Puget Dude’s creations and fabrications (Random project thread.)

[PugetDude]

Fun welding project. One of our neighbors asked if I could make them a compass to go in their yard at their summer place in the mountains.
Since we're in the middle of a major pool/patio remodel and I need to get rid of a bunch of pavers I settled on an Arizona themed design to sit flush with the gravel inside a ring of pavers. The finished compass is about 56" across.

Another neighbor had given me a couple of 2" and 1-1/2" square tube carport supports, so I cut them up for the tubing.
The diamond plate State of Arizona and the smaller arrowheads came out of the left over plate from my welding table build. Cut the quadrant letters out of 3/16" plate drops. I bumped the ring out of 1/2" square tube in the vise. Not perfectly round but it's going into a decorative gravel bed and I won't be able to see it from my house....

This is the compass roughed out in my yard. Initially I initially made a big arrowhead with copper bindings for the North arrow, but she thought a big Ponderosa pine would look better.
Luckily I had built it as a bolt on rather than welded. Took about half an hour to rough out the pine tree out of a piece of 3/16" plate on the portaband table and texture with a 2" 40 grit flap disc in my M12 right angle die grinder. ( Have I mentioned how much I love this thing?)

Total cost for this project=$0; just weld wire and shielding gas. Everything was scrap or drops from other projects.



They are going to let it weather out naturally, but I may give it a spritz of instant patina (vinegar, salt and hydrogen peroxide) to hasten the process.

I'm calling this one done.
Thanks for looking.

 

[shortykorte]

I was wondering what direction you were going with this project.

 

[HogDude]

Fun welding project. One of our neighbors asked if I could make them a compass to go in their yard at their summer place in the mountains.
Since we're in the middle of a major pool/patio remodel and I need to get rid of a bunch of pavers I settled on an Arizona themed design to sit flush with the gravel inside a ring of pavers. The finished compass is about 56" across.

Another neighbor had given me a couple of 2" and 1-1/2" square tube carport supports, so I cut them up for the tubing.
The diamond plate State of Arizona and the smaller arrowheads came out of the left over plate from my welding table build. Cut the quadrant letters out of 3/16" plate drops. I bumped the ring out of 1/2" square tube in the vise. Not perfectly round but it's going into a decorative gravel bed and I won't be able to see it from my house....

This is the compass roughed out in my yard. Initially I initially made a big arrowhead with copper bindings for the North arrow, but she thought a big Ponderosa pine would look better.
Luckily I had built it as a bolt on rather than welded. Took about half an hour to rough out the pine tree out of a piece of 3/16" plate on the portaband table and texture with a 2" 40 grit flap disc in my M12 right angle die grinder. ( Have I mentioned how much I love this thing?)

Total cost for this project=$0; just weld wire and shielding gas. Everything was scrap or drops from other projects.



They are going to let it weather out naturally, but I may give it a spritz of instant patina (vinegar, salt and hydrogen peroxide) to hasten the process.

I'm calling this one done.
Thanks for looking.

Very nice. I'm going with the lady on the pine tree over the arrowhead. Really well done. M12 eh? You might have mentioned it in passing....

 

[DeeDubz]

Damn the compass is nice, I think i might try that when i have some more down time.

 

[rattle_snake]

How did you calibrate the compass to point accurately? Did you correct for magnetic disturbances?

 

[PugetDude]

How did you calibrate the compass to point accurately? Did you correct for magnetic disturbances?

Lasers, satellites, a theodolite, LORAN, micrometers, and dead reckoning. Adjusted with a digital compass deviation card and a magnetometer.
Then I kicked it around in the gravel until it looked right.

 

[rattle_snake]

Well done sir. Should be good until the next magnetic core reversal. We are over due.

 

[shortykorte]

Well done sir. Should be good until the next magnetic core reversal. We are over due.

That would be 2022-2024. NGS is doing a big datum adjustment.

 

[HogDude]

Lasers, satellites, a theodolite, LORAN, micrometers, and dead reckoning. Adjusted with a digital compass deviation card and a magnetometer.
Then I kicked it around in the gravel until it looked right.

Well done! Or just go with True North and forget the other stuff.

