA200, cutting torches (victors & smith) and a bunch of grinders (3) 7” Milwaukee’s, (2) 5” Makita’s, and (2) 4” Dewalt & Makita. I have read through a lot of the related threads over the last while and some good points are made in them. What I am thinking of doing is making repairs for the farmers & construction guys within a couple hours radius of where I live. I was involved in the farming industry for about 25 years (Yikes! I am getting old!). Up until a few years ago, I was raising cattle as well (part time) and I got into welding to support my farming habit. I could only loose so much money and then there was no more to lose! So…I seem to weld better than I can raise cattle so that is where I am heading now. Since my kids are moving out and the van is no longer needed I will be selling it and buying a truck. For starting out, should I be looking for a ¾ ton or a 1 ton dually 4X4? I could pick up either for about the same price. The SA200 has been a good welder for me. It does have some limitations though. For one, out in the field I can only use the small grinders as you guys already know. That really slows me down! For another, I cannot run wire with it like you could with a CV machine. I am not sure I would want to CAG w/ it either for that matter. So what I have been thinking is getting something like a TB302, which has CC/CV, or the bigger version with more capacity. What I envision is showing up to the job, gouging out the crack or broken piece, clean up with medium to big grinders, and weld it back up again. Done! The least amount of grinding(esp w/ a small grinder) the better!I guess what I am looking for w/ this last paragraph is some input from the guys who started out doing mobile repairs. What machines did you start with? How did you remove the defect-grinders oxy/acet torch, plasma or CAG? What were your limitations & what would you do differently? What type of work where you coming across-farm, excavating equipment, residential, commercial, industrial? What size of job- if it where small jobs, does it require the expensive quick removal of the defect ie CAG/plasma? I can certainly see the big jobs would. Did you experience much of a need for aluminum welding in the mobile repair business?I look forward to hearing all your responses & I’ll thank you now for them!
Reply:If the prices are about the same, I would opt for the 1 ton dually 4WD over the 3/4 ton. For the simple fact of higher weight carrying capacity. When you start loading it up with welding machines, tools and steel to do a project you will appreciate the extra load factor.If you went with the 3/4 ton first you would find this out and then be looking to upgrade soon to the 1 ton, so might as well go with the heavier duty truck from the start to avoid this. Fuel consumption for these two may be about the same until you load'em up, plus the 1 ton can tow a heavier trailer and the 4 WD may get you into and out of a job site that the single wheel 3/4 ton would need a tow. I got my 3/4 ton single wheel 2 WD stuck in my yard yesterday bringing home over 1000 lbs. of steel for a new project. Luckily my neighbor has a small 4WD tractor and came to the rescue after I waited on him to get home. When I started spinning, I quit trying so as not to dig myself down too bad and rut up the yard too.
Reply:What I envision is showing up to the job, gouging out the crack or broken piece, clean up with medium to big grinders, and weld it back up again. Done! It would be great if all repairs were that easy.  I do the same thing as a side line job and it generates enough money to cover insurance and buying new equipment.  It's more of a hobby that is making me money.  I started out with a Bobcat on a trailer that worked pretty good then made a skid with a Trailblazer 301G and tool boxes that I can put in and out of the truck as needed.  I use a SRW F-350.  The skid is too heavy for my 1/2 ton Silverado.  I work close enough to home that I can look at jobs before starting and can run back home for the unexpected items. Most of my work is farm repairs and a little construction machinery.   Work of mouth gets me all the work I want.  I don't want my hobby to turn in to a job.As far as tools a couple of grinders with cut off wheels, flappers and hard stones, a porta band, clamps, chains, a couple of tuggets, hammers, big pry bars and a good selection of hand tools. I hardley ever use a torch unless for a rose bud so I don't have one on my skid.DanLast edited by DanD78; 03-16-2012 at 10:45 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauIf the prices are about the same, I would opt for the 1 ton dually 4WD over the 3/4 ton. For the simple fact of higher weight carrying capacity. When you start loading it up with welding machines, tools and steel to do a project you will appreciate the extra load factor.
Reply:I don't weld for a living, but if you are going into the business, it just makes sense to go with the heavier duty truck. If I were doing it I would still go with the 1 ton even if it did cost more on initial purchase. If you started with the 3/4 ton, then decided it wasn't enough truck, by the time you sold it and bought the 1 ton then you would be money BEHIND after tagging it and insurance transfers etc. Especially if you did any mods to the first truck to work from it, then had to do it over on the new truck. Since I already have a 3/4 ton, if I started a welding business to put food on the table/pay bills, then I would stay with the 3/4 ton until I could upgrade. But your looking to get into from the start, so invest in the most truck you can from the get go. Good luck with your new business endeavor.
