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What happens when the dream of owning your own welding business starts feeling more like a nightmare?

This week, Kevin sits down with Scott, owner of Yellowstone Metal (formerly Splice Welding & Design), to talk about the realities of entrepreneurship that nobody posts on social media. After building a successful architectural metal business, Scott made the rare decision to leave business ownership and become an employee—only to discover he simply couldn't do it.

The conversation dives into burnout, rebuilding from scratch, moving fabrication shops, pricing custom work, and why being a welding business owner is equal parts problem-solving and perseverance.

Whether you're growing your shop, feeling overwhelmed, or wondering if the grass is greener somewhere else, this episode offers an honest look at what it really takes to build—and rebuild—a business.

In This Episode:

• Why Scott moved his fabrication shop six different times
• The hidden costs of relocating a welding business
• Leaving entrepreneurship to become an employee—and why it didn't last
• Lessons learned from rebuilding a business from scratch
• How marketing has changed over the past decade
• Why specializing too much can actually hurt your business
• The biggest mistakes shop owners make when pricing work
• Dealing with customers who think every repair is "just a five-minute weld"
• Why custom fabrication will never compete with mass-produced products
• Managing cash flow during major business transitions
• The mindset every welding business owner needs to survive the ups and downs

If you've ever questioned your pricing, your business decisions, or whether you're the only one dealing with these challenges, this conversation will remind you you're not alone.

Connect with Scott:
Instagram: @salvation_garage
YouTube: Salvation Garage
Facebook: Yellowstone Metal

🎙 The Welding Business Owners Podcast is dedicated to helping welding and fabrication shop owners build more profitable businesses through real-world conversations, practical advice, and lessons learned from people who've been in the trenches.

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Artificial Intelligence is changing faster than most of us can keep up with—and whether you love it or hate it, it's already starting to impact the welding and fabrication industry.

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Cocks from DC Built to talk about how we're actually using AI in our businesses today. From creating customer renderings and speeding up design work to building software, solving problems, and automating repetitive tasks, we share the tools and workflows that are helping us get more done with less effort.

But the conversation doesn't stop there.

We dive into the future of fabrication and discuss what happens when AI starts working alongside robotics, cobots, laser welders, CNC equipment, and automated material handling systems. Could a small shop one day have the output of a much larger company? How close are we really to that becoming reality?

Whether you're already experimenting with AI or you're still trying to figure out what all the hype is about, this episode will give you a practical look at where the technology is today—and where it's headed next.

Topics we cover:
• Using AI to create customer renderings and concepts
• Chat GPT, Claude, and other AI tools
• Prompting techniques that get better results
• Building software and automations with AI
• AI agents and workflow automation
• The future of robotic welding and fabrication
• How AI could impact small welding businesses
• Why technology is becoming more accessible than ever

If you're a welding business owner, fabricator, shop manager, or anyone interested in where the trades are headed, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

#WeldingBusinessOwnersPodcast #WeldingBusiness #Fabrication #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #ChatGPT #WeldingShop #Manufacturing #Automation #Robotics #SmallBusiness

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In this episode of the Welding Business Owners Podcast, I sit down with Josh Hewitt — entrepreneur, HVAC company owner, host of the Tradesmen Experience podcast, and cofounder of Blue Collar Insiders and True Pros.

This conversation goes way deeper than just welding or HVAC. We talk about what actually makes a blue-collar business succeed long term: leadership, culture, communication, job costing, hiring, sales, customer experience, and learning how to think like a business owner instead of just a technician.

Josh shares hard lessons from growing multiple companies, getting stuck in the same problems most trades business owners face, and what it really takes to build a team that cares about the customer as much as you do. We also dive into why so many businesses stay chaotic even when they’re busy, the danger of “out-earning” your mistakes, and how systems and leadership completely change the game.

If you own a welding business, fabrication shop, HVAC company, or any blue-collar business, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can apply immediately.

Topics we cover:

• Leadership and company culture
• Hiring people who actually care
• Why most trades businesses stay stuck
• Job costing and understanding your numbers
• Customer experience and communication
• Building systems that scale
• Sales without feeling “salesy”
• Managing teams and accountability
• Why being busy does NOT always mean profitable
• The Welding Business Summit & Fabricator Olympics

Check out Josh Hewitt:
Instagram: @bluecollarinsiders
Blue Collar Insiders
Tradesmen Experience Podcast

Learn more about the Welding Business Summit:
WeldingBusinessSummit.com

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Trying to build a welding business while working a full-time job?

That’s exactly what Dan from DC Built is doing—and in this episode, we break down what it really takes to grow a welding business on nights and weekends.

This isn’t theory. This is what it looks like when you’re juggling a day job, limited time, and still trying to build something that actually makes money.

We get into:

• How Dan balances a full-time job while growing his welding business
• How to decide which jobs are actually worth your time
• Pricing when you can’t afford to waste hours on low-profit work
• The biggest mistakes guys make when starting on the side
• What’s helping him build real momentum without going full-time

If you’re trying to turn your welding skills into a real business—but you’re stuck working a job during the day—this episode will give you a more realistic path forward.