 

[PugetDude]

Well, here's proof that no good deed goes unpunished.
One of the young guys working on our pool and patio remodel saw me welding up the yard compass. He asked if I could do a little welding on his landscape trailer tailgate, the hinges had broken off... This kid is working pool construction and has a landscaping business on the side. He offered to trade me some labor for the welding. Problem is he's working 7 days a week to pay child support to two different ex wives...he doesn't have a pot to piss in and he needs the trailer for his business. Budget for this project was basically zero. Promise of free labor at some indeterminate point in the future.

I told him to bring it over...

The tailgate was only held on with two 1/8" thick angle tabs that were designed to secure the drop down tailgate in the up position. Hinges were completely gone on the tailgate, trailer hinge halves were still intact.
Tailgate wasn't in too bad of shape, but the expanded metal was hanging on with about a dozen tack welds that hadn't broken off yet...he had borrowed a HF flux core welder when he added the expanded metal to the tailgate. Bubble gum might have been better.
He asked if I could convert it to to 2 swing gates instead of a single drop down gate. Sure. Why not? In for a penny, in for a pound .
First order of business was to cut off the 1-1/2" angle frame members at the rear of the trailer and replace them with 2 x2 x1/4" wall square tube to give me something to weld the hinges on to. Luckily I had two 24" long pieces of tubing in the drop bin.

I fabbed 4 new heavy duty hinges out of some 1" pipe and 1" round bar. Fairly close fit, good enough for this application; it's not like I am fabricating 737 Max Door plugs. The rear of the trailer was 1-1/2" out of square relative to the tailgate. I cut a 2x4 spreader and used a ratchet strap to square up the trailer sides as best I could, then welded the hinges in place. Got them welded in with a nice fat fillet on one side, the doors only weigh 50-60 lbs, so I skipped adding gussets...9" of weld on each hinge set should be adequate.


I elected to clamp the tailgate in place and weld the hinges on, then split it in the center with a cutoff wheel with my 4-1/2" angle grinder. I opened the center gap to 3/4 to make up for the out of square frame, then welded 2x2x 3/16 " angles on the cut edge to finish the two door frames.

Bottom latches were really simple- 1/2" rebar cane bolts in 9/16" holes, with retainer chains and a sleeve to hold them up when the door is open. Should possibly minimize the chance of them slamming the gates closed with the bolts down...


Top latch is a high- precision totally custom 1/2" rebar bolt-action, running in 1/2" pipe sleeves. I notched the mounting angle to give me a latch with the bolt in the open and closed position - again to try to ensure the latch rod doesn't get bent.. it will.

Cut the old hardware off, spent an hour tack welding the expanded metal to the tailgate frame, and then mounted the license plate. It was held on with a piece of baling wire on one side and a piece of #14 electrical wire on the other.

I did spend about $150 on pipe, round bar and welding consumables on this, but I am not telling him that. It isn't going to impact my budget at all, but it would certainly make a dent in his. And, I enjoyed doing it.

Took way longer than I thought ( that always seems to be the case) but he should be good to go tomorrow morning. He has three yard maintenance commitments for Sunday.

Now I need to get back to the '32 build.

 

[Bob Heine]

Scott, paying it forward is never a bad thing.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Yes, sounds like he needs a hand up.

 

[royce]

Well, here's proof that no good deed goes unpunished.
One of the young guys working on our pool and patio remodel saw me welding up the yard compass. He asked if I could do a little welding on his landscape trailer tailgate, the hinges had broken off... This kid is working pool construction and has a landscaping business on the side. He offered to trade me some labor for the welding. Problem is he's working 7 days a week to pay child support to two different ex wives...he doesn't have a pot to piss in and he needs the trailer for his business. Budget for this project was basically zero. Promise of free labor at some indeterminate point in the future.

I told him to bring it over...

The tailgate was only held on with two 1/8" thick angle tabs that were designed to secure the drop down tailgate in the up position. Hinges were completely gone on the tailgate, trailer hinge halves were still intact.
Tailgate wasn't in too bad of shape, but the expanded metal was hanging on with about a dozen tack welds that hadn't broken off yet...he had borrowed a HF flux core welder when he added the expanded metal to the tailgate. Bubble gum might have been better.
He asked if I could convert it to to 2 swing gates instead of a single drop down gate. Sure. Why not? In for a penny, in for a pound .
First order of business was to cut off the 1-1/2" angle frame members at the rear of the trailer and replace them with 2 x2 x1/4" wall square tube to give me something to weld the hinges on to. Luckily I had two 24" long pieces of tubing in the drop bin.

