Cool Welding Projects For Girlfriend? The 118 Detailed Answer

6 Welder Side Jobs – How Much Can You Earn?

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Are you one of those people who can’t get enough of welding and would like to earn a few euros on the side? How about earning more with an additional freelance activity alongside your normal job? Many full-time welders earn a fortune on the side. Some of them are new to welding, while others weld for a hobby and still manage to generate a steady cash flow from freelance jobs.

It is becoming more common for welders to enter side jobs due to the growing demand for welders and the lower prices that no overhead side jobs can charge while still earning more than an employer would pay them. But how do you start?

How to Make Money Welding in Your Garage

After hearing how successful it can be, you might be tempted to take the plunge and jump right in, maybe even quit your job. While we recommend getting in early, the most successful way is to first develop a game plan and then slowly build into it. If you jump in without a plan or have a strategy that doesn’t leave room for growth and learning, you can end up ruining a lucrative future.

regularities

If you work in a welding shop, you should know what your contract says about outside work. Some companies are ok with this, while others will fire you on the spot and possibly even sue you. If the contract says something against outside employment, there are usually options that don’t violate your obligation. Make sure you find that out before you dive in.

Make sure you don’t get thrown in jail for your work. For example, if you do certain transportation work, you can go to jail if the weld fails and causes an accident. Even if you’re sure your welds won’t fail, be careful. Without following the right procedure, you can still get into serious trouble if you don’t know the rules.

Once you figure out these legal areas, the next step is to decide which route to take. This article uncovers six of the best paths that are easy to achieve and can provide you with ample opportunity for excellent side income. We recommend starting with a path. You can always add other types of work later, but by starting slowly you can ensure you’re producing quality work within the timeframe your clients need and keep getting jobs.

Welding side jobs are easy to come by, but in the long run it all depends on word of mouth. This is perfect for keeping your customers happy, but if you cut corners with a customer because you’re busy or let someone down, you could lose work to other welders because of the bad reputation you’ve built for yourself.

6 Ways to Side-Gig While Welding:

1. Build and repair trailers

This is an excellent option if you are confident in the strength of your welds but want to slowly move into side jobs. You can either repair old trailers or craft new ones. For old you buy an old caravan, make it beautiful and sell it to make some money. It’s an easy option as there are always used trailers that you can pick up at a great price and you can get a good cut with them.

With new trailers, it’s generally a bigger project to start with. It takes a bit of money to get the first materials up and running, but once you get started it’s very lucrative. http://www.trailersauce.com/ offers some free plans that conform to American trailer standards.

When choosing a trailer for building or work, it’s best to go with a common size so you have a larger client base. When you’ve finished the trailer, you can promote it to buyers through a platform like Facebook or eBay, or put up signs on the street. If you want to ramp things up with trailers, you can find customers who have trailers they want to build or overhaul and make them to order.

how much can you earn

It takes a trailer builder 18 hours to make a standard trailer, and judging by the cost of materials, you can make $1000+ from one trailer. That’s about $50 an hour for the work, but it all depends on what you’re selling it for and how efficiently you make it.

You can make upwards of $1000 per follower by renovating it, but there are more variables so there’s usually a bit more up and down in terms of profit.

2. Record overflowing jobs

This is an excellent option if you have time during regular work hours or if you can develop a relationship with a local metal shop. Work can be an ebb and flow for some companies and when they are inundated with jobs it is risky to hire more staff as there may not be enough work to keep everyone busy when things calm down. Therefore, some companies employ freelancers or subcontractors during their busy period. If you offer them your services, you can end up with a constant supply of side jobs.

Small machine shops are also a good option to try. Although most machinists can weld, they either don’t excel or they would rather stick with their machines. Machine shops often receive welding orders. So if you are trusted by a small business, there is a high probability that they will send you regular work. It is more difficult to get orders from large machine shops, as they usually send large quantities of fabrication work to welding shops, and it is usually troublesome to send small things to you.

how much can you earn

The common hourly rate for most shops is between $60 and $120 an hour, depending on how specialized the welding is. You can charge any price you want as long as it is lower than your local welding shops; Otherwise the work would have already been sent to them. On average, freelance welders charge $30 to $40 an hour for this job. It’s more than most employers would pay you, but it would cost the company the average rate to take the work to a manufacturing shop, so companies are generally happy to pay more than a typical employee gets.

3. Sell furniture or art

Crafting items for people’s homes and gardens is another great option. You may have seen metal sculptures, furniture, or model cars/figurines in people’s homes. These are in high demand, and you can tap into the market by researching a niche.

The best option is to make a few different types of items and see what people like. You’ll soon learn what sells and what doesn’t. Once you get more exposure, you can turn it into a profitable side business or even a full-time business. People who become known as art or furniture makers can end up receiving a steady stream of customers wanting to have items made for them.

how much can you earn

Your market will vary in price range and it will usually take a little longer to get into before earning as much as other areas. Once you get through some jigs and find the quickest ways to create the products, you can make $50 or more an hour. However, don’t expect this to come overnight.

4. Open your garage to commissioned work

You can put up a sign in front of your house and let others know that you are a welder who wants to do welding work. There are many people who have odd jobs that need your expertise. It is often difficult for larger welding shops to take on odd jobs, so customers wait a while or are not looked after as well. When these folks know there is an affordable welder who can make a decent weld quickly, they’re thrilled.

The variety of work you get is exciting, but there will also be jobs you probably won’t enjoy doing. If you go this route, take care of all your clients and don’t be afraid to offer a few free jobs. I’ve seen firsthand how this often turns into more work from them, and more often than not a couple of their friends come over to do their work too. Most people rarely expect a vacancy twice, so think of it as an investment.

how much can you earn

You’ll get a wide range of people coming for jobs expecting different prices, but your price will depend on how good you are at marketing yourself. Some welders set different prices for different jobs, others have a flat rate. $20 to $40 an hour is the average price for this type of freelance work.

5. Enter the housing industry

If there are houses near you, someone will want a fence, gate, balustrade or even structural work in them if you are interested. There’s a lot of work to be done in this area, especially gates and fences, but it’s worth preparing for the on-site work if you head down the apartment route.

Some people use powered machines for this work. Others carry a couple of long extension cords and plug them into a nearby power outlet. Whatever your preference, make sure you have it before you go locally so you don’t waste anyone’s time.

how much can you earn

The advantage of this field is that you can set a flat price for many projects, e.g. B. $150 per meter of fence. If someone wants 20 yards worth, this can give you a good win as you can push out a lot of fences quickly. It pays to start with smaller projects to get a feel for the market. A helpful starting point is to search for the average course rate here. Calculate the average price in your area or a little less and you should get jobs based on how well you market yourself.

For hourly rates, $25-$40 is acceptable depending on experience.

6. Sign maintenance contracts

Many large companies close their shops for some time to carry out maintenance work on their buildings, machinery and traffic areas. Usually their closures are short but require a lot of work. Businesses often need additional workers, such as welders, to complete large-scale projects quickly.

There is a wide range of tasks that can be assigned to you. It’s usually hard work, but more often than not you’ll be paid exceptionally well. This is an excellent opportunity if you are on holiday beyond the normal holiday period, as this is usually when maintenance work is required.

how much can you earn

The company you sign with will have their own rate plan, which you usually have no say over. These projects can cost $35 an hour and sometimes more, with extended hours past closing time. These are short contracts, ranging from a few days to over a month. If you want some extra income during your vacation, this is a great option.

NOTE: We also recently published an article on how to start a lucrative welding business from scratch. You can find the article here.

Finally

As you can see, if you are an avid welder looking to pursue a part-time job, there are many options. Below in the Resources section are some helpful threads where welders discuss their experiences of working on the side. Some sites like Craigslist and Indeed post welding jobs, but most welders doing part-time jobs agree that it’s not the way to go due to low prices and high competition.

With more than 35% of Americans freelancing in 2018, a number that’s multiplying every year, it’s the right time to take up welding on the side or even freelance full-time if you’re ready. Businesses often start out this way, with a bit of work on the side that grows into a full-time business that needs employees.

If you have any questions or want to share how you got into side job welding, you can leave a comment below.

Sources and helpful threads:

Featured Image: Bradley Hicks, Air Force Material Command

10 reasons why welding is a good career choice

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If you are interested in the profession of welder, you have come to the right place. We love welding and know what a brilliant career choice it is, but it’s not for everyone. Like any option in life, there is a good side and a bad side, and you should not make a decision until you have an honest opinion of both sides.

That’s exactly what we do in this article. First we discuss 10 reasons why welding is a good choice and then six reasons why welding is a bad career choice.

10 reasons why welding is a great career choice

1. Getting started is easy

No formal training, and sometimes even experience, is required to become a welder. The more you know the better, but it’s a great profession because you can start at the bottom in a workshop and learn everything on the job.

