Anything welding

I was a truck mechanic and semi-trailer wreck rebuilder for 20years so spent many hours fabbing and cutting and welding steel and aluminum. I have a little Miller 130 110V I run .030 flux core in. Use it to keep my garden tractor hobby from costing too much. Latest project was a hitch to mount a front loader on my Cub Cadet 3240.

Built the tube frame out of heavy wall galvanized fence post. Frame mount out of 8" channel. I preheated all the thick stuff prior to welding and beveled the edges to get penetration. Gussets in all corners. I've lifted 500lbs with it and it's holding up fine so far.

 

That. Is. Awesome

 

Thank you sir! A lot of work and pain--literally went into this. I tore my right knee meniscus working on this thing on my knees on the shop floor and had to have surgery to fix it. It isn't just for show either. I work it hard.

 

Just goes to Show what can be done .

With a little time doing the work to pick up experience

 

Fabbed up some I beam spindles and used the squirt gun to stick them together

 

I have never wanted a riding mower until today. I kind of want to join a riding mower enthusiast forum now

 

Thank you sir. I've run many thousands of lbs of wire and rods in the wreck rebuild shop. Some days arc gouged for 10 hrs straight. Some days sitting all day welding in aluminum reefer floors--around 600ft of beads.

Ha! Here's where I geek out on GTs. https://www.mytractorforum.com/

Here's a vid of it working. Hydraulics are awesome.
https://youtu.be/cg1N1xQhiq0

 

I might have nightmares You said the Evil Reefer Floors Where they all break from the fork lifts jumping onto the trailers all day prep work 15 minutes welding

 

Oh man. We'd get some that were acidized to beer can thickness and the rotten wood fir outs pushed up thru the floor from the bottom saturated with chicken blood. Go to the band saw and cut a bunch of puzzle pieces to weld over them, dirt daub jump over them. Yum, yum, frying chicken.

ETA: pretty much turn your spool gun wire speed down to where you're dripping aluminum on it lol.

 

I’ve slowly been outfitting my whole new shop with tools and equipment from Craigslist and fb marketplace. That’s probably the only reason I still have a Facebook. I’ve gotten some crazy deals on stuff. It’s addicting

 

I’ve been outfitting my shop with your leftovers.

 

https://youtu.be/04q_lOR5ScE

 

Welded up this little combination catch can / vacuum block mount for the truck. Then I ground down all the welds lol

 

The only downside is you have to know what you are buying and what it should do .

Have an idea what the new cost is .

Like everything else different areas are better then others

 

I can't argue with that. All I can hope is with the aid of the internet, people will research what they may buy.

The Chicago Electric, HF, craptastic is not a deal at 20 bucks. I'm sure you are willing to offer an educated opinion of an item just as much as I am.

Please don't be afraid to ask. We've spent a lot of time around the welding fields.

If I don't know, I won't offer an opinion, but I bet someone else might have experience with what You are asking about.

 

What's the procedure for welding zinc coated stuff?

I want to replace the coupler on my motorcycle trailer. It's currently a 1-7/8" ball and EVERY other trailer is 2". Tired of switching balls.

Do I just need to grind off the zinc or what?

 

Yep, wear a respirator while grinding AND welding.
Inb4nowaldingontrellers

 

I use a high zinc primer on evreything and I put a fan down by where I'm welding to suck the fumes away from me. I use flux core so shielding gas isnt a worry. You either have to ventilate it away from you or wear a respirator. Chug a few glasses of milk after just to be sure so you dont get the flu like symptoms.

 

And I'm reading this just now?