Portable Welding Charges

[MikePA]

Just curious...how much do people with portable welding units charge (just the trip charge) in your areas? I want to have hooks welded on my FEL bucket and, while there are welders relatively close by, I'd rather not travel on the roads if I don't have to.

 

[hazmat]

Mike,

How close are the welders? Are you friendly with any of them? Welding the hooks on should be a 5-10 minute job. You should be able to get it done for a 6 pack if you provide the hooks & get your tractor to the welder.

I'd figure anywhere from $30-$60 an hour with a one hour min fee for the labor. It kind of sucks, considering the hooks are $2 a piece.

 

[MikePA]

Hazmat, both welders are 2 miles from me, in opposite directions. One trip would be over really rural/country roads with no berms but lightly traveled. Theoretically, the speed limit is 25 mph, but...The other trip would be on a road that also doesn't have any berms and is near a state park (45 mph). So it gets a lot more traffic.

 

[hazmat]

Mike,

Looks like you've got 20+ minutes just in travel time (4 miles at 10MPH) I'd give the welders a call and see if they are willing to stop by & for how much. I'd suggest that you provide the hooks, they make some specifically for welding on (flat where it needs to be).

Thanks to the advice at TBN, I had the dealer weld some on when he prepped the tractor (no cost /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif)

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

If you need a source for good quality, American made hooks as Hazmat described (designed for attachment via welding), check out <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.awdirect.com>AW Direct</A>. They are primarily a supplier to the towing and recovery industry and thus a great source for quality hooks and chains, etc. I hope this helps. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MikePA]

Thanks, Gary. I have one of their catalogs from buying some chain from them. You're right, they are a first class outfit.

 

[Darren]

If the welders are that close, why not call them and ask if they'll do the hooks for you either coming back from or on their way to another job. Lots of times you can get a break on "fill in" work. That way maybe you can avoid the travel charges. Ask for an estimate to avoid surprises.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I don't know about there but I do know about around here.

I don't do portable welding but for old customers and friends and myself.

You can get it done around here for thirty to seventy five an hour. I usually quote a four hour minimum if it is more than a couple of miles away from the shop.

The problem with good old boying it and paying just a welder is sometimes you get exactly what you pay for.

Another good option is to get into contact and become associated with the ag teacher at the high school. He'll have a sharp kid that's a good welder and you might be able to work something out. You're gonna want to take some welding classse anyway. Welding is something you're gonna have to do. So you might as well as go to school on it and learn to do it right.

Another option is to look at bolting the darn things to the FEL for now.

The other day I had a guy come in who hauls cars all around the country. He's renting some space from a bud down the street and he wanted to have a good weldor handy so when the rigs come in he can have them fixed. I gave him a name and it wasn't mine. He pointed out some broken crossmembers on a trailer that were a constant and recurring problem as an example of what kind of welding he needed done.

One glance and it was easy to see the problem and why it was recurring. The cure was to turn the crossmembers around so the cable and hook from the winch wouldn't catch on the leading edge as it was being wound back up.

No weldor had bothered to make the change. I doubt if it was all the weldor either. Chances are most likely the guy told the weldor to weld it up instead of fixing it. So that's what they did. They welded it up instead of fixing it.

So if you get a weldor over ask and listen and chances are you'll be money ahead even if you feel at the time it was a tad high. You're gonna be paying for his expertise. To just expect that to be just his welding would be like hiring a lawyer to write out a will you just made out.

 

[centex]

Why don't you remove the bucket and take it to a welder?

 

[MikePA]

I traded emails with one of the guys (he has both email and a web site). He said he'd be glad to do it...$40/hour. Based upon where he's located, I figure about $60 - $70 total, including travel time and welding, which is what I would have paid for the bolt on kind. So, I ordered three 3/8" weldable grab hooks from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/finditem.cfm?itemid=7301>AWDirect</A>. I already have some 3/8" clevis slip hooks, so I'll see what he recommends. I think I will also ask if he can weld a rod/pipe underneath the lip at the top of the bucket for additional support. {see attached} What do you all recommend for hooks on a bucket? Other posts on TBN recommend two 3/8" grab hooks at the two top corners of the bucket with a 3/8" slip hook in the middle. Sound good?