New career leap

[Craigb]

Fabricator welder can vary. Some jobs round here are paying 14 quid a hour. Probably jig mig work on mild steel. A skilled stainless fabricator can get 18 quid. Pipe welding would be 18+ paye. A subcontractor pipe welder well the sky is the limit. I would fall into the stainless fabricator who can pipe weld camp. Decent money I know. But when you have an itch you have to find out what it would be like to scratch it. It seems we have two camps, don’t do it, it’s a shit job paying peanuts and then the other, which is “I did it and never looked back”

[Donnie]

7 minutes ago, doobin said:

If you can find me a skilled welder/fabricator who works for £13 and hour I’ll give them a full time job tomorrow. 
 

 

Might be a bit different where you live. I was quite shite but could fabricate, manual turn and mill etc. 

 

Here's one of the staircases I've made. Only did one spiral, with a little help with measurements etc off my old boss who was paralysed so I did all the manual work. He's a smart fella

 

 

Was on 10.50 an hour back in 2019 or so when I did that. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by JDon

[Donnie]

16 minutes ago, Craigb said:

Fabricator welder can vary. Some jobs round here are paying 14 quid a hour. Probably jig mig work on mild steel. A skilled stainless fabricator can get 18 quid. Pipe welding would be 18+ paye. A subcontractor pipe welder well the sky is the limit. I would fall into the stainless fabricator who can pipe weld camp. Decent money I know. But when you have an itch you have to find out what it would be like to scratch it. It seems we have two camps, don’t do it, it’s a shit job paying peanuts and then the other, which is “I did it and never looked back”

Are you steering towards arb/climbing or forestry cutting/saw work and tree felling?

 

The way I see it is if you don't try it you'll never know but you'll always wonder...

 

You can just go balls in and try it at the lowest level in arb/forestry and realize it's shite and you prefer to be in a warm work shop than standing out in the pissing rain and wind. 
Or you might like it

 

Not like you lose all your past welding knowledge the minute you finish either so you can fall back on it

Edited November 13, 2023 by JDon

[MaxSim90]

I'm in a very similar boat to you - a bit younger but mortgage, 2 kids and 10 years into an ok paid career. I've managed to drop some hours, will do 30/31 in the new year and then will try to pick up part time work on my off days. A lots of ifs and buts as to whether it'll pan out, but it's been on my mind for years so need to give it a go. By not leaving my current job (as much as I would like to), I'll have some financial security and can see if it'll be possible to transition. If not, I'll have learnt some new skills and had some fun with chainsaws. 

 

What I found promising, is if you read the survey arbtalk did last year abut how people got into the industry, and quite a few people who responded started late in life, which shows it's possible if you're willing to put in the effort. 

 

Good luck to you!