Keeping the Sickle at bay

In April, I completed 13 quotations with no orders...I'm happy about doing the quotes but would be ectatic if I could get "one" order if only for the mojo boost. This has been a terrible period of futility and I hope it ends soon. I hope the market picks up in my industry, most of my competition is in exactly the same place as us, especially in Houston which is supposed to be practically recession proof. The jobs I'm getting feed a couple of guys but aren't feeding me. I'm reduced to quoting fence repair work which I'm happy to do if it gets a guy making sparks. I've been sketching some art projects and some motorcycle and ATV components to hawk at the flea-market to keep the guys busy in the short term. I'm keeping a brave face for everyone around me but I'm bleeding like crazy and the agony is all-consuming.

Feeling a turnaround

I'm starting to get my mojo going again....sometimes you can just feel it in your bones or by the vibe you get from others when you're telling them about your organization. It's strange when you're accustomed to repeated rejection when potential clients are now receptive to your shops skills offerings. Big motivational boost for me and the guys that things are getting better and may be alright. I won't rest on any opportunity that comes our way, but push harder and harder to see this through fruition. Tomorrow is another day to impress another client.

One of the many manufacturing related requirements is having a healthy OSHA Safety program. Your program should include having a safe evacuation plan in the event of an emergency. Your evacuation plan should have an associated map of escape routes to a muster location for a head count. This is mine.

Weld Machine Calibration

I've been struggling with coming up with a Calibration Procedure for my machines. Other than the obvious cosmetic stuff; i.e. damage or broken things like wheels, dials, chains, weld gun, trigger, wiring... that's the basic shit but what about the technical adjustments? I'm trying to do the right thing because its imperative that I have machines, and an organization, that can survive a rigorous audit. Its a giant pain in the ass to do all the seemingly nuisance busywork but I need to fight the urge to avoid the shitty stuff and come up with a workable solution. I'm building a checklist and try to cover the bases and hopefully get some feedback on the list to complete the process.

UT Tank for Weatherford

I sketched a 200 gallon tank 48x16" to use for UT testing and the client ask for a quote for same. I submitted a quote and it took 3 weeks to get an approval through the corporate checks and balances system. Like all business propositions; patience and capital has to sustain you. If you're under-capitized or impatient you can't win. Winning means surviving for another week and then another month....you have to win a little every day to make it, whatever "it" is.

My Story

I came to welding through the normal channels....I have been preQualifying welders for welding outfits and large industrials in the Houston area and I got a request to find a welding resource for one of my customers. The request was to build a work bench and a couple of test boxes which I asked the requester to give me a couple of days to find a source that was suitable for their request. Long story short; Mobius Tech Welding was born.

Unitech Interface Solution

We were challenged with the responsibility of adapting the Unitech Test Plate to a Production Plate. Our priority was to design a fitting to support the interface, draft a mock-up of the solution, get approval by client and generate an AutoCad print and arrange for a machine shop to be on stand-by to manufacturer if approved by customer. We had the problem and solution completed and ready for welding within 24 hours. This photo is the result of that effort.