Hi I need help I'm not sure what's the best option and what's the hardest. I am 22 years old and been welding since I was 17 I work for a small fabrication company and I like it there but they can't offer me the money I want. I don't want to sound greedy but I want to make as money as I can but don't know how to do it. I want to run my own small business I have grasped how to do it from doing a bunch of private work but scared of failure or I want to get coded in mag or tig because I heard that's really good money. Any thoughts?
- Thread starter Jacko1994
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rtbcomp
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You've got to take your personal situation into account, giving up a job to become self employed is a massive step, and most people fall flat on their face. This wouldn't matter too much if you're living at home with parents, but at the other extreme if you're paying rent or a mortgage and just started a family, failure would have a devastating effect on your and your family's lives.
On the other hand, if you're set on being self-employed do it whilst you're still young, you have more time to recover from your mistakes, or hopefully the more time you have to make loads of money!
As a first step I think I'd be inclined to put my spare time work on a formal footing, get used to keeping accounts and so on, so if you take the plunge you hit the ground running.
On the other hand, if you're set on being self-employed do it whilst you're still young, you have more time to recover from your mistakes, or hopefully the more time you have to make loads of money!
As a first step I think I'd be inclined to put my spare time work on a formal footing, get used to keeping accounts and so on, so if you take the plunge you hit the ground running.
Being coded doesnt automatically bring big money, especially in MAG
You need to be coded on the specific work thats available / you want. ie its no good being coded on plate if the job is pipe, and vice versa
Most well paid jobs will require you to do a trade test before they set you on and then they will get you coded for the job in question. How to get there is the problem. You need to look in adverts and talk to people in the trade. Theres another website UKWelder that is more for the Trade. Maybe ask the same question there
You need to be coded on the specific work thats available / you want. ie its no good being coded on plate if the job is pipe, and vice versa
Most well paid jobs will require you to do a trade test before they set you on and then they will get you coded for the job in question. How to get there is the problem. You need to look in adverts and talk to people in the trade. Theres another website UKWelder that is more for the Trade. Maybe ask the same question there
WorkshopChris
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I may be wrong but i think that is one of the modern myths,
The collages are churning out people with tig and similar qualifications all chasing the same limited jobs.
But many companies are looking for people who can go out on site and stick weld upside down in the wind and rain and get the job done without having to go back to the workshop to fab up a basic part.
I see you are in Essex they will be probably be lots of work if they build a new power station over at Bradwell but it will probably be Chinese built.
A lot of big high end site work is now done with imported teams travelling around project to project.
Welcome to the forum.
I was talking to a bloke a while ago and he said he couldnt get stick welders, no matter how much he paid. They just arent there anymore. The problem is, the work isnt there all the time. You might earn big money for 3 months but then no work for the next 3, 6, 9 or whatever.
WorkshopChris
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Personally i think to make good money from tig you need to be able to match it to another skill. If you can offer machining of built up components or damaged items, fabrication of obsolete or unobtainable parts your skill can earn you good money.
But on its own while highly skilled and desirable, earning potential is limited.
It i was to have my time over again now and had to chose what processes to master Stick mma would be at the top of the list then tig followed by mig.
With a good understanding and practical base of gouging and cutting both oxy fuel and plasma.
But on its own while highly skilled and desirable, earning potential is limited.
It i was to have my time over again now and had to chose what processes to master Stick mma would be at the top of the list then tig followed by mig.
With a good understanding and practical base of gouging and cutting both oxy fuel and plasma.
tomsutton529
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You earn more money based on what you can do, there are loads of people that can weld in a workshop with perfect conditions, its the ones that can go to job without knowing much about it and leave at the end of the day having a very happy customer, this job could be halfway up a wind turbine, in the snow. then the next day you are 500 miles away doing something totally different.
Brad93
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I'm in Essex similar age too. Tried going self employed it's a crowded market. Give me a pm if you want some tips etc. Wages vary in Essex but normal mig/mag the highest you'll get non coded is around £10 per hour bit more if multi skilled/plating/fabricating. Coded perhaps expect £13-14per hour.
A lot of work about atm.
I've branched off specialising in heavy machinery, site work, all processes. Coding this month in Mma.
A lot of work about atm.
