Hopefully building a legacy

Gather App
Guns.com Vault
Hudge

Hudge

Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Messages
308
Reaction score
366
City & State/Province
Upstate, SC
I have spent the last 30 years making money for other people, I have definitely been compensated well don't get me wrong, but I wasn't able to bear the responsibility of going out on my own and reaping the success from that side.

I am trying to make sure my kids have the opportunity to do what I couldn't. Both boys decided to go the trade route, welding specifically. The 21yo has been in the field, at least as an intern, since he was 16. The 17yo has been an intern for 2 years now, both with local mechanical contractors.

I have told them from the beginning if they could learn the field side of things, I can help them with all the business and sales side.

Fast forward and we are starting! www.hudarc.com is a real thing! Fully insured and bonded. Both are equipped with trucks full of tools and welders. Just trying to figure out what their niche is going to be! Excited for them, and super proud that at 17 and 21 they are mature enough to be thinking this way.

Hoping the modest Hudgequarters grows into something bigger one day!
 

Attachments

  • 20260720_202356.webp
    20260720_202356.webp
    262 KB
  • IMG_20260716_205209.webp
    IMG_20260716_205209.webp
    135.5 KB
  • 20260711_173807.webp
    20260711_173807.webp
    1 MB
TX-Dennis said:
I've been involved in a couple of business ventures over the years. Sadly, none were especially successful.

I'm hoping my son will be more successful than I was in that regard. Here is his business venture (along with his best friend since childhood).

Basin Kings Grappling
Click to expand...
I have a cousin that is big into grappling here in SC. He has won several national level tournaments. He definitely got more athletic ability on his side than I did mine 🤣
 
That’s pretty cool! Congratulations to all involved. Are you going to go signatory to any union? With welding, which I hate,(!) you have the Ironworkers, Tin knockers, Boilermakers, and, my union, The Steamfitters. It probably would not be worth it unless you have access to more help if needed. Good for yinz! And best of luck!
 
Hudge said:
I have spent the last 30 years making money for other people, I have definitely been compensated well don't get me wrong, but I wasn't able to bear the responsibility of going out on my own and reaping the success from that side.

I am trying to make sure my kids have the opportunity to do what I couldn't. Both boys decided to go the trade route, welding specifically. The 21yo has been in the field, at least as an intern, since he was 16. The 17yo has been an intern for 2 years now, both with local mechanical contractors.

I have told them from the beginning if they could learn the field side of things, I can help them with all the business and sales side.

Fast forward and we are starting! www.hudarc.com is a real thing! Fully insured and bonded. Both are equipped with trucks full of tools and welders. Just trying to figure out what their niche is going to be! Excited for them, and super proud that at 17 and 21 they are mature enough to be thinking this way.

Hoping the modest Hudgequarters grows into something bigger one day!
Click to expand...
I wish you all the best!! I was in my own business all my adult life and IMO there isn't much more rewarding but stressful ! While I worked 10-12 hours a day, 6-7 days a week and even when on vacation I was constantly on the phone it allowed us to live the lifestyle we wanted. I retired at 55 (17.5 years ago) and have been enjoying the things I always wanted to do but never had the time for.

People who work for Gov't, big corps. & others simply do not understand the dedication, commitment, responsibility, pressure and endless hours of owning one's own business - at least if you are to be successful at it. For me....... failure was NEVER an option! That is the mental place you need to be. Of course exercising excellent business skills and decisions is an absolute must. Unfortunately these days a business that rely's on other people's skills is always the hardest part. When you need more employees and there aren't any truly qualifuied ones available - that is the super stressful part!!

People who are not in their own business have no idea of the expenses, taxes, insurance rates, employee benefits, operating expenses and what ever else goes along with owning your own business. Again, I sincerely wish you the best!
 
Jimbo41 said:
I’m in a place to help the kids, but both are approaching 30 and aren’t in a place to want to do their own things. I hope they get excited about something while I’m still around.

