How much does it cost to run a bead?..

[Saxart]

This is really vague I know, but I'm curious if anybody has information on how much it costs to run a bead?

I'm trying to figure the costs on a project I'm doing.

I realize that alot depends on the settings I'm at, the material I'm welding, and the wire I'm using, etc. but I'd like to know approx. how much I'm spending on materials to weld 1/4" plate with my MM210, even if it's a ball-park figure.

I'd also be curious to hear anyone's thoughts about Mig'ing aluminum with the spool gun as well.......

Ballpark figures or equations are fine...

Thanks, and Merry Christmas to all!

[wrench3047]

I would think the price of the bead would be figured out anywhere near accurate. After you figure the cost of labor and (metal) material cost, the extra stuff where you would account for welding wire used, gas, grinding wheels etc.. should be like a % of the labor and material cost.
IE $50 x hr 2hrs
$100 metal
=$200
10% expendable materials charge
total bill
$220

Something like that. If you look at the threads for moble welding they have more on what some of the other guys on here charge.

[Sberry]

I had a book somewhere but if I had to guess would say somewhere around 35 cents a foot, on small projects I dont even count it as the labor is such a huge factor in comparison. On 1/4 if you figured it at 50 you would cover it. On steel at my place it is just figured in to the hourly rate. About 5$ an hour for consumables my cost. On aluminum I certainly dont have a clue. Probably over a dollar, maybe more with spool gun prices.

[bigwelder]

This is really vague I know, but I'm curious if anybody has information on how much it costs to run a bead?

I'm trying to figure the costs on a project I'm doing.



Ballpark figures or equations are fine...

Thanks, and Merry Christmas to all!

just dont worry about wire and gas costs, i charge a set up fee to cover my wire and gas costs. to give u an idea i charge 45 dollars an hour with a 50 dollar set up fee payable in advance and a 2 hour minimium on all work. so i make 140 dollars from the get go

[fun4now]

formula

this is in the miller TIG book P.68
you can download it from millers site or order it from them if you want the hole book

hope it helps


opps it is for TIG i'll look in my MIG book there should be 1 in there for it. if i can find it i'll post it for ya. but this should give you an ideal anyway.

[Mike W]

It would be interesting to compare power costs for tig versus mig since mig is so much faster.

[Joseph]

Saxart,

Look at ESAB University book / course "Basic Welding Filler Metal Technology", Lesson 9 "Estimating & Comparing Weld Metal Cost.

Lesson IX, Click Here

An Excellent Book / Course at NO COST to all. They offer several Books.

ESAB University, Click Here


Regards

[fun4now]

MIG cost

i thought i saw 1 in the MIG book here is Millers MIG cost formula.
it is different from the TIG.