CUSTOM METAL FABRICATION
Metal Fabrication and Welding in Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth still works with its hands. Pipe gates and cattle panels on the acreage west of Benbrook, a headache rack for a pickup that hauls every day, conveyor brackets for a warehouse in the Alliance corridor. Alpha Mobile Welding TX coordinates custom fabrication through partner welders across Tarrant County and the counties west. Some partners build in their own workshops; fit-up and installation happen at your property. Send a sketch, dimensions and photos and we confirm a partner, a finish and a lead time.
Lead times depend on partner shop schedules and galvanizing turnaround.
Fabrication, not just repair
What custom fabrication looks like in Fort Worth
Fabrication means building a piece that does not exist yet, to your dimensions, then installing it. A 16 foot pipe gate for a Parker County pasture, a steel flatbed for a ranch truck, a western-style iron gate for a Stockyards-area bar, a conveyor frame for a distribution center near Texas Motor Speedway. Repair of existing metal is handled on our Fort Worth mobile welding page; this page is about new work.
Fort Worth sits where the Cross Timbers meet the prairie. Summers are long and hot, spring brings hail and straight-line wind, and the ground ranges from sandy loam to heavy clay within a few miles. Partners quote hot-dip galvanizing for anything livestock or fence related, powder coat over zinc primer for ornamental and commercial work, and bare steel only for interior pieces.
Alpha does not own a shop. We match each request to a partner with the right setup: a pipe notcher and heavy MIG machine for ranch gates, a plasma table and press brake for truck beds and racks. You get one contact, one written estimate and one schedule.
- Pipe gates, panels, chutes and cattle guards built to your pens
- Truck beds, headache racks and flatbed accessories
- Western-style ornamental gates and railings
- Industrial brackets and frames for Alliance and the west side
- Trailer modifications and equipment stands
Typical Fort Worth requests
Custom jobs we coordinate across Tarrant County and west
The fabrication requests that come up most often from Fort Worth ranchers, fleet owners, builders and property managers.
Ranch gates and pipe fence
Swing gates from 8 to 20 feet in 2 3/8 inch pipe, H-braces and pipe-top fence lines for acreage in Aledo, Weatherford, Azle and Burleson, galvanized or painted and hung on 4 inch posts.
Livestock panels, chutes and cattle guards
Pen panels, alley fencing, loading chutes, bow gates and cattle guards sized to the working area, built from pipe and sucker rod with no snag points and heavy enough for mature cattle.
Truck beds and headache racks
Steel flatbeds, bale spears, hay spikes, headache racks, ladder racks and toolbox mounts for ranch and contractor pickups, built to the bed and frame dimensions.
Stockyards-style western ironwork
Ornamental gates, railings, sign brackets and brand panels with a western character for homes in Westover Hills and Tanglewood and venues around the Stockyards and Near Southside.
Industrial brackets for the Alliance corridor
Conveyor supports, mezzanine guards, pipe and conduit racks, equipment bases and dock hardware for the logistics and manufacturing parks along I-35W and Highway 170.
Trailer modifications
Stock trailer repairs and dividers, gooseneck conversions, ramp gates, fender replacement and tie-down rails for livestock, equipment and flatbed trailers.
Fabrication services
What partner shops build for Fort Worth clients
Most projects fit one of these categories; mixed requests are quoted as one job.
Gates and entry frames
Pipe and tube gates for pastures and driveways, ornamental swing and slide gates for homes, all framed square with weld-on hinges, latches and operator pads.
Livestock and ranch equipment
Panels, alleys, chutes, bow gates, hay feeders, cattle guards and corner braces in pipe and sucker rod, galvanized or painted and built to your pen layout.
Truck and trailer builds
Flatbeds, headache racks, ladder racks, bale spears, trailer ramps, dividers and tongue work, with frame changes flagged for engineering when ratings change.
Railings and guards
Exterior stair rails, balcony guards and ADA-style handrails for homes and commercial buildings, test-fit on site and anchored into concrete or framing.
Industrial frames and brackets
Conveyor stands, equipment bases, pipe racks, mezzanine rails and dock hardware fabricated to drawings and installed in off-shift windows when needed.
Ornamental and architectural steel
Western-style gates, brand panels, sign brackets, awning frames and powder coated accents for homes, restaurants and venues across the city.
