How to Make Money With a Welding Route

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Odd jobs in welding can range from repairing fences to fixing farm equipment.
Odd jobs in welding can range from repairing fences to fixing farm equipment.
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TOP: Henry Farr repairs a cracked jointer blade with his Solidox welding set. LEFT: An assortment of damaged articles awaits pick-up at a collection point. RIGHT: Accurate work means satisfied customers. Henry cleans an edge to get a better measurement.
TOP: Henry Farr repairs a cracked jointer blade with his Solidox welding set. LEFT: An assortment of damaged articles awaits pick-up at a collection point. RIGHT: Accurate work means satisfied customers. Henry cleans an edge to get a better measurement.
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TOP: One use of welding is to restore metal objects to their original profiles. Here Henry prepares to build up the low spots on a worn gear. BOTTOM: Correct gas pressures — as shown by the gauges on the tanks — are extremely important in oxyacetylene work.
TOP: One use of welding is to restore metal objects to their original profiles. Here Henry prepares to build up the low spots on a worn gear. BOTTOM: Correct gas pressures — as shown by the gauges on the tanks — are extremely important in oxyacetylene work.
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Welding jobs can bring in some extra income.
Welding jobs can bring in some extra income.

Up in Maine last summer I started a welding route and made a pocketful of money. The trade was easy‚ quickly learned and much in demand . . . every other home seemed to have a couple of articles for me to put back into service. Now‚ while I spend the winter at my teaching job in New York State‚ I’m waiting eagerly for next summer and another season of my new sideline.

I acquired this skill in the first place because I couldn’t get an old wheel hoe welded . . . and decided to stop looking for service and do the repair myself. For $39.95 I bought a UL-approved Solidox welding set sold by Montgomery Ward for use on small home articles. After some practice with scraps‚ I brazed the hoe frame with no trouble at all.

My introduction to the money end of welding came later‚ when I bought a can of flux at a coastal hardware store. “Don’t know who you are‚” spoke up Mr. Lewis‚ the owner‚ “but if you’re interested‚ I have some small boat chains and other things out back that need welding.” I accepted the offer and in three days had the items back in good repair (except for a pulley and a bracket to a washing machine motor‚ both too much for the Solidox to handle).

Since it turned out that Mr. Lewis was already accepting lawn mowers and saws to be held for a mechanic who came by once a week‚ I asked him to collect damaged metal items for me in the same way. “People around here need something like this‚” he agreed‚ and his store became my first “drop”.

I knew‚ of course‚ that my little home welder wouldn’t be adequate for commercial work. Since the money possibilities of this trade looked so good, I decided to go all the way with equipment and training.

  • Published on Jan 1, 1975
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