I fabbed 4 new heavy duty hinges out of some 1" pipe and 1" round bar. Fairly close fit, good enough for this application; it's not like I am fabricating 737 Max Door plugs. The rear of the trailer was 1-1/2" out of square relative to the tailgate. I cut a 2x4 spreader and used a ratchet strap to square up the trailer sides as best I could, then welded the hinges in place. Got them welded in with a nice fat fillet on one side, the doors only weigh 50-60 lbs, so I skipped adding gussets...9" of weld on each hinge set should be adequate.


I elected to clamp the tailgate in place and weld the hinges on, then split it in the center with a cutoff wheel with my 4-1/2" angle grinder. I opened the center gap to 3/4 to make up for the out of square frame, then welded 2x2x 3/16 " angles on the cut edge to finish the two door frames.

Bottom latches were really simple- 1/2" rebar cane bolts in 9/16" holes, with retainer chains and a sleeve to hold them up

Good on ya Puget

Royce

 

[rharman]

Obviously, the young guy is a hard worker - of course, he needs to be with all his obligations.

Good on 'ya for helping him out. Karma will repay you.

 

[Finallygotit]

Well done Scott!

 

[zmotorsports]

Scott, good on ya for helping the young man out. Sometimes what may seem like no big deal to one person becomes a turning point in someone else's life. This may be the turning point in this young man's life where he sees the path he's been on and sees the path he wants to be on all because you gave him a helping hand.

Great job.

 

[DeeDubz]

Like bob said nothing wrong with paying it forward. It sounds like this guy could use a little help. Thats awesome that you did that.

 

[RivennHewn]

Nice work. There’s more to life than just money

 

[zmotorsports]

While I fully understand and agree that money doesn't buy happiness, to some I like to say, that we aren't shopping at the same places.

 

[Bob Heine]

money doesn't buy happiness

Mike, neither does poverty.

 

[555]

Well done Scott!!!

 

[Monza Harry]

While I fully understand and agree that money doesn't buy happiness, to some I like to say, that we aren't shopping at the same places.

But you can buy your own kind of misery! Insert picture of an estate with your helicopter, Lamborghini, Hayabusa, and off shore sitting in your own lake! [Just a little 80's flashback for y'all] Or so I've been told! LOL! Harry

 

[PugetDude]

Stopped at a neighborhood garage sale last weekend, same guy that I bought the the $3.00 SnapOn deadblow from a few weeks ago.

 

[rharman]

Stopped at a neighborhood garage sale last weekend, same guy that I bought the the $3.00 SnapOn deadblow from a few weeks ago.

I have that hammer in two sizes. Probably close to 50 years old at this point.

 

[Bears Fan]

"pays child support to two different ex wives...he doesn't have a pot to piss in"

Did you throw in a gift card to the local vasectomy clinic, or at least buy him a box of a dozen condoms and show him how to use them

"it's not like I am fabricating 737 Max Door plugs"

Nice job on helping the young man out, way to pay it forward

Great read this morning with my morning coffee, good to see there is still some good left in you, um I mean in this world

 

[PugetDude]

Looks like the guy that installed our new pool tile may have been smoking crack.
Once you see it you can't unsee it.
Like every other part of this pool remodel project, this is going to get re-done.. ( Probably by me. )
My wife is about ready to strangle the contractor.

 

[cycle61]

Edit: can't attach photo...??

Probably something about a minimum post count.

 

[PugetDude]

Probably something about a minimum post count.

Edited, then re-set the picture and it attached.

 

[LXCam]

I hate to even say anything but how in the hell did that ever even get to the grout stage.

 

[Mr.zippy]

I like the colors, and tile style.....but, wow....

 

[Firebrick43]

Looks like the guy that installed our new pool tile may have been smoking crack.
Once you see it you can't unsee it.
Like every other part of this pool remodel project, this is going to get re-done.. ( Probably by me. )
My wife is about ready to strangle the contractor.

