WELDING DONE IN A FLASH

Reprinted from Summer 2000

Peter E. Watzek from Monroe, Louisiana completed the Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program at the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in May of 1998.   We’ve been following Peter’s progress since that time:

"After I finished training at Hobart, I started looking for jobs in my hometown. There were some jobs, but they didn’t pay what I felt I could make. I decided against traveling all the time because, for me, that wouldn’t be real fun," says Peter. "Then, a friend of mine who is an older welder convinced me to go into business for myself."

Using what money had been placed in savings for college, Peter began Mobile Weld.

"When I first started Mobile Weld, I would spend most of my days practicing welding and waiting for the phone to ring. For the first two months I went around to everywhere I could think of and just talked to people and left business cards. The market is fairly competitive, but there are only a few people that do TIG as well as structural aluminum work. This was a good way to get people to notice," says Peter.

"I bought a Trailblazer 300 DT with the Kubota Diesel, wire feeder, high-frequency box, spool gun, and a plasma cutter," continues Peter. "Everything now has some hours on it and doesn’t quite look new. The welder has around 600 hours on it. Six months ago, I bought a Shopmaster to use here at home and also for a retail store remodeling job. I was welding 500-600 feet from a door, so I wired it up inside the store. They didn’t want diesel fumes in the building during the remodeling."

Peter has welded on boats, trailers, and docks, in a prison and in some small plants. He has done work for some small construction companies and also does work for several trucking companies, farmers, and dirt contractors as well.

"Most of the individuals and businesses would rather have one person who can weld all processes and types of welding than to have to rely on several different companies to fulfill their welding needs," Peter stated. "By keeping my business on a personal level I am always gaining new customers. I find that word of mouth is one of the best advertising assets a person can have. If you receive a customer due to a referral, that means a lot because it lets you know the person that sent them to you liked your work."

Peter is currently seeking a place to build a shop so that he can work on projects at night such as custom built utility trailers, duck blinds, deer stands, and many other items.

"I am very pleased with the business. The first year was rough, but now I am making money. I recently purchased the Miller XRÒ Edge wire feeder and gun for repairing the stake pockets on aluminum, eighteen-wheeler trailers. I also bought a ’99 Ford F350 4x4 with diesel that now has 17,000 miles on it."

Peter’s welding business is growing but he is also spending his spare time trying to gain market share by soliciting business from additional companies.

"If a person goes into business without maintaining a diversity of jobs, it would be hard to stay busy. I find that the diversity also helps to break the monotony. I continually add to my equipment to keep it up to date and maintain the most capabilities," continues Peter. "The most important thing I have learned in starting a business is that it takes a lot of work, but the real challenge is keeping your customers happy."

"A phrase that one of my instructors said to me one day is… the school teaches you the correct procedures and methods but there is a lot that the students will have to learn when working in the field. I am constantly learning the trade from other welders as well, as we all get along and send work to one another. I would also like to thank the wonderful instructors at Hobart Institute for taking time to teach someone who had never welded before coming to the school, and for not making me feel ignorant in the career I have chosen."

Peter has found that there are many variables that can interfere with your work, such as bad weather and wind.

But he says, "I am very happy with and love what I do for a living, even in the hot summer months when the temperatures reach 100 degrees plus. I hope that anyone that has the desire and determination to start their own business becomes successful. You never know how things will go until you try."

Offering 24-hour, field and shop welding service, Peter enjoys being his own boss. His dedication to welding and his professionalism is very evident on his business card for Mobile Weld with his slogan, "Welding done in a flash."