building my first welding bed newpics

Date 10-15-2008 19:32

A young man has several paths he can choose to take in the world.

Some take the path of stealing welding leads to sell for scrap and buy a days worth of meth. Or stick a screwdriver thru the door of my welding rig trying to steal it.

So when I see a guy building a welding bed in his backyard, I can identify with him because I do that every few years myself. And I certainly remember building my first one (with little or no $$$$). It's an exciting thing to do. It's the pure D American way.
So I'm glad this dude is building a welding bed in the yard and I wish him well in the big old welding world, it can be a harsh living at times but a lot of fun as well. I'm certainly not threatened by the existence of other welders. I like most of them. Maybe I'll run into him somewhere and recognize the bed.

The welding world is like the NFL, you got to go out and do it every week and someone is always looking to knock you off. I enjoy that. I don't get all hurt about competition I've been thriving on it for many years now.

I'm happy this guy is building a rig instead of stealing one, or stealing my leads.

JTMcC

JTMcC.

By Sourdough (****)

Date 10-16-2008 15:49

Yeah, I had that truck for about 2 weeks while I was rigging out my duraMAX. So what? Then I threw a bed on my 3/4 ton after I wrecked my 1 ton on the way to the hospital after being burned in a flash fire caused by lightning. Yeah, you read it right, a flash fire caused by lightning. I hit a volunteer fire department photographer with a bad driving record and only 2 points left on his license. I spent the next year and 10 grand getting that straightened out in court. I won...

If you cell warriors dont believe that, look it up.............craigdailypress - keyword: flash fire

Now I'll shut up and let these boys build their bed. I shouldn't have chimed in anyway. I was in a rare, and intemperate mood at the time.

Mahalo, from Maui...........................

By jrw159

Date 10-16-2008 16:08

Sourdough,
Sounds like your backing it up. Bad moods are understandable, everyone gets them now and then. You know better than anyone what starting out is like, when you do not have the funds to go big right out of the gate.

I, for one, will give you credit for stepping up to the plate.

John :-)

By JTMcC

Date 10-16-2008 19:23

Wow, those psycic abilities you posess, they are amazing.
Silver spoon, never a callus, given to me.

You guessed it all exactly right, here's a detail or two:

Mom was a stay at home Mom (a Great One I'll add), of course when I turned 16 I was gifted the millions she had made, as a stay at home full time Mom.
Dad (a Great Dad) did 25 years active duty service, retiring as a Master Sgt, everyone who's ever been an enlisted man in the Armed Forces knows of course that Master Sgt's are all filthy rich, that's why work in the mud and the blood, for the money. After getting out he got his degree (while working over 50 hours per week as a full time student) and taught Auto Shop at a High School for 10 years, another profession that of course generates incredible amounts of income. Between those two careers, Dad was a multi millionare similar to Jed Clampett, not to mention the millions Mom made by not working outside the home.
Now, taking those huge amounts of money (I won't say how much, that would be bragging), Mom & Dad did indeed see that I was born with that silver spoon, had no callus', and it was all given to me, not.

What WAS givin to me was this: a strong work ethic, honesty, pride in my work, Patriotism, on and on I could go. My parents gave me gifts of such value that even old Jed Clampett couldn't afford them, but none involved money. The gift's I was given by my parents transend monetary value. One of the better things they taught me was to never whine. Also that competition is a given, enjoy it.
I started out with an old 1972 SA-200 that cost me $1100 cash, money made with a stinger in my hand. I already owned a truck, and had been collecting tools (most of them from pawn shops, a great source) for several years in anticipation of my venture into self employment. I was on my first job with a total outlay of $2200 of my money.
It's been great fun. I enjoy my work and I enjoy every day God has given me.

JTMcC who probably wouldn't know a real silver spoon if my 4 year old smacked me in the forehead with it : )

By Smooth Operator (***)

Date 10-16-2008 22:42

To JTMcC Excellent profile, post sounds typical of most business owners (myself included )started with a few tools, a couple of bucks and alot of drive and determination.(it's called work ethic i'm told.) Most people born into money or handed down a business usually just pi** it away from what I see. I think sour is pushing the 80% limit for B.S. at this time. Apparently sour was never instructed by his parents "pay attention to your own business don't worry about what others are doing or showing because you don't know the whole story behind it." I here a beep'in noise I think sour is back'in up. Also, what goes Wa Wa Wa " can you here me now" Wa Wa Wa "can you here me now" ? sourdough driven down the road in his ol' telephone company truck look'in for his next job,tell'in everybody the worlds against him. P.S. GO STEELERS AND PENS.

