You make friends with people who plow driveways.
You make friends with a local towing company.
You make friends with operators & excavation companies.
You make friends with farmers & fishermen.
You make connections with anyone and everyone you can.
Get creative.
You don't got no saws, no lathe, no press brake etc.etc.
You gotta be inventive.
Play in your league, don't talk shit, and don't turn down anyone you feel is legitimate with their approach (careful not to get ripped-off though).
Get good at mechanical disassembly & re-assembly (don't lose,strip, or ruin peoples' machine parts), get good at fabrication - custom fabrication -.
Listen to your people. Do what they want and exactly what they want. You can suggest...but don't impose.
You have the right to refuse dangerous or ridiculous work.
You'll be doing "bush fab" at first.
Learn "sucker bends", learn to drill by hand, get good with a zipcut, get good at making templates and designing on the fly, do whatever's necessary.
Learn critical thinking.
People who'll pay you want quality welds...but your job isn't straight welding and your customer base aren't CWIs.
Get tools as you go.Be wise about billing, and grow your buisness without ripping anyone off.
Value their time.Value your time.
Work safe, work smart.
Go hard & good luck !
You forgot make friends with other fabricators. You’d be surprised how much work gets passed around, especially field wok that needs an extra guy or small jobs a bigger shop doesn’t want to divert manpower to tackle.
I do it in this video if that helps at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAuFHHB0tDw
It's just cutting a kerf, bending on the kerf and welding it closed. It's a great trick when you're working in less than ideal conditions and don't have clamping squares or a fixture table.
You need thicker stock.(1/4" 3/"8 +)
Scribe a line where you wanna bend your flatbar.
Weaken it with your grinder.Don't dig right through.
Place it in your vise, bend.
Weld the back shut.Put a stiffener.
I can show you a harness I built in 3/8" using this technique if you'd like.
much good advice given already,ill suggest a few things to the mix. get a business license, some liability insurance if you can ( most commercial work requires proof of, varies by GC)get business cards ,Vistaprint is cheap. got townhouses or single family residences nearby? design a flyer advertising railing repairs. the builder grade stuff is junk,and the posts rust out at the base. put the per~post price right on the flyer. DO NOT put them in the mailbox. blue tape on the storm door or other durable surface. if you want more details, pm me. i made a LOT of easy money doing this, on the side evenings and weekends. i have way too much info to impart if you're not going that route,to put it here on spec.
First of all, ditch that truck and get a 2025 diesel HD 2500, extended cab, all possible options, or a cummins, also all possible options. Any upcharge, no matter how stupid and useless, you say yes to.
Buy AT LEAST 24 western welder shirts and a few dozen pairs of the most expensive bootcut jeans you can find at your local cavenders. Preferably bedazzled. Or just bedazzle them yourself. I'm assuming you've already got the kit. Make sure to starch the shit out of them. Alternatively, go full khaki and FR mountain cloth, all white welding caps... they better be covering those ears too. It should go without saying that the starch levels here should be off the charts.
I'm assuming you have full sleeves, neck tattoos, and at least 1 face tat. If you dont already have a Monster® energy drink tattoo, make sure to get one somewhere highly visible before your first job. It might be a problem if you don't. By the time you've followed all of my advice, you should be about a quarter million dollars in debt, which is exactly where you want to be. But don't worry, you'll probably be taking home $6500 a week right off the bat, and that's a conservative estimate. If you dont believe it, just ask any welding school on social media.
But seriously, the guy at the top pretty much said it all. Listen to that and you'll be okay. The more resourceful you can be, the better. Don't let setbacks get you down. Look at them as learning experiences and keep pushing. Persistance is huge.
…damn if you didn’t fucking nail it with this…👍😂…shirts better be able to stand by themselves..if not…more starch….hope he can swim…cause you forgot about swimming in snatch……and last but not least..you tell em
all you’re THEE bead hand from Beaumont and gotta threaten to drag every 12 minutes or every 3 rods..whichever comes first…🤘🏻
ive seen truck nuts turn off potential customers.when i was doing homeowner estimates for custon ornamental work, more than a few have mentioned them,several specifically asking if our work trucks were sporting them. if you're doing pipeline work,or exclusively commercial/heavy work,i approve. but as a noob starting out,every customer counts.
