Welding repair in Meridian and the Treasure Valley
Something's cracked and you want it fixed, not replaced. I repair steel, stainless and aluminum on site across the valley, and I reinforce it so it doesn't break in the same place again.
Can it be repaired?
Usually. Steel that cracked from fatigue, got bent in a collision or rusted thin can be welded, plated and put back to work. There are three cases where I'll tell you no, or not yet.
- Cast iron. Cast parts can sometimes be welded, but they need preheat, the right rod and slow cooling, and the result is never as strong as the original. If it's a cast housing or a cast hitch, I'll tell you the odds before you pay for a visit.
- Rust with nothing left. If the metal around the break is paper thin, a weld has nothing to hold. The fix is cutting the bad section out and welding in new steel, which I do all the time. It's just a bigger job than "weld the crack."
- Safety-critical parts with unknown history. A trailer axle, a lifting eye or a brake part that's been welded by someone else already. Sometimes replacement is the honest answer.
Why welding the crack back together isn't enough
A crack is a symptom. The part cracked there because that's where the load concentrates. If I just fill the crack and walk away, it will crack again beside the weld, often within a season. So a proper repair does three things. I grind the crack out to clean metal and drill the end so it can't keep running. I weld it with full penetration, not a cap over the top. Then I add a gusset, a fish plate or a doubler that spreads the load out so it isn't all on one line anymore.
Gate, trailer and railing repair
- Gate repair: torn hinges, sagging frames, broken latches, pipe gates that a cow or a truck found.
- Trailer repair: cracked tongues, broken safety chain loops, fender brackets, deck cross-members, ramp hinges.
- Railing repair: posts rusted at the base, loose handrails, broken pickets.
Farm equipment and shop repairs
- Farm equipment repair: bucket corners, bale spear mounts, hitches, implement frames, corral panels.
- Aluminum repairs: aluminum trailers, ramps, wheel line and toolboxes.
- Shop and fleet: racks, stands, dock plates, forklift attachments, the thing that broke at 2pm on a Tuesday.
What it costs
Visits start at $95. A single crack in a driveway is usually near that. A trailer tongue with a gusset, or a gate that needs a hinge cut off and a new one welded on, runs more, and I'll give you that number from the photo before I come out. Repairs are almost always cheaper than replacement and they're done in a day, not a lead time.
Send me a photo
Text a picture of the break to (503) 710-1564. Get the whole part in frame, then one close-up of the crack. Tell me what it's made of if you know, and whether it's been welded before. That's enough for me to price it.
Most repairs are done on site through my mobile welding service. If the piece needs a table and a square, it goes to the shop and comes back.
Where I do this work
Meridian first, then the whole Treasure Valley. Repairs are the same 1 to 3 days out in every town below.
Before you call
Will the repair be as strong as the original?
With the crack ground out, welded through and reinforced, the repaired area is usually stronger than it was. The weak point moves somewhere else, which is the goal.
Can you weld something that's already been welded badly?
Yes, but the old weld has to come out first. I grind it back to sound metal and start over. That's more time than a fresh crack, and I'll price it that way.
Can you match the paint?
I can prime and paint the repair so it doesn't rust. Matching a factory color exactly isn't something I promise. Tell me if the look matters and I'll plan for it.
Do you weld aluminum trailers?
Yes. See the aluminum welding page for what's different about it and what to send me.
Tell me what broke
Send a photo and a few details and I'll call you back with a price and a day. Or just call, Monday through Saturday, 7am to 6pm.