With the recent topics and ppl calling fab work expensive, what do you charge when someone comes over to have something done.


For me most basic lift kits I install for 100-150 depending on how much work the guy has done before hand, and how long it takes. Of course the fee goes up or down, by how the guy acted before hand and how well I like/dislike the guy and how much and what kind of beer he showed with.

For welding.. my price varies depending on several things. The customer always pays for consumables. That means grinding/flap wheels, at least one pound of welding rod. Also all material. Ppl dont realise someone has to pay for the steel. Then normally around 20 bucks an hour... which is way less then I make at work on 1.5. keeping in mind I can work ot just about everyone of my days off. Of course price can go up depending on how many extra tools I need to pull out. If plasma cutter, or cutting torch comes out.. price goes up because of consumables.


I guess my point is.. time+tools+consumables+material= more then most ppl think.

 

$20 an hour is really affordable and if you do good work then people should be all over that.

 

MOst of the time when I have a weld/fab day at my house.. I end up working 12-16 hrs. MOstly on rock rails, bumpers, and a stinger here and there. Bad thing is it cuts into my rigs fab time.... that is why it looks so beat down

 

If it is just a simple weld, I don't charge. If it involves manufacturing rock rails or complete bumpers etc. I don't take on the project.

 

I learned the hardway yrs ago.. there is no such thing as a simple weld. That is why I started making ppl replace supplies. I basically rebuilt a deck on a bush hog for nothing about 5 yrs ago, cause it was just a small crack... as soon as a struck an arc.. I burnt through... long stroy short I ended up using almost a 1/2 a sheet of 1/8 fixing the deck.. to have the guy hand me a twenty saying" this should take care of it". I spent about 4 hrs on it... and used my plasma to cut out a huge portion of the deck and to make the patch. Needless to say from that day forward.. I tell the hourly labor plus materials.

 

I'm pretty good with simple repairs, used to be a millwright. Most of the time we just hit it with a hammer or rewelded it LOL. But if somebody wants a major project, they just need to pay for it or learn to fab, both of which involve money. Honestly, it is cheaper to buy the finished product than go through all the training to fab it right.

 

well if any of you experienced welders are for hire in south jersey my rig could use some fab work here and there

 

I have some set things that I make with set prices, I will customize those parts for a price. out side of those parts unless it is less work I will not even take it. I also very rarely do things to guys rigs unless I will be riding in it or they will be helping me.

 

i came across a thread on here with a guy somewhere that is making these sweet front bumpers for $200 bucks a pop and they come rinolined. maybe you know who this is?

 

It all depends on the job and time. My normal shop rate is $50hr and that's a lot cheaper then other 4x4 shops in town. I have built any thing from hand rails at $750,000 houses to full exo cages, every one different. You also have to consider your utility bill, welding mikes my electric go threw the roof! Small welding job, $10 minimum, big jobs by the hour or job.

 

i'm just a lowly mechanic not a custom fabber though i try and i charge 35 an hr +parts. i'll normally eat shop supplies,but that ain't nothin like steel or welding gases, grinding wheels, that stuff adds up quik i bet.

 

I just charge pizza and beer

 

Since I work on cars all day, If I come home and work on someones eles's problems it's $35 an hour and if its below 45 degrees its $60.

 

Im in the military and a bunch of guys i work with have jeeps and i showed up in my squadron my first day with a car, then i bought my current XJ. i think it so funny how these guys claim to be "hard core" jeep guys when none of them can fab or even fix their rigs (and i mean basic stuff), and as soon as they found out I had a ton of fab equipment and a bunch of know how then;SUDDENLY! Im their best friend.

I charge them out the Yin Yang for anything i do on their jeeps and they dont understand how they all outrank me and get paid more but i have a rig that could out crawl theirs on it's worst day. just thought u might all find that funny.

 

Haha^ seems to always be that way when you have something everyone else is jealous of