I want to be my own boss!!!!

[Bert]

Dabeldesign,
any more thoughts about coming to this side?

[Bert]

Dabeldesign

Dabeldesign,
Yes, Kona is the "happening" place. Very rich people there, very hot, and VERY beautiful!!! Oh...VERY expensive !!! I talked to a gal from Air Liquide out there last year, and there were 7 personal run welding trucks doing there own thing. there is room for at LEAST 7 MORE!!! LOTS of construction going on, and the minimum they charge is $70.00/hour...Rent in the area for a 1 bedroom is around $1,200 to $1,500 on up. Not to far outside is cheaper of course...
Dabar39 Ok guys, as busy as this guy is, he forgot to mention all the help he gives on this forum!!!!!!!!!!KUDOS!!! Sorry haven't been here in awhile, burnt at my new job, learning LOTS about welding (basics I should have learned 2 years ago, but hard when you're working for a glass company!). Glad I didn't go half-cocked doing my own thing full-time, but I can't till I find a commercial space anyway.....
Going to Bayfest this weekend. Wifey is going to the neighbor island for work....

[Anti-GMAW]

I'm saying in the hole shop, not just the shed!LOL Just messin' with ya'.

[Fat-Fab.com]

Anti-GMAW Fat Fab may be blunt but he definetly has alot of experiance. I would head his warnings.


Are you saying I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed? LOL

[calweld]

I think Wooga-wooga (the OP) is long gone . . . hasn't even signed on since May 19 . . .

[Anti-GMAW]

Fat Fab may be blunt but he definetly has alot of experiance. I would head his warnings.

[Fat-Fab.com]

MD Welder

I feel that this sort of business should only have minimal overhead costs. Keep the advice comin fellas!!

If you define minimal as $6000.00+ for the first week as minimal ok?


Don't be one of the jokers I turn in every month that say the got a business and don't have a license insurance bond or what ever else you need in your area. One oops on your part and you and your mother could find your selves on the street. And I add your mother to this because you are living with her in her home the sharks will go after her and you.

My suggestion is go work as a welder get some experience. Find a job as a helper for some old guy that just wants to weld you do all the lifting. He'll know where to find the equipment you need and you wont go bust getting it.



Your eagerness is great it will take you in life.

Tj

Be your own boss

Always be positive, keep focused, work hard and avoid all negative information.
Always carry out your best workmanship and be professional.
Never give credit unless your are 100% sure you will be paid.
There’s always someone out there ready to screw you.

Good Luck and best wishes Kim .........

[dabar39]

So much wisdom in such a small space!!!!!!!

woogawelder,

Listen to what these guys are telling you, take little steps in your approach in the business world. Get a job to gain the all to valuable experience needed to survive in this world. Buying a welder and thinking you are going to make it is a very unrealistic theory, being a weldor is just a very small part of the actual business you will be doing, Get a job in a machine shop if at all possible, the fabrication skills you will gain are an invaluable experience.

In my daily routine, I have to answer the phones, answer e-mails, deal with walk in customers, draw up plans and blueprints, order materials, deal with other contractors, estimate projects, do the accounting and book keeping, file papers, deal with insurance issues, do a bank run, sit down and go through the bills, bill out completed jobs, make coffee, sweep the floors, clean the office, take out the trash etc...etc...etc... and in my spare time actually get some work accomplished. Oh, and did I mention everything is on a dead line and everyone thinks their project is more important than the others.

Wanting to be your own boss does have it's rewards, but it's no picnic either, just some food for thought. Dave

P.S. I know many people who said they could get grants, but don't know any who actually did, they are harder to get than you think.

[fun4now]

get a truck,a trailer looks kinda part timer to most the people I deal with and if you want pipeline work they wont allow a trailer.
Eric Carroll makes a good point here, all the shops and field work is always done out of a truck. an old bread truck might be an option, good add space and lockability but looks more like its a welding rig, not a bunch of stuff thrown on at the last minuit to go do a job. a trailor looks like you are not willing to comitt a vehickle to the job. "if you were sereous about being a welder you would make it permanant, not a tow behind when you need or want it." is how its going to be seen to many.
at the same time you have to do what you can do and make do with it till other options arize.
good luck i hope the best for ya.

LarryM
welcome to the site. always good to have more people. sorry i dissagree with your first post please dont take it personal, many dissagree its the only way to get more than one opinion, your's may fit him better than mine. after all you know what they say about optionons.
welcome

[dabeldesign]

I found that being a welder is far more than just welding, your more of a frabricator/metal repair specailist than any thing and that requires far more than welding..

This is exactly right. There's so much more to learn than welding you just simply can't cover it all in school; no way!

[Anti-GMAW]

I'd say get a job and then run your buisness on the side at the same time. When I first started welding I thought thats all I would need to do or know how to do for that matter. Not the case, I do rigging, joint prep., grinding (alot more to it than you think), fix mechanical issuse (some times I feel more like a mechanic), on the spot engineering, etc... Welding is more a means to complete a job rather than an actual job. I found that being a welder is far more than just welding, your more of a frabricator/metal repair specailist than any thing and that requires far more than welding. I to received a far above standard education and it still isn't enough. The only education that sufices in this industry for going out on your own is exp. I work full time and I'm curently in the process of starting a rig. By working full time you don't have to worry about not having enough work. If buisness drops you still have a paycheck atleast not to mention benifets. Working for youself means eather no health insurence or super expensive health insurince with a big fat premium. And I'd have to agree with everyone else about building up a good base of contacts before going out on your own. It makes a huge diference. What ever you do though I wish you the best of luck.

[Eric Carroll]

I have run my own rig/shop for 5 years now and still have to work sundays and nights.The big thing I have seen with guys fresh out of school is just not enough exp. in the craft.If you run a rig-pipe,equipment repair,structural-whatever- you will do much more than run beads.you need to learn how to rig,how to use dogs,what a roller shoe is,etc,etc,etc.the best thing to do is to learn on other people dime,by the hour.Start in a job that you can really hone your welding(pipe),then move on to a shop or job that offers somthing else to learn while you earn.I would love to hire a guy who could tig,mig, stick ,do lay out and didnt mind having to work a shovel once i a while,but welders tend to be babies.Once you have a grasp on most of the things a jobsite could throw at you and you still want to work 70+ hours a week get a truck,a trailer looks kinda part timer to most the people I deal with and if you want pipeline work they wont allow a trailer.You can make it,but the work is hard enough with out having the stress of a new buisness on your head.

[SNUNEZ]

U Will Never Be Your Own Boss

Unless U Retire U Will Never Be Ur Own Boss
If You Work For Urself U Will Have A Boss Its Called (((customer)))

[LarryM]

Woogawerlder,

I'm with Bmxin^Bjorn use a trailer. Get one that is enclosed you can lock your equipment up. It's also out of the weather. Another thing to think about if you work for someone esle first chances are you never will work for yourself. Besides that just think of the bill board you can have sides of trailer!!


Keep on burning
Larry