I started at twenty years old. I’m sixty five now and trying to stay retired. Problem is my phone keeps ringing and I struggle with saying no. And yes Austin, my learning started on day one and continues today. You couldn’t be more correct than when you say that the learning does not, and should not end. You are doing a great job getting the word out to everyone and encouraging them no matter where they are in their career. Keep it up!!!
This is one of your best videos. Setting yourself apart from the crowd is an underrated step in the employment process. I used to interview a lot of candidates for jobs and it was like interviewing the same person over and over. They all said the same things. I finally started asking them to tell me something about themselves that they didn't think any of the other candidates would tell me. Very few could do it. That made me feel like that person didn't even know who they were. I remember one candidate that liked axe throwing and another one that liked Legos. Everyone says they're dependable, hard working, trust worthy, etc. Those words get used so often that they don't mean anything. If you're looking for work you need to sit down with yourself and think about what's inside you that sets yourself apart from the crowd (in a good way!) and find a way to market that.
Love your videos Man!...I used to be a Drilling Rig welder in Northern BC Canada...Casing Bowls, Conductor barrels and whatever the rig crew happened to break lol...Never got to the pipe lining side of it but watching your videos makes me miss it and want to get back into it.
Learning and experiences will take you to new levels. Never be afraid to register for school or university. I wasn't college material, but I applied. I was a 1988 VICA champion welder, a few years later, a tool and diemaker. I returned to school and now a dentist. Your skills can only build you!! Apply them!!
Lot of great information, I'm 63 and retired now and learned to weld in high school but have never just solely welded for a job. Welding is one of the skills i used in some of my jobs. Have been listening to comedian Steve Harvey and what he talks about is what i had to learn to better myself.
Hey Austin, coming from an 18 year old mobile welder, this video was amazing. There’s a number of other welders around here that have way more years in business than I do and this video really spoke to me. Couple things I’ve learned these last couple months is find a niche. Each welder around here has a niche so it works out good. But thank you so much for making this video. Came at a great time too, I’m going to bid some high paying jobs next week and your advice is well noted to hopefully help me land them
Hello Austin I am a locksmith in Europe, I almost never weld, a little TIG for manufacturing and a little arc (6013 only) for distributions on gates or guardrails. I don't intend to become a Pipeline Welder but your mindset helps me do a better job and learn something new every day and have higher demands in my job. Thank you very much for sharing all this knowledge around the world. Simon from France
Well said Austin !👍 I'm about 20 years ahead of you in age and the strange thing is I only work for a small number of long time customers now . They know what to expect from me and I know what to expect from them .
Turn up on time , finish the job you said you would do , do what you said you can do , and charge what you agreed to do ,,,, thats it , you will stand out and be a star.
This and the last video it speaks to where I'm at right now looking to quit a a job and start a mobile welding business and there are lots of other rigs around. Thanks for the insight
You should always be learning something new everyday, every job. My issue is, I have a home weld/fab shop but have a full time job. My customers are loyal and understanding but more times than not, the job is a rush job needed right away. If I’m at my full time job, I can’t be in my shop. I’m always honest with people about it. I hate to do it usually, but I forward the job to another skilled welder in my area that I network with and trust. Customers are always still appreciative of me assisting with the job getting done and still return to me on the next job needed. Great video as always sir, great content!
You’re right it does make sense I’m a custom car builder but I can relate to everything that you’re saying the only thing that I think you missed is scheduling so much work you can’t sit down for 5 minutes not being able to eat or shower or sleep
Another exclent video, Mr. Ross. You are providing a great service for young people and our nation because of the need for the welding trades as well as for other trades.
Excellent video, and spot on with your advice. I would add to learn to not take things personally. Always do the hard thing when it comes to finishing jobs, take extra time to do it right when you don't want to. In today's world, customer service is at a low. So when you treat people with respect and an open mind and attitude, they respond in kind. That is the best advertisement you can get. Love the channel. I do welding, machining, fabrication and heavy equipment repair.