By SMTatham (**)

Date 10-16-2008 14:19

Hey before this gets blown FURTHER out of propoertion...............SOURDOUGH: don't you have a MySpace page? With PHOTOS of a crewcab Ford w/utility bed: "how I started; cash out of pocket" caption?? Pics of a 3/4 ton GM riglet? (with a Ranger 305) Pics of a trailer rig? NOTHING wrong with any of that............nothing. BUT there is when you come on here and start calling folks liars for pointing out the obvious. Gonna give people from Colorado a bad name....................so knock it off.

I have a "utility" type bed with a crane on a F550 chassis. I DON"T weld exclusively. I do lineboring, borewelding, a little millwrighting, heavy equipment work; so the needs are different. I would NOT take off and go do oilpatch work with my truck. And your 3/4 ton rig would not work for me either. So it's to each as their needs dictate; JUST SHUT UP ABOUT PEOPLE YOU DON"T KNOW!!! And don't put pics of yourself on the web that contradict what you say.

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By robgreg1978 (**)

Date 10-11-2008 23:43

to anybody else who thinks we are underqualified, jpwhitton and I have been welding for 13 years in the petrochem industry. Our qualifications consist of SMAW (plate) carbon,stainless,inconel,monel unlimited thickness all positions, SMAW (pipe) carbon all position, GTAW (pipe) carbon, stainless, 1 1/4 chrome, 5 chrome, 9chrome, FCAW (plate) all positions unlimited thickness. We are considered to be in the top rankings with a large portion of the petrochem companysthat we have worked for over the years. Now Im not saying we are the best by no means but we have put in our time under a hood, plus we dont have helpers pulling our leads,cleaning our welds and handing us rods. We have to do this on our own, we will get dirty. I dont think we are going to take any work away from anybody out there. If you cant keep your job dont blame us when we are pulling in and your packing out. Just ready to get out of those frc's for a little while

By texwelder (***)

Date 10-12-2008 04:01

Don't let sourdough get to you guys, a good man would give you a pat on the back, not a kick in the face. So I'll pat you guys on the back, and say good luck, and keep us posted on the progress of the beds.

By robgreg1978 (**)

Date 10-12-2008 17:18

appreciate that. we have the same kind of welders here in the turnaround industry, thought that if they showed you something you would get there job and talked like you were just a young punk. Should be used to it by now.Usually after 2 or 3 weeks on the job they see we will pull our own weight and are pretty cool guys after that.

By Sourdough (****)

Date 10-15-2008 18:11

Well, you seem down to earth enough. My anger shouldn't be directed at you.

BUT: come to my neck of the woods and see the retards that take my work. By definition - retards, with nice trucks.

By robgreg1978 (**)

Date 10-15-2008 20:39

I dont plan on going anywhere but right here in texas and louisiana. This is my home, I grew up with most of the people out there pipeling. The main reason I am going to it is because I have been asked by many of the people who have welded beside me over the years to come and help because of the rejects that are trying to hire out now. If I ever decide to go out of town I belive I will go back to turnarounds, I have worked my way to supervision I dont have to bring a hood to work, decient pay,per diem, travel , 401k, and insurance makes it worth it, but I would like to work close enough to home, to sleep at the house every night and still make ends meet. So rigging out is the only way I see fit in these parts of the woods.

By millerman (**)

Date 10-15-2008 21:17

sorry to here of yer problems there sour in that add you posted for work that cant be your rig in the pic. ?
is someone missing a phone service truck somewhere . well i have been reading this post for a while and good luck there on that rate .
this wont mean anything to ya cause its coming from one of those junk welders .

just my 2 cents worth

Thanks
Mac

By raftergwelding (*****)

Date 10-17-2008 03:38

dont worry about it i had it happen to me in the oil field the other guys got mad at me cause i always answered the phone and always went never turned down nothing they said if i kept it up that they would be expected to do the same i told them no worries cause when u turn it down they call me knowin ill go i started with a beat up yellow 1/2ton i bought from a powerplant and my rig was on a 2 horse trailer i cut the top off of with a 68 redface i paid 1500 for by the way i paid 500 for the truck and traded a grill gaurd and rear bumper for the wrecked trailer i bought what little tools i had at the time used it takes a while but u make it to the top of the ladder just keep looking over your shoulder theres always sum1 looking to knock you off i'm at the bottom again but on my way back to the top it just takes time andlots of hard work thats all

By sandra Date 10-12-2008 13:46 Edited 10-12-2008 13:53

Hey Greg and JP there are always going to be people out there that are going to down you or think they are better then you.When someone downs you guys there is one thing you always be able to say,"It may not be the best or to your likings but I built my bed with my own two hands"

From what I have learned here on the forum, most of these guys here are great and will help you out as much as they can, but every once in a while you'll bump into one thats not. And from what you can see the good ones will always back you up.

