Looking for a little advice......

[CNCwannabe2008]

Currently I am a fencing contractor in the North GA area with a large background in welding and fabrication. My question is, is it possible or feasable to transition into making a living with a plasma/cnc rig in my backyard shop? Is there a market for it and if so what scale would I have to hit to make it work?

I have lots of questions but I will start here, thnx for reading.

[mori_1]

solely on plasma cutting, probably not, but deffinately look into the art market in your area. You'd be surprised what people would pay for artsy cut out signs or ornamental units, especially personalized ones. Since plasma cut is usually really rough edged, it does require some hand grinding work or machining to finish the edges. If your just looking into doing say 12ga. sheetmetal or so, your efforts may be a little more profitable. 3/8++ plate, plasma cut is usually pretty sloppy. Today waterjet and laser tables seem to be putting plasma cutting in the past, however their cost is usually quite greater. You may want to look more into a waterjet table if looking at doing this professionally

[jcoats]

From what I have seen, if all you want to cut, clean, and sell it to contractors for fancy fences, signs, etc. or make parts for others. But that starts being the 'low end' of the pipe line.

High end work seems to have a (1) product to sell, and running the tools to make it just makes it more profitable and keeps the quality control up, or (2) you sell your products as part of a 'service', possibly some artsy thing.

I could see that this could be a good addition to a fence company to help give you a higher profit or a more satisfying niche.


A friend is an arts and crafts blacksmith. He got into it because he wanted to make a large wagon from scratch. So he put together a forge so he could make wheels. He still has not made the wagon, but he makes and teaches iron work from his shop, where there is no electricity, no phone, no water, no sewer. He makes small things like spoons, jewelry stands, bowls, lots of pretty (and useless) items. He has made some specialty items, like hinges for a gate and closing mechanisms for a wood gate for Chuck Norris house.

He does this from his pole barn shop on 5 acres in the woods outside Houston a little ways. ... Anyway, his craft of iron work has morphed into being not what he does, but a tool he uses to do something else. And yes, does enjoy both the solitary work and the people he has come into contact with. He also goes to a few conventions each year on blacksmithing. At some he teaches now, at some he is an interested student. But he is always involved and learning. Some of his spare time he does spend 'playing' at the shop. Figuring out how to make new things, different finishes, etc. He also has the luxury of being retired, and any income is 'gravy' used to buy things for and promote this 'hobby'. Most of us need what we do to put beans on the table also, but hopefully it is as meaningful to us as smithing is to him.

He does spend a lot of time networking with blackmiths, giving public demonstrations, working with a local artist association.