I worked at McDonnell-Douglas in Tulsa, back in the late '70s. At the same time, I went to Spartan School of Aeronautics to get my Airframes and Powerplants certificate from the FAA. I'd been a helicopter mechanic/crew chief in the Navy, so it seemed like a logical step. Except for one tiny little thing. Probably due to the Reduction in Force (RIF) after Vietnam, there were a lot of guys who had been helicopter mechanics in the military, who were now civilians, looking to get into the civilian aviation maintenance field. Schools like Spartan and community colleges all over the country were pumping out graduates who were getting their A&P's - but no jobs. The really good paying jobs at the large airlines and manufacturers were so impacted that they had waiting lists. The lessor paying jobs at small airports and overhaul places were likewise impacted, except there was a higher turnover in a lot of those jobs. Basically, there was a glut of A&Ps out there working at Quick Trips, 7-11s and so on. I was lucky; working at McDonnell-Douglas, I was making more money than my instructors at Spartan, most of the guys who were certified, but not working in the field, and even a lot of guys working IN the aviation maintenance industry. I ended up welding for Riverside Industries in West Tulsa, ornamental iron in San Diego, and for a couple of different driveline specialty shops, also in San Diego. So, I guess the point is: sometimes there is a glut of people in a given industry. That's basic economics. When providers of goods and services have little to no competition in an industry, prices tend to be higher than normal, which also leads to higher than normal profits. That's an incentive for other people to enter that industry, profits go down, and so do prices. Well, except for collusion between providers. Been there, seen that. In that case, you have to be flexible, go where the money is, and sometimes reinvent yourself. I'm old now (67) but I've worked all over this country, doing all kinds of work, just to make a living and support my family.
I have a small stick welder and a car, im thinking about buying a generator and doing mobile welding in my car but then again im not sure if its a good idea. Im not certified but thinking about going into welding school soon. I bought my welder about 2 years ago and i know how to weld but im not the best. What do you think?
GO TO SCHOOL YOUNG MAN! I'm not a career welder. From about the 6 grade through high school, dad did mobile welding and had a welding / machine shop. It was a great environment to grow up in. I am now retired, but I elected to go to auto diesel school in Nashville, TN. I worked on farm and heavy equipment for 18 years. I later went to aviation school and graduated into a very flat market, later got into heavy industrial maintenance where I retired with 24 years. I can tell you that my growing up in the welding environment, along with the 2 mechanic schools, gave me a tremendous edge over people with no schooling. If you have enough courage to do what you are doing, you have what it takes to make it through welding school. I do my best to help young people to over come the fears of moving away from home and take on the debt of school. Bat your eyes and sign on the dotted line. SIGN UP FOR SCHOOL, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. YOU WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE TIME IT TAKES TO LEARN ALL OF THE WELDING PROCESS. I have been evaluating schools of several trades so I can make intelligent recommendations to young people. Western Welding Academy in Gliet, Wyoming, and Missouri Welding School. You would NOT REGRET attending either one of these schools. If you are professionally taught to properly fit and weld pipe , and in all positions, and with all processes, you will be able to literally weld ANYTHING. I SURE WISH I COULD SPEAK WITH YOU. Mr. Ross may be able to give you my information. You need to send a text to state your business and name or I want answer.
Be careful who you bring in as a partner. started a mobile welding business with a fellow ",welder" , he would leave jobs unfinished that he delegated to himself, i went and did some pipe fencing ans so forth. Got to a point the customers were calling me, so i had to go and finish the work, then this individual decided i should pay for all materials and put all my earning into a "work" account so "we" could use it to pay for material and so forth. i dragged up right then and there and told him hes a scammer and i want nothing to do with his business practice.😂😂
Biggest problem I see with today is price of everything keeps raising while the customer which is like yourself struggling to make ends meet can't nor do they want to pay more for the same service Is it that way in your neck of the woods Austin rods and metal has tripled if not more in past several years here in south Texas yet folks don't want to pay more
It’s hard to say from everyone’s perspective around here but the few guys I do know and keep in touch with have not had any trouble staying busy despite rising prices of materials. I really think a lot of that has to do with a different clientele. Like a higher end clientele. Or another business as a client virus’s a home owner.
don't just be a mobile welder-be THE welder they call when the cheap guys mess it up. Speaking of-in the morning I'm taking my pipepro 400 to fix a loader bucket lock that fell off after the cheap guy 'fixed' it.If you have the skills to back it up price yourself accordingly to weed out the guys mig welding off a generator,and word will travel fast. Be honest about when and how,most people respect that
im wanting to start doing little side hustles and i want to start with a multi process welder and a generator im working 50 hours a week at a fab shop doing quality work should i consider something different? or could i start with a welder and generator?
