I shouldn't complain about people that beat on their equipment

Downeaster

Downeaster

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cuz it makes me money, but DAY-um some people shouldn't be allowed to operate equipment.

Dale the Builder - and his ham-fisted crew - are a steady source of repair projects. He dropped off a 5x8 trailer for "some repairs" yesterday.

Tongue jack - missing.
Lights - Every. Single. One. Missing or broken. Both tail lights and all four marker lights.
Wiring - In tatters. Flat 4 pin plug has been ground down from dragging on the pavement.
Fenders - I can't really blame this on abuse, it's mostly rust. Cut the remnants of both off and ground off the welds to put new ones on.
Railing - Right front corner broken almost completely off, 2/3rds of front rail twisted beyond repair.

Between, parts, steel and labor, he'll have $600 in repairs. Still cheaper than a new one, but paying attention (and not loaning your equipment out) is a lot cheaper.
 
I used to design semi-automatic welding equipment for welding in hazardous environments. Wiring, displays, servo motors, control pendants etc.
Then you typically hand it off to Boiler Makers or Pipe Fitters to operate it. UGH!!!!!
Of course instead of taking a 40 lb weldhead off a track and carry it up two levels of scaffolding to the next weld area, it's easier to haul it up by the control cables. You get the idea.
 
Looks like I misunderestimated [/yogiberra] the cost. I'm at $410 on materials and 6 hours of labor with at least 2 more hours, probably 3. Got the new lights installed, need to wire them and then do the fabrication on the railing and weld on the fenders.

I only charge $30/hr because A) I'm an amateur and 2) I work when I feel like it so III) it gets done when it's done.

And that's not charging for the time/mileage to go get the steel. I had other business in the area and I'll keep the drops so I'll cut him a break on that.
 
Downeaster said:
Looks like I misunderestimated [/yogiberra] the cost. I'm at $410 on materials and 6 hours of labor with at least 2 more hours, probably 3. Got the new lights installed, need to wire them and then do the fabrication on the railing and weld on the fenders.

I only charge $30/hr because A) I'm an amateur and 2) I work when I feel like it so III) it gets done when it's done.

And that's not charging for the time/mileage to go get the steel. I had other business in the area and I'll keep the drops so I'll cut him a break on that.
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If I’m doing paid work, I’ll charge $40/hr which is not unreasonable in today’s world. If I have to go long distances to pick up parts I’ll charge time or mileage to cover fuel costs. Shop rates around here are well over $120/hr.
 
Good News/Bad News

Good News:

Just as I was finishing up the last weld on the trailer repair, the MIG started sputtering and popping since it ran out of gas. Whew, snuck in under the wire! Billed it out at $750 materials and labor. Seeing as a new trailer runs between $1800 and $2200 I guess that's not horrible.

Bad News:

I drove to town to swap for a fresh cylinder of Stargon (25% CO2, 75% Argon) and the company I lease from no longer maintains an exchange depot in Ellsworth. Nope, gotta go to Bangor 40-ish miles further away. Yeah...uhhhhh...NOPE!

A different company maintains a depot at the local NAPA so I set up an account with them and $167.04 later between lease fees, hazmat fees, sales tax and the actual fucking cylinder of gas, I'm good to go. Almost.

In order to avoid getting dinged for another year's lease, I have to return the empty to the depot in Bangor. And just to make sure the ol' starfish is good and raw, when my Oxy/Acetylene rig lease runs out in July, I get to do it all over again.
 
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