METALWORK EQUIPMENT FINANCING GUIDE

THE METALWORK EQUIPMENT YOU ACTUALLY NEED

Let's be clear about what professional metalwork actually costs. This isn't hobbyist gear from Screwfix - this is the machinery that separates weekend warriors from legitimate fabrication businesses.

Welding Equipment (£2,000-£15,000)

Your bread and butter. Every metal fabricator needs at least one professional welder, and most need three different types for versatility.

MIG Welders (£2,000-£6,000):

• Entry-level professional: £2,000-£3,500 (180-250 amps)
• Mid-range industrial: £4,000-£6,000 (300-400 amps)
• Heavy-duty commercial: £7,000+ (450+ amps, synergic control)
• Typical choice: Lincoln Electric or Miller at £3,500 - finance at £68/month over 60 months

TIG Welders (£3,000-£12,000):

• Essential for stainless steel, aluminum, precision work
• AC/DC models start at £3,000
• Professional units with pulse control: £6,000-£8,000
• High-frequency start, remote control: £8,000-£12,000
• Popular choice: Fronius or ESAB at £7,500 - finance at £147/month over 60 months

Arc/Stick Welders (£1,500-£4,000):

• Perfect for site work and structural steel
• Portable units: £1,500-£2,500
• Workshop inverters: £2,500-£4,000
• Most fabricators finance at £45-£80/month

Plasma Cutters (£3,000-£25,000)

Game-changer for any fabrication business. Cut through 25mm steel like butter, or slice intricate patterns in 2mm sheet. But quality costs.

Handheld Plasma Systems:

• Entry-level (40-60 amps): £3,000-£5,000 - cuts up to 12mm
• Mid-range (80-100 amps): £6,000-£10,000 - cuts up to 25mm
• Industrial (120+ amps): £12,000-£18,000 - cuts up to 40mm
• Hypertherm or Kjellberg at £8,500 - finance at £167/month over 60 months

CNC Plasma Tables (£20,000-£150,000):

• Entry CNC tables: £20,000-£35,000 (1.5m x 3m bed)
• Mid-range automated: £45,000-£80,000 (2m x 6m, downdraft)
• Industrial systems: £100,000-£150,000 (full automation, bevel cutting)
• Typical £45,000 system - finance at £880/month over 60 months

Press Brakes & Guillotines (£10,000-£80,000)

If you're doing gates, railings, architectural metalwork, or any precision bending, these are essential.

Press Brakes:

• Manual hydraulic (2m): £10,000-£18,000
• Semi-automatic (3m): £22,000-£35,000
• CNC controlled (3m+): £45,000-£80,000
• Most popular: 3m hydraulic at £28,000 - finance at £548/month over 60 months

Guillotines:

• Mechanical (2.5m): £8,000-£15,000
• Hydraulic (3m): £16,000-£28,000
• CNC programmable: £30,000-£50,000
• Solid choice at £18,000 - finance at £352/month over 60 months

Lathes & Mills (£8,000-£60,000)

For precision engineering, custom parts, and machining work. Not every fabricator needs these, but if you're doing bespoke work they're goldmine generators.

• Manual centre lathe: £8,000-£15,000
• CNC lathe: £25,000-£45,000
• Manual milling machine: £6,000-£12,000
• CNC mill: £30,000-£60,000+
• Full manual setup (lathe + mill): £20,000 - finance at £391/month over 60 months

Workshop Infrastructure (£5,000-£25,000)

The stuff nobody talks about but everybody needs.

• Fume extraction system: £3,000-£8,000 (legally required in most workshops)
• Heavy-duty fabrication benches: £1,500-£3,000 each
• Overhead crane/gantry: £4,000-£12,000
• Welding screens and safety equipment: £1,000-£2,500
• Compressor and air tools: £2,000-£5,000
• Angle grinders, hand tools, consumables: £2,000-£4,000

METALWORK FINANCE OPTIONS EXPLAINED

Right, you've worked out what equipment you need. Now let's talk about paying for it without remortgaging your house.

Asset Finance (Hire Purchase) - The Smart Choice

This is the most popular option for metalwork equipment, and for good reason. Simple, predictable, and you own the kit at the end.

How it works:

• You choose your welders, plasma cutters, whatever you need
• We finance 80-100% of the cost (most lenders want 10-20% deposit)
• Fixed monthly payments over 36-72 months (5-6 years typical)
• Equipment is security for the loan - nothing else needed
• You own it outright when final payment's made

Example: £42,000 equipment package (3 welders, plasma cutter, press brake) over 60 months = £822/month. Win one decent gates contract per month at £3,500 and you're £2,678/month better off.

