Anything welding

I mainly use .23 because I Like the smaller bead. No problems welding 3/16. I’ve even welded 1/4 with a generous outside corner but I’m moving the puddle super slow and the resulting beads look more like Damascus than a weld bead.

 

I'm sure you've all been wondering how my trailer project is coming along, so thought I'd give an update since I haven't posted in a bit. I extended the back of the trailer by a foot and added mesh, and now I'm working on adding the railing. Added another row of tube on one side this weekend, will add the other side this week and then start installing the railing using angle that is connected to the tube steel I'm adding. I need to take this up to NH with me next week so I have a deadline to motivate me to finish.

Things I've learned so far on this project:
1. Welding is fun.
2. Welding in cool weather is more fun than welding in warm weather.
3. Having two angle grinders is somewhere between a luxury and a necessity. If you tell me it's a necessity, I won't argue.
4. Pushing the bead seems to work better for me as I can see better where I am going.
5. Overhead welding is hard, haven't figured that one out yet (puddle keeps dripping into the nozzle).
6. A plasma cutter would be really cool to have. If I get one, will use it to move the axle toward the rear (hence why I didn't connect the new tubing to the wheel wells).
7. Welding to clean metal beats welding to a painted surface.

Having a blast and learning a lot on this project.

 

Once I got my second angle grinder, I wondered how I ever lived without one. Plasma cutters are a freaking blast, just expensive. You shouldn't weld to a painted surface you should clean it first, at least the best you can. It'll never go well otherwise.

Thanks for the update, it's cool seeing you progress.

 

I'm pretty sure this project is the thing keeping me sane right now. No bullshit, just lots of geometry. Figured out the rest of the toolbox plan today, and tacked up a headache rack that I'm still thinking about.

 

I just want to know where you got that square tire Its looking good!

 

I've gotten anal about grinding off the paint. Weird things happen when you weld to it.

Those came with the trailer at no extra cost!

 

Used a weld positioner to weld some machined washers to some machined pieces of tubing for new steering rack mounts.

 

The positions are pretty cool. I used to use one all the time at my old job

 

Yeah i've got a cheap one that i need to do some electrical work to make it work better, but my buddy is letting me borrow his really nice one since he doesn't have any space in his garage anymore. So this was my first real attempt at using one that doesn't change speed every second. I had 4 of these welds to do and the third and fourth came out like this but the first and second weren't quite as nice.

 

I plan to use U bolts as tie down points for the trailer project, but I could only find SST ones at the local big box. I'll be painting everything, so the corrosion resistance isn't an issue. I know it's not recommended to weld SST to carbon steel, but realistically I'm not going to buy gas and wire for a one time application like this, so wondering if it's possible to do and if so, what tips or recommendations you have.

 

I'd see if you can find what you need on Boltdepot. I find that the money saved on bolts easily covers the cost of shipping, and they're quick.

 

Thanks, I went on their web site and they have SST, zinc plated steel and hot dipped galvanized. Of the last two, which would you recommend? I would think removing the zinc on hot dipped is easier than on plated, although removing it from the threads will still be challenging (which is where I'll be welding).

 

Rereading your last post, I guess I'm wondering why U-bolts? They're really intended for bolting round things down, I'm not sure welding to them is a good idea.


Also, they make tie downs that are specifically meant to be welded:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/smartstraps-heavy-duty-weld-on-d-ring-5000-lb?cm_vc=-10005

 

Honestly, just because that was what was on there before and they worked well strapping down my Harley. They're also pretty inexpensive, so thought I would just go with those again, but I'm certainly open to other things. The D ring looks like a good idea, just wondering if having 6 of them will make a lot of noise rattling against the trailer since the D rings are loose.

 

I like cutting 1/2" slices of 2" pipe. I cut them in half. Weld the half's to the frame. I now have heavy duty and very cheap rings that are rounded so they don't catch on stuff.

 

We have them on my Dad's trailer, no rattles that I'm aware of. Its a bigger trailer though, so a smaller one might bounce more. I don't think I would be too concerned.

 

Great idea, I'll look into that.

I'll look into these as well. Appreciate the quick feedback.

 

I have 6 Dee rings attached to the bed of my Tacoma if they rattle when not in use I never took notice.

I think you would hear the trailer bounce more then the Dee rings making any noise.

 

Getting toward the bottom of my first bottle of Ar-CO2. Right now it's reading 700 psi; at what point do you guys go in for a refill. Do they charge a flat rate based on a full refill or just bill you what they actually put in? I read somewhere it's empty at 120 psi, but I'd rather get it recharged before it runs out. Does the pressure drop linearly or does it drop faster as it gets toward the end?

 

I’ve always just ran it until it runs out, usually not by choice. And they’ll generally just swap it for a full tank, not fill it on the spot. So you’ll get charged the same amount either way.

*This is my experience at Roberts oxygen. YMMV.*