What to charge for this machining job?

[tmc_31]

A fellow asked me to do a little machining project for him. Cut 50 - 1" "biscuits" from 3" round A36, Drill a 7/8" hole in the center and thread to 1"-8tpi.

Then he wants me to drill a .2770 hole 3/4" deep and thread to 5/16"-18tpi in one end of a 6" by 1" rod threaded to 1'-8TPI (X50). The tolerances on this are pretty loose as they are height adjusters for metal building columns.

Since he is providing all the materials, I thought I would slice off the 50 biscuits in the band saw (I have a little 4X6 Clark) then chuck them in the lathe, face both ends, then drill the 7/8" hole and single point the 8tpi threads. The lathe is a 1340.

Then I would chuck the threaded rod in a collet on the lathe and bore the .277X3/4" hole and then hand tap the 5/16X18tpi thread. I would use the lathe to start the tap straight. These rods are medium carbon steel, quenched and tempered as in a grade 5 bolt.

The question is,,,, what would be a fair price for this work? Again, he is going to deliver the materials to my shop.

What say you gentlemen?

Tim

[AEP]

A fellow asked me to do a little machining project for him. Cut 50 - 1" "biscuits" from 3" round A36, Drill a 7/8" hole in the center and thread to 1"-8tpi.

Then he wants me to drill a .2770 hole 3/4" deep and thread to 5/16"-18tpi in one end of a 6" by 1" rod threaded to 1'-8TPI (X50). The tolerances on this are pretty loose as they are height adjusters for metal building columns.

Since he is providing all the materials, I thought I would slice off the 50 biscuits in the band saw (I have a little 4X6 Clark) then chuck them in the lathe, face both ends, then drill the 7/8" hole and single point the 8tpi threads. The lathe is a 1340.

Then I would chuck the threaded rod in a collet on the lathe and bore the .277X3/4" hole and then hand tap the 5/16X18tpi thread. I would use the lathe to start the tap straight. These rods are medium carbon steel, quenched and tempered as in a grade 5 bolt.

The question is,,,, what would be a fair price for this work? Again, he is going to deliver the materials to my shop.

What say you gentlemen?

Tim

I would say you have 1 hour in bandsaw cutting, if you can cut off of 2 rods.

7.5 hours in facing and threading. You will start off slow and build speed to average 10 minutes per piece. I would thread after facing the second side.

That totals 8.5 hours @ $75.00 per hour = $637.00. Have him supply a good machining material. If he supplies you with a tough material the price goes up.

At this price I would include the cost of the wear and tear on the taps.

Just my thought,
Andy

[tmc_31]

Thanks Andy,

My bandsaw is not that good, but who knows, maybe it will work better with a new blade!!

Tim

[winchman]

All those 1" biscuits with the hole in the center sounds like something for a plasma cutter and 1" plate followed by a punch operation on an ironworker.

Is there anyone around you could farm the work out to?

[Gently]

That totals 8.5 hours @ $75.00 per hour = $637.00. Have him supply a good machining material. If he supplies you with a tough material the price goes up.

At this price I would include the cost of the wear and tear on the taps.

What! even BBB machine doesn't charge 75.00 an hour, but I live in West Virginia I guess we just aint that sophisticated! Hourly is a pain, I charge by the lot/job. Granted I know the cost of everything as far as consumables, but.... Jeesh 75.00 an hour?

Maybe some one will take it at that price....but I would have one less customer if I even though about that per hour, 25.00 to 30.00 maybe...but 75!!!!
WOW.

[John Stevenson]

That totals 8.5 hours @ $75.00 per hour = $637.00. Have him supply a good machining material. If he supplies you with a tough material the price goes up.

At this price I would include the cost of the wear and tear on the taps.

Just my thought,
Andy

Tell me why the customer should pay full commercial rates to someone who has to knife and fork it because they don't have the equipment to do it in a reasonable time frame ?

There is a reason that commercial shop charge $75 per hour and that's because they have bought machines than can cut 30 blanks in a short while, lathes that can punch that 7/8" drill thru in one pass and power tap them.

[A.K. Boomer]

Totally agree with SJ an Gently --- 75 an hour is out of control, keep in mind that your not the only one with some simple machines and there's guys out there that would do that job for a fraction of the cost,


Whats it worth for you to have some independent work in your shop on your own time instead of doing nothing but maybe thinking about a tight economy,
Then keep in mind all the other little shops where he can go and what some of them might charge,,,
Talk about it in detail with him ahead of time --- The goal? come up with a price that makes you both happy and if it goes a little easier than expected cut him a little slack on the agreement ------ that goes a long way for repeat business...

SJ's right on the money - you can't charge a premium if your not set up for total production so hourly rate is unfair to the customer, doesn't matter how hard your working if your carving the part out with a pocket knife...

There's nothing worse than staring at all your idle equipment because youv priced yourself out of the running... even worse than working for peanuts...

[gda]

You don't have to single point the threads. Sunday I power tapped some 1"-8 stainless 2" deep on my lathe (clausing 5914). Your 1340 should be able to handle it - at least try - it will certainly be faster.

BTW, the CNC operators where I work could program the job in 5 minutes and the machine would make all 50 pieces in less than an hour.

You may want to ask the guy is he quoted fro a shop, and then see if you want to undercut that rate.

[Davo J]

You could always get out all the gear you need and have everything set up like you would for doing a production job as well as some scrap, then make one of each part and see how long it will takes you.
At least that would give you an idea of how long it will take and you will be set up ready to go if he accepts your price.
With the time for cutting stock, I usually cut one, then reload it while I go working on the lathe doing the first part, that way their is no time for cutting other than walking over to reload it.
Boomer has some really good advice above, so their is no use me repeating it.

Dave

[oldtiffie]

I'm surprised the OP had not worked out a schedule of rates/costs as an indicative cost-guide for quoting before he even took a job on.

I wonder if the potential customer was "bid-shopping" and already had competitive quotes from other commercial or "hobby" operators?

If he is a "business" and is registered for tax purposes he is going to claim your costs in his Tax Return.

Then he wants me to drill a .2770 hole 3/4" deep and thread to 5/16"-18tpi in one end of a 6" by 1" rod threaded to 1'-8TPI (X50). The tolerances on this are pretty loose as they are height adjusters for metal building columns.

If that job was in OZ those adjusters would have to be specified and/or designed by a Registered insured professional Structural, Mechanical or Civil Engineer as they seem to be structural elements.

I agree with John Stevenson and A.K. Boomer

I am not in any position to tell or advise you what to do nor what not to do.

Tread your own path.