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i am just posting this to see how many guys own there own welding shop...i am looking to start one up in the next few years, i make steel buildings right and before that i went to a tech school...and would really like some helpfull tips on how to start up or what all would be handy to have....i already have a miller mig welder, torches, chop saw, bandsaw, tables, stands, grinders, etc. any ideas or tips on start up would be a great help.even if you dont have tips maybe tell what you do in your shop and where atThanks!
Reply:May I suggest you get a job at one, see if you like it and learn the business before you go into it."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:With those questions, the equipment you have, and the experience you seem to lack, I can almost GUARANTEE failure.If it were that easy, every unemployed guy out there would be running down to the local welding supplier, buying a mig welder, and hanging out their own shingle.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:Do any job you can that's within your skill/equipment range, and take pride in your work, make it look neat and clean, hell even spray paint finished things, work like that and word spreads.
Reply:i should chime in on this 1 st off get sum insurance to cover you while back i welded up a fender for a freind and low and behold it flew off while driving down a busy hiway lucky nobody or nothing was injured next eh 2nd thought work at a fab shop for awhile see if you like it and soak in in as much knowledge as you can take sum classes at local univ. see what kind of competetion you have big city small town? and go from theremiller maxstar 150 hobart handler 210 w mig conversion hobart 250 arc force plasma cutter boston ind cutting torch miller performance auto darkening helmet milwalkee 14in chop saw 10,000 watt generator huge drill press and industrial band saw
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIWith those questions, the equipment you have, and the experience you seem to lack, I can almost GUARANTEE failure.If it were that easy, every unemployed guy out there would be running down to the local welding supplier, buying a mig welder, and hanging out their own shingle.
Reply:lets see i do most of my own stuff for my use but recently i made handrail for neighbor to get up and down steps a camper mounted bike rack for neighbor a oct shaped fire pit and a heavy duty creeper for myselfmiller maxstar 150 hobart handler 210 w mig conversion hobart 250 arc force plasma cutter boston ind cutting torch miller performance auto darkening helmet milwalkee 14in chop saw 10,000 watt generator huge drill press and industrial band saw
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIWith those questions, the equipment you have, and the experience you seem to lack, I can almost GUARANTEE failure.If it were that easy, every unemployed guy out there would be running down to the local welding supplier, buying a mig welder, and hanging out their own shingle.
Reply:Go for it man!! I should probably keep my mouth shut, but i think you can do it... Im going to a local vocational school right now, and i really love to weld, and im thinking of running my own shop one day... So, im really gonna pay attention to what youre doing... lol... Good luck, and take lots of pictures
Reply:Originally Posted by wampler234hmmm... well thanks for your input but ive been welding for more than a decade. I can tig, stick, mig, you name it.... pipe, stainless pipe, aluminum, all postions & in all procedures, i myself just dont own the welders to get those jobs done right now..I have a small shop on the side going on right now... i weld and repair dumpsters, trash trucks, and from time to time build big round bale feeders. Im just looking to branch out and get more into it
Reply:techn9ne what do you guys do now just a little bit of everything??
Reply:Wampler,How much experience do you have in running a FOR PROFIT business??If none, maybe a course in business management, possibly a marketing course or two, and last but not least, some accounting courses will probably be of assistance.
Reply:Desire and hard work will get you far..Also having plenty to do at ALL TIMES would be a big help..The slightest "Hiccup" in lost work..Unpaid accounts etc. can spell disaster in very short time.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Yeah pretty much, the major thing we build are pipeline roller stands, we also get jobs from a few machine shops, and get a few jobs from other fab shops like us, which we return the favor to them if were to busy to do a job! And this month we have had somewhere around 25-30 jobs I think? the majority of which are "walk ins", people wheel broken rims, trailers, whatever we try and do it all, all from the word of mouthNow that I think about it a portable rig has served us well during the slow times, seems like someone always needs a pipe fence somewhere, crappy work but it paysLast edited by teckn9ne; 09-23-2010 at 10:38 PM.
Reply:what kind of welder do you run on your rig?
Reply:after owning an auto repair business for the past 15 years, best advice I can give is, knowing how to do the work & knowing how to run a business are 2 very different things. many small businesses start out by someone who knows how to do the work & is enthusiastic enough to give it a go opening there own business... the problem there is, even if you happen to be very good at what you do, this is not all that will determine weather your business is successful or not. I would recommend that you spend some effort in learning the business end of things, the craftsman end is usually the least of the problems when it comes to having a successful business. I know a lot of guys that are really good at what they do, but fail at trying to run there own business & I also know a lot of guys who don't know all that much about the actual "doing" part, but can still run a very successful business.bottom line, being a great welder is not all that you need to run a great welding business, learning how to run a business as you go is very difficult & the odds will be stacked against you. the first of the month seems to come every week when you have your own business the thought of working for another welding company can be good advice, NOT to improve your welding skill at all, but more to be able to watch the in's & outs of actually running a business... it's not easy to just wing it as you go, I see a lot of tradesmen that are very good at there trade & yet they struggle to make a living just because the business knowledge is not there...
