Carnduff鈥� When there鈥檚 a lot of snow, people break snowplows and snow blowers, and that keeps the welders happy. Brycen Mains of Mains Welding in Carnduff has been quite happy to see that snow.
鈥淭his year is crazy busy. I fixed seven snowblowers in 10 days,鈥� he said on Jan. 10. 鈥淚 worked Boxing Day.鈥�
At least three quarters of that work is tied to clearing leases, he noted. Whereas last year, there was hardly any snow to clear, this year, there鈥檚 plenty. By early January, Carnduff had moutains of it, all around town.
鈥淭he fan housing will wear out around the blower and it needs to be replaced. I bend all new plate to go inside there,鈥� he said of a typical snowblower repair.
One big four wheel drive tractor was in the shop, requiring repairs to its blade. That was a two-day project.
Overall, Mains said business is good, and he can鈥檛 complain. What is especially helpful is that drilling has picked up. 鈥淚鈥檝e got four drilling rigs already,鈥� he said.
One of those rigs had been racked in his yard for five or six months this past year. It鈥檚 now working.
鈥淚t feels like it鈥檚 turning around. You don鈥檛 have guys whining or crying like they used to be. For the last six months, guys have been steady,鈥� he said.聽
鈥淭he fall of 2012 was pretty good. Really good, actually.鈥�
It helps they鈥檝e diversified somewhat. Having come off a farm himself, Mains is always cognizant of helping out his farming clients when they need it, especially during busy seeding and harvest times.
鈥淲e鈥檝e moved into o cattle and ag as well, with portable corral sorting systems, portable panels and feeders. We鈥檝e always made Texas gates.
Mains Welding has five people on staff, including himself. Two are journeyman welders, and three are apprentices. One of those is currently in school, taking his Level 2 training.
As a journeyman with his pressure ticket, Mains handles nearly all the drilling rig work. He explained each well needs a welder to come out twice; the first trip to weld the bowl, the second to cut intermediate casing.
鈥淚n this slowdown, I鈥檝e never had to tell someone to go home because I didn鈥檛 have something for them to do,鈥� he said. There鈥檝e been some make-work projects, but not much.
So far, 2017 looks pretty good, Mains noted. 鈥淚f right now is how it will be, it鈥檚 flat out,鈥� he said.
Like other oilfield services, the rates they can charge still have not climbed from the deep cuts made a few years ago when the downturn hit. 鈥淩ates have affected everyone,鈥� he said. 聽
