Anything welding

I started out with a lincoln weld-pak I found at a pawn shop practically new for $200. I used it for quite a few years and recently found an older lincoln SP-150 with gas at a pawn shop and talked them down to $300 on it. The smaller one served me well and still does when I don't want to haul around a 150 pound machine. The bigger welders can run on the smaller 30 amp circuits but at a certain point when you turn it up you draw too many amps and pop the breaker. If installing a new circuit go for the 50 amp and you won't have to worry about it any more.

 

I use a miller STL150....badass little welder it's 110/220 stick/tig

 

Could use some advice...

I wanted to build a new rear bumper. I want to feel comfortable enough to tow a light trailer or pop-up camper if I wanted to. Would the design in "A" suffice? Or should I box the frame, add an inside mounting plate, gussets, etc. like in "B"? Or something else?

 

What's the material you're making the bumper out of?

By way of comparison, the stock class III hitch uses 2" square tube between the frame rail mounting plates. I think that's bolted on the bottom and sides (I forget). The receiver is welded center and has a plate that serves as support and to connect the safety chains to. The load rating is around 5,000 lbs.

If I were going to use either design, I would invert the "v" shape and probably use "B" as the basis of my design.

 

Invert the V? Not sure what you meant, I assume something like in "C"?

I was planning on making it out of this stuff-

http://www.speedymetals.com/ps-4772-205-1-12-x-1203264-x-1-12-wall-square-steel-tubing.aspx

and welding one on top of the other, and put the receiver right in the middle. I figured this would be stronger than 3" rectangle tubing.

 

I think he meant take out the "A" and do just a "V" that connects all the way to the frame. The way you have it all of the attachment is at the rear of the frame. If you extend the "V" to the frame it will have a much higher spread on mount points for leverage

Edit: Looking at it again I think your "C" would be better. If you remove the "A" portion you dont have anything supporting the front (towards front of truck) of the receiver

 

Wanna do things like this too

 

This. You don't really need the "A" part as much as the "V" part.

Of course, the stock hitch uses square tube and two plates. No other support.

 

I know how circuits work I never tig welded before so and on the stats on them don't tell the thickness they weld so I wasn't sure on the size to look at. I want to learn to Tig and I have welding instructors in my family and friends that tig for work so figured buying one to practice is the way to go. I just got a new compressor and need to add the outlet and breaker anyways so wanted to put a big enough one in from the go. I don't think the box can handle a 60 amp at this point.

I'll look into that. I am looking at a multiprocessing welder myself. a Tig/stick/Plasma would be ideal. because I already have a little mig welder.

 

Sure they do. Most machines give a list of material thicknesses in addition to their electrical requirement.

 

this is the unit I am looking at for down the road. Powerpro 164

http://www.everlastgenerators.com/PowerPro-164-380-pd.html

 

That's a pretty nice looking machine.

A friend of mine bought a MIG machine from them a while back using the "make an offer" thing. He did pretty well on it. Good luck!

 

Made this dragon over the course of the year. 18 gauge sheet steel, formed on leather sand bag, welded together using mig and tig. Tig used mostly on head so I could hit and form the welds with a hammer. Stretched out it's 28' long, still needs a detail for the tail which should make it 30'. All the links are attached to a chain so it's 100% articulate.

 

Cool looking dragon

 

Thanks!

 

Badass Dragon!

 

I'd pick out a cool tree in the yard and serpentine that badboy around it. Would make a nice gas lamp at night. Nice!

 

Miller 211 with bottle and hood for $700

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/tls/3051766140.html


Not mine but would be if I had the cash

 

I had something similar in mind, the idea was to weld mounts on every 5th body section and hang it from the trees as a giant wind chime. Going to try to sell it to the local Chinese restaurant! Thanks!

And thanks Eric!

Now I need to buy a nice welder for myself...

 

thats an AMAZING deal depending on the condition