Anything welding

I did, unfortunately I didn't realize how bad they were until I cut out that Office sign 2 weeks ago.

The face shield part of it came out a bit jagged as it failed to cut through the first time around.

Fortunately, the rest of the sign came out really good.

 

Wife and I recently bought a camper that was delivered from out of state. The dealer took full advantage of the situation and sent it with a piss poor deliver prep. Lots of mess and a few broken things so far.
This is the latest we’ve found, didn’t notice until today. The safety chain attachment point is all busted up. Got started on cleaning it up and getting it back into place. Ran out of time, will have to get back to it later this week.

 

Its still a valid question, and meant more than anything to prompt the thought process of tracking usage and checking consumables more regularly. Each system, material, and location will definitely give different amounts of usage (within reason, otherwise there is a problem) but one can start tracking their system and get a pretty good idea of expected life to preemptively change consumables before failure and part loss.

For example, on our arclight table, for one particular repeat customer, we have a cutfile of 36 parts with about 50 pierces. We know we can cut approximately 11 of those files with new consumables (2.75 sheets of 60 x 120 x 3/8 mild steel) with impressively regular consumable failure half-way through the 12th set of parts. Saves us from re-cutting any parts to change the nozzle and electrode a few parts early. So tracking, along with regular inspection, can save time in the long run.

We also track pierces, as pierces wear parts much more than cutting.

 

I would say a reduction in consumable life of 80% in humid months is plenty enough validity for me. Thats a lot of money being lost to consumable wear and time spent changing them due to humidity that could be recovered.

 

Adding a refrigerated air dryer to our system (low humidity in Colorado) easily doubled our consumable life.

After having two kiddos ... I have no idea what could be keeping you so busy [/heavy sarcasm].

It's worth every late and sleepless night, but you know that already.

 

Seeing some of the stuff others here have done has long convinced me a refigerated air dryer would be the best solution, just not sure it would be easy to incorporate.

Fortunately I don't cut as often to worry about consumable life but I'll definitely keep an eye out on a used dryer if one becomes available.

Here's the little guy as of last week (3 weeks old now)

 

The hammered-finish paint (hard to see here) really hides flaws within a foot or two

 

Does it work better than Flat black for hiding flaws?

 

Where do you all buy your stock? I am wanting to replace my utility trailer tongue with a longer one.

 

Stock?...

 

The flat stuff will show flaws much easier, especially paint flaws where you maybe had the can a few inches too close or too far from the work piece



Paint dries as soon as you spray it, and if you want to create a textured finish (on purpose) you simply spray from a bit farther

The hammered finish on this is still drying but you can easily see how much more consistent it looks overall



You'll have to trick your eyes to ignore the glare on both pieces, that's just from the lighting above

 

I haven't tried the hammered finish before. I usually buy the flat black finish as it hides the imperfections in the paint that usually stand out in satin or semigloss. I might give that a try on my next repainting job.

 

Your raw materials, I need some rectangular tubing. A500 grade 3”x2”x84-96” 0.083 or thicker…

 

There are 4 different steel suppliers within 15 mins from me, but the 1 I get all my stuff from is 10 mins away. This is excluding any independent shops that sell their excess and/or scrap.

Being a one-man show, I get a lot of favoritism specifically cause I've always been kind and courteous to the staff there. The company's with their hurry up attitude are the one's I can thank for that.

I'll typically get free steel (free 4' x 4' sheets or 20' long pieces) about every trip as well as a nice discount on new or scrap.

Helps to establish a relationship with a supplier the same way you would your local welding shop. It's paid me back tenfold.

 

Speaking of 2" x 3"....I have about 15' of it I won't use.

Think it's 1/8"

Come pick some up

 

I might be driving by your area in the beginning of July.

 

In that case, bring some local to you IPA's

 

My equipment, Crossfire Pro Plasma table, Champion 80gal compressor, PrimeWeld Cut60 with Hypertherm X45 machine torch. Also have a Lincoln Mig Idealarc SP-250 (digital one) with aluminum spool gun, a 24" box and pan brake max capacity 14g and Lincoln Square wave tig 175amp.
Also a few pics of some art work for sale (not mine) at Sedona AZ sell anything art store.

 

Heat treated sign I was commissioned to do.

 

If I was the owner of that pistol sign, I'd be tempted to make some wooden grips to add to it.