A sheet metal shop in Chicago quoted a custom stainless exhaust hood for a commercial kitchen buildout. The hood was 8' × 4' × 24" deep, fabricated from 16-gauge 304 stainless, with a back splash panel, internal baffles, and a 10" round duct collar. All seams were TIG welded and ground flush for a sanitary wipe-down surface. IronKit generated the flat pattern layout with weld seam locations and priced each component — body panels, backsplash, baffles, and duct collar — as separate line items. The shop owner said it was the first time he'd sent a quote that showed the customer exactly what they were paying for on a hood job.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a $7K exhaust hood quote?
All stainless steel material (body, backsplash, baffles, collar, grease gutter), flat pattern CNC cutting, press brake forming, TIG welding and grinding, exterior polish, and field installation. Ductwork and fire suppression are excluded.
Why is the weld-and-grind labor so high?
TIG welding stainless at $110/hr with flush grinding on visible seams is labor-intensive — each seam requires a weld pass plus 2–3 grinding passes to achieve a sanitary surface. It's the most time-consuming step on a hood job.
Does IronKit include flat pattern layout?
Yes. IronKit generates a flat pattern breakdown showing panel dimensions and bend lines. The CNC cutting cost is included as a line item so the shop can see the nesting and cutting expense.