Metal Fabrication & Welding

Metal fabricators weld and create custom metal products - furniture, railings, gates, fire pits, sculptures, brackets, and industrial parts.

You can focus on artistic pieces, functional items, or custom fabrication for construction and industrial clients.

Success requires welding skills, design abilities, understanding metallurgy and structural requirements, and equipment proficiency.

Pricing varies enormously - decorative pieces $100-5,000+, railings $50-150 per linear foot, custom furniture $500-10,000+, fabrication hourly at $60-150.

Custom work quotes materials plus labor.

Startup costs are significant - welding equipment, plasma cutter or torch, grinders, workspace with ventilation, raw materials, and safety gear totaling $8,000-25,000.

Building business involves portfolio showing diverse work, marketing to contractors and builders, homeowners wanting custom pieces, Instagram showcasing fabrication process, and potentially architectural metal work.

Revenue comes from custom commissions, production pieces for sale, contractor relationships for railings/stairs, and industrial fabrication.

Operating costs include workshop rent, materials (steel prices fluctuate), gases, consumables (electrodes, cutting tips), insurance, and utilities.

Challenges include workspace requirements, safety with hot metal and grinding, pricing material waste into jobs, and fluctuating steel costs.

Success requires excellent welding technique, design abilities, efficient fabrication processes, accurate quoting including waste, and building relationships with repeat commercial clients alongside one-off custom pieces.