How does a welder work?

A welder is person who works (typically) with metal. Welding can be done with a wide variety of metals including aluminum, wrought iron, stainless steel, carbon steel and galvanized steel. A welder uses extreme heat to meld together metal pieces to repair or create metal structures. Welding is used for automotive, structural, plate, decorative, pipe, restoration and other metalwork projects. Some items that are made by welding are custom fences, metal gates, interior decorative metalwork, and safety features such as window bars or safety gates for children or pets. The average national cost for welding services ranges from $100 to $150, although pricing can be higher depending on project scale and whether the cost of the metal is included. Hourly rates for welding services can range from $65 to $125. Welders may have a minimum service fee, especially if they are performing the work at your location. Welding can be dangerous work without the proper safety equipment, so welders work with protective masks and body coverings to prevent damage to their vision or skin. Some examples of welding repairs could be $25-$30 for tacking together small items (such as patio chairs), or $35-$100 for larger repairs on metal furniture. Bigger projects, such as a baby gate to seal off the top of a staircase, could cost $550-$750. This price would include one full day of metal cutting, one full day of welding and construction, one to one and a half full days of grinding and painting, and a few hours of installation.