If you’re really eager, you can even learn to weld at home with a little online help and then, with enough practice, start your own welding career business from the comfort of your own home. Read 6 Side Jobs for Welders to learn more.

2. There is a great demand for welders

Welders are needed all over the world, and most places need more of them than are available. This makes welding a great profession as you will never be without job opportunities if you have a decent work ethic.

Even if World War III comes, while most other people might lose their jobs and be forced to learn a new type of job that will support their military, all welders can keep welding, just in a different field. That’s what happened in World War II.

3. It’s easy to climb the ladder

Due to the high demand for welders, it is easy to get ahead in the welding industry. With high demand comes more work, and with more work comes more opportunities if you are career oriented to achieve a higher position.

For every few welders, there must be someone to manage them. This means you can weld while a team below you works on your assigned projects. It is not uncommon for people to be assigned to administration straight out of training.

4. It pays well

Welding isn’t a get-rich-quick plan, but if you stick with it, even for a short time, you can make a nice coin. Entry-level welders make an average of $40,000 per year, and this increases regularly, up to $50,000-$500,000 with experience in a good field.

Although welding itself pays pretty well, being able to have so many different welding positions means you can make more income due to the high demand options. The better you get at welding, the more you can earn. The more welders you manage, the more you earn.

5. You can travel around the world as a welder

If you want to experience life in unique cultures while earning an income, welding is an ideal career for you. Since welding processes are similar around the world and there is a need for qualified welders in most countries, it is easy to get jobs abroad.

Most jobs require you to stay for a while, but this is the best way to see a country and experience its culture. There is also a lot more to learn when you go to another country to expand your welding field. There might be projects you work on abroad that you could never work on in your home country.

6. It’s easy to take on side jobs when you need extra income

If you’d rather stay local and save some extra cash, welding is a great job to earn some extra money on the side. From running a part-time welding service to making your own products to contract work on your vacation, there are many ways to make as much as your full-time job and more just from a few side jobs.

Read 6 Side Jobs for Welders and How Much You Can Earn for more information about side welding jobs.

7. It’s easy to start your own business

As easy as it is to work part-time on the side, it is much easier to turn it into a full-time welding business than starting other types of businesses. There is an opportunity to start a growing business that will provide you with a massive salary while providing other welders with job opportunities.

Welding is an excellent option if you are doing business. Read How to Start a Profitable Welding Business and Succeed to learn more.

8. It is pleasant work

Aside from the fact that a welding career offers a lot of phenomenal opportunities, it’s just plain fun. We love welding and we know that most other welders enjoy it too.

The challenge of weaving a weld to create a strong and beautiful looking section is fulfilling. The satisfaction never seems to grow old when you turn a few pieces of metal into an incredible project that looks great and is useful for its specific purpose.

9. You will learn valuable skills that you can use outside of work

Working in a workshop is very rewarding and there are many skills you learn on the job that help in everyday life.

Of course it’s great to be able to weld at home on private projects or to help friends. The mechanical aspect of a welder’s job will also teach you skills useful for working on cars, for work on your home and property, and for your fishing or hunting activities.

Whatever else you spend your time doing, the practical skills learned in a workshop make life outside of the workshop easier and more fun.

10. There is a lot of diversity in the industry

The welding industry is so diverse. There are many different metals that you can learn to weld and the types of projects seem endless. Some workshops may focus on a narrow area of ​​crafting, while others do many different types. Overall, the range in the entire welding industry is enormous. You only have to work for a few different companies over the course of your life to experience incredible diversity.

Variety keeps things interesting, while the familiarity with the weld itself, regardless of the type of metal or welding process used, is similar to make learning easier. Repetition is key to understanding, but too much repetition is boring and tiring. Welding allows you to become amazing at your work through the repetition of the welds yourself, while still experiencing a variety of differences in your work and environment.

While there are a lot of great things about welding, we felt this article wouldn’t be complete without addressing some of the not-so-great things. So here are some of the not so good aspects of being a welder:

6 reasons why a career as a welder can be a bad choice

1. It’s dangerous

Welding is dangerous. This is great for people who love danger, and often more dangerous jobs pay better, but no matter how you look at it, welding is dangerous.

With today’s design of welding machines and better safety standards in most workshops, the danger aspect has been reduced. But it can never be eliminated. It is always dangerous to shoot live electricity into metal parts to create an arc that burns up to 20,000°F.

There are also grinders, saws, gas torches and heavy unstable objects in welding shops that also pose a risk. For some, this is part of the fun and challenge. Learning how to control such powerful devices to achieve amazing results is extremely rewarding, but again, it’s not for everyone.

2. It’s dirty

This is not always the case. If you’re a stainless steel TIG welder or an underwater welder, it’s not very dirty. But with most other types of welding, it’s messy. With always black paint on your hands and metal dust in your hair and nose, after a day of welding you usually have to wash yourself thoroughly before you can do anything else.

This is one of our least favorite parts of welding, but it can be overcome. Your hands are the hardest to clean, but they’re also the easiest to glove if that’s a problem for you. You always wear gloves when welding, but it’s often easier to prepare and complete projects without gloves. This is where using lighter gloves can come in handy, so stay clean.

3. It’s physical and practical

Some people love to sit in an office all day and welding is definitely not the job for these people. Welding is physically demanding and requires some hands-on coordination to master.

It’s not as physical as a builder’s job, but there’s usually a lot of lifting and scrambling over things, which some people don’t like. We enjoy this aspect of welding, but if you don’t like physical and hands-on work, we don’t recommend it.

4. It takes perseverance

Welding has its difficulties at the beginning. Once you’re up to speed, the more demanding jobs often require some work to find the best way to complete the project. Both phases require perseverance. If you can’t be patient, learn something new and work your way through challenges, welding is not for you.

But we find that exciting about welding. It’s fun to learn new skills and find ways to overcome obstacles, of which welding offers us plenty.

5. It is looked down upon by machinists

When it comes to tools in mechanical engineering trades, welders tend to be despised by machinists/fitters and lathe operators. Having spent quite a bit of time in both camps we have seen it from both sides and have little regard for the machinists who cultivate such prejudices.

Most machinists can weld, but they tend to stick with their machines because it’s a more demanding type of job. If you work in a larger company with welding and machining departments, you may have had bad experiences with some machinists who think they are better than you.

6. Some workshops are difficult to edit

Not all workshops are created equal, but many of the smaller ones can be difficult to work with. In “old school” workshops, every trainee had a hard time working their way up. Work environments are changing so this isn’t as acceptable as it used to be, but it can be difficult for someone starting new.

Common treatment methods include sending apprentices to find items that aren’t there, like a can of compression fluid or a left-handed screwdriver. People have been known to stuff apprentices’ lunchboxes with paint or sanding dust, tie them naked to flagpoles, or hide their car keys. The bigger companies won’t tolerate that now, but if you end up in a smaller workshop that still has the ‘old school’ mentality, you might find it difficult.

A bit of online research and asking about the company you want to work for will quickly solve this problem if you find it a problem. There are many companies you can weld for. So if you look around you will find the right place.

Conclusion

There are many unique jobs out there, and welding is just one of them. However, if you want a career with endless opportunities that is satisfying and exciting while making a significant impact on your community, a career as a welder is an excellent choice.

If you are considering welding as a career, consider getting your own welder to get a feel for whether you want to get paid for it. There are some great options to start with in our Best MIG Welder for the Money article.

Submit any questions or comments below about why you think welding is or is not a good career choice. It would be great to hear from you.

Whether you’re a seasoned handyman or someone who enjoys taking on projects on the side, there are plenty of things to weld and sell that can bring you extra cash.

One of the most lucrative side jobs for people today is creating homemade, one-of-a-kind projects and then selling them online. There are many welding projects that can be sold for good money on the side.

Below are some of the most profitable welding projects you can take on.

Can you get rich from welding?

It may come as a surprise, but there is a lot of money in the welding market. Some sectors in the industry are valued at shocking amounts.

For example, the metal furniture market was valued at US$141 million worldwide in 2020 – and metal furniture is only a small part of the overall welding market.

Today, people of all skill sets make homemade items that they then sell for profit on popular online marketplaces.

For example, Etsy has more than 100 million items for sale on its online marketplace, and homewares like those made by welders were among the most popular categories.

This gives you ample opportunity to find things to weld and sell.

Trends on the rise Today’s people are always looking for ways to protect the environment. Steel is one of the most environmentally friendly design materials you can use, which makes welding such a hot skill today. When you sell your creations, you’re marketing their eco-friendly design.

One of the great things about welding as a part-time job is that you don’t need a special degree to do it. All you have to do is learn the skills of welding, and as you hone your craft you can start creating welding projects to sell.

