how to find customers for side work?

[weld55]

I was wondering if any of you would be able to give me some advice on how to find some welding work I could do part time in my shop at home to make some extra money. I have a syncrowave 250 in my garage, a milwaukee multicutting chop saw, a portaband saw, and a grinder. My goal is to find something that would be steady work ( about $2000/month would be great). I was thinking of stopping by some of the welding and manufacturing places along my way to work. What types of companies outsource small parts for something they manufacture? I would like to find a situation where I would pick up the fabricated parts, bring them home, weld them and drop them off. It would have to be smaller parts as I do not have much working space or the ability to transport anything real big. I thought maybe some aluminum guards or small stainless tube frames would be good. I was thinking of welding up some samples of my aluminum and stainless welding to show at places I stop. Also I thought I should get some nicer clothes to wear when I stop by so I don't have on clothes with burn holes in them. I have tried the metal crafts thing. I spent a lot of time thinking up things, getting material and then hope it sells. I have a collection of things in my basement that haven't sold yet. I want to make some extra cash but still be able to have time to spend with my family and do other things that I enjoy. So if I find this type of work I thought it would be a better use of my time. Any of your tips would help out a lot. Thanks

[jamscal]

Use Craigslist if it's local to your area. Free ads. Relist when appropriate. Make a good ad too, detailed and with pics.

Maybe post on local message boards, though you might need permission. Automotive, artistic, home and garden type local sites.

Find out who's hiring welders, see what kind of work they do, and if it's small enough, they may be open to your idea. I don't see that paying a whole lot, but it would be better to work in the garage than being chained 9 to 5.

Just a few ideas...Good luck.

-James

[terry welds]

weld55 i started with the farmers in my aera. useing selfmade bussiness cards at the hardwear store and the so called coffee shop. see if you can hardsurfus cultvater shavols or tool bar knifes they are ease to do. some i have to take off my self. but you can take them back to the shop. my fatherinlaw and i have a bussiness on the side that we started 3 years ago we do pertty good the money that we make we put right back in the bussiness. fore more toys. sometimes i do more work on things just to get to weld for someone. but it always seems to pay off in the end. befor i new it that guy told a nother guy and so on good luck to you weld55. no job is to small

[dwain]

Bro, you might try getting into artistic wrought iron, which involves a lot of welding as well as blacksmithing. Collect some books, starting with, "Lives Shaped By Steel" by Nancy Zastrow. Don't let the fact that the author is a woman fool you, guys. What do you suppose her husband does? Other titles: "Blacksmith's Craft, by George Dixon,..."Moving Metal", by AdolphSteines,..."Charleston Ironwork", by Charles Bayless.

[tsalagi]

a guy at my church got work from his company farmed out to me. just building stair treads. at 10.00 ea., witch is pretty handsom pay if you bust it and do 100 a day.
someone told me at work that the company i work for will farm out small structural jobs to me. i need to find out about that one.
my father-in-law builds compartment hinges for million dollar tour busses. his step son got him that.
it's out there, just keep huntin for it.
good luck!

[sjmiller]

Dude,

Most of my posts here are about turning my hobby into a business. Everyone I know is aware that I weld for dollars, I design and fabricate for dollars.

A friend wants me to build a custom aluminum kayak & bike roof top rack for his Jeep, will I make money - no. Will I have a satisfied customer - yes. Will it lead to future profitable business - I hope so.

What better showroom then your house?

I designed and built a bird feeder holder that squirrels and rats can't climb up and feed from - sold two this last weekend to friends at a BBQ we had. Ever watched how determined a squirrel is when food is involved..

Steve

[mark4561]

check in w/ commercial installer's in your area they need welder's all the time for an hour or two. Might be a dock or inside material to repair. send buisness card's or fax's to buisness's.

[fun4now]

sjmiller
i gotta see this feeder, our squrels would probly knaw threw the steel to get it down LOL they do seem to put the work in when its needed and never give up.
lets see the better mouse trap so to speek. got any pic's??

[HMW]

Sign in the front yard works pretty good for me. It doesn't have to be large. Just put "aluminum" on there and it works pretty good. Seems lots of welders don't like the shiny stuff.....

[fun4now]

Just put "aluminum" on there and it works pretty good. Seems lots of welders don't like the shiny stuff
LOL thats all i been doing for the last week.
i might just have to pop out a sign see who bites as it were.