Welder and Annex Tradies

[halps]

Bearers of all things knowledgeable,

I would like to mount my spare tyre on the rear of my Capricorn van, so that I don't have to keep lugging it in and out of the van each time we stop (or worse try to crawl under if it got a flat ).
JBJ did a great job mounting his on the rear of his van...we would love something like that.
We would also like a whole new annex for our Capricorn van.

Does anyone have a recommendation of a company or tradie...?

We live in Brisbane, QLD.

HALPS & Mrs HALPS

PS: The weight of the spare tyre on the back will be off-set with a metal box on the draw bar that will carry my pegs, ropes and hoses.

[sutcac]

Halps..........Larrikin Larry is your man for an annex!!!!!!!!!!!

Jennison just had one made and is very happy .

JBJ also has a good guy down his way, I believe.

Cheers Sutcac

[Jennison]

Larry will be in Brisvegas at end of month. You better PM him to bring his sewing machine
jennison

[Smiley]

We have had a couple of annexes made at - The Canvas Place 355 MacDonnell Road, Clontarf, Ph 32843212, and have been happy with their work. Guess it depends on which part of Brisbane you live.
Cheers
Smiley

[JBJ]

Hi halps (& others),

I guess I'm lucky growing up as a hot rodder, building things as I needed, doing a Fitting & Turning apprenticeship, & so on.

I learned a hell of a long time back how to weld, & make things, & so I do as I need to.

But that doesnt resolve how you can get things built.

Biggest problem is that if you can't tell the tradesman that you need to use how to do what you want him to, you will never know if he knows what you want.

You wont be likely to get a result over the phone.

So you may or may not get the result you expect.

Doesnt mean the tradesman is incompetent, just the communication between you failed.

So take in sketches, photos, or sit down & try to totally explain what it is you want.

Once you are on a common wavelength, then discuss what it could cost. You wont often get a firm quote , unless things are totally defined.

This applies to every trade you need to hire, & you should all remember that everyone is out there needing to make a living.

Regardless of whether you get a regular salary in your bank from a full or part time job, or are self employed.

No one outside of a particular trade ever realises what is involved in what they are requesting the tradesman to do.

So be courteous, allow the guy giving you the estimate the benefit of possibly being an honest tradesman.

Sure compare his price estimate with others ( if they are available).

But remember, not many self employed tradespeople retire on a big superannuation, like some in permanent jobs do. They generally only survive on their income from their work.

I'm sure if you look & ask around, & please dont discount the older tradesman as a lot do, you will find someone close to you that will do a great job at a reasonable price

JBJ

[halps]

Great advice JBJ,

When I restored my 1976 Kombi, I did a bit of "learning" as I helped a "semi-retired" (now retired) panel beater. If you work with your hands...there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day or week to make really big $$$.

I also did a bit of "learning" when I understood that it takes some real intelligence to nut out a problem, use a sheet of metal the most economical way or systematically approaching a task without underestimating time or how much it costs.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those that have provided suggestions. We will certainly act on them.

In our experience sometimes it is better to spend a little more, to then have the job that you are happy with.

The reason that we are trying to do some of these upgrades/modifications to our van is so that we can use it comfortably with our three young kids. Currently it can be a pain, particularly when the weather turns nasty if the 5 of us are isolated in 12 foot of van.

On a funny note, my three year old son said after our last trip (suffering through 3 days of pouring rain)"Why does mum say hell so much." ;D ;D

Mrs and Mr HALPS

[JBJ]

Hi All,

Just a little more on communication difficulties that can often occur.

In this world of computers, a lot of us use emails all the time.
I use them for work, to transmit images to customers, etc. Pretty regularly I get phone calls telling me the emails never arrive. Quite often those emails end up in the receivers "spam folder", especially if you send attachments like pictures, or pdf files like I do.
I've tried asking for receipt acknowledgment with the emails, but not everyone wants to go to the trouble of replying.

The point I'm getting around to, is that you can believe you have communicated something, & it often doesnt get to the person you send it to.

A specific case as an example is as follows.

When Halps was at Lennox Head at our event earlier this year, we arranged for Kim from Action Canvas at Alstonville to look at his van & give a price for a new annex to his wishes.

Kim then sent Halps an email not long after.

I received a message today from Halps, to the effect that he was a bit disappointed with Kim not replying to him. So I rang Kim, who felt Halps had ignored his email and that he had missed out on the job.

Hopefully everything is resolved now, & the two of them will communicate by phone, which is the only real way to do it I believe. At least you know that the other person understands your communications.

So I guess I mean this as a warning to those who send text messages ( I detest them, my fingers are too big), emails, etc. If the result of the intended communication is important, take the time to make a phone call to discuss, or at least to check that the message has been received.

JBJ

[RollyDog]

HALPS
If Larry can't help with the annex there is a guy I and others from the VV forums have used at Deception Bay. He works in the industry during the week but has a full workshop at home for after hours work and does a really good job.
Rollydog

[halps]

Again JBJ (& others), you are right.

In a phone call you can pick up tone, intonation, sarcasm, jest and...more importantly actual meaning.

Perhaps it could be the curse of my generation. Phone calls are the best form of communication next to face to face.

HALPS
Brisbane