Get matched with top metal fabricators and restorers in Broussard, LA

Welders typically charge about $65 to $150 per hour, often charging a minimum fee to cover overhead and travel as applicable. Even if the job takes less than an hour, you’ll still pay the minimum charge to cover the welder’s transportation costs if they come to you. You may still pay a minimum price if you take your project to the welder, as they still have overhead of a workshop and materials to expense.

Metal casting involves creating a prototype and a mold into which metal is poured and allowed to cool and set up. Pieces are cast in molds, making the reproduction of many identical pieces more efficient for larger quantities. Metal fabrication involves creating pieces and welding them together into a larger project, involving more skilled manual labor than metal casting. Fabrication can be more cost-effective in smaller runs but can become less efficient for producing mass quantities of identical pieces.

You should not do your own welding unless you have the proper training and experience. Most home electrical systems can only handle MIG welding, which creates weaker bonds than TIG welding and won’t work on certain metals or metal thicknesses. Both welding forms usually require the use of shielding gas, which can be dangerous to store at home. Additionally, welding machines create temperatures of over 3,000 degrees, and the sparks can blind you if you don’t have the proper equipment. As such, it’s usually better to hire a professional welder for your welding projects.

Costs range from $500 to $10,000, depending on the type of metal, design complexity, and labor. Larger or more intricate projects require custom quotes.