The 15 best things to weld and sell

1. Metal Portraits

Everyone loves art, and people especially love unique art that you can’t find anywhere else. The art of metal welding is certainly unique, making this a viable endeavor.

You can create welded portraits of popular characters or celebrities that will have great appeal to a range of potential clients. In other words, great photos play a huge role in generating sales and selling faster online.

Or you could offer custom sweat portraits to people who can send you a photo for replication. This could bring in some extra cash with this project as they could sell for $75 or more.

Tactics for Success If you want to set up a customizable project, you need to make sure you have a back-end system in place. This includes a submission form for people to send you their photos to replicate.

Also, make sure you have gear that will allow you to create their custom designs.

2. Desk

Desks are always in high demand but have been particularly strong since the start of the pandemic. People need a place to work from home, but they don’t want to do it at the kitchen table or on an old, rickety piece of furniture.

Aside from welding, desks are a profitable item to sell online.

Today’s health situation, which is unique in the world, makes desks the most profitable welding projects.

Not only do these welded desks liven up the space, they also make it feel like people are working in an office.

You can make more money on this project by creating corner desks. They look amazing and help people save space in their homes. Some online deals cost close to $1,700.

Trends On The Rise During the COVID-19 pandemic, home office furniture sales have skyrocketed. Sales of office chairs grew 74.8% in 2020, while sales of desks increased 62.8%. You can capitalize on this trend if you’re looking for things to weld and sell.

3. Storage of firewood

People who have a fireplace can curl up next to a fresh fire on cold nights. It looks great in a room, but where do you put the firewood?

A firewood storage rack is one of the best things to weld and sell because it appeals to so many different people. You can make your product stand out from others in the market by creating an intricate and unique design with flair.

Alternatively, firewood storage is also a popular way to make money from 3D printing.

Firewood carts can cost upwards of $200.

Tactics for Success People who have indoor fireplaces not only need indoor wood storage, they also need outdoor storage for their extra wood.

If you want to make some extra money from your profitable welding projects, you should create a suitable design for your indoor firewood storage. This could include outdoor wood storage suitable for at least half a cord of wood.

4. Hanging shelves

The industrial look is alive and well in home design today. People use them in almost every room in their home, including open kitchen shelves.

If you want to find great welding projects to sell to a huge market then hanging shelves could be a great idea. You can find many of these at major hardware stores.

If you want to stand out from the run-of-the-mill stuff, give it your own personal touch and come up with a logo or other design element.

Some interesting designs could sell for $80 or more and would make for relatively quick projects.

5. Garden trellis

Gardening has grown in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as people have sought to take up new hobbies and get outside more. You can benefit from this when you are looking for things to weld and sell.

A garden trellis is a great project that you can take on to help people add a unique touch to their own garden.

If you’re looking to make some extra money from this project, try offering multiple sizes so you can appeal to people with different sized homes.

Some of these could sell for close to $200.

6. trolley

Who doesn’t need more storage space? And who doesn’t need a moving table to take with them around the garage, in the yard, and even at entertaining?

A trolley is one of the best welding projects you can sell because it’s so versatile.

If you plan to sell a lot of items with your side projects, it’s best to target a wide audience — and this article does just that.

You can make extra money from these profitable welding projects if you market them for multiple purposes so people can understand them. Depending on the type you create, it could sell for $850 or more.

7. Steel Rose

Nothing says “I love you” like a rose. And if your significant other is into unique metal gifts, then a welded steel rosette could be a great surprise.

Flowers are adored by millions of people, but the problem is that they don’t last forever. This is not a problem with a steel rosette that you have welded.

You can make yours stand out if you can color at least part of it.

These could sell for almost $60.

8. Stool

A stool is a versatile piece of furniture. It can be used in a kitchen, workshop and many other places in the home.

Stools are simple but they are practical and can even be a showpiece in a home.

The great thing about this welding project is that it should be relatively quick, so you can produce many in a short amount of time.

You can increase the amount you earn by placing a wooden seat on top. Premium stools are common items sold in high-paying retail jobs.

Stools can go for almost $200.

9. End Tables

Side tables are small pieces of furniture, but they can really help a room stand out if they’re designed right.

Wood has always been the traditional material, but many people today are opting for welded metal legs and even table tops.

This project would be good to take after some other projects above as the design might even be very similar.

Designing “nesting tables” could increase your profits as they can sell for $450 or more.

10. Coffee table

You could even make a matching coffee table to go with the side table set in the same way. Or you could come up with an entirely new and unique design to stand out.

This furniture is often the centerpiece of a room since it is so large. You would also have an unlimited choice of design and complementary materials. These coffee tables could sell for nearly $600.

11. Dining table

If you’re looking for bigger things to weld and sell, a dining table could be a great project. The basics of the design could be simple and straightforward. It just takes a lot more material.

Really pay attention to the design here as this is such a large project with potentially great returns. These could sell for more than $2,500.

12. Vase

You could use your welding skills to make decorative pieces for your home.

Vases are great because they can be placed anywhere and decorated with flowers to make them look beautiful.

They are always asked what makes them sell well. Depending on your design, they could sell for $25 or more.

13. Wood stove

Want to help people add a cute touch to their outdoor parties? Try welding a wood stove.

This would be a slightly more complicated project and the materials would be more expensive, but it would be worth it in the end. These could sell for nearly $1,500.

14. Fireplace

If you want something a little simpler, opt for a welded fire pit. These are great because people in all different living situations can use them to increase their outdoor fun.

Developing a unique design and etchings could increase your returns. These could sell for $400 or more.

15. Pizza Oven

Let’s stay with outdoor devices, pizza ovens are all the rage these days. They make great, unique additions to outdoor kitchens.

Of the welding projects you can sell, this might be the most labor intensive, but it would be worth it. These could sell for more than $2,000.

Wrap up

Welding doesn’t have to be just a side project as there are many things to weld and sell for profit.

If you’re looking to make some money on the side, these are just a few of the welding projects you can sell.

Are you an experienced welder and would like to start a part-time job? As the demand for welders grows, it is possible to earn extra income by turning a home welding hobby or career into a profitable side job. You don’t have to quit your job – not yet. And in many cases, you could end up earning a higher hourly rate than your employer.

So if you’ve decided to make money from welding on the side, you’re going in the right direction. But your first step is to make sure what you intend to do is legal. And your second is to find out what options are available.

Let’s look at the legalities up front and then move on to a few small welding business ideas to get you up and running.

Start your sideline on a firm legal basis

If you already work in a welding shop, you need to know what your contract says about outside work. Some companies might be ok with this, others might fire you or take legal action against you. Take the right precautions (talk to a lawyer if necessary) and make sure you are not breaching your contractual obligations.

Once you get the legalities straight, you can decide how to make money on the side from welding. Let’s start with a few crafting ideas to make money without interfering with your daily work:

1. Make and sell art or furniture

Many people love metal sculptures and furniture in their homes and outside in their gardens. Most of these parts were made by welders like you, and you can tap into this high-demand market by finding a niche too.

First, check out a platform like Etsy. You can see what others are doing and what items are selling (and for how much) by checking the number of reviews. Remember there is more to doing than just welding. A side business requires you to sell your creations by writing articles, taking good photos and creating profiles on different platforms.

While you probably won’t make as much money as other side jobs, you will make some extra cash. Some of the things you can weld and sell on eBay are:

Picture Frame

clothes rack

door handles

jewelry holder

shelf brackets

Scrap metal flowers

coffee and side tables

wine racks

2. Repair work

Businesses rely on small, independent welding shops for most of their repairs. Why? You can get the job done quickly because smaller farms have the flexibility to get to work right away. And they repair without charging the high overhead of larger companies. People will find you if you can get businesses a better price by doing the work in your garage or workshop.

It’s a good idea to focus on one type of work to begin with. Here is a list of specialty jobs to focus on. None of these require expensive equipment:

Trailer repairs and conversions

Body Welding: Offer on-site welding to get more jobs

Aluminum Boat Repair: Set up signs near a dock

Fence and Railing Repair: Put a business card in the mailbox when you see a damaged fence. Also look for industrial areas where there are more metal fences.

It’s important to do a lot of research on Google or YouTube before attempting to fix anything. Building a good reputation right away is crucial as you will get most of your repair work through word of mouth.

3. Craft new followers

In addition to modifying and repairing existing trailers, you may wish to craft new ones. It will require some upfront money for the materials, but you should see some nice wins after you get rolling. You can find some free plans online that conform to American trailer standards.

It’s best to start with a regular sized trailer as this will give you a larger pool of potential customers. After completion you can advertise the trailers on a platform like eBay or Facebook.

4. Find overflow work

If you can develop relationships with some local metal shops, you can queue for some of their surplus work. Many stores don’t want to hire workers when things are ramping up, for fear of firing them if labor levels drop. Their solution is to use freelancers or contact the overflow when they get swamped. If you have offered them your services in advance, you will have the opportunity to work on the side.