Why Alpha Welding
Why Fort Worth clients route fabrication through Alpha
Finding a fabricator with open shop time and the right equipment is the hard part; we handle that matching.
One request, many partners
Describe the piece once. We find the partner whose equipment and schedule fit instead of you calling shops from Keller to Crowley.
Ranch-literate partners
Partners who build livestock equipment know pipe sizes, snag-free layouts and what cattle do to a weak hinge, which saves rebuilding later.
Shop build, site install
Pieces are fabricated on a table with a saw and a square, then installed by a mobile welder who can adjust to the real post spacing.
Honest scheduling
We quote the lead time the partner is actually running, including galvanizer turnaround, not a date meant to win the job.
How it works
How a Fort Worth fabrication request moves
Four steps from idea to installed metal.
Send what you have
A sketch, rough dimensions, photos of the site or vehicle and a note on finish. Drawings help but are optional.
We confirm a partner and price
We match the job to a partner welder, review material and finish options with you, and send a written estimate.
Fabrication and finishing
The partner builds the piece in their workshop or on site, then sends it for galvanizing or powder coat if quoted.
Delivery and installation
The part is delivered, test-fit, anchored and welded in place. You walk the job before it is closed out.
Local guide
Fabricating metal that fits Fort Worth
A few local realities shape every Fort Worth fabrication estimate, from pipe size to the day the installer arrives.
Pipe gates, panels and working pens
West and south of the city, the acreage in Parker, Johnson and Wise counties runs cattle and horses, and the fabrication requests follow. Partners build gates from 2 3/8 inch and 2 7/8 inch pipe with sucker-rod or pipe fill, weld-on bullet hinges and chain latches, hung on 4 inch pipe posts set in concrete. Working pens use 6 bar panels on 10 or 12 foot centers, alleys sized for the animals, and chutes with no inside protrusions. Most of this is MIG welded with ER70S-6 in the shop and finished with hot-dip galvanizing or a two-part oil-based paint.
Cattle guards and ranch entries
A cattle guard replaces a gate across a ranch road and has to carry a loaded feed truck. Partners build them from 2 7/8 inch pipe or 4 inch channel on 4 inch centers over a steel or concrete box, with wings that tie into the fence line. Anything rated for heavy trucks is sized with a load calculation, and county road crossings may need the county’s approval. Entry gates on these roads are often 16 to 20 feet with a diagonal brace and a pad for a solar opener.
Truck beds, headache racks and flatbeds
Fort Worth runs on pickups. Partners build steel flatbeds with gooseneck hitches, headache racks that protect the cab and carry lights, ladder racks for contractors, bale spears and hay spikes for ranch trucks. Beds are built on a jig to the frame rail width and wheelbase, then bolted or welded to the frame. Any work on the frame itself changes the load rating and may affect inspection, so partners flag it and recommend an engineer when the modification is structural. Finish is usually powder coat or a bedliner-type coating.
Stockyards-style ironwork and the western look
Homes in Westover Hills, Tanglewood, Ridglea and the acreage subdivisions near Aledo ask for ironwork with a western character: pipe-rail balconies, gates with brand cutouts, star and longhorn panels, heavy strap hinges. Venues on Exchange Avenue, Magnolia Avenue and West 7th ask for the same in rail form. Partners cut the panels on a plasma table from 3/16 or 1/4 inch plate, weld them into tube or pipe frames, and finish in black or bronze powder coat. The look is heavy on purpose; the weld quality underneath keeps it square.
Alliance corridor and industrial frames
The logistics and manufacturing parks along I-35W, Highway 170 and the Alliance Airport area generate steady bracket, frame and guard work. Conveyor supports, mezzanine handrails, pipe racks, equipment bases and dock hardware are fabricated from A36 plate and A500 tube to the drawing, often with a bolt pattern that must match existing anchors. Anything that carries a rated load or ties into building structure needs an engineer’s sign-off, which Alpha states in the estimate.
Permits, HOAs and lead times
The City of Fort Worth permits tall fences and most structures attached to a building; Keller, Southlake and Colleyville enforce tighter fence standards, and the acreage subdivisions near Aledo and Weatherford have their own ARC rules. Unincorporated Parker and Johnson counties are lighter on permits but not on wind. Lead times typically run one to two weeks for brackets, two to four weeks for gates, panels and truck beds, plus a week for galvanizing or powder coat.
