Average cost for welding on a hoop?

[mwm1977]

The original post is vague...are you talking about a prefabricated hoop from the internet or did the guy actually have the hoop made/installed locally?

I paid $400 to a friends local machine shop to have my kz440:
1. rear hoop made/fabricated with a 20 degree kick up
2. aluminum seat pan made/fabricated with mounting hardware
3. frame chopped and cleaned up for rear hoop install
4. install of hoop and seat pan
5. guaranteed work=peace of mind

$400 was the friend price...$600 is what he would charge if not. Support your local craftsman...they are a dying breed!

 

[xb33bsa]

I'm with you there. I just spoke to my local welder who promised to call me for the last 3 days. I had to stalk him to get an answer on the price. I was told:

1. "Oh, I've never done that"
2. "My rate is $85/hr"
3. "You will need to bring the bike to my shop" (My bike is apart and in a nice heated shed... he has a truck he can roll up with)

This of course does not include the cost around making a seat pan which I am sure he has never done either. Surprising, his wife said he owns a Harley.

So just another example of yet another contractor with little or no work ethic to get back to me. So I will be hitting Sears and getting my own damn welder, angle grinder, and sheet metal for what this guy would charge in the end and have something to show for it.

first take some welding classes
get an oxy acetylene torch welding outfit, it is actaully all you need with it you can cut, heat, weld, braze, silver solder etc

 

[Djfob]

Having my own mig setup has been the best investment. Alot easier to learn opposed to just flux. I was quoted $200+ for welding a hoop from a few different places.

Having your own welder means freedom to fab anything you want.

 

[frankenbike]

I like the case of beer approach. Don't forget to have the slugs welded in the ID.

 

[krafty]

For me the price has as much to do with the prep as anything. The welding itself is secondary as far as time goes. It would probably take 5 minutes to complete the actual welding, but depending on what has to be cut, fit, and tweaked prep could take a half hour or it could take 2 or 3. There is also what I often refer to as "stare time". If you're doing something new or different, you spend time looking at things, re-looking at things, measuring, re-measuring, etc. If we do this in our home shop or garage at night or on the weekend, are hanging out with friends, listening to music, etc., well, that is free time. Buy me a pizza and hold parts while I burn and we're good. If I have to do it at work where the money has to come in to cover the lights, heat, electrical, welding wire, DA disks, insurance, etc., the costs mount up fast.

Personally I'd bevel the edges, install slugs and also put plug welds on both sides to hold the slug in place in both the frame and the hoop.

 

[frankenbike]

Amen Krafty.