@@WeldWhizz you'll need a fairly large generator, and an inverter-based welder. Trying to weld with a transformer will pop the breaker due to the lousy power factor they have. Food for thought
@@garthlandyeah that is true Iv watched a ton of of videos online about the different generator welder combos etc and Iv gotten a pretty good understanding of it and a game plan was just wondering if it’d be better to just buy a welder generator or the mix
If you’re going to fix everything wrong with welders one life time won’t be enough most of the welders I know spend more time talking about welding instead of welding
It's hard to compete out here with these guys running a generator and a welder. They'll undercut every job just to get the work. How do you compete? I bought my equipment cheap, but my price point is substantially higher then these guys with generators, by at least tripple. Why do I have to cut my rate to get work?
That's not my experience I passed out thousands of business cards on different job sites in trying to get this bullshit handrails and you know if I'm lucky some structural I'm barely surviving on 25 or 30 jobs a year
Attitude is everything, but so is personal appearance. Showing up to a new client or employer covered in dirt and grime doesn't make a good impression. Im sure I'll catch slack on this, but the same goes for your rig. See your welding rig as your calling card. What turns heads, a truck covered in mud and dirt that has tools strewn about or one that's clean and organized? I know, "I see a welder with a clean rig I see a welder that doesn't work much." Wrong. There is a welder who will take pride in his work because he's willing to put in the extra effort to maintain a professional appearance.
I started at twenty years old. I’m sixty five now and trying to stay retired. Problem is my phone keeps ringing and I struggle with saying no. And yes Austin, my learning started on day one and continues today. You couldn’t be more correct than when you say that the learning does not, and should not end. You are doing a great job getting the word out to everyone and encouraging them no matter where they are in their career. Keep it up!!!
😂😂🎉🎉🎉🎉
Austin Ross, the Mr. Rodgers of the welder community. Good stuff my man
This is one of your best videos. Setting yourself apart from the crowd is an underrated step in the employment process. I used to interview a lot of candidates for jobs and it was like interviewing the same person over and over. They all said the same things. I finally started asking them to tell me something about themselves that they didn't think any of the other candidates would tell me. Very few could do it. That made me feel like that person didn't even know who they were. I remember one candidate that liked axe throwing and another one that liked Legos. Everyone says they're dependable, hard working, trust worthy, etc. Those words get used so often that they don't mean anything. If you're looking for work you need to sit down with yourself and think about what's inside you that sets yourself apart from the crowd (in a good way!) and find a way to market that.
I had an uncle who told me “it only cost a nickel more to go first class”! Separating your work from others is a series of small things. Tim in Oneida
That doesn't make much sense so he must have been really old
Love your videos Man!...I used to be a Drilling Rig welder in Northern BC Canada...Casing Bowls, Conductor barrels and whatever the rig crew happened to break lol...Never got to the pipe lining side of it but watching your videos makes me miss it and want to get back into it.
Thanks, not just for me but anyone who benefited from your video 😁
Learning and experiences will take you to new levels. Never be afraid to register for school or university. I wasn't college material, but I applied. I was a 1988 VICA champion welder, a few years later, a tool and diemaker. I returned to school and now a dentist. Your skills can only build you!! Apply them!!
More than half of the local welders do crappy/sloppy work. Do a great job, treat people well and work will come.
The ones that do sloppy work are back yard welders just in it to make quick money and take no pride for good work
Lot of great information, I'm 63 and retired now and learned to weld in high school but have never just solely welded for a job. Welding is one of the skills i used in some of my jobs.
Have been listening to comedian Steve Harvey and what he talks about is what i had to learn to better myself.
Hey Austin, coming from an 18 year old mobile welder, this video was amazing. There’s a number of other welders around here that have way more years in business than I do and this video really spoke to me. Couple things I’ve learned these last couple months is find a niche. Each welder around here has a niche so it works out good. But thank you so much for making this video. Came at a great time too, I’m going to bid some high paying jobs next week and your advice is well noted to hopefully help me land them
Yes sir. This makes a lot of sense sense!
Hello Austin
I am a locksmith in Europe, I almost never weld, a little TIG for manufacturing and a little arc (6013 only) for distributions on gates or guardrails.
I don't intend to become a Pipeline Welder but your mindset helps me do a better job and learn something new every day and have higher demands in my job.
Thank you very much for sharing all this knowledge around the world.
Simon from France
Our welding instructors always told us to never sell yourself short.
Well said Austin !👍 I'm about 20 years ahead of you in age and the strange thing is I only work for a small number of long time customers now .
They know what to expect from me and I know what to expect from them .
I stick with stainless,Tig and specialty stuff. Keeps the phone ringing off the hook.
Turn up on time , finish the job you said you would do , do what you said you can do , and charge what you agreed to do ,,,, thats it , you will stand out and be a star.
