Welding cost

[J_J]

Welding cost, have never figured out how they figure out the price for welding..

About 10 years ago, I ordered a BH bucket from Metkit. It was a kit with all parts cut to fit. 15 in bucket, and thought it was a good price.

MetKit Corp - Home Page

I tacked all the parts together and bent the back plate.

I had a friend that did all my serious welding, so I took the bucket to him and asked him to weld it up for me.

When I went to pick it up, I got a price sticker shock. He wanted about $350 for the job. After arguing for a while, I reluctantly paid $325. I just could not see that much time and labor in the job.

His explanation was in the inches of weld, type rod, and time to weld.

He figured about 160 in of weld.

I don't know for sure, but I think the price was way above normal, and he was supposed to be a friend.

Just how does one charge for welding, by hours, inches of weld, time, type material, What all is included?

 

[MMagis]

I’m not a welder, but from a purely business standpoint, the price should include all of those factors. My guess is he spent more than half a day welding everything up right. $350 is certainly reasonable for half a day’s shop rates, plus material.
I think all small businesses should hang the sign that says “I apologize for making money from my friends, but my enemies take their business elsewhere”. While it’s not right for a business owner to cheat a friend, it’s also not right for the friend to expect a “deal”. I know that’s not what you’re saying, but it was probably in the back of your mind like it would be for most. I’m sure he charged you a fair rate.

 

[wdchyd]

Welding charges have always been a relative thing.....if it's for a relative then it's automatically done for free....:laughing:

No seriously, welding charges vary in my shop.....it has to be charged by the hour if anything was to be done right......the longer it takes , the better job you get

A repetitive job will always be easier the second time around but onesy-twosy stuff is more time consuming to set up.....some jobs ya just have to charge a discounted price whatever the traffic will bear without killing yourself cuz the job ain't worth it

Factoring in welding equipment, materials and experience can make the job look easy if the person has all the toys......if the welder doesn't have all the junk at his fingertips then it will take longer to do with less, thus he's not worth as much per hour

I found over the years (when I used to farm out welding) if I feel like I got burned then I would be sure to DIY the next time.......the learning curve is worth the trouble in the long run but costly in start-up cost

 

[20 20]

J J; your story is exactly why I bought a welder, I believe some of the folks out there think they're work is worth diamonds I have done some smaller jobs for folks and usually undercharge all the "pro's" by more then half. I am no pro by any means and never do anything I feel I can't handle. I quess it boils down to ethics, job being done, and honesty of hrs worked, materials being used etc.... From what you wrote it looks like you did most of the headache work and the guy took advantage(??) of a friendship. Some of the odd welds may be worth more example cast iron, but I still quess it is up to the guy running the welder.

 

[J_J]

I知 not a welder, but from a purely business standpoint, the price should include all of those factors. My guess is he spent more than half a day welding everything up right. $350 is certainly reasonable for half a day痴 shop rates, plus material.
I think all small businesses should hang the sign that says çš„ apologize for making money from my friends, but my enemies take their business elsewhere? While itç—´ not right for a business owner to cheat a friend, itç—´ also not right for the friend to expect a é›»eal? I know thatç—´ not what youæ±*e saying, but it was probably in the back of your mind like it would be for most. I知 sure he charged you a fair rate.

Friends always get a deal in my book, and I would expect no less from them.

Being a friend I did not even ask for a estimate.

 

[LD1]

I have never paid to have welding done. I have always had a welder, so I cannot comment on that aspect.

What I can comment on is time frame and materials.

"assuming" you had everything prepped and fitted properly and to his liking, and all he had to do was burn it in.....

If he mig welded it, even accounting for flipping/rotating/jockeying the peice around, should have been able to do ~8 inches/minute. That would be ~20-30 minutes max. And maybe $20 worth of consumables.

Stick welding it probabally would have taken a bit longer, But I say no more than an hour TOPS and $20/material is a conservative #.

Do you know weather he stick welded it or mig welded it?

Again, I am not a welder by trade. But my job requires me to be a proficient welder and have always had welders at the house. And IMO, you were overcharged by your "friend". Hindsights 20/20, but you should have agreed to a price BEFORE hand. As it is now, you probabally could have bought a bucket for what you have in it now.

And whenever I do work for friends, I never charge other than material. And sometimes not even that if I have it laying around. We call it trading favors. There are times when I need favors from them.

 

[jake98]

Ten years ago $350 was more $ too. I don't think he did you any favors. My guesstimate would be half that. Maybe he took it all apart and beveled everything?

 

[MMagis]

Friends always get a deal in my book, and I would expect no less from them.

Expecting a discount isn't being much of a friend, in my opinion.

 

[radioman]

ouch!! that really hurts. I just do know that its a cost of per inch.
your friend should've had courtesy to let you know the ballpark price before leaving if he know its would b over 100 bucks.....

 

[J_J]

I have another friend who is a professional welder, and he always ask if I have any welding that needs done. That is a true friend.

I could take him all my welding stuff, and he would not charge me a dime. I don't take advantage of him, and I try and weld the small stuff myself.