How Much To Charge

admin

I'm building a bumper for a guy at work and he says he doesn't want it if its gona be to high.I called Star International to get some prices for diamond plate and pipe 4 x 8 x 3/16 Diamond Plate is $151.12I know that it wont take the whole sheet and i'm gona use the rest to make my bumper. I really want to do this cause I need the money and i want to help him out but i dont want to charge him to much.American By Birth, Texan By The Grace Of God.I Guess I just Don't Belong Without A Jukebox and A Country Song.Member Of the American Honky Tonk Bar AssotiationSEMPER FI
Reply:Deuce - welcome to Weldingweb! A shop rate depends on the area and the type of work they do. For a simple steel bumper, most average shops, will charge 30-50 dollars per hour. Granted, they can accomplish a bumper in just a few hours. Other shops charge time AND materials. While others just charge material multiplied by 3 or 4. What you have to decide is this: is your work good quality and will it last? What do I charge for this quality work? Will the customer be happy if I charge this amount? Diamond plate, in any material, is ridiculous. Make sure you tell him exactly how much the material is FIRST. If he faints just from the material cost, you know he's not going to want the bumper. John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:You have to decide if your doing this more as a favor or as work for yourself. Dont sell yourself short if you do quality work. People are willing to pay for a quality custom job. That doesnt mean charge the moon for it either. You wont get much work that way.If you get a few good jobs out there, word will spread if you want to get into this as a secondary business. Have to weigh out if you want steady extra work or just the odd job. Like Microzone said, let him know tfirst he material cost(what you'll actually use for the job, dont forget gas,rod,disks and any other consumables) as you said your going to use the rest for yourself.
Reply:Make sure y'all are on the same page as far as finished look.  Cleaning and finishing takes much longer than fabrication.  If there is not an agreement up front--then you might not be finished when you think you finished...I agree with advice given.  Cover material and consumables,  Decide what your time is worth charge him accordingly.  Easily you should come out with $150.00.  Don't know your design, though would 1/8" sheet work for a bumper.
Reply:I built a bumper out of 6" channel and 3/8 plate.  It cost ME $120 and took 2 to 3 hours to build AND mount.  It is worth 250 or more.Another thing I do is call the manufactor and see how much a new one is.  Yours will be better.Ignore the rust.  I primed it with 2 coats of Napa's BEST brush on primer.  Pic was a month later.David Attached ImagesReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Most likely 1/8 will work for your application. Maybe build your bumper first. Then, when he see's how cool it is, you will tell him what you need for payment. I'm sure you would like to give him a deal, but you can't cut off your own foot to do it. He will most likely appreciate that you don't get anything cool for free. Meanwhile, you can sell the other one you make to someone else if need be and you might find a local market for that sort of thing.Bill
Reply:Heres what i figured out on price so far.   Diamond Plate - 4 x 8 x 3/16"                               4.72 / ft 2                               25%   Mark up                             6.50     x 10'                             65.00 For Diamond Plate   Pipe - 2" x 10'                                          1.80 / ft                                  25% Mark up                                 2.25                               22.50 For Pipe                                                   Total Mat. Cost - 95.0015.00 / hr @ 5hrs             75.00        Man HrsConsumables include Oxy Refill                            Mig Wire                            Contact Tip                            6010, 6011, 6013 RodsAmerican By Birth, Texan By The Grace Of God.I Guess I just Don't Belong Without A Jukebox and A Country Song.Member Of the American Honky Tonk Bar AssotiationSEMPER FI
Reply:Deuce I think your are shooting yourself in the foot at 15 dollars an hour!! If you do quality work like the others said 15 dollars an hour will just help cover the consumables you use. I know it is a friend, and you should always help out friends but they need to understand that if this is your job they should pay you accordingly. I once was in the same situation, and now I charge friends close to what i would charge a stranger. I know it sounds bad, but I dont expect them to give me a deal on everything I buy from them too. Have you ever completed one of these bumpers? I would assume it is going to be more work then you think and you are going to wish you charged more. Dont sell yourself short. Just my 2 cents. Thanks, NickNick
Reply:Hughes had a great Idea.  Make yours first.I thought diamond plate was $150.  You're not even charging him half.  No matter how little you charge, I bet he still hold you responsible for a good job no matter how long it takes. Hence charge more competitively.  The quality  of work expected doesn't decrease with price.  Good quality takes time.  Again, don't underestimate the time needed to clean and finish the bumper.  If planned and laid out well, then cleaning and finishing will take longer then cutting and welding.If you just want the experience, then make yours first.  If you want to make money, then charge more.Who's doing the installing.  Charge for that--if it is you.