I suggest that you add a line of welder's coffee to your merchandise line. "Pipeliners Coffee" -"Stronger than Welded Steel!"
Thanks for the video honestly just hit a rough spot with the welding business really needed this video to rethink a few things
My pleasure.
This and the last video it speaks to where I'm at right now looking to quit a a job and start a mobile welding business and there are lots of other rigs around. Thanks for the insight
That does work Austin, thanks for sharing with us. Keep up the great information and videos. Fred.
You should always be learning something new everyday, every job. My issue is, I have a home weld/fab shop but have a full time job. My customers are loyal and understanding but more times than not, the job is a rush job needed right away. If I’m at my full time job, I can’t be in my shop. I’m always honest with people about it. I hate to do it usually, but I forward the job to another skilled welder in my area that I network with and trust. Customers are always still appreciative of me assisting with the job getting done and still return to me on the next job needed. Great video as always sir, great content!
Where I live I've seen several welding trucks but only when they're moving through town but very little actually in my town
You’re right it does make sense I’m a custom car builder but I can relate to everything that you’re saying the only thing that I think you missed is scheduling so much work you can’t sit down for 5 minutes not being able to eat or shower or sleep
The advice that you have presented is all extremely important information. Especially if your self employed.
Another exclent video, Mr. Ross. You are providing a great service for young people and our nation because of the need for the welding trades as well as for other trades.
thank you for this video, really helped me figure some stuff out with my career I LOVE U MISTER ROSS
Great perspective and tips!
Very helpful, thank you A Ross
Thanks Austin good advice a good attitude is right way to go
Excellent video, and spot on with your advice. I would add to learn to not take things personally. Always do the hard thing when it comes to finishing jobs, take extra time to do it right when you don't want to. In today's world, customer service is at a low. So when you treat people with respect and an open mind and attitude, they respond in kind. That is the best advertisement you can get. Love the channel. I do welding, machining, fabrication and heavy equipment repair.
All great stuff brother! Thank you!!! 👊💪
Could your do a video on your torch setup like torch type and sizes. Hose size and length bottle sizing your go to torch and such?
Another great video buddy 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks
I worked at McDonnell-Douglas in Tulsa, back in the late '70s. At the same time, I went to Spartan School of Aeronautics to get my Airframes and Powerplants certificate from the FAA. I'd been a helicopter mechanic/crew chief in the Navy, so it seemed like a logical step.
Except for one tiny little thing. Probably due to the Reduction in Force (RIF) after Vietnam, there were a lot of guys who had been helicopter mechanics in the military, who were now civilians, looking to get into the civilian aviation maintenance field. Schools like Spartan and community colleges all over the country were pumping out graduates who were getting their A&P's - but no jobs.
The really good paying jobs at the large airlines and manufacturers were so impacted that they had waiting lists.
The lessor paying jobs at small airports and overhaul places were likewise impacted, except there was a higher turnover in a lot of those jobs.
Basically, there was a glut of A&Ps out there working at Quick Trips, 7-11s and so on. I was lucky; working at McDonnell-Douglas, I was making more money than my instructors at Spartan, most of the guys who were certified, but not working in the field, and even a lot of guys working IN the aviation maintenance industry.
I ended up welding for Riverside Industries in West Tulsa, ornamental iron in San Diego, and for a couple of different driveline specialty shops, also in San Diego.
So, I guess the point is: sometimes there is a glut of people in a given industry. That's basic economics. When providers of goods and services have little to no competition in an industry, prices tend to be higher than normal, which also leads to higher than normal profits. That's an incentive for other people to enter that industry, profits go down, and so do prices. Well, except for collusion between providers. Been there, seen that.
In that case, you have to be flexible, go where the money is, and sometimes reinvent yourself.
I'm old now (67) but I've worked all over this country, doing all kinds of work, just to make a living and support my family.
where i live in MT we need some buddy with mobile rig
Ive had so many people underbid me and I’ve seen their work. I can’t believe it honestly that’s here in okc
never give up never give in
Great video
Getting started in business is nightmare especially in welding😅
I have a small stick welder and a car, im thinking about buying a generator and doing mobile welding in my car but then again im not sure if its a good idea. Im not certified but thinking about going into welding school soon. I bought my welder about 2 years ago and i know how to weld but im not the best. What do you think?