Reply:Originally Posted by turbocad6after owning an auto repair business for the past 15 years, best advice I can give is, knowing how to do the work & knowing how to run a business are 2 very different things. many small businesses start out by someone who knows how to do the work & is enthusiastic enough to give it a go opening there own business... the problem there is, even if you happen to be very good at what you do, this is not all that will determine weather your business is successful or not. I would recommend that you spend some effort in learning the business end of things, the craftsman end is usually the least of the problems when it comes to having a successful business. I know a lot of guys that are really good at what they do, but fail at trying to run there own business & I also know a lot of guys who don't know all that much about the actual "doing" part, but can still run a very successful business.bottom line, being a great welder is not all that you need to run a great welding business, learning how to run a business as you go is very difficult & the odds will be stacked against you. the first of the month seems to come every week when you have your own business the thought of working for another welding company can be good advice, NOT to improve your welding skill at all, but more to be able to watch the in's & outs of actually running a business... it's not easy to just wing it as you go, I see a lot of tradesmen that are very good at there trade & yet they struggle to make a living just because the business knowledge is not there...
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabGreat advice!!I will add to this that a knowledgeable a credible business CPA/Bookkeeper/Tax Agent will help tremendously. Not only to make sure that all of your liabilities are taken care of when due but to make sure that all of your available benefits of owning and running a business are taken advantage of.A good CPA/Business Professional will pay for themselves with the amount of tax breaks and penalties they can save you not to mention the time you save from having to try and file all of that B.S. on your own...only to find out that you did it wrong or cost yourself more money because you didn't know about a tax break or deadline.
Reply:true true i know that i could make more working for someone else... but would really like the flexability
Reply:I dont really have any advice, but running a shop is not even 1/2 of it. The paper work will kill you, and while your working who sells the company? Start small and never doubt yourself. Remember It aint easy or everyone would do it.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIWith those questions, the equipment you have, and the experience you seem to lack, I can almost GUARANTEE failure.If it were that easy, every unemployed guy out there would be running down to the local welding supplier, buying a mig welder, and hanging out their own shingle.
Reply:whos to say that i wouldnt be geting insurance? i have the funds to do what i wish and im no weekend hobbyiest...but thanks for your input
Reply:Originally Posted by wampler234whos to say that i wouldnt be geting insurance? i have the funds to do what i wish and im no weekend hobbyiest...but thanks for your input
Reply:Originally Posted by wampler234whos to say that i wouldnt be geting insurance? i have the funds to do what i wish and im no weekend hobbyiest...but thanks for your input
Reply:Originally Posted by wampler234 (snip)I have a small shop on the side going on right now... i weld and repair dumpsters, trash trucks, and from time to time build big round bale feeders. Im just looking to branch out and get more into itthe number one thing i was wondering was what do some shops do like on the side... when there not repairing and bluiding things to order... like i know a shop that bluids small trailers all the time but they also go out and repair
Reply:wampler234,I think you're asking in the right direction; "what is the overall reason for a shop to stay open?" I think its often a combination of products AND service.If you live in an area where one or another service is constant, like manufacturing equipment or farm equipment repair- then either in-shop or callout service to support those needs could provide enough work to keep the work flowing and billable hours going. That shop may not need any 'fill-in' time but that category of work sure can help if you're still building a reputation and client list.But you do hit on the other side of a shop's possible justification- and that is a product they offer that is used locally in sufficient number to fill in the hours not paid for by other services. In our area (SC Alaska) some of the shops build ATV trailers, add-ons and modifications that are popular here. Other shops offer seasonal equipment, snow machine oriented in the fall and winter and boat and fishing oriented in the spring and summer, but the idea is that they're filling a local need for specific hardware. A recent surge in environmental concerns for the Kenai River has generated a lot of work for stairs and docks built of aluminum to allow access to the river without walking on the bank 'causing erosion'. Odd as that may sound, there are several shops with very nice contracts for the stairs, railings, landings and floating docks needed to fill this need. Some have now begun making 'stock' pieces to reduce costs and allow then to build without orders, (fairly) confident the items will sell because of the ongoing needs of land owners along the river.If everyone in the country wanted the same designed hardware (?) then a larger manufacturing concern would take up the product and build it. Its pretty hard to tool up competitively with a well financed manufacturer who's going to product 1000 units of a small trailer, but you can build one that is better designed; more suited to your area; or filling some other local need in order to be competitive.What seems to be the key is to find a few items that have a solid design and spend some time making your fixtures and jigs to allow you to keep the price down while giving the local market a choice of hardware over the 'factory' made products.I see many products from lots of small shops and what seems to be the most salable are those items with the best design. If you're going to go full time (?) my recommendation is to either get/buy/acquire a great design for your 'product' or if you're a good designer yourself spend enough time to draw the best looking, easiest to make, with the most innovative jigs and fixtures- product you can. This would go along way toward making your fill-in or non-billable hours into profitable hours making 'your' product.I've not mentioned quality of work because that is a given, if your work isn't good quality folks will notice, if it is they'll come back.cheers,Kevin Morin
Reply:Originally Posted by wampler234hmmm... well thanks for your input but ive been welding for more than a decade. I can tig, stick, mig, you name it.... pipe, stainless pipe, aluminum, all postions & in all procedures, i myself just dont own the welders to get those jobs done right now..I have a small shop on the side going on right now... i weld and repair dumpsters, trash trucks, and from time to time build big round bale feeders. Im just looking to branch out and get more into it
Reply:anyone in the midwest with a shop or know of any shop and what they produce?
