Quote:
Originally Posted by YTNUKLR
If you have work, go for it.
If not, hold onto your money tightly, it's going to get much worse.
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Oh yeah, no doubt. That's why a guerrilla operation might be a modest success. First of all, repairs are going to be more important than replacement. Think of shoes. The shoe repair guy WILL survive the coming times. Portable welding is EXPENSIVE.
6 or 7 years ago I had only enough welding experience to barely get things to stick and I needed to weld a steering bracket on my '44 Jeep. I could gas weld, but this was 3/8ths plate. I called some welders out of the phone book and no one was interested even at the 2 hour minimum @ 145/hr. I thought I needed a pro for such a critical job. Well, as I said, no one would show up.
So I went out and bought a used AC stick welder. You know, the ones they call a "buzz box." The weld turned out pretty good. Shoot, I still use the thing and a bit better these days. They still sell these at Home Depot, etc. I paid 50 bucks for it.
But, technology has passed these Neanderthal units by and besides, it weighs a ton. I can hardly move it around. I believe there is a way to convert these into spot welders, so I'm hanging on to it.
I'm betting I can make a livable amount of money helping people with repairs. I know this, no one seems to need a carpenter these days. I've all but quit that schit entirely. For every nail that wants to be driven there's 10 guys looking for any wage they can get. I'm not working for $15/hr. after 38 years of becoming a master carpenter. I'm not even interested enough any more to care.
Now, back to what welder(s) to buy. ....Scott.
