How to charge for welding service?

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I've been welding for about 4 years now, nothing professionally just stuff in my garage and for my friends, but I've built quite a few things and put in a lot of hours. A couple of my friends are certified welders and they helped me improve a lot, that being said I'm pretty decent with MIG and arc. Everything I weld is with my Lincoln 180... Now that being said.One of my neighbors owns a lawn business and he wants me to do some work on his trailer, he wants sides welded on, some weed whacker brackets, a box to put his compressor on and be able to lock it down, and a few other things. It's all going to be pretty easy, I should be able to do it in 8 hours or so, but I have no idea how much I should charge him... I've never priced welding/fabricating services before, no idea how much they charge. I used to install A/V for a living and when I'd do side jobs for friends I'd usually charge them 50% of what retail prices were, it made it worth my while since I had no overhead, and gave them a good deal. I was thinking of doing something similar with the welding stuff. Any advice on what people charge or how I should price it, so it's both worth my time and he gets a good deal.
Reply:$40-50 an hour if you are insured.$25.00/hr if notBuy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:+ materials, of courseBuy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldingMachine$40-50 an hour if you are insured.$25.00/hr if not
Reply:insurance is cost to you, which in turn goes to cost of your product. what he's talking about is actual business/liability insurance for your welding practices. It's expensive. But if you're going to be doing work for someone else on items that will no longer be in your control then you need it. because the last person to do the repair/modification is liable if anything goes wrong. In other words "you touched it last, you're it"There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Drop in to your local automotive dealership. Go back to the service department and check out the big sign hanging over the service desk. That is the "flat rate". Use it as a guide for "labor" only in your area.orGet online and look up the "Prevailing Wage" for welders in your county. This is found on the State Labor site.You should be somewhere between those two.Lincoln SA200's... at least 15 - 20. They come and go. Growing partial to the "Short Hoods" in my old age. Last count on Short Hoods was 13 in possession.
Reply:Somewhere, I read somebody mention $1/inch of welding + materials as a rule of thumb?
Reply:Originally Posted by RhymesWithBobSomewhere, I read somebody mention $1/inch of welding + materials as a rule of thumb?
Reply:Originally Posted by DespHow does the insured part come into play, just overhead that needs to be covered?
Reply:A case of beer. Or atleast that's what I would charge him. I mean isn't that what neighbors are for? But to be serious I wouldn't charge a professionals price. 20/hr plus materials is as high as I would go. Because if you charge him some outrageous  price and it looks like he let the local high school do it. It will look bad on you. And a bad word spreads around a lot quicker than a good one58 sa 200 code 355581 sa 20093 big blue 251dBobcat 225millermatic 210Hobart cybertigHypertherm 1250Lazy a** blue pit
Reply:Originally Posted by dirtbobberA case of beer. Or atleast that's what I would charge him. I mean isn't that what neighbors are for? But to be serious I wouldn't charge a professionals price. 20/hr plus materials is as high as I would go. Because if you charge him some outrageous  price and it looks like he let the local high school do it. It will look bad on you. And a bad word spreads around a lot quicker than a good one
Reply:Originally Posted by dirtbobberA case of beer. Or atleast that's what I would charge him. I mean isn't that what neighbors are for? But to be serious I wouldn't charge a professionals price. 20/hr plus materials is as high as I would go. Because if you charge him some outrageous  price and it looks like he let the local high school do it. It will look bad on you. And a bad word spreads around a lot quicker than a good one
Reply:Originally Posted by DespI understand what you're saying, and I didn't plan on charging what a professional would charge, as I'm not a professional welder.. But I also make a decent wage at my day job and I have a lot of projects of my own, plus I've already welded several small jobs for this same person for no charge. We're not really "friends" per se, and this is for his business, it's not just some Joe next door needing a quick thing welded. I'm mainly looking for advice as far as what a pro would charge, that way I know I can give him a good deal and make it worth my time as well.