Small machine shops are also a good option as they don’t need a full-time welder and would prefer to have the welding done by experienced people. Machine shops often get welding jobs as part of a larger project, so it makes more sense to delegate the welding work to someone they can trust and focus on the machining.

5. Take on jobbing work

Jobbing can be a fun part of a side job. It never gets boring because every job is unique. And you have a better chance of getting that job because bigger businesses see those small jobs as more effort than they’re worth.

So let people know that you are interested in taking on these odd jobs by making it known that you are an affordable welder willing to get small jobs done. The variety of work is not the only advantage of part-time jobs. If you treat your customers right, it won’t be long before they’re telling their friends about you, which means you’ll soon have all the work you can handle.

6. Sign maintenance contracts

Many larger companies occasionally close to carry out maintenance work on their machines and systems. A lot of work is planned during these brief closures and companies need workers like contract welders to complete their projects. While the work will be difficult and fast-paced, the pay will be exceptional.

How much can you weld on the side?

The hourly rate for most welding shops ranges from $60 to $120 per hour depending on the type of welding required. As an independent welder, you can charge anything below what the local shops are getting. Freelance welders charge $30 to $40 an hour for most of their work, which is more than most employers would pay you. When they go to the welding shop they pay about twice your tariff so they usually choose to pay your tariff as long as your quality and service is excellent.

Do you need a welding machine for your part-time job?

The PrimeWeld MIG160 MIG Welder is considered to be one of the best welders for professional or hobby welders. It has multiple controls and weld settings and is extremely portable to move around on any size job. Engineered to ensure reliability, stability and ease of use, the MIG160 welds magnesium, cast iron, mild steel, aluminum, copper and copper alloys, stainless steel and more.

Start a welding business by following these 10 steps:

Plan your welding business. Make your welding business a legal entity. Register your welding business for taxes. Open a business. bank account and credit card. Set up accounting for your welding business Corporate branding Build your business website for welding. Set up your business phone system

There is more to starting a business than just registering with the state. We’ve put together this simple guide to starting your welding business. These steps will ensure your new business is well planned, properly registered and legally compliant.

Are you exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential to success as an entrepreneur. It will help you grasp the ins and outs of your business and uncover some unknowns. Some important issues to consider are:

Luckily, we’ve done a lot of that research for you.

What are the costs of opening a welding shop?

Starting costs are around $10,000 to $50,000. That cost includes a metal shop that has a monthly rent of about $3,000. This cost also takes into account insurance, tools, electronics, mobile service options, and personal protective equipment. Smaller gear can be purchased for as little as $1,000, but you’ll need to expand your inventory as more projects come along.

Read our welding business buying guide to learn more about the materials and equipment you need to start a welding business, what budget you have, and where to shop.

How high are the running costs for a welding shop?

Employees are paid between $45 and $65 an hour. In addition, raw materials have to be purchased. Typically, this resource is upgraded by about 50 percent when used.

Who is the target market?

The best clients and customers are those with constant welding needs. While you can do individual projects, it is better to engage clients who manage commercial machines. Among your many customers, some will be incredibly profitable. The best jobs a welding company scan will take on are mega yacht repair, marine equipment manufacture, architectural iron modification, aircraft repair and overhaul, cruise ship servicing, and restaurant equipment repair.

Because commercial providers have to meet certain industry standards, they are incredibly profitable. Welding customers can extend to farm equipment owners, other welding companies, silo tank suppliers and even suppliers of steel dairy equipment.

How does a welding shop make money?

Most welding shops make money by doing small projects. However, you can earn a lot of money by getting involved in long-term projects. Since the best suppliers of a welding company are usually ship chandlers, a lot of service is required to avoid rusting and water damage.

A welding company also makes money by doing metal modifications and repairs. When a company’s machinery breaks down, a welding shop is called in to investigate the problems involved. It can also turn to a separate repair team that handles metal repairs and necessary fabrications themselves.

How much can you charge customers?

Welding services can be billed in two ways. First, they can be billed per job. They can also be billed at an hourly rate. Hourly rates typically range from $30 to $70 per hour. An established welding company may offer higher rates for specific jobs and work requirements.

How much profit can a welding shop make?

A well-established welding contractor can make about $70,000 in annual profits. A hugely successful welding company, meanwhile, can easily reach six figures.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Each working time should be budgeted. It is believed that a poorly drawn business plan is the leading cause of welding company failure. Know what you can afford and prioritize your customers. Don’t buy personal toys – welding equipment – before you need them. Focus on getting business in the door and finding the best clients who need your services. From independent start-up jobs to multi-billion dollar contracts, you need to be a good personal negotiator.

What will you name your company?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t have a name in mind yet, visit our How to name a business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our welding business name generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you may wish to operate under a company name other than your own. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a company name, we recommend researching your company name by checking the following:

Your state’s business records

Federal and state trademark records

social media platforms

Availability of web domains.

It is very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Find a domain Powered by GoDaddy.com now

STEP 2: Establish a legal entity

The most common forms of business are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLC) and corporations.

Forming a legal business entity such as a GmbH or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your welding business is sued.

Form your LLC

Read our guide to forming your own LLC. Select your state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

ZenBusiness LegalZoom ($79 + government fees)

You can form an LLC yourself and only pay the minimal state LLC fees, or hire one of the best LLC services for a small additional fee.

Recommended: You must choose a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages typically include a free year of registered agent services. You can choose to engage a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You must register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open your business.

To register for taxes, you must apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can purchase your EIN for free through the IRS website, by fax, or by mail. If you want to learn more about EINs and their benefits for your LLC, read our article What is an EIN?.

Learn how to get an EIN with our What is an EIN guide, or find your existing EIN using our EIN locator guide.

Small Business Taxes

Depending on the company structure you choose, you may have different choices about how your company is taxed. For example, some LLCs could benefit from being taxed as an S corporation (S-Corp).

You can learn more about small business taxes in these guides:

There are certain state taxes that may apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account and credit card

Using dedicated commercial bank and credit accounts is essential to protecting personal wealth.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk if your business is sued. In commercial law, this is referred to as penetrating the corporate veil.

Additionally, by learning how to build business credit, you can get credit cards and other financing on your company’s behalf (instead of your own), better interest rates, higher lines of credit, and more.

Open a commercial bank account

In addition to the prerequisite for applying for business loans, opening a business bank account is:

Separates your personal wealth from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal wealth protection.

Facilitates bookkeeping and tax returns.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Businesses report to find the best national bank or credit union.

Open 30 net accounts

Net 30 accounts are used to establish and build business credit and increase business cash flow. With a Net 30 account, companies buy goods and pay back the entire balance within 30 days.

NetMany Net 30 credit providers report to the major credit bureaus (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business and Equifax Business Credit). This is how companies build business credit so they can qualify for credit cards and other lines of credit.

Recommended: Read our top 30 best net providers, do them and start building business credit.

Get a business credit card

Purchasing a business credit card will help you:

Separate personal and business expenses by consolidating all of your company’s expenses in one place.

Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful later to raise funds.

Recommended: Apply for an easy-to-approve business credit card from Divvy and quickly build your business credit.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Keeping track of your various expenses and revenue streams is critical to understanding your organization’s financial performance. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax return.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC expense cheat sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain the required permits and licenses

Failure to obtain the required permits and licenses can result in hefty fines or even the closure of your business.

Federal business license requirements

Certain government permits and licenses may be required to operate a welding business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting the SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

State and local business license requirements

Certain government permits and licenses may be required to operate a welding business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting the SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Information on local licenses and permits:

Check with the regulatory office in your town, city or district

Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in the US Small Business Association’s Directory of Local Business Resources.

service contract

In companies where services are provided on an extended basis, a service level agreement is often entered into that outlines the terms and conditions for the services.

Welding shops should require customers to sign a service contract before beginning a new project. This agreement should clarify customer expectations and minimize the risk of litigation by setting payment terms and service level expectations. A template for a service contract can be found here.

Occupational safety requirements

It is important to comply with all requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Relevant requirements include:

Employee accident report

safety signage

Etc.

occupancy certificate

Businesses operating from a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO certifies that all building codes, zoning laws, and government regulations have been met.

If you want to rent a location:

The landlord is generally responsible for obtaining a CO.

Before leasing, confirm that your rental company has or can obtain a valid CO that applies to a welding shop

After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business is being renovated prior to opening, it is recommended that you include a note on your lease agreement that rent payments will not begin until a valid CO is issued.

If you are planning to buy or build a site:

You are responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government agency.

Review all building codes and zoning codes for your business location to ensure your welding shop is compliant and able to receive a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just like with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance to operate safely and lawfully. Business liability insurance protects the financial well-being of your company in the event of damage.

