Anything welding

Cool! Which aluminum alloy and your cutting amp, ipm? 6061 at .100? Guessing you ran compressor/air?

I have a 4' sheet of .25 6061 that I've been saving for a hybrid bumper and have been wanting to experiment. At $22 a sq ft I'm not looking forward to the wasteful experimentation to dial it in. I've torched some .90 6061 and the backside dross was ugly! I do have a tank of argon and thought about experimenting with feeding the Titanium 45a.. but again.. gonna be costly experimentation.

 

304 stainless steel

It's scrap I had left over I wanted to get rid of as the real carrier will be out of aluminum

16 gauge, 33 amps, 110 ipm, and yes just cut it over air

My aluminum actually cuts cleaner than this stainless steel did

 

Nice man. Hoping you share your aluminum cutting stuff with a close up on the edge.

After my experience with the jagged aluminum backsides i'm preparing for slightly oversizing the parts and extra labor time of cleaning them up.

 

@Gen3TacomaOBX my second time cutting aluminum

 

As a follow up to this post, here is the final product:









Some of the welds even looked alright:


Overall, a 100% success. Railings are easily removable for when we need to move large items (beds, couches, etc) up and down the stairs. They are rock solid, and they look a TON better than what was there originally.

Only thing I'd really do differently, is go back in time and make the hand rails first, so I could install the base plates under the lvp...

@Kwikvette I didn't even mess any of the metal up

 

Anyone know of any deals on 100% argon tanks? I haven’t checked locally yet, but figured I’d get the hive mind going off the bat.

 

I've only ever bought all my bottles locally except one, it was a gift from a friend and I was able to exchange it locally as well

Just paid the exchange of $37 and hydro testing for $40-50 (cause it was long expired, one time charge)

80cf tank of argon

 

No real deals here to share. I've recently bought one off Amazon and another from my local gas supplier (both 80cf.) Neither was inexpensive. I remember correctly my gas supplier here doesn't sell anything larger than 80cf (and rents the larger sizes.)

 

Hint:

Find out what company has a big contract with your local welding supply company.

Barrow or buy a work shirt that has that logo on the front and wear that to the welding supply company.

The counter person may ask if you work there or are a purchasing agent.

I tell the guy at the counter, not anymore, I work behind a desk, now. I'm just a hobbyist, now.

The counterpersons have no idea if you are in contact with the peeps that actually buy the gasses.

They aren't gonna risk bending you over for something so trivial.

My last can of Argon cost $37. It was a big can.

 

I’m looking for 80 cf or less, but more than 20 cf. hence why a trade in and hydros is off the table. I have somethings I need to do that requires the portability that I cant to do with another process.

The gas cost about the same from my local supplier. I just need a smaller tank.

Unfortunately, most people here know each other. If I have to go undercover in my own town, or if I have to drive into the cities it would be all the same to just suck up the cost vs in travel cost and effort.

 

Always good to know where you live?

That can make a huge difference.

 

Lease a cylinder bill it to the job.

 

This, which is why I always say "stay local"

Can't expect to find what I have at my shops nearby what others have in their area just like the other member saying they don't even sell tanks larger than 80cf.

Here you can easily buy as many 250cf or 300cf tanks as you want. I have a few 150cf cause they're not hard on my back

 

Because why not



Temporary stand; I'll need to cut the rod down a bit then weld it to a thick base

The top is notched and heat treated

 

These make good welding table clamps. Cut the end (upper as oriented in pic) off and weld on a bolt that fits the holes in your table.

Tomorrow is expiration day for coupon.

 

They used to have 20% off every day for years until about a year ago. Sad they only offer 10% off on a holiday.

 

@soundman98

I want a Miller Multimatic 255 welder but I only want to pay $999

 

We had one at a shop I worked at and it ran smooth. Buy a used welder and test it to make sure it runs good. Some work over the last week

 

As long as we are dreaming...I want a Miller 350P.