Welding work profits?

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Ok I'm wanting to know from you guys that do jobs and make stuff for a living, what do you consider a decent profit?  I don't want to know your money business of course.  But how much of a profit do you want to make before you start up a job?  is $7 enough or do you go for the big money 500+?   i know the less work you have the more you'll want to charge.  But i'm looking to try and kick start a small part time business making wall art.  And after material cost I'm not looking at a huge window of profit compared to what people are willing to pay for. I know they don't give a crap how much money and time i have in it, they still want it at a competitive price.  I don't want to over price my stuff, but i also need a profit that's worth my time.  Anyone have a general rule of thumb when it comes to this?   I'm not sure what i should expect  with my small scale art compared to a big metal gate job or something like that.  Thanks for any info.
Reply:Yes Sir:You are feeling guilty sounds like? Don"t feel guilty if your work shows artistic value. If they think it is too high.....tell them to find another piece like it! They can't.......smile.......sell....sell....sell.....s  ell.  and sell some more!Good Luck......Don't Worry About the MuleLoad the Wagon!Lincoln 305GUnion Carbide TorchDon't Worry About the Mule~Load the Wagon!
Reply:I look at it this way. Every business that sells stuff is like a lemonade stand. The more lemonade you sell the more money you will make and the less you can charge. Volume is key and you can still make a lot of money with a smaller mark up. I would suggest making your art pieces and then building a jig and system to produce them in quantity then get a website to sell them and go to craft type stores or garden centers to get them to sell your stuff. After you bring the price down on those offer one off designs that are VERY expensive. I would love to see some pics!Welding everything, from the crack of dawn to a broken heart.
Reply:It's simple to figure this out. Decide what your time is worth. Price would be time and material.
Reply:Yep, what YOUR time is worth.Tim Beeker.
Reply:What people are willing to pay will set a standard. If you go above that standard, you need to do it so that people are willing to pay more. If not, find a more economical way to build so that the standard is worth more.For instance, I weld up these chicken ladders. I get paid per piece, and the wage was dictated to me, if I wanted the job. The original jig they handed me was for one ladder. Making one at a time wouldn't pay squat. So I built a jig to make four ladders at a time. This, made it worth even doing. Then my nephew wanted to help me, so I built a second four piece jig. It is cost effective for me to pay him to unload the finished ladders and reload the jigs. Now I don't stop welding. My wage per hour just went up again. I stick weld these with 7018, and it takes a long time. So now I am finding a wire to use, to cut my time again, and raise my hourly wage, again. I actually make good money on these now. And that is called CAPITOLISM. The single jig is what a government or union worker would fight to keep, so as to "protect" their job. As a CAPITOLIST, I took a bad paying job and made it profitable.Also, I get an allowance to purchase 7018 in ten pound cans. I found a deal on 300 lbs of rod for $1.00 per pound. I made an investment, that over time, will give me a fantastic payback. I have yet to figure out if the wire will be more effective. But I think it will. Hope this helps.One ladderFour piece jigTwo, four piece jigs"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:I'm a whore, I will do almost anything if I can make a buck.Under my labor sign it says "Walk ins with 5 minute jobs,  A buck a minute.   "Then watch the clock instead of me.   While they are there, they see its more than "tack em together" work.  I then take 20 minutes to do a "5 minute job".  If you do jobs for a 6 pack people will not think much of you.I made 14" nails 1.000 per order.   I made a jig that held 10.Some piece work I set the price with tig then do them pulsed spray.DavidLast edited by David R; 02-07-2012 at 09:51 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Thanks everyone, i may have to find a way to speed up my process.   Not even sure how i would make a jig for this type of thing.    i also have time in prep and painting.
Reply:We do blacksmithing at the shop sometimes too. Once a guy walked in with a few antique shelf brackets. He we wanted to have a few more duplicated. Well, they were fairly simple and I had some time so I told the guy he could wait if he wanted. There is an internet coffee shop across the street so he waited there and worked on his computer. We fired up the forge and hammered them out. I called the guy and he came back over. He was very impressed that we did them so fast. He then asked "How much?" "Four hundred." I replied. He then said, "But it only took you two hours." "NO, it took me my whole life" said I, he agreed and happily paid. In cash. Woo Hoo, we went out for lunch that day. Pho.Welding everything, from the crack of dawn to a broken heart.
Reply:It's all about knowing the process, and finding the most efficient way to accomplish said process. A picture of what you're making would help. For instance, if I'm making something that I've made before, I'll start by cutting all the materials first. Then mark all the needed measurements. Then do all the drilling if needed. then grinding/prep work, then fit up, tack, and weld. This is especially effective if you're making a large volume of the same thing. As you're not wasting time swapping back and forth between processes. A single person can't do two processes at once so stick to one, do it right the first time, and you'll save yourself a headache later.Material stops and fences are great for doing your cutting, and drilling if you have a lot of peices that are the same size, or need wholes in the same spot.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:This is my most recent one I'm working on, this is the kind of stuff I'll be making.  some more simple and some will be more complex.This is the first time i made these so of course it took a little time, but now i have all the measurements and bends to make more  much quicker.   How could i make jigs for these?  overall im going to start with roughly 15-25 designs.  that would be a lot of jig making lol. some others.
Reply:Just a peg board would work for all but the branches. Think of a board or other flat surface with pegs sticking out  of it. The Pegs are placed in locations set to hold the shape and location of each peice. then all you've got to do is tack it in place then remove for final welding. If you've got all you peices cut and bent to shape priot to placing into the jig, you should be able to slap them together pretty quickly.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger