"Free" work for engineers

[cedarbluffranch]

I've read on here that some engineers get asked to do "free" work - neighbors, friends, church goers, etc, to do some engineering work for free.

I'm wondering exactly what have you been asked to do for free? I've never encountered the need to hire an engineer in my lifetime, so I'm a little bit surprised that other engineers get asked to do "free" work. I'm curious to know what types of things you have been asked.

I'm guessing this thread will quickly degenerate into a discussion on ethics, liability, state statutes, etc on licensing. I'm not asking any of those questions, so please focus on what my question is - have any of you been asked to do free work and if so what kinds of projects have you been asked to do?

 

[TheTick]

My neighbor had a 50's vintage IH pickup truck. I designed some replacement parts for him for free. He didn't ask; I offered.

I've had other projects come by. No one has ever asked for free work, though. Maybe because they already new how insulting I thought that was. If it ain't worth paying for, it ain't worth coming to me for.

Last time, my brother's friend absconded with $3k worth of "free" work.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Since I am structural - mostly minor stuff - like look at my wall, beam, etc and tell me if anything is wrong.

As you stated - I probably shouldn't do it because of liabilty, etc - but they are family members or friends.

 

[rday]

Likewise, minor structural stuff around peoples homes.

I have no problem taking a courtesy look for friends and family; but I inform them up front if it goes to real work a contract will be required and it will have to go through the company.

 

[DRC1]

Likewise, had acouple people at work doing some modifications to their house, deck etc. Aslo in certian areas were flood insurance is applicable the feds sometimes require documents that certify the existing elevations and other detils and require a PE stamp. Nobody has asked me about that in a while, so that may have changed. I don't think payment or nonpayment effects your responsibility. It may effect your insurance coverage, so I would be careful about how much you take on. I never did anything for free that I worried about- i.e. it was all pretty straight forward stuff.

 

[Pressed]

Usually the tasks asked are so easy that you spend more time explaining the solution than actually solving the problem and it really doesn't seem like free work.

===================================
Forging

http://mech.e.tripod.com

-------------------------------------------------
Ddraig Breuddwydia....

http://www.tailofthedragon.com

 

[GregLocock]

I designed the replacement deck for the boat I sail on - three times as stiff for the same weight. And I'd add, a stiff deck is worth having.




Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Yes - a stiff deck is worth having....whatever the cost

 

[MechEng2005]

It seems that most of the discussions of free work I have seen from engineers on these boards has been for structural.

I have only been asked to do "free" work by my brother, who wanted a mast put on a speed boat for watersports (tubing, water skiing, etc). Basically, he was assuming I could design (and presumably have my company fab) a mast for less than it would cost to have a commercial company provide and install one. I told him that I didn't know the strength of any of the components which I might attach the mast to and didn't want to rip out a section of the floor of the fiberglass boat. More importantly, I was not about to try to design something that, if it did fail, would fly at a person at high speed.

I also was asked by my father if a winch would work in pulling a broken fridge up a hill. I provided a graph of the force required based on coefficient of friction and angle of the pull... But that was just for fun. He didn't actually ask for all that information, I'm just kinda nerdy. =)

-- MechEng2005

 

[MacGyverS2000]

I can't count the number of kitchen appliances I've been asked to fix once someone learns I'm an electrical engineer...

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I can't count the number of tile floors I have installed or helped with once people know that I know how to do it....

Actaully quite easy although a back and knee buster!!! And CAD helps with the layout!!

 

[RVSWA]

Family and friends have asked a number of times for me to size beams or draw the plans for an addition. How do you tell your Mother No? Thanks for raising me, oh yeah, and helping with college, sorry, can't help. Nothing has been too complicated. I should have them sign a contract and pay me a $1 so they are covered by insurance in case something were to fail. For me, my personal and professional responsibility for family and friends is no different that a paying customer. At the end of the day it's all about the engineering, do it right, every time... The purpose of an engineer is to help people, help your friends and family, just don't screw up. I like MechEng2005's example, don't fail to recognize the importance of the NULL answer. My brother didn't want to put a mezzanine post in his shop, I told him as long as he never let my Nephews in there, he could leave it out, otherwise put it in... he hangs chords and air hoses on it now. That reminds me, I should call my brother, haven't talked to him in a few weeks...

 

[DonPhillips]

I seem to have a lot of experience reviewing plans for small churches; who never have enough money to hire someone upfront and end up paying for the design services through multple plan review and re-inspection fees.

One was a "free" industrialized unit (trailer). Just a site plan and the original IU drawings were submitted. No dimension on the site plan, it crossed a property line, no foundation detail (it was in a flood plain) no electrical, fire alrm, water, or sanitary utility information, wood and concrete ramps were show - in plan - no sections, elevations, or even what compressive strength or if air entrained.

I first started talking to them in February, and I have issued two correction letters - one in June and one in August. So far, I think the bill has been about $500.


Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[Tomfh]

I get asked the occasional easy question. Nothing I would consider work.

Before entering into engineering I was in the IT/Computer industry. Let me tell you, THAT is a career where people expect you to do free work for them.

"My computer is running really slow and keeps crashing, could you please look at it for me?"

"My email doesn't work, could you have a look for me"

"I can't log onto my internet, could you take a look for me"

 

[DonPhillips]

I hear ya, Tomfh. My family uses me for tech support. I try to teach my kids some of the basics but they are not interested in learning (19 and 22, so it is not because they are not smart enough).

On the bright side, my sister-in-law pays me with a good meal and normally, it is something simple and only takes a few minutes. If it is a slow computer (her last complaint last I saw her), I tell her she probably has spyware and to get Micro$oft's free Defender. It works reasonably well. Keeping my nieces off sites full of spyware will be impossible.

Last time I visited my folks, my sister complained about her laptop not connecting to the Internet when she switched ISPs on her laptop. I asked her to show me. So we deleted her network connection, reinstalled it, and viola! It was customized for the old ISP. She had not used her laptop for 3 years so when I saw her, should would make the passing comment but used her work laptop for Internet access, but was thinking about getting a new laptop. Perhaps I need to visit them more often!



Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com