Anything welding

Here is a new one for me.

Been about 18 months since it installed this big roll.
Down to the last 3 layers or so and the welding quality went to shit. Changed tips and no joy.

It would get to a section of the roll and the weld would just start to pop and fart and make horrible weld beads.

I never have noticed any presence of mice, but obviously I had an issue.

Fuckers pissed on the inside of the roll and corroding the wire.

I guess I learned something new.

 

Hey all. Been busy with a bunch of other projects last few weeks/months and frankly, welding practice isn’t high on my list in 95F weather.

... but getting back into the groove with my HF Titanium 170 I’ve been practicing a bit lately. Love having gas!

Question - how do you figure appropriate size and gauge for tubing and angle iron for various stuff? Firewood rack, railing (support not safety, not code related), etc? Any reference stuff for something like force to deflect per unit length?

Anyway, knocked out a quick gun rest today. Ain’t pretty but seems to work okay.

 

Nice drawing on an old receipt. Are you related to my boss? He has handed me drawings on a napkin before. Lol

 

Lol. I usually chalk my plans on the fab table.

 

I think it was just from the weather unless you saw more Evil Rodent signs like the spool was full of acorns .

If I recall you had a few showers up your way this year.

Myself I would be more worried about Evil Rodents inside the covers they really like to be in enclosed spaces .

 

Well, the last pic has some "dirty rice" that can be barely seen.

I hope I never left my welders outside.

The 'timers does run in my family.

 

Not from being outside just from the condensation

 

Ah, I see. Could be an issue.

 

Nice work on the rack. I am a Grip and built a similar rack for my buddy’s set rigging truck.

I think you actually commented on it when I posted pictures of it a few years ago

 

Yeah! Thanks for the inspiration! That’s totally it. Was yours steel? Man, about half way done I had to stand it up-it was getting too heavy for me to flip.

 

haha no prob man. Yeah mine was steel as well. It wasn’t light haha.

 

Im glad I’m not the only one. I don’t have a fab table per say but I draw plans on my rollaway top.

 

I keep a notebook for all my bad ideas

It's saved my bacon more than once - my memory is awful.

 

Still light enough yakety sax the flatbed off the truck. Maybe I can get it painted this week. Still need to finish up some welding and cap some stuff.

 

So... While I’m happy enough with my little slotted HF welding table (need to add wheels tho), I’m beginning to think about some sort of garage workbench that’ll also be suitable for metalwork as well as miscellaneous other stuff at a hobbiest/household level. not planning any production stuff.

If you’ve done something like this, what are some things you wish you’d done differently? Things you weren’t sure about but turned out to be great?

 

So I built mine with a top that is a laminate (bottom to top) of plywood, a rubber floor mat, and sheet metal. The top is built as a unit and just sits on top of the bench (so far). I really like it as a work surface, fluids don't run through it like benches I've built where its just a bunch of 2x6's next to each other and it can take a beating from heavy parts. I also can yank the top easily and hten use the frame underneath as welding. Which I haven't done yet, so I don't have any feedback on that. It does facilitate moving the bench more easily as well.

One other feature I'm a fan of is having a beefy piece all the way across the bottom front that I can use to clamp stuff down with C-clamps.


I need to work out better legs though, its more wobbly than intended. I experimented with the mounting of the legs a bit - they're just clamped in with some long bolts and have room for adjustment, so I may take that apart some day and see what I can improve.

 

Put a pipe vise on it. Super nice for holding all kinds of shapes... cutting, grinding.

 

This is just for Welding I have 3 other work benches 4 if you count the kitchen table

Go as big as possible and practical I like being able to be able to be able to get around the whole table as needed

Do Not go cheap on casters!!! if your going wheels.

Figure out what height your most comfortable with.

Being able to have the table free standing means no tight spots for combustible scrap to build up nothing like a fire you can`t get close to till it gets exciting .

I like having tool storage air and electric and lights on my table. That way if it needs to get moved everything can be disconnected

I put a vice and a wire wheel because they come in handy

A law of Nature any flat surface no matter how you try will get things sitting on it.

It works for me and we are all different in what works

 

I wish I’d made one side drop down for welding 3rd leg of 90s and I need more 5/8” holes. I will probably still do both tho!

If it’s going to be for general work metal is a little hard, so maybe incorporate a way to secure a piece of pressboard on top for non-flammable activities. And room for a vise.