Whats your story?

[TOMWELDS]

Since we go back and forth on here everyday, how about some background info on your trade experience. Kinda like getting to know each other better. Whether welding is a profession or a hobby. Where did it all start?

Me, i bought my first welder (montgomery wards 100amp) at 12. Worked in a factory from 12 (after school) to 24yrs. Did machine work, punchpresses, painting, brazing, drafting, assembling, mostly S/S sheetwork on government contracts. Got my electrical license at 22. Started electrical buss. at 24. Basically since have been doing electrical contracting and bakery maintenance repairs. Im now 44 yrs old. Welding and mechanics was more or less a hobby until i found a niche in the bakery business. So to all you hobbyist...YOU NEVER KNOW!.lol .I find this to be a very good forum. Lotsa info and different views. I respect you all.

[blueoval557]

First of all...I am only 17 and still in high school. I started when I was 13. I had a summer job where my mom worked, where they worked on all there own delivery vehicles.....I saw the welder in the corner. The "master mechanic" was the coolest guy ever and put it to me as simple as "heres some metal, have fun..." and not to brag or anything but for some reason I picked up super quick. I had always been interested in welding...being around well fabrictaed racecars all my life. Now, I own my own MIG which I bought with the next 2 paychecks after I used the one at work, and just purchased my new Syncrowave! JUst do it as a hobby, although, I do make money off of it. I have dreams of owning my own racecar company that builds the absolute best drag cars in the world. Someday I'll be famous...hopefully! HAHA.
Kyle

[Sberry]

Mine is a long sorrid story. Many details not suitable for young readers,,, hahahahaha

[TOMWELDS]

I left out a few unwanted details myself, Sberry...LOL

[Sberry]

I might have the record for the longest apprenticeship in the Ironworkers,,, hahaha Most of it not in my own local and a year or so during that time working permit as a pipe weldor in a nuke. If I was in the position to really sit and choose I would be in the electric sign biz I think. Really varied types of fab and service work. I like those big freeway signs, Burger King, McDonalds.

[Sberry]

One thing if you are a sparky and doing residential type things thats nice is you dont need all this stuff, a drill motor, hammer, couple pairs of pliers and a couple of screwdrivers and you are in biz,,, hahahahaha

[TOMWELDS]

Most of my life, the fab work i did consisted mostly of 10 ga and less S/S. Now with repair work, im really digging 1/2 and 3/4 plate! Nice change. We did a large electrical job in a gas station, the owner wanted new lightpoles and ordered new ones with bases that didnt match the old. I made adapter plates from 1/2 plate and he was in shock. I told him 'we do it all'. I love a challenge..LOL The welding always comes in handy. Guys always say to me.."i thought you were an electrician"?..L

[TOMWELDS]

One thing if you are a sparky and doing residential type things thats nice is you dont need all this stuff, a drill motor, hammer, couple pairs of pliers and a couple of screwdrivers and you are in biz,,, hahahahaha

Actually, i started with commercial work. Bending pipe. Romex came later. Dont need my pipe threader much in a home..L

[Sberry]

I remodel mobile homes into migrant housing and one of the things I do is put in a new panel and surface pipe wiring in. That really works well and its a known quanity. I was thinking if I get around to building a new home I would pipe the wiring. I just like it so much better than cable.

[TOMWELDS]

I use pipe alot were most guys use BX. Its better and later on you can make changes easily. Often, later in the job, we're asked to add a circuit. No problem, just slip another set of wires thru.

[Sberry]

Well its 3 am here and I am about ready to call it a day. I am about as tired and wet as I want to be, I should have listened to Mom and stayed in school, could be making an outrageous amout of money working 9 to 5 slaving under a hot secretary instead of walking 5 miles, turning a hundred bolts and in and out of a truck countless times not including being drenched more than once.

[indyracer]

I don't post much, but I thought I would chime in.

I am one of those that sit behind a desk most of the time. I am the Network Administrator at a third-party independent Metallurgical and Environmental testing facility. I can get all of my metal questions answered pretty quickly. We do a lot of Aerospace testing so I get my hands on some pretty exotic metals once in awhile. I check the metals dumpster about twice a week to see what is laying around. I do some traveling to our facilities in Oklahoma and Louisiana so it keeps me busy.

I am strictly a hobby welder. People around here just can't seem to understand that a computer guy can do other things. They always act suprised when I talk about welding and having a powder coating system and a large air compressor along with a fair amount of tools. Most of them ask, "Why do you have that?" I just tell them that computer work is my job not my life.

Tony

[TOMWELDS]

But arent you HAPPY?..LOL

[TOMWELDS]

Indy, Its great to be creative and have some kinda 'outlet' at the end of the day...isnt it?

[RickSidebottom]

I don't post much, but I thought I would chime in.

I am one of those that sit behind a desk most of the time. I am the Network Administrator at a third-party independent Metallurgical and Environmental testing facility. I can get all of my metal questions answered pretty quickly. We do a lot of Aerospace testing so I get my hands on some pretty exotic metals once in awhile. I check the metals dumpster about twice a week to see what is laying around. I do some traveling to our facilities in Oklahoma and Louisiana so it keeps me busy.

I am strictly a hobby welder. People around here just can't seem to understand that a computer guy can do other things. They always act suprised when I talk about welding and having a powder coating system and a large air compressor along with a fair amount of tools. Most of them ask, "Why do you have that?" I just tell them that computer work is my job not my life.

Tony

I work on the Self Checkout machines in the Kroger Chain. Welding is a hobby and a stress release. Spent time in a midas muffler and learned to half @$$ O/A there.

I do like my tools