Hello! Full time welder part-time scrapper here

Hello everyone my name is Patrick, I am from southeast Wisconsin.

I am 30 years old, been welding for 12 years now.

I was always aware of scrapping, and when I was younger I scrapped out some things here and there, but in the spring of 2008 was when I got bit by the scrapping bug hard.

I was working a side job at a hole in the wall structural steel shop, when I happened across an ancient 500 amp stick welder in the sheet/banding roll-off container.

I asked permission to take it and they said "Its not worth the time to take the copper out, but your welcome to try"

4 hours worth of work later and I had a little over 300 bucks in my pocket Saturday morning at the scrap place. I was hooked.

A year or so passed, the economy took a dump, and we were pregnant with our first child. I have a good job but we had a few 32 hour work weeks and money was tight.

A buddy of mine let me use his 1 ton chevy and I went to work. If I didn't have to be at work I was scrapping. I would buy old welders, big electric motors at auctions, clean out peoples property for them etc.... I was making enough to make up for the lack of work at the time, and I was having a great time doing it. I work with metal all day, but I didn't have to be careful with this stuff, I could just torch stuff up, cut it, break it, flip it over wrap a chain around it and get it in my truck LOL, sort it and haul it in. $$$$

Now even though we are very busy at work, I find myself day dreaming about getting a bigger truck, and doing it again.

I am here mostly to listen, I don't know where I stand knowledge-wise. I am very handy with rigging/lifting/welding type stuff but have a lot to learn about other things.

Welcome Patrick! It sounds like you already have some knowledge and the most important thing besides the scrappin bug, equipment to handle the breakdown!