Equipment Lease - For Regular Upgraders

Leasing means you never own the equipment - you're essentially renting it long-term. But monthly payments are 20-30% lower and it's fully tax-deductible.

Best for: Fabricators who want latest CNC technology and plan to upgrade every 4-5 years. Popular with architectural metalwork firms who need cutting-edge equipment to win contracts.

Example: £60,000 CNC plasma table on 60-month lease = £950/month vs £1,174/month HP. Saving £224/month adds up to £13,440 over the term.

Refinancing Old Equipment

Got equipment you already own? You can refinance it to raise cash for new machinery or working capital.

If you've got a £35,000 press brake that's paid off, you can typically release 70-80% of its current value (£24,500-£28,000) and use that cash to buy a plasma cutter, upgrade your welder, or cover a rough month.

Package Deals - Multiple Machines, One Payment

Smart fabricators bundle multiple equipment purchases into one finance agreement. Better rates, simpler admin, one monthly payment.

Popular packages:

• Startup package (£18,000): MIG + TIG welder, portable plasma, extraction - £352/month
• Mid-range package (£42,000): 3 welders, plasma cutter, press brake - £822/month
• Full workshop (£85,000): Complete welding setup, CNC plasma, press brake, guillotine, extraction - £1,663/month

MOBILE VS WORKSHOP SETUPS

Two very different business models need very different equipment strategies.

Mobile Welding Rig (£15,000-£30,000)

Perfect for site work, repairs, agricultural welding, gates and railings installation.

Typical setup:

• Diesel welder/generator combo: £8,000-£12,000
• Portable plasma cutter: £3,000-£5,000
• Van fit-out (storage, racks, inverter): £2,000-£4,000
• Hand tools and consumables: £2,000-£3,000
• Safety equipment and PPE: £500-£1,000
• Total: £18,000 - finance at £352/month over 60 months

Most mobile welders finance the rig and van together - £35,000-£45,000 total, giving you everything to start trading immediately.

Workshop Setup (£45,000-£120,000)

For fabricators targeting commercial contracts, architectural metalwork, or precision engineering.

Basic commercial workshop (£45,000):

• MIG welder (industrial): £5,000
• TIG welder (AC/DC): £7,500
• Plasma cutter (100 amp): £9,000
• Press brake (3m): £18,000
• Extraction system: £4,500
• Workshop infrastructure: £3,000
• Monthly payment: £880/month over 60 months

Advanced workshop (£120,000):

• Full welding setup (3 machines): £18,000
• CNC plasma table: £45,000
• Press brake (CNC): £35,000
• Guillotine: £12,000
• Lathe and mill: £18,000
• Complete extraction and infrastructure: £12,000
• Monthly payment: £2,347/month over 60 months

REAL MONTHLY PAYMENT EXAMPLES

Let's talk actual numbers based on typical APRs for metalwork equipment finance.

Single Equipment Purchases:

• £3,500 MIG welder (60 months, 8.9% APR) = £73/month
• £7,500 TIG welder (60 months, 8.9% APR) = £156/month
• £8,500 plasma cutter (60 months, 8.9% APR) = £177/month
• £28,000 press brake (60 months, 7.9% APR) = £564/month
• £45,000 CNC plasma (60 months, 7.9% APR) = £907/month

Package Deals (Better Rates):

• £18,000 startup package (60 months, 7.9% APR) = £363/month
• £42,000 mid-range package (60 months, 7.4% APR) = £832/month
• £65,000 full workshop (66 months, 6.9% APR) = £1,180/month

WHAT LENDERS ACTUALLY LOOK AT

Metalwork is seen as moderate-risk by lenders (skilled trade, good profit margins, strong demand). Here's what actually matters:

Trading History

Most specialist lenders want 12 months minimum trading. Some will consider 6-9 months if you've got strong orders or a decent deposit. High street banks want 2-3 years - they're usually not worth bothering with for equipment under £50,000.

Qualifications and Experience

Welding qualifications (coded welder certificates, fabrication diplomas) help but aren't always mandatory. What matters more is demonstrable experience - portfolio of work, client testimonials, order book.

Credit History

Personal and business credit both checked. One or two late payments won't kill you. CCJs or bankruptcies under 3 years old make things harder but not impossible - we've secured finance for metalworkers with imperfect credit.

