Show us your welding projects

[Beerhippie]

What's wrong with pallet racks? He can reuse them later for other things as needed too.

A real barrel rack is much more convenient. Here's what we're probably getting: https://www.gwkent.com/stainless-st...JZi2QbBdUFLpTHE72xpmiasBG6xIu7Qhrt3E9MOqeRfxc

Nice thing with those is that the barrels can be moved two at a time. Plus, they're modular, so we just buy as many as we need at the moment.

The racks also have to be shoe-horned in between two large fermenters as that's the only space we have that doesn't freeze in the winter nor get up into three digits in the summer, and these will fit nicely.

 

[Beerhippie]

My stock response in those situations is “let’s have an engineer get us a stamped drawing and we’ll go from there “!

Huge liability averted

Seeing as our resident engineer recently passed on, that's a safe bet.

As predicted, the racks from GW Kent are cheaper than I could build them. Add in, they're electropolished and passivated and it's a heck of a deal.

 

[sqznby]

You couldn’t adjust the angle of the piece you were welding? I hate welding uphill, even a slight angle makes me look at other options.lol

Unfortunately, it was not possible to adjust this. It's a 30 something foot boat on dollies and I just cut the hanger off that we used to roll it.
Personally, I don't mind welding uphill actually any position really haha. It's all about the getting the right settings and of course practicing before committing. I ran a 6" bead before doing this and felt good about it so rolled with it.

 

[sqznby]

A real barrel rack is much more convenient. Here's what we're probably getting: https://www.gwkent.com/stainless-st...JZi2QbBdUFLpTHE72xpmiasBG6xIu7Qhrt3E9MOqeRfxc

Nice thing with those is that the barrels can be moved two at a time. Plus, they're modular, so we just buy as many as we need at the moment.

The racks also have to be shoe-horned in between two large fermenters as that's the only space we have that doesn't freeze in the winter nor get up into three digits in the summer, and these will fit nicely.

I'd bring up the cost factor and show him those racks and the sale they're having.
And the fact that it would cost more than double for you to make them. Definitely push the sale to take the job away from yourself but more so save the company money typically they love saving money haha

 

[Beerhippie]

Just to remind y'all that not all welds look like stacked dimes, here's my current project:

I recently ordered a 5" Palmgren Industrial vise, made in Argentina. It's a close-out and for $60 with free shipping, it was a no-brainer.

I've been wanting a vise on a mobile stand, both for use outside and for places in the shop where I need more room than my bench affords. I also wanted the vise mounted lower than those on the bench--nearly 4' from the floor to top of jaws--for things like grinding and hammering.

So, first thing is to determine the height I wanted. Best thing seemed to be to make a mock-up that was easily adjustable to try out different heights. Hmmm.....



Yeah, that does the trick. Looks like I want about 39 1/2 inches from floor to top of jaws. Low enough for comfortable grinding and hammering, but I don't need to bend over too much if I want to weld something in the vise.

Next, a trip to the boneyard for materials.



5" square X 1/4" wall. Maybe overkill? Weighs a ton. Maybe some 3" well casing is plenty stout? Got lots of that.

What about a base?



Part of the platen from an industrial scale that someone managed to kill. 22" square, 2" deep, all stainless; 3/8" 16 threaded on each corner for leveling feet. I think it'll do.

Now to make it portable.



Always salvage casters. Fixed SS body, ball-bearing, 2 1/2" urethane tires. No idea what the rating is, but they look plenty stout. Just what the doctor ordered.



I cut off the mounting flanges, used a piece of 3/8" plywood for a spacer between the floor and the wheels (after installing carriage-bolt leveling feet) and tacked them in place. Finished the welds on the bench.



The 3/16" plate is the one piece that isn't from the boneyard--it's left over from another job. The foot-square plate is welded to the web from beneath. Should be plenty stout and the 3" well casing looks quite adequate. The exposed web of the scale platen affords lots of good places for a ground clamp.

That's as far as I'm going until the vise arrives. @deezil provided me with some measurements of the vise, but I prefer to have it in hand.

Now that I'm looking at this, I may just put a small table-top on the pedestal stand and mount the vise to a separate plate so I can clamp either the vise or my bench grinder to the stand.

I'm using standard E70S-6 X 0.030 wire for the welding. It's a long ways to the salt from here and the stand will live in the shop most of the time.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'd bring up the cost factor and show him those racks and the sale they're having.
And the fact that it would cost more than double for you to make them. Definitely push the sale to take the job away from yourself but more so save the company money typically they love saving money haha

Boss decided to go with pallets--two barrels per--and the existing warehouse racking we have. We'll have to insulate the rack system somehow--probably rigid foam board.

As much as I hate turning down a fabrication project, a man's gotta know his limitations.

 

[sqznby]

Boss decided to go with pallets--two barrels per--and the existing warehouse racking we have. We'll have to insulate the rack system somehow--probably rigid foam board.

As much as I hate turning down a fabrication project, a man's gotta know his limitations.

