Good price for a welded sub frame ?

[vern748]

Hi,

I have a YM2000 compact tractor, 14hp, I think. I have a FEL but it did not come with a sub frame for the FEL. I went to a welding shop and had them price it out for me. Its a pretty small. Main support is 6in L on 3/8" steel. The rear support is 3in wide, running 3ft to the rear.
The welder quoted me $800 to do this. I have attached photos of my plywood template.

Thoughts ?

 

[WranglerX]

If shop is supplying materials, making all the cuts and welds, I would say $800 is pretty cheap....

Dale

 

[yomax4]

I think you built a great wood mock up. I'd like to have seen you build the steel version too but hey, Is what it is. $800 and not your time. Seems good.

 

[ch1ch2]

If shop is supplying materials, making all the cuts and welds, I would say $800 is pretty cheap....

Dale

Ditto

 

[tantoy]

As a small fab shop owner I would say good price. Making those templates will save you money for sure as the fabricator has to do less thinking.

 

[vern748]

So,

Metal costs

6x6" 3/8 angle 60" $117
3" 3/8 flat stock 14ft $71
6x6" 3/8 flat stock for gusset $50
6x6" 3/8 flat stock for eng mnts /W-Jet $150 = $288

So $500 to burn in the welds ?

Seems high to me.

Going to do this myself. Going to tack it together and then have someone burn it in. Maybe 20 min of someone's time to do it.

 

[ch1ch2]

I was quoted $1800 for a factor OEM subframe for a Woods backhoe from the dealer.

 

[vern748]

I was quoted $1800 for a factor OEM subframe for a Woods backhoe from the dealer.

I can get a complete brand new loader, everything, for my YM2000 from coldwater tractor for $1800.

This is all they are making, just 1ft longer and wider using 3/8 iron.
Car keys used for scale

 

[RickB]

You get to decide. If you think all they are doing is burning in the welds you should maybe have at it and see just how little time, skill and tooling it takes. I think it is a fair offer.

 

[WranglerX]

Welded up a simple ballast box 2x2x1 ft.. Had free angle iron for the two frames and free sheet metal, 3 panels 1x2 (two sides and bottom) and 2 panels 2x2 (front & back) and a roll of .030 MIG wire and about 1/3 cylinder of C25 and probably 2-3 4-1/2 cutoff disks.... Not much investment in materials, but about 10-12 hours of cutting fitting, tack welds and and then final welds, if my time was worth $20 a hour then my cost for labor would have been $200 to $240.... But you are getting it professional done, expect the price for the quality of work...

Dale

 

[dragoneggs]

You get to decide. If you think all they are doing is burning in the welds you should maybe have at it and see just how little time, skill and tooling it takes. I think it is a fair offer.

I agree... nothing goes as simple as just burning welds. They will likely set up jigs and assure this thing is true. You are paying more than just a monkey that can lay down a nice bead.

 

[crashz]

Will the steel supplier cut the steel to the exact shape of the template? So would the welder simply assemble and weld? Still seems like a few hours just to weld it. I just welded up a plow frame that I had cut down and moved the ears, and the welding portion took about an hour. I'm a true beginner, but even a professional has to set-up, position the steel, re-position etc.

Also don't forget that this guy has consumables and overhead to pay for. Lets just assume $200, ranging from flap wheel discs to electricity. If he is an independent shop: taxes, insurance, etc.

I think the $800 is pretty good price. But I can understand that $800 is not pocket change. I think your template shows that you have some pretty great fab skills. Why not tackle this yourself?

 

[metalbender]

For all the times some one has asked for just a "little" weld job. Famous last words, "shouldn't take more than twenty minutes" How many of the members here have heard that? Fabbing stuff from scratch is time consuming. The op, having made templates would speed things up for sure, but cutting brackets to spec takes time. Fancy megabucks cnc, trace and cut would be sweet. Been down that quick job path, doesn't usually go as planned.

 

[RickB]

For all the times some one has asked for just a "little" weld job. Famous last words, "shouldn't take more than twenty minutes" How many of the members here have heard that? Fabbing stuff from scratch is time consuming. The op, having made templates would speed things up for sure, but cutting brackets to spec takes time. Fancy megabucks cnc, trace and cut would be sweet. Been down that quick job path, doesn't usually go as planned.

Agreed. Fast, Cheap or Good. Pick any two.

 

[CalG]

Compare the rate to your plumber, or electrician, or gas appliance repairman.
Heck, car mechanics get $100 an hour at the dealers (not wages!)

If you feel this job could be done in 5 hours, You are clueless!

 

[vern748]

O please.
I am not without talent.
Yes, I may have offended some by my cavalier comments on the time of a true professional. By some are passing judgement without knowing anything of me or my background. You sir, are clueless.

This is not my first welding job. Its not a job I am proficient in, but am no slouch.

 

[dragoneggs]

For all the times some one has asked for just a "little" weld job. Famous last words, "shouldn't take more than twenty minutes" How many of the members here have heard that? Fabbing stuff from scratch is time consuming. The op, having made templates would speed things up for sure, but cutting brackets to spec takes time. Fancy megabucks cnc, trace and cut would be sweet. Been down that quick job path, doesn't usually go as planned.

Compare the rate to your plumber, or electrician, or gas appliance repairman.
Heck, car mechanics get $100 an hour at the dealers (not wages!)

If you feel this job could be done in 5 hours, You are clueless!

Any actual doer... should post material cutting, preparing, and lay out (jigging) work. Then some arc work and a presentation of finished product demonstrating it met the need of the requester.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

You know, something like that probably won't need really heavy metal. This is 3/8" I did a few years back. But you'd probably be fine with 1/4". Something like that though should cost between 800 to 1200.00 with materials. I know this is a belly pan, but it's not much different, other than I'd reinforce the frame with 2 x3x 3/16" square tubing. That's be enough for this size tractor.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

So,

Metal costs

6x6" 3/8 angle 60" $117
3" 3/8 flat stock 14ft $71
6x6" 3/8 flat stock for gusset $50
6x6" 3/8 flat stock for eng mnts /W-Jet $150 = $288

So $500 to burn in the welds ?

Seems high to me.

Going to do this myself. Going to tack it together and then have someone burn it in. Maybe 20 min of someone's time to do it.

Cheap work and cheap customers find each other, happens every day.

 

[WranglerX]

Something that has not be mentioned or at least I did not see it is the professional has:

Rent or mortgage on building to pay.
Insurance.
Health benefit for employees.
Cost of welding and other equipment amortized over time.
Consumables.
Utility Bills..

And the cost of education and learning the welding (an other ) skills....

Probably left out a lot but, its hard to make a buck to feed, clothes, house a family, with out all the overhead and you are under cut by someone who does not perceive the value of professional work...

Dale