Welding shops

[hankj]

This may not be appropriate for this forum, and if not, I apologize. Today, I was invited by a local professional to visit his shop. Of course, I jumped at the chance. It's an OLD shop, but nevertheless, he's in business here. Certified weldor. Must make a living - he's there. But I could not believe the condition of the shop. Junk everywhere. Trip hazards. Fire hazards. I felt uncomfortable the minute I walked in. TA TIG box band-aid'ed to a makeshift cart with a cooling system undetneath. Argon bottle up against the far wall - hose everywhere. Scary.

When I left, I felt good to be outside. Got home, and the wind had blown some oak leaves into the Gadget Garage - I had to sweep the floor.

I know some of you are pro's, and make a living at this welding business. How do you keep your shops? Makes me wonder...

Be well.

hankj

[cope]

Mike Sherman who has a shop in the Erie, PA area has posted pictures of his shop at Hobart's site and his equipment and shop are immaculate. There are shops all across the spectrum from clean to dangerous. Good welds or bad welds can come out of any of them but I know which shop I would use if I needed a pro.

[Welder99]

hankj,
After reading your post i had to reply. you brought back old memories.When i was aroung 16 or so, i had the Wonderful time visiting an old Black Smiths shop.The floor was dirt.the windows were cracked.In the middled of the shop was a coal fired forge.To the right of that a pile of Coal...OR coak.some where in the range of 4 ton of scap iron on the other side.ide say 30 some hammers and tongs hung next to the anvil.the MASTER of this shop was in hes 80's.i watched in awe as he began he heat the iron the watch the fire and sparks fly as he began hammering.within 2 hrs time i seen a Dymascis Shotgun barrel formed.This is a talent i feel every welder should get see within a life time.IM sure if OSHA was in business back then the would of had the shop condemmed.

[arcdawg]

my last shop was a total HOLE !!!! garbage everywhere danger lurking at every corner, i hated it ! here this guy is making some serious coin and could not keep the shop safe for employies [email protected]! i got really pissed one day and went in and took a roll of pics just for S.AND Gs

this guy expected me to hang off ladders and weld in some really SCARY PLACES !!

so needless to say for $12 an hour im GONE !!!!!!!!!!

IT DOESNT TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTEST TO KNOW SAFTEY FIRST !!!!

BRIAN

[Wheat]

Know what you mean. Stopped by a welding machine shop deep in the Bayou last year. There was scrap metal shavings 3 feet high. Crap all over the place. I'd work at Mickey D's before my luck ran out working at that unsafe place.

[Welder99]

Fellow Welders,
I was not intenting to make light of dangerous weld shops.my intent was that the old shops i have seen in light of the dangers we find in todays shops have come a long way,The Blacksmith shop i mentioned employed one man.(the owner).IM sure if he was still here today and was going to hire employees OSHA,would have him out of business in a day.I have worked in the Welding Trade for going on 30 yrs.I have seen my share DANGEROUS welding shops and job sites.The trade itself has been good with many of stories.If i have offened anyone with my above post,accept my appolgy.Im sure that we can all pick a trade or shop and have a story to tell of the dangers we have seen lurking in them.

welder99

[fuzz8]

shops

I think the old timers were used to potting in 12 to 14 hours a day.
Making a living so last thing on the list was cleaning shop, It didn't bring any money in. You can always tell a body man by the looks of his car. It's always last thing worked on. We people are funny
fuzz

[HAWK]

hankj,

I have spent the last decade or so working on the road. There it is pull it out and get it done. Pack it up and go on down the highway. I got used to clutter as a way of life because it paid the bills. Now that I am in a half shop and half "gadget garage" as you say I am very neat and well organized. I took the aluminum tool box from my mobile rig and turned it on its back side in my shop. I have a Dynasty and another 3 phase inverter sitting on top with all my rods and tig filler, rags, Scotch-Brite, Acetone, etc in the box. It sits on four 6"x 2"x2" square tube legs laid on their side so the hinge will open the lid completely. For my 1 phase power I pull 120VAC and 240VAC from the same box at the machine site. This eliminates extension cords. I try to minimize the junk if at all possible. However, as mentioned earlier clean shops don't pay the bills or mean you do the better work.

[hankj]

Hawk,

The point's well taken. Your arrangement sounds neat and very manageable. What's 3-phase? Ha. We're lucky to get power at all. The phone's kinda iffy, too!

Be well.

hankj

[HAWK]

hankj,

Any three phase here will be from a converter, capacitance phase shift or inductance motor driven, because the nearest 3 phase transformer to my residence is 1+ miles. Thst translates in nearly $50K to pull a line and transformer box to me. I am thinking about building a converter to grab the 3rd leg, but have too many irons in the fire and not enough cash for the parts.

[hankj]

Hawk,

I feel. My substation is 3.1 miles SSW, and the power boys tell me it's not likely that a third leg will ever be puled all the way to my part of the world in my lifetime. They do, however, offer to install a delta bank at a cost that approaches my assessed valuation!

Recently, though, the old 10-horse B&S on the 5KW standby plant has been silent - spring is here!!

Be well.

hankj

[HAWK]

hankj,

Most of my 3 phase equipment will also run on 1 phase at the same or a reduced output. That is just how it will have to be for a while. I hope spring is here to stay. I have this place wired for the Trailblazer to power it, but just sold the TB301. I'll worry with that next winter.

[timw]

I've got a 15KW 3 phase Onan that I got a deal on but no 3 phase equipment. It is 10KW single though, I keep it for hurricane season, you never know.