One of the things that seems to confuse welders who
want to start a welding business is the purchase of welding equipment.
There are so many options available that its hard to know where to
begin. And you do not want to make any mistakes here because unlike
buying a car or a new set of golf clubs, this decision can really make
the difference between being successful or failing. For example: Should
you buy new or used welding equipment? What brand is the best? Miller,
Lincoln, Esab, Hobart? Should you get a multi process machine like the
Miller Shopmaster that is capable of Tig, Mig, Flux core, and stick
welding? Or should you buy a separate machine for each process? Oxyfuel
cutting outfit or plasma cutter? Air compressor or electric grinders?
You see what I mean?
This article about starting a welding
business is strictly opinion but it is based on solid experience. It is
only because I have a welding business that I feel qualified to weigh
in on how to start a welding business.
Here is what I would do in a down and dirty nutshell:
Stay
away from multi process machines like the Miller Shopmaster unless you
get a smoking good deal on one and intend to use it for only one
process. Why? It just takes too much time to swap processes and the
hoses, torches, and cables are downright unmanageable.
For your
main Tig welding machine, try to locate a Miller syncrowave 250 on eBay
or craigslist. If you are patient, you can find one with all the
accessories for 2000 bones or less. A bargain.
For a Mig welding machine, again shop eBay or craigslist for a Millermatic 250 or 251.
Somewhere around 1000 bucks is a good deal. Anything less is a steal.
If
you are cramped for space, a foldable welding table or two is the
ticket. They are strong and you can hang them on the wall to get them
out of the way.
You can get by with electric grinders at first
and I would definitely get a couple of straight grinders and 4 1/2 inch
angle grinders with a good assortment of consumables.
If you have
a shop and not just the garage in your home, I would recommend an
oxyfuel cutting, welding, and heating kit. Very useful. Owners size
cylinders are roughly 175 each and the torch kit along with cart might
cost another 300. Thats a total of 650 dollars. But you need it.
In
fact, you really need to have a spare cylinder for all your processes.
Welding gas cylinders are available in basically two kinds: leased
cylinders which are the full sized cylinders used in industry, and
owners cylinders. Owners cylinders are usually about 125 cubic feet or
roughly half the capacity of the big ones. I recommend getting two
owners cylinders for everything. Why? Because running out of argon on
Saturday evening when the job is due out Monday morning is not bad for
business. Having an extra owners bottle will not add to your monthly
expenses and buys you time in getting your main cylinder refilled.
2 argon, 2 argon/co2, 2 acetylene, 2 oxygen at roughly 175 each = 8x175=1400
So here is the breakdown:
- Used Miller syncrowave 250 2000
- Used Millermatic 250 or 251 1000
- 8 gas cylinders 1400
- 4 grinders 2 straight, 2 angle 500
- Oxyfuel kit 300
- Miller spectrum 375 plasma cutter 1400
- 2 foldable Welding tables 300
- Total 6900
This list is a great beginning toward starting you own welding business.