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🎯 This episode is for:

• Welding business owners working a full-time job
• Side hustle welders trying to grow
• Fabricators looking to make more money with limited time

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Subscribe for more real-world advice on building a profitable welding business, pricing your work, and growing without wasting time.

#WeldingBusiness #SideHustle #WeldingLife #Fabrication #TradesBusiness #SmallBusiness

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What happens when your welding business starts succeeding… but your life starts falling apart?

In this episode, Tyson from Fine Iron breaks down the reality most shop owners don’t talk about. He went from a high school biology teacher to building a fast-growing fabrication business—but the growth came at a cost. Long days, constant pressure, and a business that completely took over his life.

Eventually, he hit a breaking point.

Instead of pushing harder like most guys would… he did the opposite.

He downsized.

Cut the team in half, rebuilt his systems, and started focusing on efficiency instead of just more work. What came out of that decision is a completely different kind of welding business—leaner, more profitable, and built to actually support his life instead of consume it.

We also get into:

• How he rebuilt his shop after burnout
• Why “more employees” isn’t always the answer
• Using tech like laser welding and 3D scanning to do more with less
• The shift from chaos to systems that actually work
• How he turned new tech into a second revenue stream
• And what most welding shop owners are doing wrong when they try to grow

If you’re running a welding business and feel like you’re constantly chasing your tail… this one’s going to hit home.

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Most welding business owners think the goal is to grow—more employees, bigger shop, more overhead.

But what if that’s exactly what’s holding you back?

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Devers, a one-man shop owner running a 6,000 square foot operation, landing serious jobs, and building a business that actually gives him freedom instead of stress.

We break down:

• How he turned a $50 Google ad into a $175,000 job
• Why he chose NOT to scale his business
• The biggest financial mistake that almost cost him
• How tools like a mini crane replaced the need for employees
• What it really takes to run a profitable one-man welding business

If you’re tired of chasing growth and starting to realize your business feels more like a job… this episode will change the way you think.

⚡ What You’ll Learn

• How to build a welding business that doesn’t own you
• When hiring actually hurts your business
• The truth about buying equipment too fast
• How to stay booked without relying on ads
• Why efficiency beats size every time

💥 Why This Matters

There’s a lot of noise out there about scaling, hiring, and building big.

But nobody talks about building a business that actually gives you your life back.

This episode does.

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In this episode of The Welding Business Owners Podcast, I sit down with David from DTB Fab—a guy running a successful welding business while still working a full-time job… actually two full-time jobs.

We break down how he went from fixing his own car because he couldn’t afford a body guy… to becoming the go-to shop for anything from bikes and cars to structural work.

If you’re trying to start or grow a welding business on the side, this episode is packed with real-world lessons you won’t hear anywhere else.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to start a welding business with little money
• How to balance a full-time job, family, and side work
• Why confidence (not skill) holds most welders back
• The biggest mistakes that cost time and money early on
• How word-of-mouth can build your entire business

Who This Is For:

• Welders who want to start a side hustle
• Fabricators trying to grow their business
• Anyone stuck between a job and going all-in
• Skilled tradesmen who want more income and freedom

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to David and DTBFab

02:39
The Journey of a Plumber and Welder

03:12
Balancing Two Full-Time Jobs

06:03
From Passion to Business: The LLC Journey

09:16
Learning Through Experience: The Early Days

14:33
Favorite Projects: Sheet Metal Shaping

16:37
Word of Mouth and Business Growth

18:27
Balancing Family and Work Life

21:35
Influences and Mentorship in Career Development

28:09
Embracing Manual Skills and Learning from Experience

33:44
Navigating the Challenges of Business and Confidence

46:58
Lessons Learned: The Importance of Confidence and Business Acumen

55:56
Advice for Aspiring Craftsmen: The Value of Listening and Learning

Keywords

welding business, welding side hustle, how to start a welding business, fabrication business, welding entrepreneur, welding shop, make money welding, welding jobs, welding tips, welding podcast

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In this conversation, Kevin interviews James Williams, the owner of Stubby's Welding, who shares his journey of starting a welding business focused on agricultural repairs and custom sign making. James discusses the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of learning from mistakes, and the value of mentorship in the welding industry. He also highlights the significance of customer relationships, the tools he uses, and the lessons learned about business management and advertising.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
02:59 Business Overview and Growth
05:57 Challenges and Lessons Learned
08:46 Advertising and Customer Acquisition
11:29 Sign Making and Custom Orders
14:37 Work-Life Balance and Future Plans
27:02 Preparing for Spring: Garden Markers and Equipment
28:35 Lessons from Bad Customers: Navigating Business Relationships
33:09 Essential Tools for Mobile Work: The Mag Drill
45:06 The Art of Line Boring and Auger Repairs
52:27 Business Insights: Learning from Experience and Mistakes

Keywords

welding, business, agriculture, entrepreneurship, repair, customer service, plasma table, augers, small business, Canada