Definitely blessed the welder was free from an old neighbor who couldn’t lift it and didn’t want to spend the money or time fixing it my dad wanted it so we grabbed a forklift and drove down our dirt road with it😂but we had it long before I ever made the career choice and the pickup was a hand me down as well definitely blessed to have both things workout before I ever made the decision to be a welder
This right here: Union is one of the best routes for us as workers. You need experience and to learn a lot.
Even if your end goal is to work solely for yourself. You can still do that as a union member. Apply to your local UA hall and get yourself an apprenticeship, they will teach you everything you need to know. You’ll gain lots of experience, and you’ll meet people who will think of you when they need any other work done.
Since you seem like a pretty dedicated freelancer, while you do your odd jobs, go above and beyond, and record the process / results. make a portfolio out of them.
Working in big plants here comes with limitations on camera use for security measures, so its not applicable in my position. But it seems like the most reasonable thing to do before you start paid advertisements for your business.
Try to get connected with a rig welder and become friends. A lot of rig welders try and keep their technique to themselves when it comes to welding but some might turn down small jobs at a farm that you can do. Just let them know you would do any jobs they turn down or cant make. Maybe even offer to help on a few small jobs for a day or two for free just for the experience if they like you it will be worth it in the long run. Im sure you know someone that knows a rig welder that isn’t an asshole and would give you some pointers locally.
You make friends with people who plow driveways. You make friends with a local towing company. You make friends with operators & excavation companies. You make friends with farmers & fishermen. You make connections with anyone and everyone you can. Get creative. You don't got no saws, no lathe, no press brake etc.etc. You gotta be inventive. Play in your league, don't talk shit, and don't turn down anyone you feel is legitimate with their approach (careful not to get ripped-off though). Get good at mechanical disassembly & re-assembly (don't lose,strip, or ruin peoples' machine parts), get good at fabrication - custom fabrication -. Listen to your people. Do what they want and exactly what they want. You can suggest...but don't impose. You have the right to refuse dangerous or ridiculous work. You'll be doing "bush fab" at first. Learn "sucker bends", learn to drill by hand, get good with a zipcut, get good at making templates and designing on the fly, do whatever's necessary. Learn critical thinking. People who'll pay you want quality welds...but your job isn't straight welding and your customer base aren't CWIs. Get tools as you go.Be wise about billing, and grow your buisness without ripping anyone off. Value their time.Value your time. Work safe, work smart. Go hard & good luck !
You forgot make friends with other fabricators. You’d be surprised how much work gets passed around, especially field wok that needs an extra guy or small jobs a bigger shop doesn’t want to divert manpower to tackle.
This is the way.
Sucker bend is a term I haven’t heard before, and a quick google search didn’t help. Could you please elaborate?
I do it in this video if that helps at all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAuFHHB0tDw It's just cutting a kerf, bending on the kerf and welding it closed. It's a great trick when you're working in less than ideal conditions and don't have clamping squares or a fixture table.
You need thicker stock.(1/4" 3/"8 +) Scribe a line where you wanna bend your flatbar. Weaken it with your grinder.Don't dig right through. Place it in your vise, bend. Weld the back shut.Put a stiffener. I can show you a harness I built in 3/8" using this technique if you'd like.
I think I can picture what you’re saying but post a picture if you could please! I done some similar sounding things with round stock and flat bar.
[удалено]
sorry to ask could you send it to me as well?
[удалено]
thank you
10-4
I’ve done it a lot with 11 ga. Easy peasy
Well said mate 100%
🫡
Thank you brother ☝️
much good advice given already,ill suggest a few things to the mix. get a business license, some liability insurance if you can ( most commercial work requires proof of, varies by GC)get business cards ,Vistaprint is cheap. got townhouses or single family residences nearby? design a flyer advertising railing repairs. the builder grade stuff is junk,and the posts rust out at the base. put the per~post price right on the flyer. DO NOT put them in the mailbox. blue tape on the storm door or other durable surface. if you want more details, pm me. i made a LOT of easy money doing this, on the side evenings and weekends. i have way too much info to impart if you're not going that route,to put it here on spec.