Ya'll guys have my up most respect. Keep up the good work and keep posting those pics.TTYL

By shorthood2006 (****)

Date 10-12-2008 17:50

i like their work tooo! i just dont have time to build mine myself.

By texwelder (***)

Date 10-13-2008 01:05 Edited 10-13-2008 01:08

Good work, but man is that bed goin to be heavy? all 1/4 inch plate, and the lids you could have had a sheet metal shop bend those would have saved you a lot of time welding and grinding and they may warp on you, but looks good, real good keep us posted. Here is pic of mine.

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By shorthood2006 (****)

Date 10-13-2008 01:25

hey tex!
can you take a pic of your drivers side of the truck... i love your bed.

By texwelder (***)

Date 10-13-2008 02:13

I've got one right now on the computer, it is at a angle, I'll try take a better one tomorrow.

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By shorthood2006 (****)

Date 10-13-2008 11:49

i really like that bed, tex

By texwelder (***)

Date 10-14-2008 01:55 Edited 10-14-2008 02:05

Thanks man its my first one to build from the ground up, I tried to keep everything as low as possible, need to get it painted one day, but still have some things I want to do to it first.

By shorthood2006 (****)

Date 10-14-2008 13:14

i love the 2" square tubing on edge around the bottom of the tailboard..you dont see that much... i really like it.

By texwelder (***)

Date 10-15-2008 01:33

Actually its 3" and I had a sheet metal shop bend those on there for me no back to them on the sides, the tailboard is solid, it added a lot of strength to the skirts.

By sbcmweb (****)

Date 10-15-2008 02:16

Nice bed Tex!

By texwelder (***)

Date 10-15-2008 02:30

Thanks man, I'll you guys what there is a lot of work goes into one of these beds.

By sbcmweb (****)

Date 10-15-2008 02:38

That's NO doubt. You did an excellent job & knowing full well what goes into good fabrication work, I can really appreciate the attention to detail & pride you take in your rig. When a good hand shows up in a nice looking rig, it speaks for itself. When someone sees my little rig, I want them to know that I'm serious about what I do & take pride in my work.

I'm not a pipe guy, but my rig does what I need it to. Again, nice work. :-) S.W.

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By texwelder (***)

Date 10-15-2008 03:22

Thats a clean lookin little rig, I've had three different trailers rigged out over the years, they have there advantages and disadvantages. When your on the same job for a long time you can just unhook and leave. I built rock plants for two years and only brought my rig home to change the oil in it, but when you get called out in the middle of the night those are more trouble than there worth and then not to mention getting around on well locations and right of ways.

By sbcmweb (****)

Date 10-15-2008 03:52

Thanks! Yeah, I can see where it is a disadvantage but for the piddly stuff I do, it fits the bill. One day, I would like to build a bed with a big machine on it.

Fact is, I repair more machines than I do welding anymore. :-)

By JPWHITTON (**)

Date 10-13-2008 01:50

hop my truck will haul it.your bed looks good tex did you have your doors built thay look good. I like the way the doors on the big boxes look.

By texwelder (***)

Date 10-13-2008 02:10

Yeah had a sheet metal shop bend them for me, they are called coffin top lids, thanks still need to get it painted one day.

By shorthood2006 (****)

Date 10-13-2008 23:48

looks damn good to me!

By JPWHITTON (**)

Date 10-13-2008 23:58 Edited 10-14-2008 01:22

that looKs good the is the other side going to happen tomorrow .

By JPWHITTON (**)

Date 10-14-2008 22:05

HERE ARE SOME PICS FROM TO DAY IT WONT BE LONG NOW

By millerman (**)

Date 10-15-2008 21:19

Jp what is the diam. of those rolled fenders ?

Thanks
Mac

/

By JPWHITTON (**)

Date 10-16-2008 14:12

thay are 32 inches at the wideest point

By raftergwelding (*****)

Date 10-16-2008 05:32

did ya ever figure out what you're gonna do for a frame

By JPWHITTON (**)

Date 10-16-2008 14:15

i already put the frame in

By raftergwelding (*****)

Date 10-16-2008 21:59

what did ya get figured out for it

By JPWHITTON (**)

Date 10-17-2008 01:37

used 6/4 angle the lenght of tThe bed had to cut it at the drop to 2and half inches and cross braced it.It was hard to get it under there and atached but i got it. Wish i had some help with that part of ti.