I've branched off specialising in heavy machinery, site work, all processes. Coding this month in Mma.
windingroads
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I would just like to add, that welders in general are not well paid, its only when you have something special to offer
that the big money comes, for example, I have seen people come in tripping over their paperwork, yet when put to
the task they were tripping over coils of wire and failing in every aspect.
The jobs all went to the people who could weld,
these people were also trustworthy, turned up on time, easy to communicate
with and available if something went wrong and them off duty.
It is a pleasure to pay people like this as it leaves the boss to run the business
instead of baby sitting people who are always in some sort of trouble.
In a nutshell, its what you can do, and who you are as a person that counts.
As for being self employed, accountability and trust are key.
When you tell someone their job will be ready, if it is not, will they come back,
if you tell people you can do their job and make a mess, will they come back.
I would keep my job, unless I had work to step into, try and find some repeating
orders from companies that do not mess about.
Look what companies are in your area, what they need doing on a regular basis.
Look what you can produce and sell even on a seasonal basis.
There are plenty of farm type items you can manufacture and sell to the likes
of coop 's, there's boat yards that may out source small jobs when they are busy.
It's better to stay in work, and approach these type of companies and ask them will
they sell your products, and what mark-up they expect, so you estimate how much
your production run will cost discounting the sellers mark up.
Day work in places like quarries or boat yards can pay well, but you really need to
be more that just a welder, lots of places will simply hire those who can complete
the job, not just do the welding.
As far as being coded, yes, but try to accomplish this in your current job, or on your off time, a lot of jobs require coded welders, but I have seen non coded welder in the same jobs side by side, naming no names though.
that the big money comes, for example, I have seen people come in tripping over their paperwork, yet when put to
the task they were tripping over coils of wire and failing in every aspect.
The jobs all went to the people who could weld,
these people were also trustworthy, turned up on time, easy to communicate
with and available if something went wrong and them off duty.
It is a pleasure to pay people like this as it leaves the boss to run the business
instead of baby sitting people who are always in some sort of trouble.
In a nutshell, its what you can do, and who you are as a person that counts.
As for being self employed, accountability and trust are key.
When you tell someone their job will be ready, if it is not, will they come back,
if you tell people you can do their job and make a mess, will they come back.
I would keep my job, unless I had work to step into, try and find some repeating
orders from companies that do not mess about.
Look what companies are in your area, what they need doing on a regular basis.
Look what you can produce and sell even on a seasonal basis.
There are plenty of farm type items you can manufacture and sell to the likes
of coop 's, there's boat yards that may out source small jobs when they are busy.
It's better to stay in work, and approach these type of companies and ask them will
they sell your products, and what mark-up they expect, so you estimate how much
your production run will cost discounting the sellers mark up.
Day work in places like quarries or boat yards can pay well, but you really need to
be more that just a welder, lots of places will simply hire those who can complete
the job, not just do the welding.
As far as being coded, yes, but try to accomplish this in your current job, or on your off time, a lot of jobs require coded welders, but I have seen non coded welder in the same jobs side by side, naming no names though.
Youre coding would most likely be irrelevant so the company would need to get you coded or at least your name on a Welding Procedure test
Brad93
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The fact you've found this forum says to me you are already ahead of 80% of the people in Essex that call themselves welders. If you turn up at your job, weld 7-4 them go home and pay no more attention to welding, increasing your knowledge etc it's just a job. The people I know who progress, live and breathe welding, there is always something to learn and someone who is better than you that you can learn from.
windingroads
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Being able to mig or tig weld aluminium is another good way to get the higher money.
Lots of cars now have alloy subframes, then there is the heads blocks and sumps that
get damaged, mig welding an aluminium boat is a skill that could lead to lots more work,
tig is slower and I would think there are more people who can tig than mig aluminium,
mig welding aluminium has come a long way due to the more advanced and even aluminium
specific mig machines that are becoming popular not just to the big boys.
Lots of cars now have alloy subframes, then there is the heads blocks and sumps that
get damaged, mig welding an aluminium boat is a skill that could lead to lots more work,
tig is slower and I would think there are more people who can tig than mig aluminium,
mig welding aluminium has come a long way due to the more advanced and even aluminium
specific mig machines that are becoming popular not just to the big boys.
DeBangis
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UKWelder is now closed. They mentioned your name thanking you.
outofthefire
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This thread is nearly 7 years old and TechnicAL is banned from the forum