Did he start at both the top/bottom at the same time and work to the middle? Drunk at the start of a new day(in the middle)?

 

[LXCam]

Did he start at both the top/bottom at the same time and work to the middle? Drunk at the start of a new day(in the middle)?

Might have been reliving his days in band camp...



Well if you decide to rip it out Scott, you're welcome to my tile saw and laser level. I get the feeling Firebrick might be right, I'm wondering if he started out with one row in the middle to capture level and then top down.

 

[PugetDude]

I renamed the two guys that did most of the work Cheech and Chong. One big tall skinny Anglo and a short stocky Mexican. Total Stoners. Almost competent in the AM, completely Incompetent in the PM. They installed cultured stone on two decorative columns one Friday, I tore it all out on Sunday. Hired my landscaper to do it the second time, turned out great. Spa top slabs were installed an inch too high, so we had to add a border around the inside and outside to fill the gap. I ended up profiling the 25 2" limestone slabs myself because it was obvious they were going to screw that up, too. Took me 16 hours of grinding and polishing.


They cut the spillway slab an inch too short. Installed it anyway. Contractor sent another guy to tear it out and re-do it. Took him four days, I ended up grouting the spillway myself because we have grandkids here this week for Easter and we needed to get the pool operational.
I wasn't here when the tile guy did his magic. Installed and grouted before I had a chance to look at it.


3 week paver and tile project is now on week 9.
And still not finished. Contractor called and asked if he could stop by this week for final payment since the pool is back in service.
Sent him photos of the tile and a few other issues. ( Like a duck pond on the new travertine pavers because they missed the slope to drain on one side of the pool. Wasn't obvious until it rained.
We're going to have a "site conference" next week.
I am looking forward to it. My bride may need to self-medicate before the meeting.
Good news is he thinks we still owe him 10%. He hasn't seen our receipts for replacement stone, tile, rework labor, etc. yet.

 

[PugetDude]

Might have been reliving his days in band camp...



Well if you decide to rip it out Scott, you're welcome to my tile saw and laser level. I get the feeling Firebrick might be right, I'm wondering if he started out with one row in the middle to capture level and then top down.

Thanks, Cam. I have a big tile saw and a laser level, too. Hope I don't need them, we will see if he's going to step up and send in the A-team. We thought hiring a professional pool guy with an experienced crew would get this done quickly and professionally.
They tore out 2200ft2 of brick pavers and replaced them with 2500ft2 of travertine. All new pool coping, waterline tile, spa remodel. I wasn't going to tackle that myself.
Guy that we hired was highly recommended by a good friend who is a retired pool builder.
It is going to look great when it's all done, it just has been unnecessarily painful getting there.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

There's no shame anymore. That tile job looks worst than a happy homeowner special. I've been putting off redoing my pool, and this isn't helping.




When you want it done right, you've got to bring in the butler!

 

[Bob Heine]

Scott, I was not aware Florida contractors were working in Arizona.

 

[shortykorte]

I take a fence with “big tall skinny Anglo”. Just because this is the type of pool I can afford…

Don’t mean you can talk about my work.

 

[PugetDude]

I take a fence with “big tall skinny Anglo”. Just because this is the type of pool I can afford…

Don’t mean you can talk about my work.

I wouldn't even hire my pool contractor to install one of those, Shorty. His crew would screw it up.

Actually he was supposed to bring one of these kiddie pools in to use for concrete washout. Instead they dumped leftover grout, mortar, thin set in eleven (11) different places around my yard. Splashed it on the wrought iron, landscape boulders, driveway pavers, you name it.
Morons.

 

[Toolfool]

I'd back-charge them for all your work and clean-up time. I had to do that with the FIRST concrete contractor here building my retaining wall. Charged him for my labor to re-tie his steel. Charged him more than double what he felt I deserved.

 

[TimeWarpF100]

I wouldn't even hire my pool contractor to install one of those, Shorty. His crew would screw it up.

Actually he was supposed to bring one of these kiddie pools in to use for concrete washout. Instead they dumped leftover grout, mortar, thin set in eleven (11) different places around my yard. Splashed it on the wrought iron, landscape boulders, driveway pavers, you name it.
Morons.

Here I thought I warned you about hiring the guy who put up my awnings . .