New job for Clem

Hey folks!

I don't expect anybody has noticed...but I've been scarce around here for the past few months.

The short story is that I have a new job, managing a small welding, fabrication, and machine shop.

With transitioning out of my old job (with a company who is now my largest customer) and into the new role...I haven't had much time to post on GRM.

This shop has been around since 1976 and until this week, the technology of choice was a fax machine and a phone.

I've put together a very basic website (www.herndonwelding.com) and have been learning the business from the previous owner since April 15.

We do lots of production welding for the large corporation in town that has a galvanizing operation and builds tools for the utility industry. We're the local steel retailer, and we'll weld up the deck on your mower, sharpen the blades, build up a new edge on the blade of your dozer, mount a winch or jack on your trailer...the list goes on.

We've got an assortment of welders, drill presses, mills, lathes, grinders, etc. We'll be growing over time and will probably expand our capabilities...we'll just see where the demand takes us.

I'm my own boss now (as well as 4 other peoples' boss) and in 5 years, I'll be a 1/3 owner of the company. I'm really excited. This job is right down my alley, and I'm confident I'll be good at it.

The shop truck is a neat old '77 Ford SRW F350 flatbed. It's great for running around town picking up and dropping off materials.

The shop isn't much to look at...but I sure like it.

I'll probably post some of the stuff we do from time to time here, just in case anybody is interested.

And because I know folks will ask: Yes, I DO plan on getting into performance automotive stuff eventually. Currently, I'm doing all I can to keep our big customer happy AND support the local folks who need repairs and odd jobs.

I also see this as a great excuse to build a challenge car at some point. I can get a lot more done over my lunch break with access to all this equipment than I could at my last job (or any job since working in a race shop 10+ years ago).

That's all for now, just thought I'd post what's been going on with Clem.

I was desperately hoping this was Herndon, VA. Looks awesome. Best of luck!

Looking forward to swinging by for no reason what-so-ever.

It appears Clem has a lot of Sparks in his future Good on ya!

Congrats Clem!

Thats awesome. congratulations!

Good job again! Glad to see one of us it out from under the thumb.

Congrats!!

Cool. Congrats on the new gig. Somewhere's there's a business opportunity for a shop that specializes in fab and also speaks the GRM language, if you know what I mean.

Congrats on the new gig!

Always glad to see someone find a job they're really excited about, and that leads to them working for themselves. Massive congratulations!

Thanks folks!

I definitely want to cater to the GRM mentality and crowd. Let me get a handle on supporting the big customers...but eventually, there will be fun had by us folks here.

Don't hesitate to holler if there is something you need. For one-off jobs, we're not fast, but we have pretty good capability. If you can scan a bar-napkin sketch, I'll see what I can do.

In the long run, I'm particularly interested in small-lot production of niche-market needs. I'll call the brand "unobsolete." Basically if you've got a part that everyone on a marque-specific internet forum laments about the lack of...I'd like to be the supplier, if it makes sense.

Like I say, though...that's a year down the line or so. But when it kicks, sign me up as an advertiser and we'll enable some folks!

Right now, it's Anchor Bolts and corporate widgets. Good business...but not as interesting as hot-rod-themed mailbox flags, engine adapters, and suspension parts.

Clem

I may have a job making some T6 aluminum front brake caliper hangers for my GS1000S Wes Cooley replica if that's the sort of thing you can do. We can talk more about that over beer some time.

Sounds like a great job Clem.

ClemSparks wrote: Thanks folks! I definitely want to cater to the GRM mentality and crowd. Let me get a handle on supporting the big customers...but eventually, there will be fun had by us folks here. Don't hesitate to holler if there is something you need. For one-off jobs, we're not fast, but we have pretty good capability. If you can scan a bar-napkin sketch, I'll see what I can do. In the long run, I'm particularly interested in small-lot production of niche-market needs. I'll call the brand "unobsolete." Basically if you've got a part that everyone on a marque-specific internet forum laments about the lack of...I'd like to be the supplier, if it makes sense. Like I say, though...that's a year down the line or so. But when it kicks, sign me up as an advertiser and we'll enable some folks! Right now, it's Anchor Bolts and corporate widgets. Good business...but not as interesting as hot-rod-themed mailbox flags, engine adapters, and suspension parts. Clem

hubs for old Honda's …. CRXs and late 80's - early 90's Civics … the go to vehicles for a couple of SCCA a-x classes, and the parts are NLA

Can you change the meta tags on that site? I can write up some quick optimized text for them if you want to help you get on the Googles more.