Fair fee for some welding work?

About a month ago, I was at the farm and talked to a neighbor about fixing a grader blade I busted last year. He came over with his loader, took it home, welded it up and added some reinforcement, then brought it back.

I was not there when it came back to talk to him about it.

I have since went back home but he needs some compensation! What could be a typical labor for this? Central Minnesota. I suppose he spent a couple hrs on it... What happened is a 3 pt hitch my late Dad must have bird S*** welded on to replace a old IH fast hitch broke off. I didn't have the time or talent to fix it properly.

No $$ was discussed...
 
I suggest that you ask him. He might have done it, just to be a good neighbor. I personally like to help my neighbors. If he asks for
nothing, buy him a gift card to a farm store.
 
A couple hundred would probably make him feel good, and he'd be inclined to help again. Of course, if you two trade labor back and forth on a regular basis maybe you just need to do something to help him.
 
Jeff if I take on a welding job in my small home shop I charge $45 an hour. That usually covers my consumables and electricity and labor. If it's less than an hour and for a good friend it may not cost them
anything. My wife stays on me all the time for working for free.
 
(quoted from post at 16:17:41 07/27/20) If you are satisfied with the work 50 to 75 dollars should be adequate. Ellis

the guy loaded it up, took it to his place, spent a couple hours fixing it, and brought it back, and you think 75 bucks should be enough?

As for me, i would give the guy a couple hondos at least, his gas, his time, you didnt have to lift a finger and it showed back up done. unless you were going to fix it yourself, you would be out way more than finding a place to take it to actually fix it.
 
You need to ask him how much you owe him since no price was discussed its whatever he says.He may plan on doing it for free but knows its worth $200 really,you
offer him something $50 then you have insulted him.
 

DO NOT put him on the spot by asking - if he is a good neighbor he will not tell you how much he really thinks it is worth so he will give you a low number.

As suggested a gift card at a local farm store is a great idea. $200 is a good number since you had to do nothing to make this happen, except to ask. You will keep a good neighbor that way. $50 would just insult him.
 
(quoted from post at 10:06:45 07/28/20)
DO NOT put him on the spot by asking - if he is a good neighbor he will not tell you how much he really thinks it is worth so he will give you a low number.

As suggested a gift card at a local farm store is a great idea. $200 is a good number since you had to do nothing to make this happen, except to ask. You will keep a good neighbor that way. $50 would just insult him.
ask & if he says nothing or gives me a number I know to be too low, I up it to a reasonable + amount and ask if that would cover it. That's me.
 
I agree with $200 to compensate him for his time, equipment, materials and skills, plus the door to door delivery. It may have taken him longer that just two hours total. It probably would have cost you at least that much to take it to a welding shop if you include your fuel and travel time. It also shows that you respect his time, skills and friendship.
 
It all depends on how much you value him
being your neighbor. Good neighbors are
hard to find a fantastic ones are
impossible.

It's the thought and repect you are
showing. I am not familiar with your area
nor how big his family is, but I would say
a $150 gift certificate at a local steak
house. If that isn't possible, then a card
from a box store, such as Home Depot.

Next time your in a jam, he will be there,
and probably wont take any compensation
because he will know you appreciate him.
 
Gift cards are a good idea.

Some have said up to $200. Buy 4 cards in $50 increments. If he thinks it's too much, he can give you back those he
thinks are too much.
 
This is how I look at it. Youre neighbors youre -:- was in a wringer You needed help. There are so many times you just need help. Welding rod is cheep. Knowledge is invaluable he helped you so much ! Tell him if he ever needs help holler. Tellm I will do anything I can to help you. This not only helps him . But you learn too. ( and this is worth a lot more than money) . Beware you could be digging a ditch to installing a storm door to mowing a yard. Give him $50 to cover expenses. Its a win win situation for both of you. I live in Iowa and have fantastic neighbors because we count on each other. Thru thick and thin.
 
Just done a similar type of job for one of my customers on our side of the pond. The 3-point mounting frame had broken on one side of the Teagle Topper which is 5’ 6” rotary with a bar and loose blades. I had to bring it in, about 8 miles, and spent about 3 hours reinforcing each end of the mounting frame and a general check over. My charge is £35 ($45?) dollars an hour. With collection and delivery I think that £150 ($190-200) would be a fair price in relation to my time and the value/cost of another mower.
DavidP, South Wales
 
(quoted from post at 16:32:08 07/28/20) Gift cards are a good idea.

Some have said up to $200. Buy 4 cards in $50 increments. If he thinks it's too much, he can give you back those he
thinks are too much.
guess we have a different opinion in that area. I think gift cards suck.
 
Was it a good repair or welding like I do??!!. $60 an hour here. He has the talent and equipment to make it all work.
I have a problem charging for my time, even asking for help on a project. But $200 in cash seems in the ballpark, unless
you do favors back.
 

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