potable welding biz

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what kind of places besides farms are good to hand out business cards?i have also heard of resteraunts, bowling alleys,and fab shops for overflow.any more contributions to my short list? Im curious -thank youLast edited by noobiex; 03-12-2008 at 10:45 PM.
Reply:Construction sites!I weld in the construction field and am constantly getting approached by our subs to do side work or build them something to fit their "left handed widget" and I have to turn it down cause I don't have the time.
Reply:Architects / int. designers often like to do custom work. It could be a counter top support, fireplace screen, wrought iron hinges, kitchen pot hangers, light fixtures, art sculpture so on. Security door specialists ie custom burglar bars. Fencing contractor, iron fence. Pool companies are always looking for fence people. Decorative matching stair rails.Retoration specialty house, the kind of antiques shop for old house stuff. Make me another of these or modify this to fit here sort of thing. Landscapers, they break almost as many things as contractors, especially snow plows. Factories and manufacturing facilities, fixing plant equip., catwalks etc. sadly the days are gone when most maintenence personel can weld. Auto shops same as above. Mail box repair, you wouldn't believe how much those things cost, the decoritive cast ones. I usually see at least 4-5 each snow storm that get wacked by the plows. My township pays to fix them rather than replace them. You'd think people would learn to move them back a bit from the curb!Home depot / Lowesand retail stores. When I used to work for Hechingers doing remodels, we had a guy who welded up custom length H frame rails/ pallet racks. Mostly for end caps, they were narrower than the std lengths and some isles were bigger than others.
Reply:thanks for the replys guysjust looking into this we have a guy who takes overflow fab work from our shop sometimes. after talking to him he says ita a great job. good money. work when you want. etc etc.do either of you own a portable welding business?
Reply:I have been in business for nearly ten years so far.  From my perspective to be really successful you need to find a niche.  Find what the other guys are lacking and  you's have it made.  However DO NOT THINK that owning your own business means less work because it doesn't! I hear guys getting into the business all the time with the reasons of being their own boss, and working when they want, and most never last.  Owning your own business will mean putting in MORE hours for the same money as working for someone else.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Bobcat is a great place to hand a business card.I have owned this business for 4 years and Hammack is right.  For example, last december I had 36 bobcat buckets to weld shanks onto.  I got good money each, but ended up working saturday and sunday to get them done.  There was a $100.00 bonus if I got them done for monday.  I had 5  left sunday night and my azz was dragging.  Here is part of the job.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=18392I got 1 hour for the 3 shanks and 1 1/4 for the 4 shank buckets. Best of luckI love it!David Last edited by David R; 03-13-2008 at 08:43 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:hammack i noticed you started your biz when you were 18. I think thats really cool. I'm 19 and have been thinking about it more and more. since i started working in the shop i am currently employed by people have been bringing things not related to our productuion work like snowplows engine blocks and heads etc etc that need to be welded and i think more and more after doing each one of these projects that this is something i may want to do soon on my own. just doing my research before constructing a buisnuiss plan so you're replys are very helpful thanks again
Reply:Yes, I started working part time when I was in highschool because my area did not have but two decent welding shops in about a 50 mile radius.  I basically started by doing some weekend jobs when I had time.  I had a trailer with a 180 amp AC welder generator that dad had when he was farming, and a torch and grinder.  That's all, and I will say that I have never borrowed money for my business.  I pay for what I buy.  if I can't buy it and pay for it in a job I don't buy it.  By the time I finished college I had enough of a clientel to go full time.  However during that time the market opened up, and welders weren't to hard to find.  I had a good group of clients, but not enough to make a "good" living.  Well turned out my niche is that I do the work that no one else wants, and I don't mean the crap jobs.  I mean when a log skidder is broken in half in the middle of a swap, and no one will go.  I'm the one who does.  However, I get paid twice what the average joe does for doing it.  If you do good work, for a FAIR price, and make sure you do what you say.  You will be OK.  Customers appreciate honesty.  If you can't do it, or can't do it in time then tell them, recommend someone, and I'll guarantee you they will be back next time they need something.  I would start by going by fab shop and put your name out there.  Also if you are in farm country then go by any mills, grain facilities, cotton gins, etc....  I suppose half of my business is now contracts with those types of businesses.  Keep in mind alot of places already have a weldor they use, and unless he screws up big time most are pretty loyal.  It may take a while to get your foot in the door.  Good luckLast edited by Hammack_Welding; 03-13-2008 at 11:09 PM.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I mostly hobby weld and do construction full time, but that said I take on a few side jobs fixing things for guys I work with. Racks for trucks, modifications to tools, snow plow repair, equipment buckets, and so on. I also do some top side welding for a commercial dive co that I work Pt for. My skills as a welder help me pick up a few extra hours on some of thier jobs since I can work both as a diver/tender and do topside fab for the guy in the water.Hey, every little bit helps. You may want to go pt first and then slide into it full time as your reputation / skills increase. Maybe find a FT job working as a fitter and or welder for someone else while you get a feel for the business. Thats what I did in construction and now I work for myself. The guys I worked for in the past often feed me overflow of their's if I'm slow and some times I hire them when I need some help on a job. Everyone wins that way.
Reply:the logging business has been good to me  and heavy equipment such as skidders bull dozers loaders bobcats ect i do it on the side tooComplete Fabrication Shop specializing in pipe fabrication. Also offering heavy steel fabrication and sheet metal work.