Charge "per foot of weld"?

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I've been looking at picking up side work as I need some extra dollars and with having so much free time I figured may as well put the Dynasty to work.Anyways, a guy wants pay me to weld aluminum railings. Says he paid $5 per foot of weld in the past and everyone seemed happy and welding 100ft in a day is possible (MIG I assume). I am a TIG welder 40 hours a week, but with stainless. I can weld aluminum good and fast as far as TIG is concerned.My question is (since I've never charged per foot before) is what is considered a fair price? Breweries around here pay $25-$30 per weld (1.5"-2" stainless tube, purged, sometimes welded on both sides if possible) and that usually takes me 10-15 minutes fully welded and cleaned ready to go. Again, it's just for side money, I am not paying bills with this, just want to know if I'm better off using my Dynasty 200 which is paid off, or buy a cheap MIG to increase production.General question, I know. Thanks for the help
Reply:$5 per foot, I would tell him take a hike. I say pick an hourly rate, if he doesn't like it, oh well. I charge $50 per hour and ball park a cost for gases and wire/ rod used.Bruce DeLaetHeavy Equipment Mechanic and Welder1948 SA-200 short hood1949 LincWelder 1801963 SA-200 red faceMiller S-32-P
Reply:i have never even heard of charging per foot!AHP alphatig 200xclarke 130en MIG (first welder i ever bought)NT Plasma 375craftsman 240/180 ac/dc ARCcustom 60x30x30 powder coating ovenhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Rossi...18853401526643
Reply:Hmmmm, $5.00 per foot, 100 foot per day = $500/8 hrs = $62.50 per hour. Just sayin........"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 know, I heard $5 and laughed. Then thought about how it might actually work out based on my speed. I don't make a lot per hour at my job, but I love it. I get paid less than people with half a brain and half the production. Maybe charging like this will benefit me as its based on my production, not how long it takes.
Reply:if he wasnt bull****tin' ya!AHP alphatig 200xclarke 130en MIG (first welder i ever bought)NT Plasma 375craftsman 240/180 ac/dc ARCcustom 60x30x30 powder coating ovenhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Rossi...18853401526643
Reply:I charge by the inch for tigTim Beeker.
Reply:Is it already fit up and tacked? On small parts that I just have to put in a jig to fit, I charge $1.60 an inch. (stainless parts) That's with production welding so everything is cleaned and ready to go. It really depends on what you are doing and where though. On railings I would expect a bit less.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:And how does it work out for you?And everything is pre cut ready to go. I'd tack and weld.
Reply:Originally Posted by jaggermouthAnd how does it work out for you?And everything is pre cut ready to go. I'd tack and weld.
Reply:Originally Posted by jaggermouth...... Says he paid $5 per foot of weld.........just want to know if I'm better off using my Dynasty 200 which is paid off, or buy a cheap MIG to increase production......
Reply:I would ask Terry (shovelon) this is what he does and he would knowBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:I've seen estimators at bigger mechanical contractors figure bids based on inches of weld or number of joints and size of pipe.  But I can't say I've ever talked to a smaller operator who priced work this way.  I see a couple folks posted that they use this method.  So clearly some are pricing work this waySpeaking for myself, I charge T&M for repair work, and I give a firm bid for most other new fabrication projects that come my way.  When figuring the cost for new fabrication, I will estimate the time for each cut/prep/weld/finish step required.  Then take that total time, multiplied by my labor cost, add in materials, with some markup to cover the time to buy material.  Lastly there's a pickup/delivery charge for my time and and vehicle mileage.  If the cost seems unreasonable, I'll adjust the labor rate for various steps.  E.g. I don't charge my normal rate for pickup or delivery time; especially if the item could be shipped by FEDEX/UPS for less money and delivery deadline is flexible.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:Originally Posted by A_DAB_will_doI've seen estimators at bigger mechanical contractors figure bids based on inches of weld or number of joints and size of pipe.  But I can't say I've ever talked to a smaller operator who priced work this way.  I see a couple folks posted that they use this method.  So clearly some are pricing work this waySpeaking for myself, I charge T&M for repair work, and I give a firm bid for most other new fabrication projects that come my way.  When figuring the cost for new fabrication, I will estimate the time for each cut/prep/weld/finish step required.  Then take that total time, multiplied by my labor cost, add in materials, with some markup to cover the time to buy material.  Lastly there's a pickup/delivery charge for my time and and vehicle mileage.  If the cost seems unreasonable, I'll adjust the labor rate for various steps.  E.g. I don't charge my normal rate for pickup or delivery time; especially if the item could be shipped by FEDEX/UPS for less money and delivery deadline is flexible.
Reply:I'm new to the business end. I am just getting my shop set up. I have a regular job building petroleum tankers for the transportation sector. When I do the odd tig job in my shop on the weekends, I follow the advice of Jody from Tips and Tricks. $1.00 a tack, $1.00 an inch. Covers labor, gas, and filler. Unless the customer aggravates me. Then it is $10.00 an inch. Lol!
Reply:Originally Posted by 'StangI'm new to the business end. I am just getting my shop set up. I have a regular job building petroleum tankers for the transportation sector. When I do the odd tig job in my shop on the weekends, I follow the advice of Jody from Tips and Tricks. $1.00 a tack, $1.00 an inch. Covers labor, gas, and filler. Unless the customer aggravates me. Then it is $10.00 an inch. Lol!
Reply:Originally Posted by jaggermouthSays he paid $5 per foot of weld in the past and everyone seemed happy and welding 100ft in a day is possible (MIG I assume). I am a TIG welder 40 hours a week, but with stainless. I can weld aluminum good and fast as far as TIG is concerned.My question is (since I've never charged per foot before) is what is considered a fair price? General question, I know. Thanks for the help
Reply:Just as a matter of first impression.....I hate this thread.Seems like this stuff is going on all over the country.  We've been reduced to working piece rate.At the end of my driving career I saw guys working piece rate for delivering containers.  Not the owners, THE DRIVERS.  No accounting for traffic, delays at the rail terminal, etc......  bull****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It's what the unions were created for.  People saw a need for them, they got tired of being raped dailyYou can dream about what the "ideal" piece rate would be, but bottom line.........the employer wouldn't be offering it if it actually benefited you"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammJust as a matter of first impression.....I hate this thread.Seems like this stuff is going on all over the country.  We've been reduced to working piece rate.At the end of my driving career I saw guys working piece rate for delivering containers.  Not the owners, THE DRIVERS.  No accounting for traffic, delays at the rail terminal, etc......  bull****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It's what the unions were created for.  People saw a need for them, they got tired of being raped dailyYou can dream about what the "ideal" piece rate would be, but bottom line.........the employer wouldn't be offering it if it actually benefited you
Reply:Well there are a lot of things going on.  Many broke away and went out on their own looking for greener pastures.  However, they had no clue of all the costs, some just guess at a price and have no clue whether they made as much as they thought.  Many need to price by the inch because they may not be sure how to determine all applicable costs to complete the task.  It's just a matter of how much cash is in their pocket today.GlenMiller Dynasty 200DX - Millermatic 350P - Hypertherm Powermax 45Want to sell!! - Hobart Handler 150