Welding Tips and Tricks

In the middle of the finger lakes. I finally got my garage put up and now I'm filling it with tools. Thinking about making some extra cash welding and, with practice, starting a real business. I'm not a great welder, but I'm an adequate grinder. I've got a friend on board to train me. He's the local tech teacher with a background in welding. I figure I'd rather pay a local guy than a school. What really pushed me over the edge was a welding project I had last winter. I had to hire a professional to fix my outdoor wood boiler. I figured that if I did it, I could only put booger welds on it, so I'd hire a pro. The guy was highly recommended. He charged me $600, and never laid a bead. He had his apprentice put 1/2" thick beads on 1/4" steel, then covered it with JB weld, "just to be sure" cause it was still leaking. Both 'good' welders in the area are in their 70's and I'm only 49, so I figure I can give it a shot and replace the old codgers when they quit. Anyway I sold my Triumph and bought a HH 190 with a bottle of 75/25. I already have an old stick welder and a weldpak 100 with flux core. Gonna buy some steel and start fabricobbling.

Welcome...

Welcome aboard!

I would not have paid your "welder". But on the other hand when someone needs me to do a repair on a fired pressure vessel $600.00 won't even start my truck. My R stamp is not free and a pain in the ass for upkeep.

DLewis0289 wrote:Welcome aboard!

I would not have paid your "welder". But on the other hand when someone needs me to do a repair on a fired pressure vessel $600.00 won't even start my truck. My R stamp is not free and a pain in the ass for upkeep.

To be clear, it's an open system, but I appreciate what you're saying. I know how business works, too.

On his side... I'm sure he spent at least $150 in new steel. It was February/March (took six weeks) in New York, and terribly cold, and outside. He made seven trips. (at least two were completely unnecessary) bought a new cutoff tool to cut the pipe. Lots of stuff. I'm guessing he broke even on the project. I've paid for crappy work before and I'll do it again. I'm not out to get something for nothing. It's not leaking now.

On my side... I paid his $600. I also paid an extra $900 for the difference between burning wood and burning kerosene/oil for six weeks. For 1500, I could have bought a welder, a weekend welding class, the steel and ten packs of JB weld, and done the crappy job myself. At least I would have ended up with a welder Live and learn.