MinnesotaDave wrote:I'd say you did a decent piece of work there John
Paint looks nice too.
How many hours do you think you'd bid on the next one?
Heck, I generally find a few things I'd do different next time on stuff too - that's how I say "mistake" btwAKweldshop wrote: I made a mistake or two, cutting it apart and getting it fitted and tacked took up most of the time....
I could prolly do it in 6 or 7 hours, on the next one....
This was a great learning experience.... No doubt.
It did turn out preety good.
Cutting a hole in the floor worked pretty good.
I'm now ACS 1g certified with silicone caulk on 16ga steel....
Thanks Dave.
I used my Invertec 250 for this job....
...don't tell anyone (since it's an inverter and they automatically suck) but I'm getting to where I kind of like my invertec 250... 
Ya know, I've always wondered how different the two are on the trailer side - are they the same height / profile, etc., but the just the hitch point is different, or is their clearance profile completely different too? i.e., could one be turned into the other by just changing out the hitch post?Otto Nobedder wrote:Looked like a gooseneck hitch to me... To sit on a 2 5/16" ball...
Fifth-wheel hitch has a kinkpin to fit a locking saddle, like a semi-trailer.
Yeah, yeah, I know... semantics...
+1. Nice job. From the pics, lack of rust is the only hint that work was done.AKweldshop wrote: I made a mistake or two, cutting it apart and getting it fitted and tacked took up most of the time....
I could prolly do it in 6 or 7 hours, on the next one....
This was a great learning experience.... No doubt.
It did turn out preety good.
Cutting a hole in the floor worked pretty good.
I'm now ACS 1g certified with silicone caulk on 16ga steel....
Thanks Dave.
I used my Invertec 250 for this job....
(And those 2x spray cans from Home Depot are a great value.)
Splitting hairs there Steve....Otto Nobedder wrote:Looked like a gooseneck hitch to me... To sit on a 2 5/16" ball...
Fifth-wheel hitch has a kinkpin to fit a locking saddle, like a semi-trailer.
Yeah, yeah, I know... semantics...
Steve S
Yeah, 1g.... got good penatration with a 1/8 gap.... I tacked that plate back in with 3/32 7018 at 50amps.... 6places...MinnesotaDave wrote:Heck, I generally find a few things I'd do different next time on stuff too - that's how I say "mistake" btwAKweldshop wrote: I made a mistake or two, cutting it apart and getting it fitted and tacked took up most of the time....
I could prolly do it in 6 or 7 hours, on the next one....
This was a great learning experience.... No doubt.
It did turn out preety good.
Cutting a hole in the floor worked pretty good.
I'm now ACS 1g certified with silicone caulk on 16ga steel....
Thanks Dave.
I used my Invertec 250 for this job....
Only 1g certified on caulk? Take lots of practice to get 6g good
RichardH wrote:Ya know, I've always wondered how different the two are on the trailer side - are they the same height / profile, etc., but the just the hitch point is different, or is their clearance profile completely different too? i.e., could one be turned into the other by just changing out the hitch post?Otto Nobedder wrote:Looked like a gooseneck hitch to me... To sit on a 2 5/16" ball...
Fifth-wheel hitch has a kinkpin to fit a locking saddle, like a semi-trailer.
Yeah, yeah, I know... semantics...
Yeah,RichardH wrote:+1. Nice job. From the pics, lack of rust is the only hint that work was done.AKweldshop wrote: I made a mistake or two, cutting it apart and getting it fitted and tacked took up most of the time....
I could prolly do it in 6 or 7 hours, on the next one....
This was a great learning experience.... No doubt.
It did turn out preety good.
Cutting a hole in the floor worked pretty good.
I'm now ACS 1g certified with silicone caulk on 16ga steel....
Thanks Dave.
I used my Invertec 250 for this job....
Over time, you'll develop your own math for fixed bids. Mine is roughly to take a swag, add some cushion to be conservative, then double the hours - I'm notoriously optimistic about the work effort, and this usually turns out pretty close (even though the number seems unbelievable at the start of a project).
So, if you think you could do the job a second time in 6-7 hours, then 12-15 hours is a good fixed price to think about. More if it's a higher-value job; less if it just can't be justified, or if it can be scheduled around other work, etc.
FWIW,
Richard
Superiorwelding wrote:John,
You did a fine job on that one. I think this job gave more experience than money. As far as your bid/price, it is way to low from a business perspective but I realize it was for a friend. I have advised before on here to watch out for those "for a friend" jobs because you will not make the money doing favors. I have done it and am sure everyone else here has as well.
If you feel you can do it in 6 hours again, the minimum I would charge for time would be 8 hours or one full working day plus mat'l. Remember though, the next one may not be identical to this one and could be shorter/longer. Anyway enough rambling you did great!!
-Jonathan
