When pricing hits that 'market ceiling'. Price check, please

[AnotherDano]

I have a round piece, 36" in diameter, that needs to be powder coated in a metallic color that will require a clear topcoat.

Without counting the pierces, it has 591 inches of linear cut.
The material is 14ga cold-rolled mild steel.

What yould you guys/gals charge for a piece like this?

At the 'standard' low rate of $.05/sq/linear rate and $5.00/sq' for the coating
(+ 50% more for the clear coat) I'm afraid the total might be way too much for this market.

The customer wants two of them.
The design work is already done and approved.
That was just adding a nine character name, which was no big deal.

[JJsCustomDesigns]

I used to charge per cutting inch for everything. I have a new method to my madness that seems to draw customers in cause rates are not so high. Now i take the cost of material, double it. Then charge .05 cents per cutting inch. That covers the cost of consumables, electricity and clean up. I dont seem to make anything on powdercoating. My coater is so high priced i cant make any money of it.

Since im more familiar with 12 gauge material... This is my run down of the the price for this.
12 gauge 4x4 sheet cost me $32. The customer needs 75% of the sheet. That comes out to $24. Double it: $48. + .05 per cutting inch = $29.55. Comes out to $77.55 + powdercoating or finishing (add CAD time here).

Ive sold alot of signs and artwork, 24" (simple, basic design) to 48" (alot of detail and prep work) from $75 unfinished to upwards of $600 finished.

I always like to ask what kind of budget they have for custom stuff. Once i have an idea of what they are willing to spend. Then i can stay within their budget easier and not worry about if they are gonna pay or not.

[AnotherDano]

Thanks JJ,

My 14ga is $122 for a 4x10' sheet - cut in half for me by my supplier.
That's $65.00 for a 4x5.

I do my own powder coating and don't charge according to the price difference between colors (which could be from
$11~22/pound). I figure it will all balance out and I don't want to spend time weighing/measureing.

Your pricing method is much like mine - but I'm sure paying a buttload more for the steel.

[JJsCustomDesigns]

My 14ga is $122 for a 4x10' sheet - cut in half for me by my supplier.
That's $65.00 for a 4x5.

holy cow! are you getting PnO sheets? 12g 4x8 sheets costs me $59 + $5 to shear it in half. The more i purchase the more discount i get on the sheets.

[AnotherDano]

My 14ga is $122 for a 4x10' sheet - cut in half for me by my supplier.
That's $65.00 for a 4x5.

holy cow! are you getting PnO sheets? 12g 4x8 sheets costs me $59 + $5 to shear it in half. The more i purchase the more discount i get on the sheets.

I use cold rolled.

[sodfarmer]

Wow, on the price of steel. I just bought some 14 ga crs 4x8 and it was $50.80 for a full sheet. On custom jobs I charge $.14/square inch finished or $.10/square inch unfinished. Which figures out to be $181.44. I would probably give them a discount since they are ordering 2. Probably around $160 each for 2. I finish everything in house myself.