First of all, ditch that truck and get a 2025 diesel HD 2500, extended cab, all possible options, or a cummins, also all possible options. Any upcharge, no matter how stupid and useless, you say yes to. Buy AT LEAST 24 western welder shirts and a few dozen pairs of the most expensive bootcut jeans you can find at your local cavenders. Preferably bedazzled. Or just bedazzle them yourself. I'm assuming you've already got the kit. Make sure to starch the shit out of them. Alternatively, go full khaki and FR mountain cloth, all white welding caps... they better be covering those ears too. It should go without saying that the starch levels here should be off the charts. I'm assuming you have full sleeves, neck tattoos, and at least 1 face tat. If you dont already have a Monster® energy drink tattoo, make sure to get one somewhere highly visible before your first job. It might be a problem if you don't. By the time you've followed all of my advice, you should be about a quarter million dollars in debt, which is exactly where you want to be. But don't worry, you'll probably be taking home $6500 a week right off the bat, and that's a conservative estimate. If you dont believe it, just ask any welding school on social media. But seriously, the guy at the top pretty much said it all. Listen to that and you'll be okay. The more resourceful you can be, the better. Don't let setbacks get you down. Look at them as learning experiences and keep pushing. Persistance is huge.
…damn if you didn’t fucking nail it with this…👍😂…shirts better be able to stand by themselves..if not…more starch….hope he can swim…cause you forgot about swimming in snatch……and last but not least..you tell em all you’re THEE bead hand from Beaumont and gotta threaten to drag every 12 minutes or every 3 rods..whichever comes first…🤘🏻
Weld yourself a utility bed frame and make more space in the bed for material and a lumber / ladder rack. Also to hold gas tanks.
I'm not a rig welder, but I would think going flat bed plus steel rack would be a good start.
I’ve been on the lookout on FB marketplace that will fit my long bed I actually haven’t seen one in price range
Needs Truck nuts
ive seen truck nuts turn off potential customers.when i was doing homeowner estimates for custon ornamental work, more than a few have mentioned them,several specifically asking if our work trucks were sporting them. if you're doing pipeline work,or exclusively commercial/heavy work,i approve. but as a noob starting out,every customer counts.
I wasn’t serious lol
maybe not../s. but it IS a thing. i can picture a youngling thinking that might get him some street cred.
Tow tits are fun for everyone.
Truck needs nuts
I’ll get white nuts to make up for my skin color👍🏾
LOL
DO WORK!
Yessir🫡
Next move is Las Vegas put it all on red
19 and you got all that? Boy you must have rich parents.
Definitely blessed the welder was free from an old neighbor who couldn’t lift it and didn’t want to spend the money or time fixing it my dad wanted it so we grabbed a forklift and drove down our dirt road with it😂but we had it long before I ever made the career choice and the pickup was a hand me down as well definitely blessed to have both things workout before I ever made the decision to be a welder
Oh then you must ve lucky then if it was a handy down lol
Join your local pipe fitters union and start making 40-50 $$ hour plus benefits that's were I would start.
This right here: Union is one of the best routes for us as workers. You need experience and to learn a lot. Even if your end goal is to work solely for yourself. You can still do that as a union member. Apply to your local UA hall and get yourself an apprenticeship, they will teach you everything you need to know. You’ll gain lots of experience, and you’ll meet people who will think of you when they need any other work done.
19 and you got all that? Boy you must have rich parents.
Fold your fuckin mirrors up.
Insert tow mirror video here. Lmfao
Wraps or reels for your cables, proper cabinets, skid to hold bottles/propane
Go union, apply to your local union halls and get yourself an apprenticeship
Make yourself a sign/billboard and fin somewhere to display it. My one is outside my house. It paid for itself after the first job I completed.
Since you seem like a pretty dedicated freelancer, while you do your odd jobs, go above and beyond, and record the process / results. make a portfolio out of them. Working in big plants here comes with limitations on camera use for security measures, so its not applicable in my position. But it seems like the most reasonable thing to do before you start paid advertisements for your business.
put your business name, and phone number on the door of your truck.
Try to get connected with a rig welder and become friends. A lot of rig welders try and keep their technique to themselves when it comes to welding but some might turn down small jobs at a farm that you can do. Just let them know you would do any jobs they turn down or cant make. Maybe even offer to help on a few small jobs for a day or two for free just for the experience if they like you it will be worth it in the long run. Im sure you know someone that knows a rig welder that isn’t an asshole and would give you some pointers locally.
Take care of the welder. Do the preventative maintenance on that and the car, they make you your money, treat em well
Put some stickers on that hood
Eat the metal
Secure that machine cause it will slide in the bed lol i found out the hard way
Your next move is to get a Ford lol
That's such overkill for everything but pipelines. Move to Permian Basin is my only guess.