I Run a Rod & Resto Shop based in the South East of South Australia.
We do all our own welding & fabrication work from Chassis to sheet metal & all in between
(I am a self taught coach builder, just as I am in most other fields
)I have always loved welding, no matter in what form (I taught myself to stick & oxy weld when I was a kid & I just can't get enough time on the TIG these days
)I have done plenty of welding courses (certs 1,2 & 3 engineering/fabrication) & I have even taught a bit in our local school & of course at work, but no "offical" welding ticket
Though I have had welders & boiler makers working for me (I must admit........ without being a smart ass, I have had to show the "ticketed welders" how to do it quite often
I am a bit fussy when it comes to making brackets etc for our customers cars, but I don't class my self as an expert by any means 
)I have been subscribed to the WT&T videos for what seems like ages & have got plenty out of them THANKS!!
I will NEVER stop learning, even though I have staff to do some of the work these days, I am still a VERY hands on type of boss.
I enjoy teaching anything I know (especially to the young ones) the many skills we use daily in our work, though one beef I do have is trying to get the youngsters of today to stick to learning, as it all just seems "too hard" for many of them
I usually have apprentices in both the welding trades & body work when I can, I believe they are our future & in Australia especially we really lack the young people entering any of the trades. I also take on school based work experienced kids to hopefully give them both some insight to what we do, but also the many trades that we cover.
I currently have a 13 y.o. (who has been with me for 2 years) who started on the broom. he now uses all the tools. he can stick weld, but is about to get the chance to use a MIG & one day the TIG. He will make a great tradie for someone, maybe even us!!
Anyway,
I joined this forum to hopefully pick up new skills for both myself, my business & anyone who I come in contact with.
I also have a few "side line" hobbies.
I am trying to learn about CNC. I have already built my plasma table base, but yet to build the gantry etc.......... I have much to learn but it will be come a valuable tool for us in the future!
Oh! I am also an Industrial Gas Agent, so we sell welding gases too! (this gives us the stock for when ever we need it.... No more going out to get a bottle as we run a MIG, TIG & 2 Oxy sets. I would also like to think it gives us a little knowledge about the gases too........ if that is possible
In work we do minimal machining work just for ourselves, as we also do lots of other things like Blasting electrical & mechanical. If we can't find it.............. we make it
Cheers,
Rod.
www.rodsandrelics.com.au
