I have been structural welding in paper mills and powerplants since 2000. I learned to weld late in life. I am 41. I am comfortable driving 1000 miles to take a structural test. I am 95% ready for pipe, but I know I need more practice just yet for pipe. That being said, I have heard about an opportunity to weld as a structural rig welder. It doesn't pay what a rig welder should earn, as my rig welder (pipe) buddies tell me, but it does pay better than I can earn as a single hand structural welder. I made $70K last year, but I do not have the money to build a rig. (I am divorcing the cause of my current financial difficulties) I have a 2008 1/2 ton silverado. I am considering leasing a vantage 300 and buying a couple hundred feet of #1 lead and going to work for a few weeks until I can buy a one ton in the next 3 months to modify later. My question is.. Would I be laughed off the jobsite? If you were running a STRUCTURAL RIG job, would you even let me test? I know there is a lot of predjudice against anything other than a one ton dually, but would I get the chance to prove myself?
Thanks
Jeff
road dog,
Sounds like a plan to me. As long as you got a torch set-up, couple of grinders and some other basic tools, you're in business! Just make sure you have the right stuff to perform any repairs and I sure would not have any qualms about testing you.
On the off side of this discussion, I would not buy ANYTHING until AFTER the divorce is finalized!
It wont take long to burn up that half ton carrying the machine, bottles and tools. If you can get a 3/4 ton it will be easier on the pocket book as you will wear out a lot of parts on that half ton.
BABRT's
That Vantage will smash that half ton you might get by for awhile with air bags but your axle, transmission cooler and other things won't hold up. I run 3/4 ton trucks all the time the Dodge has the same running gear as the 1 ton and with the desperate auto dealers you would in my opinion be better off trading off the 1/2 ton rather than just beating it up and having nothing to trade in later. If you decide to run the 1/2 ton you will still spend at least a grand or more on tires and air bags just to pack it good luck.
Wait til the divorce is final before investing your hard earned cash. Been there done that.
You might look into setting up a trailer to put your stuff on. IMO that looks better than a 1/2ton with the axle rideing on the frame. I did structural work with a trailer rig when I started out. Wasn't on any huge projects, but it worked. Just set it up nice so you look professional and can find what you need.
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Thank you all for your input.
I have decided that I need to go ahead and bite the bullet and get a one ton. I am looking for a used but functional truck that will last me only a year. By that time, if I cannot afford a new truck, I have no business in rig welding. I am going tomorrow to look at a 02 chevy one ton diesel with a flatbed and some tool boxes. The pics he e-mailed me look pretty good. I just hope the 116K miles he said is accurate.
I am not buying a truck. Dad is buying a truck. Hes just gonna lease it to me cheap til this divorce thing is over. BTW, I found yesterday where she was diverting some of my money into another account...rotflmao!!!! GOTCHA!! There is probably more. I think I will keep looking..(evil grin)
Thanks again for the advice.
Jeff
I worked with a rig welder at DOW chemical a few years back that thought he could beat the system and rigged out a 1500(half ton) Chevy with a full sized welding bed after a few weeks of workin it...the Frame broke right behind the cab. He continued to drive it for a little while....go figure. I would think there would be an even bigger problem getting it stopped.
I have worked from a half ton with overloads, light welder and smaller bottles, tossed off the stuff I wasnt using. Depends on how much machine you need.
Shows it wasn't enough experience welding
Hers something for you to think about and once again everybody is different. I work in the oil field and i worked with a guy that drove a 1/2 ton dodge with a lincoln 305g 4 bottles boxes of tools etc etc and he never had any troubles most co.s frown on air cooled machines but it just depends on the inspector and contractor and once again i work in the oil field most dont care as long as you work and stay busy
You could stick a Ranger in the back of an Escort wagon if Your truck gets repo'ed, won't cut it on Cactus's job tho :-(. A friend of Mine has a beat up Escort wagon You could get real cheap, but it is in Pa.
my mom has a 1/2 ton beater she got from an auction at the power plant she works at if worse gets to worse i could use it only bad thing is its a short wheel base i'll get laughed at but so what i'll still be making money
Dang, if you made $70k doing plant work you must have lived at the job. If you're ex can't appreciate that level of sacrifice then you're going to be better off without her, that's for sure.
i only work shutdowns when i ahve and never made 70k in a power plant but did make 120k my last good yr in the oil field i only mad 24k this year with my wifes help
Yes, I lived at work. She didn't appreciate it a bit. Kinda got used to me being gone. Made more time for her boyfriend. I know I am better off without her.. We had court on March 11, 2009. We had been negotiating all week through our attorneys. I went to court. Her attorney called the judge's clerk that morning before our case came up and told her that we had reached an agreement.. 10 days after that, she still hadn't signed her copy and was trying to negotiate with me via text message. We have filed for enforcement of agreement and have to go before the judge. She still thinks we are negotiating. Meanwhile, she lives rent free in MY house for another couple of months.
Ain't life a *****!
I am welding pipe now..On my arm. Learning a lot. Also working on my game....lol
J
To much weight RoadDog, I run an F350 89 at the moment, I believe a 4 in. lift 235/85r snow tread 460 5 sp and it's loaded with a Miller 280NT, 250 Acetylene, large 280 oxy, either 300 argomix or 2 135s bottles and a side box length of truck and an Ingersoll Rand 30 Gal 12 hp comp.
4wh. dr. single rear wheel and drive it up the side of a mountain to do ski resort work. Awesome. But it's getting old now but runs like mad.
Don't waste the half ton. Rides nice on highway. Weighs out at about 1200 lbs. under gross rating. Next is going to be an 350 diesel.
I'm stay local thou at the moment. just made 30 yrs welding.
Good luck I love it most of the time.
Topic Welding Industry / Welding Fundamentals / Don't shut me down til you read it all..Struct. rig welder