Reply:You should create a business plan...you should also contact your local Kansas SBA office for assistance...http://www.sba.gov/localresources/di.../ks/index.html
Reply:You should also incorporate and ISOLATE your business money and other assets from your personal assets. One business I know leases their equipment and building from the owner. If it dies, it owns very little and that could be sold off with no problem.
Reply:Originally Posted by wampler234anyone in the midwest with a shop or know of any shop and what they produce?
Reply:Originally Posted by FusionKingAre there any lakes/rivers/marinas around you? Can you weld aluminum? Good?That's how I pay the bills. I have been a fabricator forever but am known for repair on about anything the local competition is afraid to tackle.Average people break things way more than they need things made. Not saying don't look for things to make just helping to suggest filler work. If no one in your area is known for welding aluminum then you may hit the jackpot. Even if there is someone and they are not mobile and you can be, then even better.
Reply:Hey wampler,The fellows have provided you with quite a bit of fodder to contemplate.....don't misunderstand it. Being in business for yourself takes a bit of homework & dedication. It's not gonna happen overnight. You have to have some business savvy to calculate if your business is gonna have a decent profit margin..... or else, why even get into it? PROFIT... the magic word that gives you success.No one here is trying to preach to you.... just providing you with overall considerations that you must contemplate. I would also highly suggest you be sure you can do the job with total satisfaction you are knowledgeable with the process/application, have the equipment to do a superb job, & know the customer will be satisfied. THAT will enhance your next job, recommendation, & keep you working. The first crappy/half-a$$ed job you do, you will be amazed how fast the word will get out. A first-class job always returns recommendations. Your work is your signature....DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:After working for a small local shop for a year to gather information and experience on running a shop with mobile capabilities, the biggest lesson I learned was something NOT to do.Don't allow one customer with a ton of work to become your only customer.The guy I worked for had everything tied up with one customer. And when that customer was busy it was good money, he bought more equipment. But at the same time that we were all working on that stuff, the everyday repair jobs, and all the other smaller customers were told we were too busy.These were all local companies, excavating contractors, equipment rental companies etc. that had a pretty steady trickle of work. The aggregate of all that small business was worth more than that one large customer, but he saw the large bill he could give that one customer.The big customer got slow, and all the people that had come to rely on our services, and our ability to come out and fix it on the spot, had moved on.I saw a little more safety in that aggregate of smaller accounts, if one of them got slow or whatever, you would feel it, but not like he did when the projects for this one big company were all done and he had 4 employees sittin there.Now I work in a large heavy plate type shop, waiting and planning for my own ventureYup
Reply:I never thought about the one big customer deal great tip thanks!!
Reply:anyone else with any tips?? what would be the best machine to go mobile welding aluminum
Reply:another tip from me, when it all boils down, no matter what it is you think going in, in the end you're just a store & you only have 3 things to sell. that is parts, labor & materials. this is your merchandise, that's it, your whole business is based on the sale of those 3 things... you need to make a profit on each of those 3 things & you need to have these 3 things available in enough supply to sell too... I've seen many small start ups thinking they will do most or even all the work themselves, but you have to realize that once your time gets whittled away at with things like ordering supplies, selling jobs, keeping books & dealing with customers & suppliers & all the other things that go with running a business, in the end you will only have so much time left over to do actual labor.... if you only have the potential to make profit on the limited amount of labor you yourself can provide then you may not have enough merchandise to sell to make enough profit to survive. just another little tidbit of info to chew on... it doesn't matter how much work you have, having 20k worth of work waiting to be done does nothing at all for you, the only thing that matters is what you can actually complete & deliver each week... having customers lined up around the block does no good if you don't have enough to supply them all, it's a balance between having too much & having not enough & the goal is to always try to have demand slightly above the supply you have, that & knowing how to price things well enough to be profitable yet competitive in your market is what will spell success...
Reply:Originally Posted by wampler234anyone else with any tips?? what would be the best machine to go mobile welding aluminum
Reply:Why have you owned three of them and not kept the first one
Reply:anymore tips or comments???? anything would be of great help |
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发表于 2021-9-1 00:27:08