General Fabrication

It looks pretty good. Welding on a truck is so much harder though lol

 

haha i can imagine. my first project is modding some tube doors, so it will all be horizontal (which is all I can handle right now haha).

I got the 4xInnovations tube doors and I plan on using 16ga sheet to fill in the triangle gaps so they are a little more closed in (for my wifes sake and to keep a little of the debris from flying in the cab when O/R). I know its nothing major like you guys are doing, yet, but I think its a good first project. so b/c of that, ive just been practicing lap and T joint and getting my rhythm down to repeat over and over again.

The biggest thing I noticed was my beads look a little raised, more so than the 100's of welding videos ive been watching on youtube, and im not sure if its speed too fast or amps too low? If I go by sound, its making a nice bacon frying sound, but then again my ear isnt quite as dialed as it will be with more practice.

The penetration seems good and the beads are somewhat uniform so, I just gotta keep at it, thanks for the input.

 

The beads look raised a bit to me as well. Try turning down the wire or raising the heat. One or the other will get a flatter weld.

 

Is there a cheaper place to buy jd squared dies? I'm buying a tube bender that my friend makes and it takes jd dies but there so damn expensive.

 

Nope. If I'm not in a hurry I buy mine on eBay. It saves a little bit. Shipping costs really kills the price. I think I'm finally done collecting dies. I've got 2", 1 3/4", 1 5/8", 1 1/2", 1 1/4", 1", 3/4", and 1/2". Once I get a 1 7/8" I'll probably call it good

 

Looks like you just need some practice. Good start though!

Haha bench welding is cake lol.


It's that back of that tube in a crap part of the roll cage that sucks.

Damn I need to invest in more JD2 dies! Whats the CLR on the 1 inch?

I'm glad I did at least get the air/hydro conversion plus digital read out. It's awesome when dealing with 2" DOM, talk about spring back lol

 

IDK what consumables you guys are using but I've had great luck with these.

$24 Benchmark Abrasives 4.5" x 7/8" Premium High-Density Jumbo Zirconia Type 29 Flap Discs for Sanding, Stock and Rust Removal, Finishing, Grinding, Deburring (10 Pack) - 40 Grit

http://www.amazon.com/Premium-High-...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01

It's a good price on jumbo flap discs

 

Your friend makes tubing benders? Do you have pics and cost? I might be interested in one.

 

Those look pretty good but doesn't look like they have 6" flap discs

I've been using Camel's for a while, good price point for a decent amount of abrasive material on the discs. Made in USA too

 

The company is Stazworks. I asked him about what he thought about jd 2 benders and he said he bought one and didn't care for it so he made a better one. He charges $800 and powder coats it whatever color you want. He's a pretty good friend so I'm getting a little better deal. He products are top notch but he can be a little slow at getting orders out. He has a lime green and black one at his shop that he'll be dropping off next week so I'll take pics and post them.

 

Thanks man, I appreciate it.

Excited to learn.

 

800...... ouch. Is that with a full set of dies?

 

Kinda for me cuz I can use all of his dies lol.

 

We get walthers flap discs through work at a super cheap price. Flapper sand cut offs. We are experimenting on hard discs to see which last the longest

 

Look into the Rogue Fab Bender, you have to weld it up but it's $600 for the bender including 1 die. Just need to buy a HF ram for around $80.

 

First welds out of my new esab rebel. First pic is the smart mig setting and second pic is me playing around. Need to buy a foot pedal for the tig cuz I hate the button you need to hold to weld on the tig torch.

 

doors arrived. Ive cut the templates and just got the 16 ga sheet metal to trace and cut yesterday. we'll see how this first project goes!

--any advice for MIG welding 1.25" x .120 HREW tube to 16 gauge metal? My concern is burning through the 16g tryin to get penetration for the tube metal???

 

Watch this:
https://youtu.be/TAUOeSIsHf4
The trick i to concentrate your heat on the tube and push your puddle into the thinner sheet metal quickly. Try a 2:1 count. (2 seconds on the tube and one second on the sheet metal). If you have anything on hand to practice this technique, once you get the timing down, it becomes really easy. Weld in small stitches and move around the panel rather than a straight line so you don't warp the sheet metal. Your template will get all wonky towards the end if you warp anything.