I ticked the first box because Landrovers got me into welding a long time ago. After all those years I now hate working on cars, I'm to old to lay on my back on the cold floor. But I still love welding and working with metal as long as I can stand up straight at the welding table, drill press or bandsaw.
You need to change your customers (and probably a bit of your mind set). I say this looking in from out. I don't know who you think it is looks down upon metalworkers, fabricators or machinists but in my experience it is people who are uneducated. Or are Bankers and suchlike. You know what I mean.
Oh defiantly a learning hobbyist..... got the welder last month and currently building a welding table (mig) once I’m done with that the misses wants some geodesic frame for the fruiting plants to grow on and an arched walkway for trees to grow up. Intending to use rebar and stick for that. In the long term and IF I feel my welds are good enough I may do the odd job for people but I’m thinking more bespoke hanging baskets or some weird art/sculpture stuff ???? as against anything structural/vehicle/trailer
another other, started as a workshop boy at 17, Hillman / Chrysler / roots dealer, Bernard Wallace in Markhouse road Walthamstow, at 18 I had my own boy, left at 19 and started out as a mobile mechanic, then found premises, was a classic BMW specialist for the last 45+ years, Cooksferry Eng, preferred classics but repaired most BMW's once they were out of warranty, retired 2 1/2 years ago, we did accident repairs on classics, mechanical, imported spares and broke a few cars, made my own car lift to the second floor, two Bradbury four posters welded together, made my own ram for that, restored a Cessna 172 when I was rich, ended up not drawing a wage for the last few years, managed to sell the building, best day ever.....
early 70's heading away from the high street on the right, up from the guitar shop, opposite side from the old Nazi BMW bike specialist, they had petrol pumps, how can I remember all that, don't even remember what day it is!
And Bernard used to live in the Ridgway Chingford, backing onto Ridgway park, my father was chairman of the model engineering club for a while, the 3 1/2",5", and 71/4" railway is still in the park as far as I know,
Markhouse Motorcycles owned by Frank Cox. I never went near the place: A) because he was very anti anything not German B) his reputation as a an out and out Nazi (swastikas etc. in the back of the shop, also rumoured to have been one of Moseley's cronies). Very much like Dougie Clarke over Bounds Green way. I still can't remember the garage though. But then, it was 50 years ago
I can't believe I hadn't responded to this earlier. I selected 'other' because I'm primarily a hobbyist now but did work for an Automobile Refinishing company for 15 years or so mainly doing panel and chassis work. I got into welding at school where I was taught to gas weld at the age of about 11 or 12. Seadog knows the school, Warwick Junior High. I couldn't do sport for a year or so, so I got to go to the metalwork shop every PE lesson. Happy days! Richard.
I know Warwick very well, I lived in Barrett Road between 1951 and 1983. It's still there but the "Manual Instruction Centre" is now artist's workshop. It's now called Woodside Primary Academy
i'm recently retired after 46 yrs in the welding game. the last thirty years i was a welder for the city of new york working for the department of corrections on rikers island. at doc i made a lot of prison style gates,bar sections welded steam lines and fabricated/repaired things for the laundry and kitchen. mostly stick welding but used a portable 110v wire feed machine that used nr 211 innershield to eliminate the bulky gas cylinder. before corrections i welded for a waterproofing company mostly off hanging wire rope scaffolds repairing rusted out beams and columns. this is a hero shot of your's truly building outside rec pens on the rock.
I wouldn't call myself a professional welder/fabricator, I've been more out on site for the last 15 years, I did my codes in 6g for stick and tig a long time ago, to tell the truth I've laid some awful welds and some ones to be proud of in that time, Recently I've turned to thoughts of going it alone as I've had enough of working with people and for people, slowly gathering in my own equipment
I have voted maintenance engineer as although others on here have voted otherwise id say it best fits marine engineer, though i could also have selected the land rover category, can do machine operator/machinist to a reasonable standard, and general welding and fabrication all learned through my cadetship. To be honest i think what best describes us is the biggest jack of all trades anyone will ever find. I do mechanical, electrical, welding/fab work, machining, plumbing, joinery, tileing, domsetic appliances, hvac, fitting and a million other things all at work on a daily enough basis.
I was a toolmaker before I retired. I never worked in a toolroom that employed a welder or had a welding machine.
Ex marine engineer and underwater spanner monkey ...now do the same skill set on land but now instead of big boats its big diggers etc . Coded welder , diesel Fitter ,.CSCS machine operator ... spend more time on the phone and doing paperwork these days , but keeps my codes up to date and my boots on my feet ...still show em young uns how to properly swing a sledge hammer at a pin !!!
