Pipe Fence Job Questions? Need some advice.

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You may have read my latest post about building an engine hoist and that 3 ton chain fall i acquired...well the same guy had offered me a job building a pipe fence out of 2 3/8'' oil field pipe. The holes are already dug, pipes already set in place. All he needs me to do is cut the saddles, run the tops, middle and bottom stringers. Level and weld them out. My question is...How much should i charge for my services? i have never bid my own job before nor have i welded a pipe fence together. I mainly do new plant construction running b31.3 & severe coding. I have my own everything to do the job but if i can get him to pay for my machine fuel and oxy and acyt. I provide my own rods and consumables. He said he has 1000ft. of oil field pipe. But i also know that some pipe cannot be welded due to it being magnetized, and the crap thats been in the pipe for years. Any help or advice will be appreciated.~1987 Lincoln Sa-200~~1978 Miller Big 40~ (restored) ~and everything inbetween~
Reply:Originally Posted by Bostick101...But i also know that some pipe cannot be welded due to it being magnetized, and the crap thats been in the pipe for years. Any help or advice will be appreciated.
Reply:What kind of pipe fence is it, top rail, multi rail, cow panels, cables or wire? It matters as to what to charge. Don't charge him for fuel and gases. It will just cpmplicate things. Just charge more to make up for it.If you find magnetized pipe and you have trouble starting then just move around 90 degrees and try. If that doesn't work move 90 more and try. You will get it going at one spot or another as the magnetic field will be closer to right some place on it. The more weld you get on it the less it will affext your weld. Don't worry about the stuff that was inside as most of it stays inside. If it has a plastic liner in it then turn the job down, it's not worth the trouble.
Reply:So far as the magnetism AC. Works good so does wrapping your work lead around the pipe, alternate number of wraps and directions if it doesn't work at first. How about charging him straight time with enough profit to cover your time and expenses
Reply:I have the same question as Bostick101. Any suggestions?
Reply:I charge $75/HR, 2 HR minimum.  But it depends on how much fence it is. If its ALOT of fence you can lower the per hour some. If he will just let you work the job first and keep track of your hours, that's the easiest, but more then likely he is going to want a bid first. Like others have said, don't charge him fuel and other stuff. Just make up a rate per hour that will cover all those cost. How many days is the job going to take? There is drive time, to and from, for each day. How many miles away is he?  What does your vehicle get in mpg's? Figure up that, and there's your cost in fuel for the vehicle. There are going to be three horizontal runs per sections. Determine how long each section is going to take. There will be 6 saddle cuts and 6 welds in each section. Figure out how long each saddle cut will take and how long each weld will take. I figure 4 minutes for each saddle. That will include layout, cut, and clean up with grinder. So there is 24 minutes per section just in saddle cuts. Now for the welding. How many passes will be on each weld? I figure 2 minutes per each weld on 2.375" pipe for one pass. That includes layout, level, tack, and weld. I would figure 3 minutes for a double pass. So for two passes, it would be 18 minutes of welding per section. So 24 minutes for the saddle cuts and 18 minutes of welding per section comes out to be about 45 minutes per each section. Other things to think about is, welding rod? For a 2.375" pipe, your looking at 1.5 rod per pass depending on what size rod you use, 3 rods per weld for a double pass. Each section for a double pass has 12 welds which would be 18 rods per section. Figure how many rods are in a pound and you can tell how many pounds of welding rod you are going to need. How efficient is your welder? There will be fuel cost in your welder. Also, grinding pads, oxy/acyt gas usage, cutting tips, ect. This is just a general idea, and can be changed for your welding style and speed. Hope this helps.Also, you need to figure out how much beer you will drink during the job. There will be beer and ice usage also!!! Just Kidding!!!Last edited by kedlin88; 08-14-2014 at 09:00 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749The guys I've talked to who do it generally charge by the lineal foot