What to Expect When You Order Custom Metal Fabrication
Most people who call a fabrication shop for the first time don't know what to expect. That's fine — that's exactly why we're writing this. Whether you need a structural steel frame, a custom gate, a trailer repair, or a one-off industrial part, understanding how the process works will save you time, save you money, and get you a better result.
Here's how it works at A&J Custom Metals in Graham, WA, from the first phone call to the day we hand it over.
Step 1: The Inquiry= Tell Us What You're Building
The first step is a conversation. You reach out, we listen.
A lot of customers come in with a sketch on paper, a photo from the internet, or just an idea in their head. All of that works. The more detail you can give us upfront, the faster we can quote you, but we're used to working from rough starts.
Here's what helps us most:
- What it is- gate, frame, bracket, trailer, staircase, railing, structural beam, equipment skid, etc.
- What it needs to do- load-bearing, decorative, mobile, stationary, exposed to weather?
- What material you're thinking- mild steel, stainless, aluminum, or you don't know yet
- Rough dimensions- even a ballpark helps
- Timeline- when do you need it?
If you're dealing with a drawing or engineering spec, bring it. If you're not, no problem. We've helped hundreds of customers in Pierce County translate a rough idea into a finished product.
You can reach us at contactus@aandjcustommetals.com or give us a call directly.
Step 2: The Quote- No Surprises
Once we have enough information, we put together a quote. At A&J Custom Metals, our quotes are clear. You'll see the scope of work, the materials we're planning to use, and what the job will cost.
A few things that affect your quote:
Material type and grade. Mild steel (A36) is the most common and most affordable. Stainless steel and aluminum cost more, both for material and for the welding time required. If you're not sure which is right for your application, tell us the environment and load requirements and we'll recommend the right spec.
Complexity of fabrication. A straight cut and weld is faster than a tight-tolerance multi-component assembly. The more precise the fit-up needs to be, the more time it takes. We build it right the first time, which sometimes means extra setup time on the front end.
Weld process. Most structural work in our shop is done with MIG (GMAW), it's fast, strong, and reliable for mild steel. Stainless and aluminum typically call for TIG (GTAW), which is slower but cleaner and better suited to those materials. The spec of your job will drive which process we use.
Finish requirements. Raw steel, wire-brushed, ground smooth, or prepped for paint, or powder coated, all different labor levels. If you need priming or have a specific finish requirement, we'll include that in scope.
We don't lowball quotes to get the job and then surprise you with add-ons. If something changes mid-job, we tell you before we do it.
Step 3: Materials- We Source, You Approve
Once you approve the quote, we source the materials. For most structural steel, flat bar, square tube, round tube, angle iron, channel, I-beam, or plate we're pulling from local steel suppliers here in the South Sound. We keep common stock on hand, but specialty items like stainless sheet, aluminum extrusions, or heavy plate may take a few days to source.
If you have a material preference or a supplier you've already spec'd, let us know and we'll work with it.
Step 4: Fabrication- The Work Itself
This is where it happens.
Depending on the job, fabrication involves some combination of:
- Layout and measuring- transferring dimensions to the material, marking cut lines, squaring assemblies
- Cutting- plasma cutting, angle grinding, bandsaw, or torch depending on material and thickness
- Fit-up- tacking pieces in position before full weld, checking square and plumb
- Welding- full weld passes per the spec or design intent
- Grinding and cleanup- weld face cleanup, slag removal, edge prep
- QA check- we measure, we check square, we check welds before it leaves our hands
For larger or more complex jobs, we may send progress photos or reach out with questions. We'd rather pause and confirm a dimension than cut and weld and have to redo it.
Step 5: Pickup or Delivery
When the job is done, we'll contact you. Most customers pick up from our shop in Graham, WA, centrally located in Pierce County, easy access from Puyallup, Tacoma, Bonney Lake, and the surrounding area.
For larger structural pieces, we can arrange delivery. We'll coordinate that with you during the quoting process.
Common Questions We Get
Do I need engineered drawings?
Not always. For decorative work, gates, railings, trailers, and most general fab jobs, a solid sketch or description is enough. For structural elements that will be inspected or permitted, like beams or building frames you may need a PE stamp. We'll tell you upfront if that applies.
Can you match an existing piece?
Yes. Bring it in, bring a photo, or give us dimensions. We fabricate to match originals regularly.
What if I need a rush job?
Talk to us. We'll tell you honestly whether we can fit it in. We run a tight shop and we don't overpromise.
Do you do repairs, or only new fabrication?
Both. Broken welds, cracked frames, worn mounting brackets, we do repair work all the time. Same process: bring it in or describe it, we quote it, we fix it.
## Why Pierce County Customers Choose A&J Custom Metals
We're a shop in Graham, WA, not a big franchise, not a call center. When you call us, you're talking to the people who will actually build your project. We know what good work looks like, and we don't put our name on anything we wouldn't be proud of.
We serve customers across Pierce County, Graham, Puyallup, Spanaway, Tacoma, Bonney Lake, Eatonville, and everywhere in between. Whether you're a general contractor, a rancher, a homeowner, or a small manufacturer, we build what you need.
Ready to get started? Email us at contactus@aandjcustommetals.com or reach out directly. Tell us what you're building and we'll take it from there.
A&J Custom Metals | Graham, WA | Pierce County's Custom Welding and Fabrication Shop
Services: Custom Fabrication · Structural Welding · MIG/TIG Welding · Steel, Stainless, Aluminum · Repairs · Pierce County & South Sound