Reply:I would definitely get the dually and in 4x4. I do a lot of farm/ranch as well as construction welding and it always seems it's a mess where they break so the 4x4 is imperative. While the old Lincoln will get you by, one of the newer Rangers or Trailblazers will be better, much better. I have built my business on being able to do any thing, or almost. I've had to weld a muffler on a chain saw back together with 1/16" 6013s before. The old Lincoln won't do that. The Trailblazer I use has the 14 pin plug and makes it possible to run my spool gun or suit case  with. It also weighs 1000 pounds less than the Lincoln.I would think about building an "A" frame on the truck with a bed winch. I use mine constantly and couldn't get by with out it.One last thing, when dealing with farmers and ranchers, try not to give them a price by the hour. Most are older and will nearly faint when you tell them what you charge hourly. I just give them a price and they are usually good with it.
Reply:If you want to work on construction equipment, you better get alot of tools, a big truck with a tool body and a crane. Search posts made by TozziWelding, he does this kind of work. Most repairs will include more mechanical work than welding. Everyone, myself especially, just have a vision of the enjoyment from the welding end. Actually welding, is the smallest part of the job. Cleaning, fabrication, fitting, grinding, etc., takes up the majority of your time. I think it might be hard to just be a repair weldor, without being a mechanic."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by BobI would definitely get the dually and in 4x4. I do a lot of farm/ranch as well as construction welding and it always seems it's a mess where they break so the 4x4 is imperative.
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-man Everyone, myself especially, just have a vision of the enjoyment from the welding end. Actually welding, is the smallest part of the job. Cleaning, fabrication, fitting, grinding, etc., takes up the majority of your time. I think it might be hard to just be a repair weldor, without being a mechanic.
Reply:Subscribed.Ranger 305gMillermatic 140 AutosetDewalt Chopsaw2 grindersMy Fists
Reply:I don't know what the terrain in Ont. is like, but in the Pacific NW, a dually is a hinderance.Sounds like you already know the old Lincoln isn't your best choice for what you want to pursue (fab work).My dad did this kind of work. if memory serves me, he had (several) trailers set up with 3-4 "peanut" grinders, more Vise-grips than any tool dealer, clamps, O/A set-up (a neccesity), compressor, PPE including fire extinguishers, a ladder or two, and a 250(?) Trailblazer with a spoolgun.I asked him why he didn't have a suitcase, he said it wasn't necessary. Neither was a CAC gouger.Most of his work was food industry, handrail (his true love); but he also did some structural.Good luck Silversmith, hope this helps.Tom.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:Keep the SA-200 buy a generator at the box store 4000-8000 watts use that for hand tools and a electric compressor  . You can get a CV adapter and LN-25 for the SA-200 and Gouge with it too. Lots of pipe line and construction equipment fixed this way . John
Reply:I have an Arcair K3000. I don't use it much, but EVERY time I do, I wonder why I don't use it ALL the time. It's like plasma with depth control."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:If I get a LN-25 would I be able to dial down low enough for mig?THose K3000 work well. Just loud & dirty!  We've had 4 of them going in a 60 x 250 foot shop where I work and and after about 1/2 an hour you could not see the other end of the shop-It was brown throughout the whole shop but talk about removing a lot of metal FAST! And if you are careful there is not much left to clean up after either-just your carbon deposits.Is there not alot of guys who use them?
Reply:Originally Posted by SilverSmithIf I get a LN-25 would I be able to dial down low enough for mig?
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWIf you try to run the LN 25 from the SA200 you'll have to do heavy welds with it on FC wire because it's a CC machine. It's not what most people think of when they think of "mig". You will not get good results trying to run small wire short arc mig from a CC power source. If you run the LN 25 instead from a Trailblazer or other CV capable machine you will be able to run short arc mig very similar to most dedicated mig machines. The only "tough" part would be that you would have to get the drive rollers and liner for small wire. Most guns that are used with those machines come set up to run  .045 or larger wire. .035 wire will feed ok in the .045 liner, but smaller wire like .023 can some times pile up if the liners to big. Some big wire guns aren't really designed to run .023 or .030 wire, so you might need to get a smaller gun if you wanted to use small wire.
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manThis, and/or get multiple guns for the different wires. I have a gun for .035 & .045. I want a smaller one for .023 & .030. Then If I ever need to go bigger than .045, I will get another.