Is there enough work out there for a self employed welder?

[Tom Ash]

Looking for some answers.
I am looking into a career in welding. I did some welding working on a farm (20+ yrs. ago) but never pursued it as a career. I just retired from a unrelated field and I thought of going back to welding. My biggest question, Is there work out there for a guy wanting to start his own welding business? Thanks for your time.

[PAToyota]

Definitely things to do. Neighbors and friends are always stopping by my shop to see if I can fix something for them. I just charge a few bucks to pay for materials and help pay my expenses. Could definitely get more work if I advertised.

[Tom Ash]

Thanks for your help, The school I was looking into to get some training offered a Structural Welding Certification class. Do you think that would be worth taking?

[Tinker]

Tom, I'm just a hobby welder but I'll toss in my 2-cents. The area you live in plus the amount of competition will impact how much work you'll be able to capture for yourself. Unless you're willing to move you'll have to match the skills you'll be building to the local opportunities. That said, folks could probably give you more input if you let us know what area you were planning to work in.

I took a bunch of welding classes a the local community college and it was a great learning experience. Stick, O/A welding and cutting, MIG, TIG, Orbital, I took 'em all. If they've got something in your area I'd definitely look into that. Can't beat the cost. I spent many a long practice or fabrication hour in their shop using all the available equipment and supplies for "free". Most of the folks were looking at getting into welding to make a living so they were working on the various certifications. Many long hours (weeks, months?) of practice for those folks working on some pretty heavy stuff in order to pass the tests. Another good reason for finding an inexpensive way to train if you can.

Both the primary instructors were great. Both were also inspectors and one of them (Bill Galvery) wrote that Welding Essentials book. Wish you the same kind of luck finding some inexpensive education in your area.

BTW, one of the instructors spent most of his welding career doing orbital and TIG welding in manufacturing and nuclear plants. He said not only was the pay very good but the working conditions were generally pretty good too.

Good luck to you!

[TxRedneck]

Tom, as a self employed welder I will tell you work is out there, but you gotta find it. Some people really have the knack for finding work and some folks dont. It doesnt seem to matter how good you are or arent at welding either. Its kinda odd that way. You just have to really be aggresive. My brother in law is one of them who cant weld to save his life but he finds work a lot. Seems to be the way he gets work is more associated with the way he is soo persistant. He keeps hammering the classifieds and other news for projects and jobs in the works locally. Then he calls and calls until he gets the job. He doesnt care if hes already got work, he still harasses contractors utnil they give him more work. Keeps him busy. Hpe it helps.
CHRIS

[Tom Ash]

Thanks for your imput. I realize I have alot to learn but I feel I am up to the challege. I have done some reaserch and in my area (central Ohio) commercial and residential building is steady. Plus there is still a large segment of farmers in the area.

[TxRedneck]

Tom, there is a website, its called www.thebluebook.com I found it recently, if you start your business you can register with this site and apparently folks can use this service to make bids availiable. I aint yet had time to give it a good look yet. Feel free though. tell me what you think. THanx and good luck
CHRIS

[Tom Ash]

I viewed the site it does have who operates a welding business in the area. However, it did not show if they had a portable unit. I will keep on looking, Thanks. Anymore suggestions out there?

[got aluminum]

I'm new here and a little late on a response but here it goes. I have found if you specialize it can help. Again it depends on where you are and who around you does the same thing. I started specializing in aluminum welding and fabrication at the house and I stay snowed under because there is hardly anyone near here that welds aluminum. The local marine dealers send me all their work. Also motorcycle dealers and such. Been doing it for about 8 years and word of mouth in the marine industry has gotten me refered work as far as 250 miles. I would say the aluminum would be well worth looking into.

[halbritt]

I'm new here and a little late on a response but here it goes. I have found if you specialize it can help. Again it depends on where you are and who around you does the same thing. I started specializing in aluminum welding and fabrication at the house and I stay snowed under because there is hardly anyone near here that welds aluminum. The local marine dealers send me all their work. Also motorcycle dealers and such. Been doing it for about 8 years and word of mouth in the marine industry has gotten me refered work as far as 250 miles. I would say the aluminum would be well worth looking into.

I'm assuming that you're mostly TIG welding aluminum? I'd wager that the ability to get structurally sound welds in anything larger than sheet is a pretty rare commodity in most areas.

[got aluminum]

I pick up the mig just as much as I do the tig if not a little more. It depends on the job but mig holds up very well. I build boats for running mud motors and don't even thimk about using a tig on it. I would still be there welding on that. Structural strength is the basis for all my decisions as to what I use.

[Tom Ash]

Thanks for your imput. I didn't think about specializing. Sounds like a good idea. I checked my area and the only people welding are retired junk yard dealer. He does it when he wants to. It is a small town but is growing by leaps and bounds every year.

[Hammack_Welding]

Tom, you have gotten some good advice so far. I am a self employed welder/machinist myself, and I think the work is there in most cases. 70% of my work is portable field work in the agricultural and timber industry. Specializing is good advice, but also it never hurts to be able to weld any material thrown at you. The main thing is learning to find the work as Texasredneck stated. I never had the knack at first, but I fell into a good clientel because the only welders in our area were at retirement age and I was getting in as they got out. I have also learned since then that it never hurts to ask. Anytime you see a plant, or business that looks as if they might need welding stop by and give them a card and let them know about you. I have three clients over 200 miles away that I do fabrication work for on a regular basis just because I was passing by and stopped in to talk to them. I quoted them a good price, and they were satisfied with the work. Chances are there are a dozen people closer to them than I am that could do the work but I am the only one who made a point to let them know "I wanted" their work. Best of luck, ~Jackson

[Tom Ash]

Thanks Hammock welding! I did some research before I wrote my (Is there any work out there) and was offered a welding job. I now build large tanks (fuel and chemicals) and will be a ceritfied pressure vessel welder. I will attend my local night school to go for my structual welding (D1:1) certifcation. My goal is to open my own shop soon and enjoy being my own boss. I really appreciate your help and advise.

[Hammack_Welding]

Tom, I will throw this in, If you are wanting to start your own business because you think it will be easier or less work think again. In my experience being self employed is alot more work and hassle than working for someone else. Just be prepared not only for doing the work, but being able to and alloting time for the business end of the deal. Taxes, public relations, advertising, planning, purchasing, and so forth all require time, and most of the time you can;t do it while you are welding for a client. you seem as if you have your head on your shoulders so I am sure you will do fine. Good luck ~Jackson