There are different types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks your business might face, start with general liability insurance. This is the most common coverage small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start your business.

Find out more about general liability insurance.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses require is workers’ compensation insurance. If your company will have employees, there’s a good chance your state will require you to have workers’ compensation insurance.

Recommended: Find out what it costs to have business insurance for your welding business. Business insurance for

welding shop

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for and how your company is perceived by the public. A strong brand helps your company stand out from the competition.

If you’re not feeling confident designing your small business logo, check out our beginner’s design guides. We will give you helpful tips and advice to create the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended: Get a logo with Truic’s free logo maker, no email or signup required, or use a premium logo maker.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our free QR code generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications or to raise awareness for your new website.

How to Promote and Market a Sweat Business

Market directly to businesses. While cold calling tactics are difficult to execute, you need to be good at them to find quality customers. Market any company related to maritime services and try to get hired by big companies. If they are part of a business network, look for opportunities there.

How to get customers to come back

Hiring a permanent welding contractor is a long-term commitment. Because of this, customer retention can be difficult to achieve, but easy to maintain. Your best binding tool is to ensure quality and fast services. As with any contracting job, companies will stick to vendors who ensure reliable services.

Still not sure what kind of business you want to start? Check out the latest small business trends for inspiration.

STEP 9: Build your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo, the next step is to create a website for your business.

While building a website is an essential step, some may fear that they are out of their reach due to their lack of website building experience. While this may have been a valid fear in 2015, web technology has made tremendous strides in recent years, making life for small business owners a lot easier.

Here are the top reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

All reputable companies have websites – period. The size or industry of your business doesn’t matter when it comes to getting your business online.

– Point. The size or industry of your business doesn’t matter when it comes to getting your business online. Social media accounts like Facebook Pages or LinkedIn company profiles are not a substitute for your own company website.

that you own. Website builder tools like GoDaddy’s website builder have made creating a simple website extremely easy. You don’t have to hire a web developer or designer to create a website you can be proud of.

With our website building guides, the process is easy and painless and shouldn’t take more than 2-3 hours.

Recommended: Get started with our recommended website builder today, or check out our top website builder rating.

Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Setting up a phone for your business is one of the best ways to keep your personal and business lives separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; It also helps you automate your business more, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We reviewed the top companies and ranked them on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the best business phone systems of 2022 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and its fair prices.

Start a welding business in your state

Understanding the Different Types of Welding Welding is a process that has been used in manufacturing for thousands of years. Different types of welding help crafters to forge swords, build ships, build furniture, and more. There are many types of welding to choose from, each with specific practical applications. When you start you will find that some types of welding are easier to learn, while other processes can take years to master. Different types of welding work indoors, while others are best used outdoors. Read on to learn more about the types of welding and to determine which one best suits your needs. What types of welding are there? There are many different types of welding for different levels of experience and applications. Based on your welding experience and the materials you want to weld, you can determine which type of welding is right for you. While some weld types produce clean welds and require minimal cleaning, other types produce larger welds that create more slag to clean. Some types of welding only work on ferrous metals, while others are more versatile. We’ve put together a short list of some common types of welding and their pros and cons.

Type Advantages Disadvantages MIG Welding – Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) MIG is excellent for welding large and thick materials quickly. It’s the most beginner-friendly way of welding. MIG welds are not as precise, strong, or clean as TIG welds. The workpiece materials must be absolutely free of rust or slag. TIG Welding – Tungsten Gas Arc Welding (GTAW) TIG is highly precise and versatile, allowing you to join a variety of small and thin materials. It is excellent for welding non-ferrous metals. TIG welding is more difficult to learn, making it a slower process with longer lead times and higher production costs. Stick Welding – Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Stick welding is very versatile, inexpensive to start with and easy to learn. It can be used on a variety of metal alloys. Consumable electrodes need to be replaced frequently and slag removed after welding, slowing down the process. Flux Welding – Cored Wire Welding (FCAW) Flux welding does not use a shielding gas, so it can be used outdoors and in windy conditions. It can also be used on a variety of metal alloys. The filler material is more expensive compared to other types of arc welding. It also creates more smoke and smoke than other types of arc welding. Energy Beam Welding (EBW) Energy beam welding can weld thick and thin materials and dissimilar metals with different melting points and conductivities. EBW is precise and puts the welder in control of the process. Materials shrink and cool after joining, which can lead to cracks and warping at the weld. Atomic Hydrogen Welding (AHW) Atomic Hydrogen Welding can reach temperatures of up to 4000°C, allowing tungsten, the most refractory metal, to be welded. Hydrogen prevents oxidation and contamination of the materials. This method does not require flux. Atomic hydrogen welding is being replaced by metal shielded gas welding due to the availability of inexpensive inert gases. Oxy-Fuel Welding An oxy-fuel torch is light, compact and quiet.

Oxy-acetylene torches can easily cut through ferrous materials up to 8 inches thick. You can use oxyacetylene gas to cut, braze and weld steel. Acetylene fuel is more expensive compared to other fuels. Plasma Arc Welding Plasma welding torches give you total arc control and quality welds. Welds are clean, smooth and strong. Plasma welders are expensive, making start-up costs high. It is a more specialized welding process and requires more time for training initially.

MIG Welding Metal inert gas (MIG) welding is an arc welding process that uses a solid wire electrode to create a weld. The electrode is inserted into a welding gun and heated. It is an easy-to-learn way of welding for beginners. TIG Welding Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is an arc welding process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to create a weld. It is a precise form of welding that offers the welder the ability to adjust the amperage and gas flow. TIG welds are most successful on more delicate materials and can be used to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Stick or Arc Welding Stick welding is a manual arc welding process that uses a consumable electrode covered with flux to lay the weld. It creates strong welds and works well with thicker materials. It’s a versatile welding process, easy to set up and generally easy to learn.

Flux Welding Flux welding is a semi-automatic or automatic arc welding process that uses a continuously fed consumable electrode. The electrode contains a flux core that protects the weld from the atmosphere, making it very portable and versatile. Plasma arc welding Plasma arc welding creates an arc between a non-consumable electrode and the workpiece. The process has a high temperature and energy concentration that allows the welder to make deep and narrow welds at high speeds. Oxyfuel Welding Oxyfuel welding uses fuel gases and oxygen to weld or cut metals. The oxygen increases the temperature of the flame to allow localized melting of the workpiece material.

Which weld is the strongest? No welding type is the strongest among all welding applications. The strongest weld depends on the type of metal, the thickness of the material and the expected weight loading of the weld. TIG welding produces the cleanest welds in routine applications because more filler metal goes directly into the seam and creates less spatter. It is also ideal for thinner materials that require more precise welds. MIG welding provides the most consistent welds and is the easiest type of welding for beginners. Flux welding produces the strongest welds in thicker materials. The flux cored wire allows the weld to cool more slowly, resulting in a more consistent and stable weld. What Type of Welding Should You Learn? When determining the type of welding you should learn, you can plan for the type of materials you want to work with, the time you have to learn, and the resources available. MIG welding is the most beginner-friendly type of welding. It’s a quick process that’s easy to learn and forgiving of mistakes. TIG welding is a slower process that takes more time to master and produces more precise welds on a variety of material types.

What types of welding can you learn at The Crucible? The Crucible teaches four different types of welding for beginners and intermediates: Oxy-acetylene welding, arc or stick welding, MIG welding, and TIG welding. Start with a beginner MIG welding course or try all four types in our Exploring Welding course. The Crucible also offers beginner and intermediate TIG welding courses that introduce you to working with a variety of materials. In an ARC welding class, you will learn how to use an arc to generate heat to melt and join metals. Arc welding is a great method for advanced joints and welding positions. The Crucible’s Oxy-Acetylene Welding course teaches you to weld with heat generated by burning gases. Acetylene-oxygen is one of the most versatile types of sweat. You can use it to weld iron or steel, and also use heat to cut, solder, and weld metals. It is handy for removing rust or scale from metals and loosening corroded nuts and bolts.

Daphné, Julio González, Bronzefos, 140 x 66 x 29 cm. 1937, Institut Valencia d’Art Modern. , Julio González, Bronzefos, 140 x 66 x 29 cm. 1937, Institut Valencia d’Art Modern.

