Anything welding

Hey all, been practicing a lot these past few days, and my welds are getting better. At least more acceptable. Thanks for all the tips, I’ve pretty much used this thread as a substitute for a friend who knows how to weld. My eyes are opened to the depth of skill required to actually make a living as a welder. On the surface, it seems simple to the average person. But that’s far from reality.

I got this welder because it was $100 and I needed to hastily tack weld an exhaust hanger,
but now I’m actually interested in learning how to weld, because it’s really fun, and a break from woodwork. Thanks again guys. Anything I ever post feel free to critique and laugh at! I know the retard “welds” in my first post made someone laugh lol. Ok...end blog post.

 

Is this one continuous pull of the trigger? Or are you doing what you mentioned in the past and essentially laying tack after tack.

 

Made some super ultra high speed custom machined coilover adjuster tools. Made life so much easier.

 

this is one continuous pull. I tried to loop the bead and pull the puddle.

 

Shit yeah, that looks awesome. And not even compared to your old weld, it’s just amazing for a cheap flux core welded. Keep at it because you seem to have a knack for it. Try various joints and just keep on practicing.

 

Thanks! I literally just followed your guys’ advice

 

Welded up a set of sliders today... put the legs on and another set done

 

Looking good

 

Holy shit! Talk about improvement. If you can pull that off with that welder in just a few days, you're gonna be a pro when you get a real welder...

 

Had to modify/make a new pitman arm today. Original length was 6.5” center of hole to hole. New one is 4.5” hole to hole, clocked 30 degrees (because the splines were indexed and could only move it in 45 degree increments), raised it 1.5” up from the factory drop, and changed the angle of the hole connecting to the drag link. It took 2 tries but finally cycled perfectly on this one ton build I’m doing. Everything is super tight with the d60 truss, uca mount, trackbar mounts, draglink, oil pan, etc. Not pretty by any means but it beats the 400 gen right wanted for a clocked pitman arm when it took about an 2 hours

 

Wow - cool part. Is that formed piece something you made? (and... how??)

 

Looks good, with those braces it shouldn’t go anywhere

 

Appreciate it. It was my first time messing with a pitman arm to this degree and wasnt sure it'd turn out. Figured I would just swing by a pick-a-part (junk yard) and pull another stock one if it was a complete failure. That formed piece in the center is that factory arm I cut up, clocked, modified, and blended together. I wanted to add the braces to stiffen it up a bit

Thanks! Hopefully not or it won't have steering

 

Hey - how many of you out there have checked out this book:

$67 Metalworking Sink or Swim: Tips and Tricks for Machinists, Welders and Fabricators (Volume 1)

Metalworking Sink or Swim by Tom Lipton?
Just got a copy - have not laughed out loud so many times reading a book in a while! So full of good stuff!

 

I

Is this an actual self help book or is it funny stories about fabrication?

 

Crappy garage pictures, but it’s done.

 

That turned out great man!!! Good work

 

thanks! I’m happy with it. Definitely learned a few things to do / not do in the bumper building process.

 

Same. But of course chance of having to build another bumper are pretty slim.

 

Thats what it’s all about!!