Welding: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering welding

You join metal parts by welding, for repairs and new fabrication, choosing the process, filler and heat control that suit each metal and load. Customers depend on you for a sound joint, the right process for the metal and an honest answer about whether a repair will hold.

What customers ask

  • What metal is this, and which process will you use?
  • Will the weld carry the load it carried before?
  • Do you remove the paint and galvanizing before welding?
  • Will you check the weld for cracks or porosity?
  • Is this a structural repair, and do you follow a specific standard?
  • What warranty do you give on the weld?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the metal type, the thickness, the part's use and the load it carries, then say which process you would use and why
  • Look at the joint in person, check the metal type with a test or the supplier's record, and note any prior repairs before you quote
  • Put the metal type, the process, the filler and the preheat or post-heat in the quote, so the customer sees how the repair will be made
  • Show photos of similar welds on the same metal, with the bead profile and the clean-up visible
  • Explain whether the part must come off the vehicle or structure and what that adds to the job
  • Tell the customer what the repair is suitable for and what it is not suitable for, in writing

What to put on your profile

  • Post photos of finished welds on steel, stainless, aluminum and cast iron, labeled with the process used
  • List the processes you run, such as MIG, TIG and stick, and the metals each one suits
  • Show repairs on trailers, gates, railings and implements, with the load and use noted
  • State your certifications and the inspection work you take, if any

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a check of the repaired joint after the first use under load, and a re-weld at no cost where the workmanship failed
  • Suggest a protective coating for the joint in a corrosive or wet setting
  • Mention a periodic check of trailer hitches, brackets and frame joints where the load keeps cycling

Licenses and permits

Welders doing structural, pressure or inspected work commonly need certification, and many areas require a contractor registration for paid work on buildings. Check with your state and local licensing agencies and your local building department for the welder certification, the registration and any permit rules that apply to your work.

Questions

What do I do if a repair fails after I have done the weld?

Inspect the joint with the customer, record the failure, and find the cause before you re-weld. Common causes include the wrong filler, poor fit-up, missed cleaning or the load being higher than the design allowed.

How do I weld cast iron without it cracking?

Cast iron needs controlled preheat, a suitable filler and a slow cool-down to avoid cracking. Explain the method and its limits to the customer before you start, and say whether the repair will carry the original load.

How do requests reach me on infinibell?

Customers describe the job and pick the pros they want by name, and only the pros they picked see the request. Joining is free. You pay only for the leads you accept, and you can decline a request for free. Every pro is reviewed before going live.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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