how to line up a pipe to weld?

[Altec]

Great idea. I thought about something like that, but just envisioned the jig sitting on my (mostly) flat welding table.

I would most likely end up welding a piece off the jig that I can clamp into my mobile vice ( A vice attached to a piece of pipe, welded to a semi brake drum), then use roller stands on either end. I simply don't have enough clean work area for such a fab job. haha.

wow, this really took off! thanks for all your helpful input, including you zer01.

i think the materials will work, but only real world testing will tell.

the rungs are spaced a very accurate 11.5" center to center.

the reason i picked 1/8" flat bar is for weight and it matches other materials in the project, i spec'd 3/16" but there is a huge difference in both weight and beef. it seemed to beefy for this application.

this is a library ladder, for a artist, who doesnt read. he literally said "i want the ladder cause it just makes a place look classy" ha. it wont get much use. i will post pics of the final project installed. but heres the carriage system that will support the ladder and roll on 3/16"x3" flat bar on its edge. cantilevered 18". that should also get some of you stirred up as to if it will work and why it will/wont

[IG]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/tarbellb/IMG_9047.jpg[/IMG]

The carriage looks great! Besides that it is a skull puncturing death trap at the moment. Do you have any means to keep the carriage from torquing, and binding when there is a load on the ladder? Or is it a design feature for the weight of the person to act as a brake?

I swear, some people have more money, then brains.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I'm not really into busting your chops about the design. It's your deal and the initial question was about centering and spacing pieces so don't think of this as criticism or an attack. I'm wondering how the 3/16" flat bar will be attached to the library. I initially figured you'd have bolts welded on at certain intervals but it looks like your carriage surrounds the bar. Is it only going to be attached at the ends? Maybe that's what you were talking about with the cantilever and I just didn't understand the design. Interesting project. I've always wanted to do a library with a ladder.

 

[zer01]

I am thinking of liability and safety first and foremost. If the ladder is not going to be used much or at all and is for appearance mostly, then it looks great. Forgive me, I instantly go to liability and overall safety when looking at creating something like this for a customer.

 

[Grazz256]

I am thinking of liability and safety first and foremost. If the ladder is not going to be used much or at all and is for appearance mostly, then it looks great. Forgive me, I instantly go to liability and overall safety when looking at creating something like this for a customer.

I'm going to have to second this... If your being paid to build this then you are liable for its operation. If the owner has a party and a 300# drunk guy climbs the ladder, stretchs off the side of the ladder 4' to grab somthing will it hold the weight? If your answer is fold, bend, break, warp, or otherwise deform, you might want to buy more insurance. Always remember CYA (cover your ***).

 

[tarbellb]

well here is the follow up to this project. i was waiting till i got the professional photos taken, but this will at least pique some interest.


btw, the ladder is very sturdy, easily supports my frame (190lbs) and is great in vertical load. a bit of wobble does exist, but after testing, jumping, working on, and down right abusing it, it feels fine.

review:

downtown denver loft - LIBRARY WALL UNIT WITH ROLLING LADDER

wall unit:
18' x 1.5' x 1.5' square tube frame (1" x 16g)

Ikea gloss lam cabinet doors cut to size (panels)

Ikea LED lighting, on separate switches

wall was cut open and "blocked" meaning reinforced with wood

doors:

14g perforated steel doors (rusted) (on 2-way track along entire width)

ladder track:
18' x 3" x 5/16" flat bar and 1" cantilever supports

ladder:
appx 10' tall x 16" wide

3" x 5/16" flat bar rails

1" od round tube rungs

300lbs cast casters

rolling mechanism:
a conglomerate of parts- see pics, ask questions if you want.

thanks

 

[mike13u]

Came out great! Good job.

 

[BUDD]

i would of put a 45 degree bend 1/2" from the edges of your 3" flat bar, would of been a nice touch, same weight and no wibble wobble.

 

[csp]

Tie the very bottoms of your side rails together and it would probably take out some bounce too. That flat stock is probably flexing where you created a fulcrum at the bottom rung/top of the wheel bracket point.

 

[tarbellb]

Tie the very bottoms of your side rails together and it would probably take out some bounce too. That flat stock is probably flexing where you created a fulcrum at the bottom rung/top of the wheel bracket point.

i would of put a 45 degree bend 1/2" from the edges of your 3" flat bar, would of been a nice touch, same weight and no wibble wobble.

the bottom seems rather stiff, not a lot of material to flex down there. but good suggestion. if i see any kind of fatigue in that area i will certainly do some support bracing.

as for the 45 degree bend, that does sound kinda cool. and would definitely stiffen things up. but one, i dont have the machine to do that, nor was it in the budget. and two, both the client and i liked the very minimal profile of the ladder when looking at it straight on.