Welding for a Friend: Should You Charge Them?

If you own a welder, then you know what I'm talking about. Although welding is fun and satisfying as a hobby, it is also a professional service that earns big bucks for some folks. So what do you do when a buddy needs his exhaust tacked up, or has a broken lawn mower, and asks you for help to weld it?

Is it convenient for you at the time?

If you are already in the garage or out back welding on something, and a buddy brings over his busted whatchamacallit, then maybe you can squeeze in a few more beads for him. But what if you are reclining in your chair watching the game and he knocks on the door with the same busted item? Now it involves much more work and preparation for the weld, and may be worth a nominal fee. It's really a judgment call in the end.

Is the job difficult or possibly dangerous?

Anybody can weld up a broken fencepost or a broken alternator bracket if it's brought to them, but what if it involves getting under a car or climbing up a ladder? Surely such risk is worth a few bucks, and if your "buddy" doesn't offer to pay you for the work, then I suggest that be the last welding job you do for him, especially for free. In my experience, the newer someone is to welding, the more likely they are to do freebies and favors for people. A more experienced welder will almost always charge, even if the fee is very small

How well do you know your "buddy"?

Sure, we may not charge our best friend in the world to weld up a floor pan or fix his mailbox, but what about the guy who heard from another guy that you weld, and wants some free labor? Keep in mind it may not be their fault! They might have no idea how expensive welding consumables (rods and wire) are, how much work it takes to weld something properly, or how much electricity the unit takes to run. Again, it's your call in the end, but I recommend telling everyone that the welder doesn't even get turned on for less than twenty dollars, and the price goes up from there. After all, if they had a professional come out and do the same job, that person would likely charge an arm and a leg.

The thing to remember is that once you start handing out free welding jobs, the word spreads like wildfire. Before you know it, folks you have never even met will be knocking on your door, looking for the deal of a lifetime. Do yourself a favor, and don't work for free, no matter how fun it is! Welding is a skill, and skilled people are worth more.