Rocket is looking for help...

[chupp n bloomer fan]

If a welder is getting paid $50-$75k with benefits then I know at least 10 people who would quit their job immediately to work there. There is a plant full of welders not far from where I live where the starting pay is like $11/hr, it goes up quick but it would have to more than double to even get close to $50k and its a difficult place to get into even with welding experience. I don't think the majority of welders make even relatively close to $200k. In fact Glassdoor says the average salary for a welder in the United States is $36k for someone who works 40 hrs a week, and 90% of welders in the United States make less than $57k.

Thanks,
Jeff.

Well that $150k and a lot more $$ is out there for pipeline welders and industrial pipe welders more than you think. It is a breed where you better be willing to run the road hard, work 12+ hours a day 7 days a week, be the best of the best, and gamble with your job every time the X-ray truck pulls in and or you hit the test booth.

Clamped is spot on Jeff.

You’re right Jeff, if you work in some trashy non skilled trade factory, yeah, you’re probably making low teens to maybe $20.

But the pipeline stuff, and skilled trade welding where they are XRaying your welds, pays dam good. Clamped definitely knows what he is talking about, what he’s describing is true. Loads of hours seven days a week, and be a road warrior. But the money is $40+ with truck allowance and I’m not sure what else.

[bullittwrench]

For 12+ hours 7 days a week it better pay 75g or more.

[JustAddDirt]

Rocket mod

There have been Rocket modifieds out there for years.

Nothing that was completely done at Rocket. (That I know of) They would build back halves. But they had to have clips installed, and remainder of car completed somewhere else.
I may be wrong though. Not afraid to admit that.

[bleedblue55]

Nothing that was completely done at Rocket. (That I know of) They would build back halves. But they had to have clips installed, and remainder of car completed somewhere else.
I may be wrong though. Not afraid to admit that.

2 Brothers Motorsports started advertising them at end of Sept. Bare chassis with AFCO Chevelle front clip for $8000.

[over4T]

Was told by a couple of good racers that had them that the Hassey Chassis mods were pretty much Rockets. This was about 10 years ago. Anyone got more info on the Hassey's?

[JustAddDirt]

Haven’t heard of a Hassy in years. I know the GRC cars were rockets, or copy’s as well. I think both are out of business.

[grumfan]

probably going to be welding up the modified chassis' they just built the building for there.
There are more modified's out there than there are late models. looks like they are seeing the writing on the wall.
plus copying Longhorn again, cause they got into the modified market as well....lol

The new building is for their shock business that has outgrown its current space in the "house car" shop.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

For 12+ hours 7 days a week it better pay 75g or more.

Double that.

[PRCKartRacer9]

Weren't Thrown' Dirt mods a copy of rockets? Very fast cars in their day

[ClampedUp]

Double that.

$40 to $50+/hr, time and a half after 8 hours and Saturdays double time after 12 hours, Sundays, and holidays. $40+/hr for the rig. $150 to $250+/day per diem. Plus various other benefits and bonuses.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

$40 to $50+/hr, time and a half after 8 hours and Saturdays double time after 12 hours, Sundays, and holidays. $40+/hr for the rig. $150 to $250+/day per diem. Plus various other benefits and bonuses.

I thought so. I know a couple pipeliners, one of their lay down yards is about 5 minutes from my house. Money is great, just gotta be willing to work a sh!tload and chase it.

[W2Racing09]

I don't doubt that people are making that kind of money welding in certain situations. I was disagreeing with the fact that Clamped said that if they are not paying welders at Rocket 100-200k yr plus benefits that they were not being paid well. Most people don't want to work 80+ hour weeks and be on the road, especially if they have a family. Hell, I don't even have a family to worry about beyond just me and my wife and I sure as hell don't want to work those hours, not even for a week let alone all the time. For a normal 40 hour a week job if Rocket is paying $50k that is good pay -- especially in rural WV. I doubt there is a chassis company out there willing to pay their welders 100-200k.

[Krooser]

Those chassis shops are just another small business... anyone who's owned their own deal know's they could never afford to pay their guys that kind of money. You take what they can afford to pay you or you go home... pretty simple.

Pipeline work is another ballgame....