All the best with the new business!
Click to expand...
The most important prerequisite to starting your own business is that one ABSOLUTELY MUST have that fire in their belly!! Without that, success is difficult. Being in business for oneself is not a 9-5, 5 day a week job.
 
steelslaver said:
The serious money is usually in pipe welding. Having a well setup truck brings good money on a lot of jobs.

Almost every industry takes lots of piping and once you go over 2" the majority is welded.
Click to expand...
Around here, talented Plumbers with a good business mind do better than most white collar guys. Just ask my neighbor who paid $900 to unclog her toilet when we were in Europe.
 
Welders in my neck of the woods are doing very well these days. The local Lions Club, where I serve as Sect/Treas, annually awards two trade school scholarships to graduating seniors. For the last three years one of the two has gone to a student going to Texas State Technical College to study welding. We have a challenging time getting the recipients to finish the two-year program because they are getting very attractive offers from local businesses before they complete the program. Nice problem to have.

Congratulations on raising two fine young men!

Bryan
 
True but most plumbers don't use welding trucks and the underground sewage lines and water lines are now PVC that uses O ring . gaskets. Most natural gas lines are also a type of plastic

I believe that it won't be that long before most welding is done by machines. But, that is why it is important to study welding, not just learn how to weld. The people who UNDERSTAND the process will be the ones setting up the machines. I was on a job where they replaced the 4" 180 returns on a furnace. Those welds are real tough. No room, hard to see and access the complete weld. They did it with an orbital welding machine and every single weld passed X-ray. I have seen an orbital weld 1/2" stainless tubing together perfectly time after time. BUT, they have to be set up right.
 
Last edited:
Running your own business is rewarding but it can also be frustrating. Run it like a business and it will succeed. Run it like a hobby and it will fail. Herself and I have run several businesses, all were successful. We incorporated our current business in 2009 and have never looked back. Like you, we provide a service. We are currently on a 15 day business trip to Northern Illinois. We love what we do.

https://www.noonsharpening.com/

Kevin
 
Pushing 40 years in industrial maintenance and manufacturing project engineering here. A good weld/fab/pipe fitting contractor in your hip pocket is the top of my toolkit.

Couple of basics to live by to get your name on that list and stay there…

Under commit and over deliver. Small shops do great work, but often knowingly take on more than they can do rather than pass on a job. Be realistic on what you can execute before you commit.

Schedule, schedule, schedule. I’d rather be told “I can do it, starting next month” and be able to count on it, than be planning a start next week only to be called and asked to delay.

Obviously, quality matters. Do it like you know it needs to be done. Every job has your name on it.

Answer your phone, and if you can’t, follow up promptly.

Oh, and if you have the time and skills to get the various ratings and certifications for things like pressure vessel work and other codes, pursue those as your business allows. Most plants have these specialized needs and finding qualified teams to do the work can be quite difficult.

Good luck to you and your sons. It’s a great ride!
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys, I really appreciate it. The boys are eager to get going. The plan is to start slow, once a few jobs are complete, we plan to get the Process Piping mechanical license for SC. That will allow us to move in multiple directions.
 
Have one off them become a certified welding inspector as soon as possible. Know the processes, attend a one week course on the testing PAY ATTENTION and take the written and practical. My one brother did it and added to his desirability and upped his pay scale. Another one to look into is getting certified to be pressure vessel inspector
 
chief38 said:
......
People who are not in their own business have no idea of the expenses, taxes, insurance rates, employee benefits, operating expenses and what ever else goes along with owning your own business. Again, I sincerely wish you the best!
Click to expand...
And I would add, hassling with and complying with what are sometimes onerous, sometimes irritatingly trivial demands and regulations from various government agencies at local, state and sometimes federal levels!
 
I admire guys/gals with the skills, acumen, and nerve to be in business for themselves.

I worked for a huge corporation. It paid well, and was relatively secure, but, man, I had to put up with a lotta $&@# for a lotta years.

