Why Welding is Expensive? (4 Reasons)

Welding is one of the most widespread operations in the whole world. In the same manner, it is commonly used for various purposes. Though it is frequently used, it can be costly for you in most cases.

You may be wondering about the fact, that it is a costly operation. Also, you need to know the aspects related to cost in welding.

Well, worry not. This article elaborates the fact in detail. Again, we will give you knowledge of the various factors related to welding expenses.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Is welding expensive?

Yes, you may have to pay a lot of money for welding. Your welding project can cause up to hundreds of dollars. On average, it is seen that a welding project can cost about $334.

An expensive one indeed!

Why is welding expensive? 4 Reasons

The operations done in welding are more than just the joining process of two materials. It is more than that.

One welding job can cost you more than one hundred dollars for small projects. Accordingly, the total evaluation depends on factors such as labour costs, materials and equipment expenses, welding type, etc.

The factors related to the expensiveness of the operation are discussed here.

Fixed costs and variable costs

You need to maintain some fixed cost that remains the same in all your welding operations. The Fixed costs include:

Preheating
Tacking
Joint preparation
Clean-up
Inspection
Fixturing

Similarly, you have to add the variable costs also in your welding. This type of cost varies in different jobs. The variable price includes:

Type of filler
Labour rate
Welding method
Overhead rate
Power or fuel
Materials used

Labour costs can make welding expensive

Labour cost is one of the significant factors for your project. Besides, professional and experienced welders are very costly to hire. Furthermore, other factors also impact labour costs.

A welder’s decomposition rate affects the cost of your welding project. Higher decomposition rates lead to higher prices.
The hourly wages of welders are usually costly.
The total time needed for the job impacts the total output and cost.

The expenses of materials and equipment

Your welding operation needs to be done on costly materials and quality materials that are expensive.

In fact, purchasing these types of equipment is a significant factor in making welding an expensive one. The cost for materials includes base metal, Flux or shielding gas, filler materials, etc.

To emphasise, you may cost more than a hundred dollars in this factor.

Welding type or procedure

There are different welding procedures, such as arc welding, gas welding, solid state welding, etc. Moreover, other welding processes bear additional costs.

Not to mention, you may find them costly for maximum operations. For instance, arc welding can be less expensive, but gas weldings like TIG, MIG, etc., can be very costly for you.

The factors described above make a welding operation costly. Considering the minimum cost, you need to balance the factors to get work done.

Why is TIG welding more expensive?

Tungsten Inert Gas welding or TIG welding can be expensive for you for the following reasons-

TIG welders are highly professional and will cost you a high hourly rate.
TIG requires expensive, high-quality equipment.
You need to bear more maintenance costs as TIG parts need to be very clean before every operation.

Why is TIG welding more expensive than MIG welding?

You need to bear more cost expenses in the case of TIG welding. Indeed, TIG welding is more expensive than MIG, and the reasons are as follows-

TIG is a slower operation than MIG
It holds a lower decomposition rate
TIG requires a more experienced welder than MIG
This welding process consumables are more costly than those of MIG

Are welders expensive?

To become a welder, you need to be highly professional. Further, becoming a welder is not everyone’s cup of tea. Adding to this, you need to be highly skilful and face the everyday challenges of this job.

Notably, welding is an art that requires years of practice. As a result, you need to bear high costs while recruiting professional welders. Undoubtedly, hiring professionals will ensure better work quality and productivity for your project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TIG welding expensive?

TIG welding is expensive due to several reasons. You need to carry high costs due to professional welder, high maintenance and expensive equipment.

Is car welding expensive?

Indeed, car welding is expensive as it needs a good finish, quality work and labour costs. It may cost you a range of $50 to $300 for just a minor repair in a car.

Is aluminium welding expensive?

Aluminium and its alloys bear high thermal conductivity. Thus, it is very hard to weld them following the traditional welding process. Mainly, you need to use an expensive gas welding process like TIG welding for aluminium.

Is plastic welding expensive?

Plastic welding is easy to process relative to other materials. Moreover, you need to use an electric welding gun along with a welding rod to complete the process. This is a simple and cheap process as it doesn’t require expensive welding tools.

Is MIG welding expensive?

MIG welding is faster and less expensive than another gas welding like TIG.

What is the most cost-effective welding method?

Welding costs can vary depending on the operation you prefer to do. With this in mind, you can choose to do less costly methods, just basic welding. Therefore, the most cost-effective welding for you is a fundamental welding process like Metal Arc Welding (Shielded), also known as stick welding.

Conclusion

Welding cost depends on various types of factors. In general, you need to figure out the type of welding you need to perform first. It will be a costly one indeed. To sum up, you need to see the factors behind the costs as mentioned in this article and make a balance between them to reduce the cost.

This article also elaborates on two standard gas welding processes, TIG and MIG, to enhance your knowledge. In short, whether welding is expensive or not depends explicitly on the type of welding you are doing, welders cost, equipment costs and other factors mentioned in the article.

Read More: Alternative To Welding Metal