Welded sculpture (related to fine arts and works of art) is an art form in which sculpture is made using welding techniques.

history [edit]

Anthony Caro, Black Cover Flat, 1974, 1974

The Catalan artist Julio González is considered one of the first to develop welded sculptures. González came from a line of metalsmiths; his grandfather was a goldsmith in Galicia who settled in the Catalan capital in the early 19th century. González’s father, Concordio González, owned a workshop and as a young boy González learned the techniques of gold, silver and ferrous metalworking from him. He is associated with the Spanish artistic circle of Montmartre, including Pablo Gargallo, Juan Gris and Max Jacob. In 1918 he developed an interest in the artistic possibilities of welding after learning the technique while working in the Renault factory at Boulogne-Billancourt. This technique would later become his most important contribution to sculpture, although he was also painting and – particularly – making jewelry during this period. In 1920 he renewed his acquaintance with Pablo Picasso, for whom he later provided technical assistance in the execution of iron sculptures, and participated in Picasso’s research into Analytical Cubism. He also forged the infrastructures of Constantin Brâncuși’s plasters. In the winter of 1927/28 he showed Picasso how to use oxy-fuel welding and cutting. When their friendship was reestablished, Picasso and González collaborated on a piece called Woman in the Garden between 1928 and 1930. From October 1928 to 1932 both men worked together. Influenced by Picasso, the 50-year-old González changed his style, trading bronze for iron and volume for lines. González began to formalize a new visual language in sculpture that would change the course of his career.[1]

Welding became increasingly used in sculpture from the 1930s, when new industrial processes such as arc welding were adapted for aesthetic purposes.[2] Welding techniques, including digital cutting, can be used to cut and join metal. Welded sculptures are sometimes site specific. Artist Richard Hunt said, “The idea of ​​exploiting welding processes and the tensile strength of metals opened up a lot of possibilities for me. In fact, this idea was linked to the increasing realization among artists that an art representative of our time should use materials and techniques that were available, be it new experiments with plastics, new types of paint, new types of surfaces in painting or the use of materials developed during the war effort.”[3]”

Associated Artists[ edit ]

Notes and references[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Metal art takes many forms and has become quite a popular form of expression for artists. From beautiful custom designed gates to western style napkin holders, the artist is only limited by their own imagination.

Steel is a great medium to work with because it is so forgiving. When something needs to be added to lengthen or shorten it, or even when you need to bend certain parts, steel is the right choice. I would recommend using either MIG or TIG welding for your projects as they are relatively easy welding methods for beginners.

How do you choose the right type of metal for your art?

The artist/decision welder’s decision on which type to use is based on the effect he or she wants to achieve, whether for aesthetic or practical reasons.

Keep this in mind when choosing the right type of metal for your art:

STRENGTH AND Toughness – Your art should withstand the wear and tear of use or the elements.

– Your art should stand up to the wear and tear from use or exposure to the elements. Corrosion Resistance – More resilient materials have the ability to fight the effects of water and other elements, leading to deterioration. For you as a welding artist, this means fewer surface treatments such as painting or powder coating your art.

– More resilient materials have the ability to fight the effects of water and other elements, leading to deterioration. For you as a welding artist, this means fewer surface treatments such as painting or powder coating your art. Weight – Expensive metals that are strong and highly corrosion resistant tend to be heavier than cheap materials that are softer and poorly finished. It is important that you consider the weight of an artwork as it affects its ability to stand independently without a support structure underneath. Even if a welding material has high strength, it is still unsuitable if the weight is too large to support the art’s support system.

– Expensive metals that are strong and highly corrosion resistant tend to be heavier than cheap materials that are softer and poorly finished. It is important that you consider the weight of an artwork as it affects its ability to stand independently without a support structure underneath. Even if a welding material has high strength, it is still unsuitable if the weight is too large to support the art’s support system. Stability – Your material should keep its shape and not deform even under heavy use.

– Your material should keep its shape and not deform even under heavy use. Reactivity with Other Elements/Chemicals – Some materials react with chemicals in the air, water, soil, etc., damaging their surface over time. Low reactivity means longer life as it does not degrade as quickly as those made from reactive metals like aluminium. In welding art, this is especially important to you if the artwork will be placed outdoors.

– Some materials react with chemicals in the air, water, soil, etc., damaging their surface over time. Low reactivity means longer life as it does not degrade as quickly as those made from reactive metals like aluminium. In welding art, this is especially important to you if the artwork will be placed outdoors. Formability – Metal formability is really important. It is the ability of a metal to form or bend without breaking apart or returning to its original shape once the stress is removed.

– Metal formability is really important. It is the ability of a metal to form or bend without breaking apart or returning to its original shape once the stress is removed. Ease of Use – Some welding materials need to be handled more carefully as they can easily break if not handled carefully. Such metals are not ideal for large scale applications such as sculpture and bridges. Other materials, such as titanium, require very specific cutting techniques with saws that only work with that material.

– Some welding materials need to be handled more carefully as they can easily break if not handled carefully. Such metals are not ideal for large scale applications such as sculpture and bridges. Other materials, such as titanium, require very specific cutting techniques with saws that only work with that material. Cost – Expensive metals are usually harder and more durable than those that cost less. For the welding art, the temperature resistance of a material can be a very important factor when it is planned for use in large outdoor projects where environmental factors such as exposure to heat could damage its surface.

The most popular type of metals used in art

There are many different types of metals used in art. These metals can be made into a variety of forms or used to create a number of different items. Many of you may think that the only metal used in art is aluminum. That is not true!

Aluminum can be painted and glued to many different materials, but it’s not the only metal you’ll find in art. Read on to find out what metals are used in art and what you can do with them.

steel

Steel is a common metal used in welding processes due to its strength and high resistance to surface cracking. However, steel rusts quickly if not treated with care, so it is usually left unpainted after processing to avoid unwanted reactions from the elements in outdoor installations.

aluminum

Best Welding Projects for Beginners Please enable JavaScript Best Welding Projects for Beginners

This metal may seem cheap and flimsy, but aluminum can actually take a beating before completely breaking apart. It’s usually the cheapest metal you can find, meaning people who want to get their art projects done quickly will use this type of metal instead of any other because they won’t end up spending too much time using it to work.

Aluminum is easy to cut with most tools, but there’s one thing to keep in mind about this material: it can rust or corrode easily if left unpolished for too long. It’s also extremely lightweight, meaning the finished project won’t be as heavy as many of the others you might create over time.

It can be fabricated into thin sheets without much difficulty, making aluminum easier for artists/welders to work with when creating organic shapes. Aluminum has a high thermal conductivity, so it can be difficult to adjust the temperature of its surface for specific effects without changing its overall color.

NOTE: Welding aluminum tends to produce anodized surfaces which chemical treatments produce different colors which is useful when welding metals such as stainless steel and other types that do not easily take on color after processing unless at extremely high levels temperatures are heated.

This particular metal should only be used when you want to create something very simple that doesn’t require a lot of strength or durability.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is another type of metal that artists use in their projects. Its low ductility makes it more difficult to machine compared to aluminum, but it makes up for this quality with higher tensile strength.

This type of metal is ideal for outdoor art installations where environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight could be potentially hazardous (e.g. rusting).

Coper

Copper is one of the most commonly used metals for the art of welding because you can hammer, bend, and shape it to create different shapes without too much difficulty.

It will not rust over time so you don’t have to worry about using this special metal in your art projects. One thing you should know about copper, however, is that while it looks great when molded into small shapes and forms, it doesn’t have much strength or durability compared to other types of metal.

Depending on how it appears after processing, copper often turns an orange color when heated, making it aesthetically pleasing when in contact with other metals such as stainless steel and aluminum that do not readily accept paint and/or decorative markings .

NOTE: Copper can’t really be used to create something that has a lot of weight. It should only be used for smaller things that are still nice, but not items that you intend to use every day.

titanium

It’s not the most common of all metals, but it’s definitely one of the coolest. In fact, when titanium is polished to a fine point it is considered white, but if left unpolished it is gray in color.

Titanium can be used for all sorts of things, but most commonly it is used for jewelry that is either very simple or at least has a very simple design. This metal can be formed into many different forms if you know how to use it properly.

It has a high thermal conductivity, so the surface temperature when heated for texturing effects must be carefully controlled during the forming process to avoid changing the overall color of the metal.

TIP: It will never rust or corrode like other materials, meaning you can use it in art without worrying about color fading over time. At least not for very long.

iron

This metal is one of the most used metals around the world because it is one of the cheapest. It doesn’t take much to make something out of iron, which means you can use this material without spending too much time or money on it. It can be polished or unpolished depending on what your goals are.

Iron is slightly heavier than aluminum, but because it’s significantly stronger, it can be made much smaller so people won’t notice the difference when they pick up the finished piece after it’s been formed.

TIP: Its surface tends to take on an aesthetically pleasing red color after processing without the need for any additional chemical treatment, so it is widely used for welding work with organic materials such as wood, bone, stone and clay.

Brass

Brass is another metal alloy that welders use for an aesthetically pleasing result. This material has a yellowish color when heated, similar to copper but with greater resistance to corrosion and rusting effects from environmental influences such as rainwater damage.

Brass does not readily accept decoration or color unless treated with chemicals prior to heating, making it a good choice for organic-shape welding arts.

How big will your metal art projects be?

