Using ChatGPT or Claude for fab shop RFQs and scope letters (October 2026)

Short answer

Use a general AI assistant for the writing, not the pricing. Claude (Pro $20/mo; free plan available) or ChatGPT can turn your rough notes into a clean RFQ reply, a numbered scope and exclusions list, or a change-order email in seconds. You still set the hours, rates and material prices yourself, and check every number before it goes out. To skip the typing, Wispr Flow (free plan; Pro $15/user/mo, or $12 billed annually) lets you dictate notes. Below are four prompts to copy.

Four prompts to copy

RFQ reply

I run a small fab shop. Write a short, professional reply to this RFQ. Confirm what we received, list what's still missing (material grade, finish, quantities, delivery date), and give a date we'll have the quote by. Facts: [paste the customer's request with names and prices removed].

Scope and exclusions letter

Turn these notes into a scope of work and exclusions list for a misc steel quote. Use plain language, number each line, and flag anything that sounds ambiguous so I can ask the customer. Notes: [your notes, e.g. 'fab + shop prime only, field welding by others, no galv, delivery to site, no install'].

Change-order note

Write a polite change-order email. The customer added [change] after we quoted. List the added labor hours and material I give you, ask for written approval before we start, and keep it under 150 words. Numbers: [your numbers].

Toolbox talk draft

Draft a 5-minute toolbox talk for a small welding shop about [topic, e.g. grinding wheel safety]. Use short sentences and end with 3 questions to ask the crew. I'll check it against OSHA guidance and our own shop rules before using it.

Comparison

Tool	Category · rank	Tier · score	Free	Paid	Best for	Hands-on test
Claude	Shop paperwork & voice (general AI) · #1	A 8.6	Free plan	Pro $20/mo, or $17/mo billed annually ($200 up front); Max from $100/mo	Writing RFQ replies, scope and exclusions letters, change-order notes and safety drafts	Hands-on test coming
Wispr Flow	Shop paperwork & voice (general AI) · #2	B 7.8	Free plan	Pro $15/user/mo, or $12 billed annually; team plans cost more	Dictating notes, emails and punch lists when your hands are dirty	Hands-on test coming

Also checked (not ranked yet)

Tool	Price	Price check	What it is
ChatGPT	Not confirmed: OpenAI's pricing page blocked our check	Unverified	General AI assistant, alternative to Claude

How these are scored: the same formula as the rest of ToolTier (0.4×Quality + 0.2×Ease + 0.2×Price/Value + 0.2×Momentum; tiers S ≥ 8.8, A ≥ 8.0, B ≥ 7.0). Quality and ease come from each vendor's published features and independent reviews, not our own hands-on tests yet. Our founder is a working structural steel fitter. He'll test these tools on made-up practice jobs, and each card says "hands-on test coming" until that test is done and written up. Prices are from the vendors' own pricing pages, checked Oct 19, 2026. Rankings are never for sale. How we rank · How we make money.

Never paste or upload a customer's confidential drawings, prices or job details into any AI tool unless your customer and your shop allow it. Use made-up numbers to try a tool first.

FAQ

Can ChatGPT or Claude price a fab job?

Don't let it. They don't know your shop rate, your material costs or how long your fitters take. Give them your numbers and let them do the writing.

Is it safe to paste customer drawings into AI?

Only if your customer and your shop allow it. Many drawings and prices are confidential. Strip names and prices, or use made-up numbers, when trying these prompts.

ChatGPT or Claude?

Either works for this kind of writing. Claude's price is verified on its pricing page (Pro $20/mo, or $17/mo billed annually ($200 up front); Max from $100/mo). OpenAI's pricing page blocked our check on Oct 19, 2026, so we don't list a ChatGPT price here.

Can AI write a WPS?

It can draft wording, but a WPS has to be qualified and approved by the people responsible under your code (for example AWS D1.1). Treat AI output as a rough draft at best.

How can a small fab shop use ChatGPT or Claude for RFQs and scope letters?