GO TO SCHOOL YOUNG MAN! I'm not a career welder. From about the 6 grade through high school, dad did mobile welding and had a welding / machine shop. It was a great environment to grow up in. I am now retired, but I elected to go to auto diesel school in Nashville, TN. I worked on farm and heavy equipment for 18 years. I later went to aviation school and graduated into a very flat market, later got into heavy industrial maintenance where I retired with 24 years. I can tell you that my growing up in the welding environment, along with the 2 mechanic schools, gave me a tremendous edge over people with no schooling.
If you have enough courage to do what you are doing, you have what it takes to make it through welding school. I do my best to help young people to over come the fears of moving away from home and take on the debt of school. Bat your eyes and sign on the dotted line. SIGN UP FOR SCHOOL, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. YOU WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE TIME IT TAKES TO LEARN ALL OF THE WELDING PROCESS.
I have been evaluating schools of several trades so I can make intelligent recommendations to young people. Western Welding Academy in Gliet, Wyoming, and Missouri Welding School. You would NOT REGRET attending either one of these schools. If you are professionally taught to properly fit and weld pipe , and in all positions, and with all processes, you will be able to literally weld ANYTHING.
I SURE WISH I COULD SPEAK WITH YOU. Mr. Ross may be able to give you my information. You need to send a text to state your business and name or I want answer.
I’d encourage you to go to school for welding.
Be careful who you bring in as a partner. started a mobile welding business with a fellow ",welder" , he would leave jobs unfinished that he delegated to himself, i went and did some pipe fencing ans so forth. Got to a point the customers were calling me, so i had to go and finish the work, then this individual decided i should pay for all materials and put all my earning into a "work" account so "we" could use it to pay for material and so forth. i dragged up right then and there and told him hes a scammer and i want nothing to do with his business practice.😂😂
Biggest problem I see with today is price of everything keeps raising while the customer which is like yourself struggling to make ends meet can't nor do they want to pay more for the same service Is it that way in your neck of the woods Austin rods and metal has tripled if not more in past several years here in south Texas yet folks don't want to pay more
It’s hard to say from everyone’s perspective around here but the few guys I do know and keep in touch with have not had any trouble staying busy despite rising prices of materials. I really think a lot of that has to do with a different clientele. Like a higher end clientele. Or another business as a client virus’s a home owner.
Yeh I live in west Texas 😂
Mastermind = IRON SHARPENS IRON
don't just be a mobile welder-be THE welder they call when the cheap guys mess it up. Speaking of-in the morning I'm taking my pipepro 400 to fix a loader bucket lock that fell off after the cheap guy 'fixed' it.If you have the skills to back it up price yourself accordingly to weed out the guys mig welding off a generator,and word will travel fast. Be honest about when and how,most people respect that
im wanting to start doing little side hustles and i want to start with a multi process welder and a generator im working 50 hours a week at a fab shop doing quality work should i consider something different? or could i start with a welder and generator?
i have pics of my welds on instagram with the same name as youtube ill be posting more iv just been really busy
@@WeldWhizz you'll need a fairly large generator, and an inverter-based welder. Trying to weld with a transformer will pop the breaker due to the lousy power factor they have. Food for thought
@@garthlandyeah that is true Iv watched a ton of of videos online about the different generator welder combos etc and Iv gotten a pretty good understanding of it and a game plan was just wondering if it’d be better to just buy a welder generator or the mix
I know what I can do, I'm a fast learner..
Mastermind l= IRON SHARPENS IRON
If you’re going to fix everything wrong with welders one life time won’t be enough most of the welders I know spend more time talking about welding instead of welding
It's hard to compete out here with these guys running a generator and a welder. They'll undercut every job just to get the work. How do you compete? I bought my equipment cheap, but my price point is substantially higher then these guys with generators, by at least tripple. Why do I have to cut my rate to get work?
Lately I’ve been practicing the things I talked about in this video.
That's not my experience I passed out thousands of business cards on different job sites in trying to get this bullshit handrails and you know if I'm lucky some structural I'm barely surviving on 25 or 30 jobs a year
Attitude is everything, but so is personal appearance. Showing up to a new client or employer covered in dirt and grime doesn't make a good impression. Im sure I'll catch slack on this, but the same goes for your rig. See your welding rig as your calling card. What turns heads, a truck covered in mud and dirt that has tools strewn about or one that's clean and organized? I know, "I see a welder with a clean rig I see a welder that doesn't work much." Wrong. There is a welder who will take pride in his work because he's willing to put in the extra effort to maintain a professional appearance.
Just wait until the pipelines shut down they will be gone or for sale cheap
🇺🇸🇺🇸🍻💪
Mastermind l= IRON SHARPENS IRON