The best method of welding that a future metal artist can learn depends on the size of the largest projects he or she is interested in creating. If you already know exactly what kind of projects you want to create, choosing should be pretty easy. If you are not sure, the decision becomes a little more difficult.

First, let’s take a closer look at a few scenarios.

Oxygen/Acetylene Welding

For beginners, this may be the best place to start for a number of reasons. If you buy a good welding/cutting torch set, it should come with all the necessary parts (fewer bottles**). Necessary not only for gas welding, but by attaching the cutting torch you can then cut steel for your projects.

The cutting torch can also be used to heat red-hot steel to bend and shape it. You can’t weld big, thick pieces of metal together, but you can weld smaller, thinner pieces all day long.

NOTE: Kits that come with the small cylinders are undersized and have limited gas volume. It’s usually best to simply rent larger tanks from a local welding supply store. The larger bottles reduce the number of times per year you have to carry back to exchange for full ones.

MIG welding

MIG welders are the number one machine type for industrial welding today. The continuous wire feed and clean, slag-free welds save time in the welding shop. MIG welders are available in 115V and 230V options.

If all of your welding is expected to be indoors on metals 1/16″ to 1/8″ thick, I recommend a 115V MIG welder with shielding gas and a .025 gauge wire. The smaller wire makes it easier to weld the thinner material. .030 wire has a higher deposition rate and could also be used.

If all of your welding is expected to be indoors on metals 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick, I recommend upgrading to a higher capacity 230V machine with .035 gauge wire. This improvement in amperage and wire gauge allows you to make fewer passes on thicker metals.

In reality, since most art projects don’t require the weld to be as strong as the base metals, you can get by with “gluing” even thicker pieces together as long as the weld doesn’t cause physical damage if it fails to anyone.

When is electrode welding used in art?

Unless you’re an artist wanting to weld large sculptures for front yards or parks, you’ll probably get by with a MIG welder. However, you may need to switch to flux cored wire to weld heavier metals outdoors. And that’s another feature that makes a MIG welder a great choice for artists.

Personally, on larger projects that require force welding, I prefer stick or stick welding, as it’s also called. I may have a hard time stick welding, but given the choice, I will choose it every time. The welder I would use would be an AC/DC machine.

However, a pure AC stick welder is very economical for beginners. The Lincoln AC 225 is Lincoln’s best-selling arc welder of all time. The downside to using an electrode welder for typical artwork is that the smaller pieces are often just stapled together. And in my opinion a wire welder or MIG welder is a little better at starting the arc at just the right spot than a stick welder.

When are TIG welding machines used in art?

TIG welding enables spatter-free, visually appealing welds. Art is by definition visually appealing and beautiful welds are an art form for many of us. If the TIG bead is well made, it doesn’t need to be ground.

When working in non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminum or magnesium, you need a TIG welder. A MIG welder can weld aluminum and do an excellent job, but for copper and magnesium, TIG is the right choice for you.

TIP: For more information for the beginner welder, see: What do I need to start welding?

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When does hobby welding make sense?

What kind of welding machine do you need?

Tips for hobby welders

Welding as a hobby or hobby welding is a fun activity for many, especially those who want to do a lot of home improvement projects. It is performed by some car mechanics, craftsmen and even artists who find it exciting and fun. If you’re thinking of hobby welding and have no idea where to start, we can definitely help. We’ll answer some questions that may be on your mind and give you steps on how to do it. Who knows what can start as a hobby could just about be the start of a thriving career in welding.

Hobby welding, when does it make sense?

There are several reasons why welding could be a great hobby. You will be surprised how useful it can be. Welding can be a useful skill in building DIY projects and some repairs.

Hobby Welding Projects

Welding can be used in construction projects such as lamps, tables, wrought iron fences and other furniture that can be used at home or in your workshop. It could also come in handy in automotive work, large appliances, and just about anything as long as joining metals is involved.

Some of the other projects you can undertake include making a lawn car, a driveway resistor, garden tractor wheel weights, a rear weight carrier for a garden tractor, and even a support frame for a boat cover.

For crafters, this ability could also come in handy when making your own sculptures and other metalwork.

Hobby welding repairs

Regarding repairs, learning the welding trade can also save you a lot of money. Instead of requesting an expensive service repair, you can save yourself the hassle by doing it yourself and spending the money on more important things.

You can install or re-weld a wrought iron fence, repair the stroller or bike frame, or even replace a car muffler. You can repair a lawn sweeper, leaf blower, wheelbarrow, snow blower, bike rack and more.

Which welding machine do I need for hobby welding?

The most important part of hobby welding is owning a welding machine or welding equipment. To get started you will need either a stick welder or a MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welder.

Stick welding is very popular with hobbyists. Stick welding uses an electrode or welding rod with a flux coating on the outside. Then when you strike an arc with a stick welder, the welding rod burns and creates a weld bead that you see on a welded joint. It’s a proven practice, but it also has its downsides. Striking an arc can be difficult to learn and produces a lot of smoke. This is where MIG welding comes into play.

In MIG welding, you use a spool of wire fed from a gun handpiece. As soon as you press the trigger, the MIG welder starts feeding the wire. This is the quickest and easiest hobby welding process.

Read our blog 4 Different Types of Welding Processes to learn more about stick and MIG welding.

The equipment you need to get started includes a welder, welding rods, a welding helmet, heavy leather gloves, various clamps and an optional grinder.

Welding as a hobby: tips for beginners

How to start a lucrative welding business and be successful

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Many people dream of owning their own successful business: earning the income of a successful business owner, working their own hours and having the best team. Maybe you dream about it.

If you are a welder, this might be the perfect option for you. The opportunities in the business climate around the world are incredible for those interested in taking the plunge, but there are some basic principles that every aspiring business owner must learn first.

It’s not just about learning how to start a welding business. That’s the easy part. It’s about starting a successful business. Read this guide to starting a lucrative welding business with the thought of embracing the principles discussed and you will know the steps you need to take to succeed.

Different types of welding shops

Before starting a business, it is important to figure out what kind of business you want to run. There are many different routes and each has its own pros and cons. Reading this post, Top 10 Welding And Fabrication Business Ideas To Make A Profit, will give you a thorough guide to the different options available to you. Here are some good options to consider:

Heavy Stainless Steel Fabrication Aluminum Welding Heavy Duty Trailer Fabrication Steel Structure Fabrication Mobile Welding Service Underwater Welding Service Breakdown Welding Service

When to start a welding business

The first step to consider is when to start the business. Welding is a booming industry around the world, especially in the US, so there is no question of when to start commercializing it. I am confident that these principles will help you succeed in any market you start in.

The crucial point in time is determined by several factors, which are explained below. First, are you ready with the right mindset? You may be an excellent welder and have a list of clients waiting to send you work, but if your approach to business is not correct, your business will not thrive.

You must also have your finances managed, and you must have the support of others to help you in your endeavors. You can start a business that is lacking in any of these areas and it can still have some success. However, it cannot reach its full potential without considering all three areas.

The right mindset

Running a successful welding business takes a lot more than just working in a shop can produce. It requires three specific mindsets that mark you out as a respected business owner, not a mediocre one.

Embrace a customer-centric mindset

You must have a customer-centric mindset. You must understand your customers and be committed to providing them with the most satisfying experience. This will result in you being willing to acknowledge their mistakes as your own so that they come away satisfied and enriched by your service. It offers you stable customer relationships and in return supports you with ongoing contracts.

If you choose to only care about the customers you believe are doing ongoing work and neglect others, you may not see the immediate consequences, but it will stunt your business’ growth. You’ll never know who the ordinary person is that shows up on your doorstep and who they might recommend you to. Taking care of everyone will do wonders for your business.

Adopt a people-sensitive mindset

As important as a customer-centric mindset is, it’s not enough. They must also commit to an employee-sensitive mindset while instilling in them a customer-centric ethos. Remember that your employees will always be your business and you control a large part of their livelihood as well. If you don’t want to take on that responsibility and see it only as a means to your own success, you will inevitably have very little success.

The best way to treat employees is to consider being in their shoes. Treat them with the encouragement and support you would appreciate. The results will be tremendous for them and for you. Set your mindset on this before starting a business. When life gets hectic, when your business starts to grow, have the right thoughts without trying to figure it out under pressure.

Get to know your strengths and weaknesses

Nobody is the superhero of a company. A company is always shaped by a team and by people who excel in different areas. This is what makes successful businesses thrive. Be willing to learn where your strengths lie and where your weaknesses lie so you can ensure your time is primarily focused on areas where you are best. If you try to do everything, your business will be significantly hampered.

Without trusting that critical roles will be filled by different people, your organization will always lack balance and you will lose out on many necessary fronts. Know your strengths and weaknesses by examining yourself and asking others around you before starting your business and you will have a stable foundation to build your business on.

finance

It is important to have strong finances before starting a business. While a broad cash base is helpful and sometimes necessary, your financial management is most important. You can start a small business with a few dollars and scale it up with sound financial management, but it doesn’t work the other way around. If you have a large bank account without the necessary financial systems, your business will only survive until it closes financially.

