Rookie Gate builder

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I just completed my first welding project and it turned out good. I made this gate and I learned a lot about steel fabrication. The first and most important lesson I learned is that it is not easy to make a good profit in building gates. This gate was a lot of work for a "rookie" welder. I did make money on the project but lets just say I will not build another gate like this for the same price. The owner of the gate is happy and I have improved my metal working knowledge and skills so in the overall picture it worked out well. I started welding about a year ago and purchased a MM250 with spool-gun. My intent is to build a jet boat for fishing and hunting but I am taking on some jobs to pay the welder off and purchase the aluminum.  My next job is a set of aluminum dock ramps for a cabin on Harrison lake. Attached Images
Reply:Doesn't look very rookenized to me!  Man that is sweet work.  It's good to see fellow Canadians on the site.  Did you get the design from somewhere or did you just make it as you went along?  Perhaps the home owner drew it up?
Reply:Rookie?Thats a Really nice gate.. i never seen a better looking gate.. Nice job
Reply:Thanks for the positive feedback! The owner gave me an internet picture and I did some research into gate building and materials and then I drew up the plans myself. I wanted to build it out of aluminum but the owner wanted steelso thats what he recieved. I should have charged more for the project given the fact I designed the gate myself from a picture, but you live and learn. I gave the owner a price quote and stuck to it. Minimum wadge comes to mind when I think of the time I spent on this project but I did enjoy making it. I know thousands of steel fabricators have probably under bid their first jobs as well. When the owner hangs the gate I am going to take a picture of it with the brick posts he is making.  I had the gate powder coated black and it really looked good.
Reply:Good grief tungsten, that's one labor intensive gate!!!!!!!!!!!! Good looking one too. I'd have to have a year to do that.  Tell the guy you built it for not to go letting out any prices. You're gonna get some calls on that gate.
Reply:WOW!  That looks great!  Maybe once people get a load of that gate you can really get a fat deal on the next one.
Reply:Tungsten,Nice job on the gate! Do you have any plans or dimensions you could send me?axehind
Reply:AxehindThe plans I drew up are just on paper. The gate is 18ft, so 9ft each side. The low end is 4ft 8in the high end is 5ft 8in. The pickets are 3/4 inch tube on 4 3/4 inch centers to keep the coyotes out. The lower pickets are half that. The outside is 2x2 tube and the bell curve part is 2x1 channel it bends very easily. The ornaments were all purchased from a supplier. The jog at the bottom of the rail is 3 inches high. I came up with these measurements according to what the owner wanted. It is not that difficult to design a gate if you know what you want.
Reply:That is one nice looking gate!  Way to go if that was a first project!Was it just a matter of underestimating time?  Cost of materials?  I know that with the steel prices the way they have been lately, it is pretty easy to lose your profit to material cost increases...
Reply:PAToyotaI believe I did not charge enough for my labour, the material costs were correct I just underestimated my time, thats a rookie mistake. I only made about $700 Canadian funds on this gate, maybe I am wrong but this sure seemed like a small amount of profit for the work I put in.  Companies that build gates surley must see more profit than this.I am not bitter about the project I enjoyed making it and I would jump at the chance to build another, but now that I know what is involved, and the fact I can build a good gate, my prices have gone up.I am hoping that when people see this gate hanging they will want one and I will get a little more business.
Reply:If it is a first try, I would not be too concerned about the profit made on it.  In addition to the $$ profit that you made, you also got the profit of experience and (hopefully) people will see this one and you will get the profit of advertising! I think that you are going to have good luck with this endeavour.
Reply:Live and learn
Reply:Very nice work!It's probably been covered before but how did you bend the arcs in the 1x2s?
Reply:I bent the small straight part in a bending jig I made.I bent it in small increments until it was what I wanted. I  then cut six of the pickets to size (evenly spaced over the curve) and used a band clamp to cinch the 1x2 into the curve. This took a number of fits but once I had the first piece correct I made three more exactly like it. All four pieces were done this way and they turned out exactly the same. I don't know if this was dumb luck but it made sense in my mind and most importantly it worked.
Reply:great work friend.  I work for a blacksmith near where I live who does work like that.  Its a gravy job, just biding my time till I get something better going.  But I really enjoy it.  Takes me about 2 days cutting the material, getting all preparations, tacking and welding a gate like that, and having it painted.  Of course again Ive got a couple years under my belt. Its good money, only trick is finding the jobs.  Sometimes my boss is a little slow too.  He likes to get sidetracked with other stuff,  sometimes even coffee breaks.  Couple words of advice if youd like em.   First, when you makes drawings, if the customer wants to hang on to the drawings,  as many do, they must sign something that if they use any part or as a whole your design they must pay you a price.  My boss has been charging $260 until recently.  Now he charges $350.  You may be best served finding an attorney who doesnt mind helping you with a proper legal write up that can be universally used.  This would only be charged if you do not build the gate for them.  Joe has been burned in the past where someone got his drawings, said they needed approval from wife, then they found a welder who would do the job for half with Joe's drawing.  He has found most people will sign the paper and he builds it no problem.  There was one occasion a man refused to sign the paper.  Joe explained that nothing would be charged unless the gate design was used by another builder.  The man declined, refused to sign and Joe did not build the gate.  We firmly believe though that Joe never would have actually built the gate, only his design.  Another thing I recommend, cut all your material first, make sure its cut right the first time.  Best to use a chop saw or a bandsaw for this.  You should do all your bending and scrolls and any other ironwork you wish.  If this takes you a whole day, then you should be able to hit the tacking and welding and have it all done with paint time by end of 2nd day.  On third day you should be hanging gate.  I find its best to hang them yourself too.  This is because it doesn't take much for a looser to screw up the paint and hang your beautiful masterpiece crooked and you know now you have an eyesore of an advertisment for your business.  Most of these folks are rich and have their rich buddies come over.  They dont know jack about welding, but they do know what looks nice and what doesnt.  If its crooked they will notice it.  If its scratched and painted chipped off, they will see that too.  Anyways just my two cents.  Good luck to you.  Hope you the bestCHRIS
Reply:Thanks for the advice you have mentioned several things I had not thought of. Hanging the gate and setting the posts myself is a very good idea, even the best gate will look like **** if it is not set up properly. I have the plans for this gate and I did not give them to the owner.    This is more of a hobby/ gravey maker for me than a line of work. I have a good job but I really enjoy making things and welding is my latest venture. Thanks for your feedback