Hey everyone my name is Nathan Leiter. I’m 28 and own my own welding repair and industrial maintenance business. The first rig in the photos is the one I’m currently in and the old ford was my first rig. It had a Miller big 50.

I was working on industrial plants doing production and maintenance before college. I first started getting to weld right before I left for college. I studied business, then in college I worked in maintenance on appliance repair and then weld shop. Every summer I worked in the factories and welded.

I found welding tips and tricks podcast one year out of college. I had a passion for welding but was mostly self taught once I had the podcast I could listen to them while I worked. I’ve listened to every podcast and accelerated my learning.

I planned leaving my job 5 years ago and started to lay the ground work saving money and buying equipment. My wife and I kept our expenses low and we’re blessed to have somewhere to stay for very low rent. The last 2 years I worked for someone I made just over 100,000 and we lived on as little as possible. I was blessed with a boss who supported me as I grew. He gave me my truck for free it is a 2007 f550 with the long wheel base. It was cab and chassis with a blown head but it was free. I had it bullet proofed because it is a 6.0 I bought another truck with a blown head and used the telehandler that my boss sold me for a steal to mount the bed. I had to have front end work done.

It’s got a bulletproofed engine with 100,000 miles on it and almost 300,000 on the frame a Miller bobcat 250, a 4000 pound crane and 2 suitcase welders and a complete set of industrial tools. I had to fix everything myself or pay budies to help me. I’ve got about 20,000 in the set up and it has been going strong for me ever since I started. Like I said I was blessed and worked hard in the opportunities I was presented.

While I was working for my boss I convinced him to give me raises but I would use my own equipment. This allowed me to learn how to use suitcase welders build jigs and do production welding, weld repair on concrete crushers, screeners, scalpers, earth moving equipment, trucks, trailers, ready mix trucks, aluminum, stainless, steel, hardfacing bolt extraction, and all the repairs I could stand on the plant equipment. After leaving to be on my own my former boss is still my #1 customer and I give him priority. I’ve got a humble lean-too with really bad concrete but I had 3 phase power run to it. It’s a good start and I want to grow faster but I know that I should take it slow.

My father was a huge blessing helping me to do things right. He wouldn’t tell me I couldn’t do it but he would say if your serious then work harder and pay for everything up front. He kept me grounded. Here is some of the equipment I bought while I was working for my former boss.

I use a Miller bobcat 250
I have 2 8vs suitcases
One 12vs suitcase
A Miller 161 stl
a everlast 210 stl
A everlast 255 ext
A Lincoln 350mp with a push pull gun
A old Miller dial arc high freq ac unit
A old 400 amp Hobart for arc gouging
I have two Amazon cheap buzz boxes
A thermal dynamics plasma cutter

I have some shop equipment but most of it is in storage. Still saving to get new concrete and close in shop.
75 ton press with a swag finger brake for small stuff
40x10 Pearson milling machine
Langmuir fixture table
Small craftsman lathe
8k telehandler that runs rough but does everything I need it to do.

I just feel like I stumbled upon a great way to accelerate your journey to having your own business and did it slowly so that it was as safe as it could be. Definitely get a Cpa immediately though lol

I absolutely love the guys on welder skills and the blessing that wtat and welder skills have been are far beyond the cost of the platform. Would love to meet the guys one day:) I’m in sc but I travel a lot for work:) I really appreciate the help of all the instructors!