If you’re not very good with finances, find someone to mentor you or hire someone who is financially excellent to run this part of your business. The cost of employing them is small compared to the return they will give you.

The support of others

Employees are important to a business, but so is support from outsiders such as family, friends, and other business owners. The more people involved, whether directly in the company or indirectly through their contribution to your life, the more successful your company will be.

Others may have a wide range of opinions about starting a business. Successful companies often start with people who initially had to take a lot of criticism, but no company is run alone. Be open to what others have to share with you. Find some people to lean on and hold accountable, and especially find some successful business owners to chat with. Whether they are welders or not doesn’t matter. Business drafting differs by field, but the principles remain the same.

How to start a welding business

Your business mindset, finances, and support will never be perfect, but once you lay the right foundation, you’re ready to start a welding business. Of course, starting a welding business requires that you have your welding certifications. Once you have hired some employees, they also need to be certified.

There will come a time when you will have to quit your job and dive into business. This is almost always scary, but the best way to start is to gradually embrace it. Don’t just quit your job and start your business immediately. You will achieve the greatest success if you slowly start working on the side.

Read 6 Side Jobs for Welders for ideas on how to find part-time work while you’re employed and grow your business from there. Unless you have tons of money and jump in right away, your need to earn a full-time income will cloud your view of the best steps toward a successful welding business.

Once you have a steady job on the side, with the likely prospect of it increasing, try reducing your hours to work part-time as an employee or contractor and spend more time with your business. If that’s not possible, it’s fine to immerse yourself in your business full-time, but incremental progression is always healthy when it’s possible.

It is not necessary to have all the equipment right away. Having only the bare essentials is fine, and often a better way. The companies you have worked for in the past may have a number of clients that require specific tools. But until you’re established in your business, you don’t know if you all need the same tools.

For example, maybe your old company had a plasma cutter that was used on projects every day, but no processing machines. You could buy a plasma cutter and expect the same result, but your actual customers might be better off with a small milling machine or lathe. Gradually buying all the gear you need will ensure that the money is spent through actual knowledge in vital areas.

Welding business plan and key points to make it successful

It is important to have a good foundation before starting your business. Nonetheless, these following points will help your business thrive once established.

These cornerstones aim to build a welding business that will grow and become highly lucrative. What you are looking for depends on whether you want a small business or a large business. Regardless of your goals, if you consider these key points along with the previous principles, you will provide excellent service to your customers and generate a healthy income for you and your employees.

If you just want a small business, you can control its size simply by the amount of work and staff you take on, rather than growing it through continuous expansion.

Collect happy customers

First you need to start getting customers. Any customer willing to pay a fair price for your service or product is a good customer.

On rare occasions, you may discover that a customer has bad intentions and there is nothing you can do about it. Just serve everyone the same and make sure they pay you accordingly. This will outweigh the negative impact of those few bad customers. Don’t be too specific about who you work for unless you have a good reason.

The steps to getting your first customers and later customers are the same, but it gets easier as your business establishes its name. The following points will help you to have a constant supply of customers.

Tell everyone you know you’ve started a business

If people already know you, they’re much more likely to support your business than to reach out to an unknown source. They’re also more likely in the early stages to prefer your venture to a stranger, so tell as many friends as you can.

It’s best to tell them in person. Social media sites can also work. If you don’t have social media, it’s worth joining some platforms.

Put up quality signs to promote your services

Acquiring customers is about gaining trust. The more familiar a name is to someone, the more they will trust you. Sure, putting up a sign in front of your home will encourage a few neighbors to stop by, but the more you spread quality and attractive signs, the more people will trust your business.

Call local businesses

If there are companies that would benefit from your fabricated product, or that you could serve well with your expertise, call as many as you can and make yourself known. Most businesses respect a business owner or respectful representative who addresses you in a personal way.

Don’t bother them if they’re not interested. They may come back if they remember how you treated them at a time when they need your service or product. However, if they show interest on your first call, it always helps to make a friendly follow-up and show an interest in their business.

welding business cards

Get quality welding business cards and hand them out to potential clients. The more times you can do this in person, face to face, the better. Giving them away to customers you’ve served is a great option. It’s also beneficial to go to people’s homes or businesses, or to distribute them at a booth.

Launch a website and build a social media presence

It is important to have an online presence unless you are not worried about having a successful business. Very few people set out to find a welding shop to use, or some fabricated item to buy; the few that do will make up a tiny fraction of the market.

It’s not difficult to get involved on social media. Starting your own website is easy too. We recommend using WordPress to create yours. It’s free, easy and offers the most opportunities to develop and change your website in the future. A few simple tutorials show you how to create a WordPress site, including this video version and this detailed article version that also includes video aspects.

We recommend hosting your website with Bluehost. It’s affordable, has a great user relationship with WordPress, offers dedicated support, and gets your site up and running faster than many other hosting companies.

Reading guides like etraffic for your website and Postplanner for your social media presence will walk you through the essential steps to growing your business by promoting your presence in the online marketplace.

Serve your current customers well

Once you have a few customers, the best thing you can do for your business is make sure they are well served. As Horst Schulze, co-founder of a multi-billion dollar company, describes, every customer wants:

A hassle-free service or product; This is available with no time limit; To be delivered by someone kind.

If you do your best to offer this to every customer, your business will no doubt gain loyal customers who will choose your service or products above all others.

Get quality staff

How do you get qualified staff? There are generally a lot of people to choose from, but it’s difficult to find excellent staff. You can find employees via:

online ads

friends

Opportunities through business partners

Runs through local welding shops

Recommendations from welding schools

Leads through training centers

Use of recruiters

The best way to find quality staff is to interview as many people as possible and assess their skills and character first hand, or find someone you trust who knows exactly what you are looking for, to interview people. If you’re going through hiring agencies or using someone who doesn’t have a clear understanding of your vision, you may not find the best candidates.

Once you have some customers and a good team, the friendly service that customers want must come from you. Most likely, you will not serve them, but your employees will. They represent you to customers because they represent your company. If your employees aren’t happy with the way you treat them, they won’t treat your customers well. There may be the odd terrific staff member who will do the job to the utmost no matter how you treat them, but for the most part, staff show customers what you show them.

If you do everything for your employees, you will soon see that they do everything for your customers. It also helps to meet with them regularly in an engaging way that they appreciate. Walk through the company’s vision and personally teach them how best to serve your customers so they are ready to serve.

Establishment of a self-sustaining company

From the start, aiming for a self-sustaining business is paramount. Many companies are so dependent on the top few people running the show that business cannot function without one or two of them absent. This is an extremely unhealthy structure.

Bring your employees up to speed. Everyone doesn’t need to know everything, but everyone should know how to do an excellent job and be able to take on someone else’s work when they’re not around. That includes your job. You want a business that runs smoothly so you can go away and take a vacation or do something else.

My father’s commercial property was leased to a man who did not uphold that principle. He contracted cancer and died within weeks of finding out. His shop was immediately closed and his entire workforce had to look for new jobs. You can’t run a business like that. Instead, use a self-sustaining model to ensure you’ve built a successful welding business.

Get to know the market and meet its needs

Markets are constantly adjusting, some faster than others. Without exception, the markets will change in some way a few years after you start your business. Get to know your market well. Learn what your customers want, what your competitors are doing, and how to adapt your business accordingly.

If you don’t grow with your market, you will be outperformed. However, keep in mind that if you move things too fast, your customers may not be ready for the change. This requires careful strategy, but when executed well, it yields tremendous results for your business.

This principle is relevant not only for large companies. For example, when I started welding, I worked in a small fabrication shop and my boss didn’t have an EFTPOS machine. For years, customers either set up accounts with the company or paid in cash. When EFTPOS came out, many customers expected my boss to have it. To this day I’m not sure if he does. Because of this small detail, which he could easily have changed, he lost significant opportunities for more and happier customers.

How to start a welding business: Completion

Learning how to start a welding business is an excellent opportunity for any welder willing to put in the hard work to build something amazing. Many people have started average businesses that give them a little extra income and a small team to work for them. But I hope you are eager to go the extra mile and build a successful, lucrative business with a lasting future.

It may seem like hard work, and it is. But the right foundation gives you the support you need to succeed. You have a great team by your side, customers who are loyal to you and promote your business, and a self-sustaining business that allows you to take vacations without fail.

Feel free to leave your feedback and comments below.

Source and helpful websites:

https://startupcamp.com/sc-blog/

https://forum.millerwelds.com/forum/welding-projects/2135-advice-on-starting-a-welding-business

https://app.aws.org/wj/2001/04/0053/