Cash Flow and Affordability

Can you afford the monthly payment? They want 3-6 months bank statements. If you're consistently turning over £10,000+ monthly, most equipment deals under £40,000 are straightforward approvals.

Deposit (Sometimes)

10-20% deposit is typical, though 100% finance is possible for established businesses with good credit. Bigger deposits = better rates and easier approvals.

THE REAL COSTS OF METALWORK EQUIPMENT FINANCE

Finance isn't free. But done right, it's an investment that generates far more profit than it costs.

Typical APR rates for metalwork equipment:

• Excellent credit, 2+ years trading, package deals: 5.9-7.4% APR
• Good credit, 12-24 months trading: 7.9-9.9% APR
• Fair credit, newer business: 10.9-14.9% APR
• Challenged credit, startups: 15.9-19.9% APR

Real example breakdown - £42,000 equipment package:

• Amount financed: £42,000
• Term: 60 months
• APR: 8.4%
• Monthly payment: £855
• Total repayable: £51,300
• Total interest: £9,300

That £9,300 interest over 5 years works out to £155/month. If that equipment helps you win just one extra £4,000 gates contract per month, you're £3,845/month better off. Over a year, that's an extra £46,140 profit.

The math makes sense: pay £155/month to unlock £46,000/year additional revenue.

HOW TO APPLY (5 SIMPLE STEPS)

No 40-page forms or three-hour meetings. Here's how it actually works:

Step 1: Tell us what you need (2 minutes)

Call, email, or fill out the contact form. Tell us what metalwork equipment you're looking at and the approximate cost. That's it.

Step 2: Quick fact-find call (10 minutes)

We'll ask about your business, how long you've been trading, what you're turning over, and what work you've got lined up. No judgment, no pressure.

Step 3: Submit basic documents

• 3-6 months business bank statements
• Photo ID (driving license or passport)
• Equipment quote or proforma invoice
• Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement)

Step 4: Get your decision (24-48 hours)

Most applications get initial approval within 24 hours. We'll tell you exactly what's been approved, the interest rate, monthly payment, and total cost.

Step 5: Sign paperwork and get your equipment

All paperwork is electronic - sign on your phone or laptop. Takes 10 minutes. We pay the supplier directly, and you're welding within days.

COMMON METALWORK FINANCE QUESTIONS

Can I finance second-hand welding equipment?

Yes, but with conditions. Equipment needs to be in good working order with reasonable remaining life. Most lenders want machines less than 8-10 years old. Rates are typically 1-2% higher than new equipment.

What if I'm just starting out as a metalworker?

Startups are harder but not impossible. You'll need 20-30% deposit, evidence of orders or contracts, and potentially a personal guarantee. Some lenders specialize in startup trades - see our home tradesman equipment loans guide for more.

Can I add equipment to my existing finance agreement?

Absolutely. Most fabricators come back for additional equipment as they grow. We can either set up a separate agreement or refinance everything together (sometimes gets better rates).

What happens if I can't make a payment?

Contact your lender immediately - ignoring it makes things worse. One missed payment isn't catastrophic. Most lenders will work with you on payment holidays, restructuring, or temporary arrangements if you're having short-term cash flow issues.

Can I pay off my equipment finance early?

Yes. Most agreements allow early settlement with either no penalty or a small redemption fee (typically 1-2 months interest). If you land a massive contract and want to clear the debt, you can.

WHY METALWORKERS CHOOSE US

We're not a bank. We're specialist equipment finance brokers who understand metal fabrication.

• We know metalwork: We've financed everything from portable welders to £150k CNC plasma systems
• Fast decisions: Most applications approved within 24 hours
• Realistic requirements: 12 months trading, not 3 years
• Package deals: Bundle multiple machines for better rates
• Bad credit considered: We look at your business now, not your credit score from 2018
• Straightforward process: No meetings, no presentations, no runaround

We've helped over 1,200 metalworkers and fabricators finance equipment. Check out our related guides for builder finance, carpenter equipment finance, and startup equipment loans.

READY TO GET YOUR METALWORK EQUIPMENT?

Stop turning down contracts because you haven't got the right equipment. Let's talk about financing your welders, plasma cutters, or complete workshop setup.

Quick online application: Click here to apply now

Speak to an expert: Call 020 3778 0274

We're open Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-1pm. Real people who understand metalwork, real answers, no corporate nonsense.

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Related reading: Check out our guides on electrician equipment finance, plumber van and tools finance, and woodworking equipment finance. All written by people who actually understand UK trades finance.