Welding Tips and Tricks

Hey guys just wondering on your guys prices on making a dirt screen like this.
Say if materials where all supplied and it was just for you to fab it and weld it.
What would you guys charge? It's 3meters x3m , 3m high in the back and 2m in the front.
Thanks!
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If materials were supplied I would charge an hourly labor fee. I would tell the customer up front that I work for X amount up front then keep track of your time. If it takes you 8 hours start to finish then charge them your rate times 8. That is how I would do it. If I was doing it and supplying the material, then I would get my material quote from the steel yard, then I would ask for money up front for the material cost that is non refundable that way if I build it then they back out, I am not stuck with the material and out my own money then charge an hourly rate to assemble.

picture of sample
company is looking for competitive pricing,is it available commerically? check its price to see if you can make money based on your rate. Start high,more money,more satisfaction.

Ya that's what was done when quoting it. I sourced the materials and like you said had them pay that up front and then charged the hourly rate.
I just wanted to know how long you think it would take you guys to build such a thing.


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ShakaWelding wrote:Ya that's what was done when quoting it. I sourced the materials and like you said had them pay that up front and then charged the hourly rate.
I just wanted to know how long you think it would take you guys to build such a thing.


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A rough guess for you, assuming you will be cutting/fitting and you have help, a rough idea would be 8-16hours. Why so broad? I don't know what's all there nor how heavy or how accurate cuts/miters will be. If you receive it all cut to length and it fits correctly and you have help, I would think you could just weld it up in 8-10 hours. If I were to bid it I "think" I would go with 24 hours start to finish as a high estimate. Prints would obviously help sharpen those hours.
Hope this helps.
-Jonathan

My thoughts generally agree with Jonathan.

I'd think, in a shop with all the tools and equipment, this could be done in 20 hours or under, with a print present to eliminate figuring lengths yourself, even if you have to cut each piece individually. It will profit you to make a cut-list, and group repeat cuts, so you can set a stop and cut six in a row (for example) for identical length pieces.

In the example, it appears the stock "came" painted, as the welds are unpainted, so that suggests painting is not a required step.

Steve S

This was all done off the back of my truck using a mobile set up. There were no drawings or anything. So I had to figure everything out myself. Over her in Aus the shs/rhs comes painted or galv.



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I didn't catch the fact that you already did this job. So, what did the labor time come out to?
-Jonathan

Any rough estimation what it weighs?
Old employer could use something like that.

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Total time to do it all was just around 38 hours. This was done by myself with no TA. Stick welded out.
I think considering the fact that I was by myself cut everything on site and did it all off the back of my truck that is pretty good. What do you guys reckon?


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And jasper the weight was around 3500lbs


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ShakaWelding wrote:Total time to do it all was just around 38 hours. This was done by myself with no TA. Stick welded out.
I think considering the fact that I was by myself cut everything on site and did it all off the back of my truck that is pretty good. What do you guys reckon?


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My 20 hour estimate presumed a shop, with the appropriate tools in their stations, and a drawing.

You have a "design-build".

38 hours, off the back of a truck, in the dirt, with (I'm guessing) a sketch on a napkin, sounds like a perfectly reasonable number for a job well done.

Steve S

Thanks for that Steve! I thought it came out great knowing it was done out on site.



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Good on ya, for the canopy.

That's a BIG plus working outside.

Steve S

That canopy has helped like none other. Her is Aus the sun gets so strong and you can just feel in scolding you.


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This coming week I'm building a stick rake for an excavator. Anyone ever done this? Most of the time they are on dozers but customer wants it on his excavator.


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Like a ripper bar?

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Ya here's the stick rake partially done. Still going to make the quick connect for the excavator and some other things. This is the design the customer wanted. Biz400 plates(AR400) pre heat and post heat with 3 passes each side. Over 70 meters of weld! (230')



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