Misc. Hardware

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chris kennedy

chris kennedy

Senior Member
Location
Miami Fla.
Occupation
60 yr old tool twisting electrician
When I do a T&M job I itemize all pipe, wire, boxes, devices ect. I don't try to count every wire nut, GND screw, fastener and so on. I'll figure a rough amount of these items and my last line will be for example $25.00 dollars Misc. Hardware. I'm the only one at our shop that does this. My question is do you charge per wirenut, figure these items are covered by markups on the itemized items or use the method I use?
 
i usually do a misc. material line on my bill. the only time i do t&m is on commercial (tenant remodel, etc. . ). i just buy a box of straps, screws, etc. . .whatever misc. stuff i may need and charge for 100% of it because the new stuff will just replenish what i keep on the truck. its around $30-$40 of material.
 
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I do almost all jobs T&M so I have a line item for hardware. I just guestimate the cost. Do a 8,000 sq. ft house and that harware cost will be at a $100.00 with staples, wirenuts, etc.
 
On T&M work, I try to itemize most of the misc stuff that I know is a little pricey. Those new funky rubberized wire nuts cost me 30 cents a piece, for instance, so it's worth getting a rough count on them. Had to use some Large Diameter Tapcons a while back, and they're about 2 bucks a piece from Fastenal. I had to get some self drilling screws with an extra long drill point for a job with thick steel. Normally, self-drilling screws are sorta freebies, but these were about 1.50 each. I mentioned in another thread that CJ's are about 50 cents a piece, so I don't want to give them away if I can help it. I don't mind "giving away" staples, normal screws, plastic anchors, etc. I sorta count that in with the cost of whatever item there were being utilized with (like wire or boxes), sorta like overhead.

I guess my answer is "it depends".
 
misc hardware my OCD again

misc hardware my OCD again

I personally charge for every wirenut screw down to the red heads which are in fact anti short bushings but only on a service call or jobbing type work. Why should I give anything away for free we have to guarantee all of this stuff for a year. 90 days on a service call. I do have a very extensive stock of all fasteners on my truck probably in excess of a couple of thousand dollars. However when I need any fastener I know for a fact that I have at least 1 box of anything on the truck. My OCD kicking in again. I have a stanley carrier with 1/4 " hardware 3/8,1/2,3/4,1,1 1/4,1 1/2,2,3,4,6" nuts toggle wings,steel drop ins, split wedge ,lead cauk in,washersflat,1,1 1/4,1 1/2,lock. 3/8 hardware the same small screws the same wood 6,8,10,12 1/2" to 4"deck screws machine scews this eliminates all anxiety for me and once it is set up it is easy to maintain. It takes a long time to do and you use less material when you have the right stuff
 
quogueelectric said:
I have a stanley carrier with 1/4 " hardware 3/8,1/2,3/4,1,1 1/4,1 1/2,2,3,4,6" nuts toggle wings,steel drop ins, split wedge ,lead cauk in,washersflat,1,1 1/4,1 1/2,lock. 3/8 hardware the same small screws the same wood 6,8,10,12 1/2" to 4"deck screws machine scews
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No tapcons?:grin:
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I had something to say but I would guess that someone would delete my post. I behaved--- how unusually
Click to expand...

Come on Dennis. Take a shot. I got thick skin. You sure need it here!
 
We have a line item Miscellaneous, based upon a percentage, for all the items mechanics forget to list.

Had a mechanic make an extensive list for a blow up we repaired, had 400 amp fuses but no fused safety switch. Misc. does not cover that. Luckily the fellow that processes the tickets thought to make a call to find out, he reviews all supply house invoices.
 
brian john said:
Had a mechanic make an extensive list for a blow up we repaired, had 400 amp fuses but no fused safety switch.
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I usually screw-up the other way around. Charge for the disco, but forget about the fuses. Sometimes, the fuses are just as expensive as the disco.

disco.jpg
 
brian john said:
We have a line item Miscellaneous, based upon a percentage, for all the items mechanics forget to list.
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I assume the percentage differs for the type of job. Do you know what they are?
 
no tapcons

no tapcons

chris kennedy said:
No tapcons?:grin:
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I am not a big fan of the tapcon although for no particular reason other than personal preferance. Did I mention I have 2 hilti powder actuated guns for which I am duly certified to operate. With every pin and charge assortment up to 3 inch. Also Hilti makes a conduit hanger clip which you shoot in with 1/4" screw holes at 90* angles from each other. Hilti dx 36m one case full of shots and pins and one backup gun in case the first one fails. I also carry 1/4 20 threaded stud pins with nuts. When I do a panel I get a sheet of 3/4 " plywood. Paint it a nice hunter green or Battleship Grey depending on customer preference Take it into the basement and shoot it to the concrete it litterally takes less than a minute for 6 or 8 shots to fasten it to the wall. I have used tapcons for hanging wallpacks but I prefer to use them mostly in carpentry applications like anchoring door threshholds sliding tracks or pocket door guides in a basement Larger tapcons for anchoring larger doorbucks until the masonary returns can be poured into place. I will reevaluate my stock this week opon your recomendation I will need some more storage bins oh no.
 
quogueelectric, got any pictures of the inside of your truck? Sounds like you have a nice setup. I'm picturing a TrueValue hardware store. :grin:
 
quogueelectric said:
I also carry 1/4 20 threaded stud pins with nuts.
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I do like these but I don't like to shoot boxes or switch gear. If you have to move something, you had better be a big fan of the hammer, chisel and pry bar.
 
OCD Hardware store

OCD Hardware store

mdshunk said:
quogueelectric, got any pictures of the inside of your truck? Sounds like you have a nice setup. I'm picturing a TrueValue hardware store. :grin:
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just picture lots of stanley stackable organizer bins in the lockable diamondplate toolboxes that lurk below the toneau covers. Fastening is a HUGE part of our buisness I really hate hacking I just wont do it anymore nope this is a no hacking zone.
 
Mis hardware

Mis hardware

Dennis Alwon said:
I'm trying to behave-- stop tempting me:D
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Come on Dennis (temp) (temp) (temp) you have never let anything stop you before. I usually charge a min of $40 and most of the time $100 for mis items. I order my materials for the job and double the price I pay and pass it on.I personally don't want to count each item. On my bill I list materials and labor then the price. I don't like to do materials and labor seperate. I have found over the years customers don't like to see material prices high or labor prices high, but when you combine both they don't know what each item is and don't argue about the price. Its funny how people don't like you to mark up material. If you don't mark up material you want be in bussiness long. Semper Fi. Buddy
 
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