Congratulations and best wishes for every success!
 
steelslaver said:
Have one off them become a certified welding inspector as soon as possible. Know the processes, attend a one week course on the testing PAY ATTENTION and take the written and practical. My one brother did it and added to his desirability and upped his pay scale. Another one to look into is getting certified to be pressure vessel inspector
Click to expand...
My oldest plans on doing this
 
Oh, just thought of this. Don’t hesitate to take on some “art projects,” or for that matter, do your own and post them for sale. Especially as fill in work. If either son has some artistic tendencies, you would be surprised what ironwork art can bring. Think railings, gates, “yard art”, etc. Plus, it’s another avenue to get your name out there.
 
45Smashemflat said:
Oh, just thought of this. Don’t hesitate to take on some “art projects,” or for that matter, do your own and post them for sale. Especially as fill in work. If either son has some artistic tendencies, you would be surprised what ironwork art can bring. Think railings, gates, “yard art”, etc. Plus, it’s another avenue to get your name out there.
Click to expand...


This ^^^^^^^^^

A successful “small” business, Mom & Pop shop, whatever you call it, has several sources of revenue.

Kevin
 
I have known many people that have gone to "trade schools". Most of them were having their first house warming party while their more "conventionally educated" friends and relatives were trying to figure out how to pay rent and student loans at the same time. I knew one guy, a locksmith, who, at 23, had a Caddy and a Corvette sitting in the driveway of his house. Once the cops got called about a party and they asked if his parents were home. He said, "I have no idea. Why don't you go to their house and see." :LOL:
 
45Smashemflat said:
Oh, just thought of this. Don’t hesitate to take on some “art projects,” or for that matter, do your own and post them for sale. Especially as fill in work. If either son has some artistic tendencies, you would be surprised what ironwork art can bring. Think railings, gates, “yard art”, etc. Plus, it’s another avenue to get your name out there.
Click to expand...

I am working with them to flip 80's and 90's trucks in their downtime. Youngest fixed my '04 250's blown headgasket, never thought he could do it, but dang if he didn't. We are working on a '94 OBS 350 dually right now. I have tried to keep them busy! Ever since their first go kart, they would 3-4 hours of ride time before they broke something, they had to figure out how to fix it if they wanted it going again. We drained that go kart for everything it was worth 🤣

Good looking kids too! I am biased, sue me. Three are mine by birth and the other will soon be legally a part of the family, although she already is a part of the family.
 

Attachments

  • 20260713_194812.webp
    20260713_194812.webp
    1.1 MB
  • IMG_20260711_215513.webp
    IMG_20260711_215513.webp
    320.1 KB
lihpster said:
I have known many people that have gone to "trade schools". Most of them were having their first house warming party while their more "conventionally educated" friends and relatives were trying to figure out how to pay rent and student loans at the same time. I knew one guy, a locksmith, who, at 23, had a Caddy and a Corvette sitting in the driveway of his house. Once the cops got called about a party and they asked if his parents were home. He said, "I have no idea. Why don't you go to their house and see." :LOL:
Click to expand...
I did school the hard way, finished my Associates at 26, my Bachelor's at 34 and my Master's at 46. While my friends were playing in school, I was starting my career. Wouldn't change the way I did it for anything.
 
Truck bumpers are hot sellers. Utility trailers except you have to compete with imports on the samller ones. Onees large enough to haul cars, with slide out ramps and a winch bring decent money.

You need something to keep busy and pay the overhead when your scouting for high profit work. I have built some huge trailer mounted rock crushers in a pretty basic shop. Don't bid down to the nickel. You need to leave some room for mistakes and equipment down time.

I spend several years as the floor foreman in a welding job shop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
686+ and 617 Mountain Guns
Replies
3
Views
285
The Norseman
The Norseman
4
General trigger pull question
Replies
3
Views
222
armorer951
armorer951
S
Imageshack??
Replies
2
Views
121
SmithNut
S
J
What to do with personalized 29-10
Replies
28
Views
801
toddimusnimski
toddimusnimski
S
Some General info on Military Arms
2
Replies
39
Views
1K
Dave Haynes
D

Latest posts

Back
Top