What to send for an accurate estimate
- A sketch with overall dimensions, opening sizes or pen layout
- Photos of the site, vehicle or trailer the part goes on
- Animal type and count for livestock equipment
- Finish: galvanized, powder coat color, painted or raw
- Any drawing, load rating or engineering note you already have
Related welding services
Have a pen layout but no fabricator?
Send the sketch and a photo of the existing fence. A partner can usually confirm pipe sizes, panel counts and a price within a day.
Fort Worth and west coverage
Where Fort Worth fabrication partners deliver and install
Partner shops and installers are spread across Tarrant County and the ranch counties to the west and south, and coverage is confirmed per address when you request an estimate. Rural addresses may carry a trip charge stated before work begins.
Fort Worth proper
- Fort Worth
- Stockyards and Northside
- Near Southside and Magnolia
- Westover Hills and Tanglewood
- Alliance and Far North
Mid-Cities and east
- Arlington
- Grand Prairie
- Hurst, Euless and Bedford
- Keller and Southlake
- Dallas
West and ranch country
- Aledo and Willow Park
- Weatherford
- Azle and Springtown
- Benbrook
- Granbury
South
- Burleson
- Crowley
- Mansfield
- Cleburne
- Joshua
FAQs
Fort Worth fabrication questions
Straight answers to what clients ask before they send a sketch.
Does Alpha have a fabrication shop in Fort Worth?
No. Alpha coordinates fabrication through independent partner welders across the Fort Worth area. Some partners run their own workshops with tables, saws, pipe notchers and plasma equipment; others build on site. We match your project to the right one and manage the estimate and schedule.
How do I start a ranch gate or panel project?
Call 979-250-7486 or use the estimate form with a sketch of the pen or gate opening, dimensions, photos and the type of livestock. We confirm pipe sizes, finish and lead time with a partner and send a written quote before any pipe is cut.
What pipe do partners use for gates and panels?
Most ranch gates and panels are built from 2 3/8 inch or 2 7/8 inch oilfield-grade pipe with sucker rod or pipe fill. Posts are 4 inch or heavier. Heavier stock is used for bulls, chutes and anything a truck might hit.
Can you build a cattle guard that holds a loaded truck?
Yes, through partners who build them regularly. Guards are sized with a load calculation, built from heavy pipe or channel over a steel or concrete box, and tied into the fence with wings. County road crossings may require the county’s approval first.
Do you build truck beds and headache racks?
Yes. Steel flatbeds, gooseneck beds, headache racks, ladder racks, bale spears and toolbox mounts are routine Fort Worth requests. Work that modifies the truck frame changes the load rating and is flagged for engineering review.
What finish lasts longest on ranch equipment?
Hot-dip galvanizing outlasts everything else on gates, panels and fence in full sun and manure. Where color matters, powder coat over galvanizing or a two-part oil-based paint over primer is used. Bare pipe rusts quickly once the mill scale breaks.
Can partners build western-style ornamental gates?
Yes. Brand cutouts, stars, longhorns and heavy strap hinges are cut on a plasma table and welded into tube or pipe frames, then powder coated black or bronze. Send a photo of the look you want and the opening size.
What is the typical lead time?
Brackets and small frames usually run one to two weeks. Gates, panels, truck beds and railings run two to four weeks depending on shop load, plus roughly a week for galvanizing or powder coat. We quote a realistic window, not a guaranteed date.
Is on-site installation included?
Installation is quoted as part of the project. The partner builds in the shop, then a mobile welder delivers, sets posts, hangs gates and welds panels in place, adjusting to the real ground with a portable machine.
How is a fabrication job priced?
Estimates reflect material weight and grade, cutting and welding hours, finish cost and delivery or installation time. We send a written total with assumptions listed; changes after approval are re-quoted before the partner proceeds.
Request an estimate
Start your Fort Worth fabrication project
Send a sketch, dimensions and photos. We confirm a partner fabricator, the right finish for north Texas sun and an honest lead time.
- Free, no-obligation estimates
- Photos help us understand the job faster
- Same-day requests depend on partner availability