Anything welding

Those are the HF casters. I use them for everything too. My bender, press, workbench, and a storage rack for scraps all use the same casters.
Since your floor is sloped, you could look into retractable casters. You can engage them to move the bench about and pull them back to set it down when you want to work. Unless you plan on keeping the bench in one spot, they’re pretty nifty. I like them and wish I could find a use for them but most of my stuff is heavy enough that it stays out relatively well.

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Reversed polarity will give you a really crappy weld.

 

I still haven’t outgrown my 115 Miller. Had it for about 13 years now.

 

In theory yes about 1/8" it all depends what it is being used for.

Just making the over all length longer by the length of a pipe coupon it would be your call.

 

This cracks me up too, like our frames are made of some magical impenetrable metal.

 

This is true.

I have yet to come across anything truck related that my Hobart 140 couldn’t handle.

The frame is thinner than just about every bumper folks are putting on their trucks here.

 

This particular job actually holds a scoreboard up. The length is the critical part and there's also a piece that slides up and down inside it so the I.D. has to stay true, the pipe was bored, the new piece has threads in one end and turned down to slide into the pipe and I welded it. It should be good

 

Any additional tips for gas shielded? I'm getting ready to weld sliders onto my 1st gen and trying to perfect my craft first. I've been practicing and am comfortable with most of the joints involved (on the bench). Aside from penetrating the plate and dragging into the frame, do you you guys have any other advice? Would you use 120 or 220 (.030 solid)?

Also, on a side note... how do you guys approach a tube-plate 90* butt joint where the slider tubing joins the plate? I've seen some recommendations to do 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock, then 6-9, then 3-6 and finally 9-12. I've tried that and 12-6 then 6-12. They all seem to come out okay, but just wondering what everyone else does.

 

I always weld on 220 if I have it available. Welds better for me and I have the most experience with my machine on 220. I actually hate welding off 120 for the most part

As far as the tubes and welding joints... get comfortable and do a few dry runs with the gun (without pulling the trigger of course) to get used to it. For beginning Tube welding, just weld around the tube as much as you feel comfortable and can get a solid weld. No need to push to get around the tube farther if it compromises the weld. Clean the frame and use clamps/jack stands to hold the sliders where you want them. Tack sliders in place, make sure they are in positions and weld the plates onto the frame. Having the sliders Already attached to the plates makes it easy to just weld the plates onto the frame.

where it gets hard is doing slider plates and sliders on frames that have weird bends or contours in them. Don’t think the first gens had much of a bend if any

 

Some work welding. 316 stainless to mild steel.

 

No sorry. Just about all my experience is with my flux core machine. The only gas I have done is on my friends 300amp MIG welder when he was teaching me how to weld.

 

While you are under the truck, make sure you are in a position so you can see the puddle. Don't try to run a bead without having a good view of the puddle.

 

Welding on the bench is nothing like welding under the truck.

Being comfortable and able to see is critical .

It really is a Good idea to have a Fire Watcher paying attention with a decent Fire extinguisher for your first adventure .

Remove as much of the flammable material away from the heat effected zone

When your out of position it is so easy to kink your gun it seems some jobs I move the feeder several times.

I use .023 wire for just about anything knowing I can swap things if I need to do lots of serious welding

If you have a Multi- Voltage machine what ever input voltage is easier to hook up.

Most times you use what you have as far as

Welding pipe to plate the idea is to not pull the pipe in anyone direction what ever pattern is easier to not heat soak things.

Unless there is a way to vent the hot gas will keep blowing a hole in the pipe

 

Saw these welding pliers a few weeks ago and they were around $15, guess Lowe’s is closing them out cause I just got this pair for $6.78, $7.24 out the door.

 

Does it say where those were made?

 

It doesn't have it on the pliers and this is the only set they had and there was no package. I had to show it to them on the Lowe's app with the part#

 

The Milwaukee metal saw cut this 3/16" plate like butter.

 

We have one of those at work. They are awesome. I’ve cut 1” thick aluminum with it and 1/2” metal.

 

It makes a nice clean cut too.

 

I have a few pair I never use them my SOG EOD lives on my belt I just use that any more.

Could be the welpers ran off and are shacked up with all the grinder wrenches