Reply:I know i need to raise the price but he's a good friend I couldn't charge him  alotAmerican By Birth, Texan By The Grace Of God.I Guess I just Don't Belong Without A Jukebox and A Country Song.Member Of the American Honky Tonk Bar AssotiationSEMPER FI
Reply:I think it's great to help out friends -- I do the same.But if you don't mind more advice, make sure your friend knows they are getting a steal -- most people don't know what this type of stuff really costs and might not even realize you are doing a big favor.  Can cause resentment on both sides if it's not all clear from the get go.
Reply:Some notes.  When I am welding, I have a bunch of friends.  I am a mechanic.  Everybody is my buddy.  Sometimes if I DO a favor and do a job really cheap for a real friend, I ask them not to tell how much I charged them.I get $60.00 an hour to weld.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:If he is that good a friend, you should make a third that you can sell. One that will pay for the material for both of yours. Bill
Reply:Deuce,I understand your feelings and this guy being a friend and your unwillingness to charge him alot. I will say that in alot of parts of the country that there are good friend networks that I think do require cutting a deal more so than other states or parts or our country. I also understand what someone else made mention of friends doing work that you would need. So I would advise this: If you know this friend well and he has been willing to cut your breaks or you know he would If you needed, then I see nothing wrong with you taking a smaller cut on this deal. In the grand scheme of things, you will have work that will be seen and word of mouth about your job that will possibly bring you more work and get you in the link. If you are going to cut him a deal though, do it under this condition. 1. Make sure you tell him what going rate is for materials and labor for the job and show him where you appreciate his friendship and you are cutting him a great deal! Let him see how good you are being to him. This will motivate him to speak more highly even make opportunities to show his bumper to others and tell them who done it in a recommending way to others to check with you on getting their work. 2. I would also strongly ask him not to share how good of a deal you gave him and you only done it for him because he is your good friend but you could not do that for others because of the loss you would be taking. I think If you went about it this way it would be an opportunity that  brings you more work, have work out there promoting you and bringing you work, and making a friend happy enough to show off your work and feel more indebted to you and helping you as you have him. Whitey
Reply:Thanks for all yalls advice on this matter i really appriceite it. If yall have any more just post it or send it to me Thanks.American By Birth, Texan By The Grace Of God.I Guess I just Don't Belong Without A Jukebox and A Country Song.Member Of the American Honky Tonk Bar AssotiationSEMPER FI
Reply:You should see some of the looks I use to get when I say I get $45 an hour + material. That's cheap by my standards. Funny how people are willing to shell out $55-$65 an hour plus overpriced material for a mechanic. I once made some tables for our friends and only asked them to cover my purchase expenses. They got away cheap, cheap, cheap. The time spent on them got me frustrated but they don't know that.There's a lot of good advice in this thread, use it.Try this, tell your buddy how much material will cost him and ask him for a couple cases of beer!Good luck...
Reply:I think I've found what i'm gona do he's got a milwaukie 10" Dry Cut Chop saw that he got from a guy at our work and what i'm thinkin about askin if i could get that along with maybe $200American By Birth, Texan By The Grace Of God.I Guess I just Don't Belong Without A Jukebox and A Country Song.Member Of the American Honky Tonk Bar AssotiationSEMPER FI