Reply:To me it all depends how good you are, what tools you have and then the results of how much your going to actually get done in 8 hours... It could be worth $80 and it could be worth $300 or more... Hours by the hour don't mean anything if your not productive... The price it's worth depends on what you can do. A fab shop may charge $145 an hour but can in 3 hours acomplish what might take you 3 days and still not be as good. More to what It's worth than just an hourly count...miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:A few thoughts in general on this...Most hobby welders I've met might be able to do a decent job on flat and horizontal welds, but vertical and overhead their welds are usually pizz poor at best. Lots of times to compensate for their lack of skill, they turn down the heat way too far and while the welds may look semi nice, they have zero penetration, especially if they weld downhill on top of everything else.  Many of the things you mentioned will need to be welded in place and probably done vertical, possibly overhead. Add to this things like a trimmer rack or sides tend to have a long lever arm with some weight at the end. Couple this with vibration, abuse and poor maintenance, and you have a disaster in the making possibly. If your weld fails and something drops off that trailer, you are "it" as others have mentioned, especially with zero insurance. Weak cold welds aren't a big deal on a table, but can cause big issues on a trailer. I'm not trying to scare you into not doing the job, only that you keep all this in mind when doing your welds. "Ugly but it holds..." probably isn't the way to go with this. Plan to try and do as many welds flat or horizontal as possible, even if this means doing some things "backwards" so you can weld stuff up before you install it. Welds aren't always the best route either. Some things might be best mounted with bolts. Weld the assembly, then mount it to the trailer with bolts rather than use vertical or overhead welds. This also helps when they F things up in the future..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:How much do people in your area charge per hour to mow a lawn?"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Like was mentioned, there's a lot of liability.  If in doubt, don't do it.That said, another alternative to "hourly" is to decide what the job is worth to you and give the customer a hard bid.  This gets easier with experience, and I think customers appreciate it, or understand it, more.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:I did a custom trailer hitch on a E350 walk in van for the contractor down the street. I have never talked to him before, but I talked about what he does, what I do and so on. I needed some air piping done in the shop so I said I would do the hitch ( he paid for materials ) for the piping work ( I would pay for materials ) worked out for both of us.www.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:In Northern Africa they get $2.00 a day, in China they get $27 a day. Where are you?
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardIn Northern Africa they get $2.00 a day, in China they get $27 a day. Where are you?
Reply:Originally Posted by dubl_tLike was mentioned, there's a lot of liability.  If in doubt, don't do it.That said, another alternative to "hourly" is to decide what the job is worth to you and give the customer a hard bid.  This gets easier with experience, and I think customers appreciate it, or understand it, more.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumHow much do people in your area charge per hour to mow a lawn?
Reply:He must have seen your work otherwise he wouldn't have asked more than likely, or he called a local fab shop and they quoted him 75-85 per hour. Maybe he thinks you will do it cheaper. Try 60 per hr. plus material, if not bow season is in.Shake and Bake
Reply:Desp, I'm just realizing we are from the same area. I live in gainesville, which as you know is 30 minutes north of you. Until recently I worked in ponder building deer blinds for sds outdoors. Seeing the list of tools you gave, you shouldn't have any problems with the job. But if you decide not to, my buddies at sds outdoors would cut him a deal.58 sa 200 code 355581 sa 20093 big blue 251dBobcat 225millermatic 210Hobart cybertigHypertherm 1250Lazy a** blue pit
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWA few thoughts in general on this... "Ugly but it holds..." probably isn't the way to go with this. Plan to try and do as many welds flat or horizontal as possible, even if this means doing some things "backwards" so you can weld stuff up before you install it. Welds aren't always the best route either. Some things might be best mounted with bolts. Weld the assembly, then mount it to the trailer with bolts rather than use vertical or overhead welds. This also helps when they F things up in the future.Originally Posted by DespI have no doubt on my ability to complete the job in a professional and safe fashion. I've never charged for welding service nor paid anyone so I had no idea where to start with that aspect.
Reply:I seen the "case of beer" answer and thought that was dead on. Reason being, commercial mowers take a beating and repairs are often required. Looks like this could be a lasting relationship if you do a good job and not charge him out the ***. Just my opinion...Materials + a low price ( I would ask a flat rate over per hr. )On a side, if you're trying to start a business treat him like an investment. If it's just side work for a neighbor treat him like a friend.I've made good money from commercial mower repairs, they take a beating. Local weld shops in my area charge $65hr in shop and $75hr onsite. The shops with welders who're not certified charge $45hr in shop. Obviously not every job is very difficult, so adjust your price accordingly.
Reply:Never welded for beer but I have welded for BBQ a few times...10lbs of pulled pork,ham and most delicious turkey I ever tasted.
Reply:Originally Posted by turbocad6To me it all depends how good you are, what tools you have and then the results of how much your going to actually get done in 8 hours... It could be worth $80 and it could be worth $300 or more... Hours by the hour don't mean anything if your not productive... The price it's worth depends on what you can do. A fab shop may charge $145 an hour but can in 3 hours acomplish what might take you 3 days and still not be as good. More to what It's worth than just an hourly count...
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammerinsurance is cost to you, which in turn goes to cost of your product. what he's talking about is actual business/liability insurance for your welding practices. It's expensive. But if you're going to be doing work for someone else on items that will no longer be in your control then you need it. because the last person to do the repair/modification is liable if anything goes wrong. In other words "you touched it last, you're it"
Reply:I was asked to make some brackets for walk planks so a guy could repair the soffit and facia on his house.I have no doubt my welding and fab skills are up to making these but if he falls he would own everything I have.....not worth the risk,I'll weld for myself and do favors for friends and family.Last edited by vwguy3; 10-04-2012 at 12:10 PM.