Nice
I give you credit, it's better to be safe than sorry and it's good to know your limits.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'd forgotten that the data plate from the old scale was still on the base I used:



Yeah, I reckon 300 lb capacity will be stout enough for a 60 lb vise.

 

[Beerhippie]

Well, I said I'd wait 'til the vise was here to finish this up, but once I get a bone in my teeth....

I was walking around the property today when I recalled another stash of salvage metal--mostly stainless sanitary tubing--and figured I'd take a look to see if anything struck my fancy. I'd been playing with the idea of a cantilever sort of thing if I could find something stout enough, but then I noticed another one of those legs like the red one above, complete with the 3/8" pad and gussets--and it was cut off nice and square at almost the perfect length for what I needed! I figured, "What's 3/16" between friends?" and took it as a sign.



My old Reed just to see what it looks and feels like. The Reed is about the same size and weight as the Palmgren--just cooler.

4" square tube, 1/4" wall. My poor old Millermatic 120 only goes to 120 Amps, so I tried my hand at a three-pass filet weld. Sure ain't purty, but it'll hold anything I'll ever put on it. The casters work perfectly and, with the carriage bolt levelers at each corner, I can make it wobble-free and dead steady on any hard surface.

 

[FTG-05]

Seeing as our resident engineer recently passed on, that's a safe bet.

As predicted, the racks from GW Kent are cheaper than I could build them. Add in, they're electropolished and passivated and it's a heck of a deal.

Who was this?

 

[Beerhippie]

Who was this?

A fellow name of Karl Juve. He didn't work for the brewery, but did all our engineering and architect work for years.

Not only was he a licensed engineer and architect, he was also a licensed pyrotechnician who put on some amazing shows here in the county, and just a good old guy.

 

[sqznby]

@Beerhippie you're motivating me to build a stand haha, it's this cold weather that's keeping me from doing it right now.
Pulled this out of the pile. 4" x 6" x 1/2" , 13+" x 15+" x1-3/16" and 1/2" plate cut for a wilton, which will fit the either of the ones I have thankfully haha.
The base plate is still up in the air, seems narrow for a stand especially so heavy, for holding I think it would be fine but for beating may be too small. I have a piece of 1" x 29" x 12" plate, but I think I'm going to keep that for another "project"
I have a little time off in a couple of weeks, I'll have an update then it's too cold out and I have a honey dew list I need to take care of, or I'll be sleeping outside

 

[Beerhippie]

@Beerhippie you're motivating me to build a stand haha, it's this cold weather that's keeping me from doing it right now.
Pulled this out of the pile. 4" x 6" x 1/2" , 13+" x 15+" x1-3/16" and 1/2" plate cut for a wilton, which will fit the either of the ones I have thankfully haha.
The base plate is still up in the air, seems narrow for a stand especially so heavy, for holding I think it would be fine but for beating may be too small. I have a piece of 1" x 29" x 12" plate, but I think I'm going to keep that for another "project"
I have a little time off in a couple of weeks, I'll have an update then it's too cold out and I have a honey dew list I need to take care of, or I'll be sleeping outside

Repeat after me: "Not now, dear, I have a welding project."

Just don't do it anywhere your wife might hear you....

 

[Beerhippie]

I practiced some hammering on the stand this morning. Yow--talk about ringing your bell!

I like the idea of filling the column with sand, but I don't like the idea of adding the weight (I figure it'd add about 60 lb). I wonder if filling it with spray foam would dampen the ringing?

 

[sqznby]

I practiced some hammering on the stand this morning. Yow--talk about ringing your bell!

I like the idea of filling the column with sand, but I don't like the idea of adding the weight (I figure it'd add about 60 lb). I wonder if filling it with spray foam would dampen the ringing?

Yes, filling it would be a must to help with the noise. Even though I've had a ringing in my ears for years, sounds like I beat on plate every day unless it's from my wife yelling at me

 

[Beerhippie]

Yes, filling it would be a must to help with the noise. Even though I've had a ringing in my ears for years, sounds like I beat on plate every day unless it's from my wife yelling at me

It was loud enough to drown out my tinnitus--that's loud.

 

[sqznby]

It was loud enough to drown out my tinnitus--that's loud.

Wait a sec, my wife's yelling was loud enough to drown out your tinnitus? I know she's loud damn, didn't now she was THAT loud. Because her yelling drowns out MY tinnitus

 

[PugetDude]

11 wall topper panels and 2 custom gates for our front courtyard remodel. Should be back from powder coat this week

 

[Old Man Roger]

Nice

 

[Beerhippie]

Wait a sec, my wife's yelling was loud enough to drown out your tinnitus? I know she's loud damn, didn't now she was THAT loud. Because her yelling drowns out MY tinnitus

I was just reading that something like 15% of the US population suffers from tinnitus. Does that mean that only 15% of the population uses power tools, hammers and guns?

Seems like everyone I know suffers from it.

 

[danielbuck]

11 wall topper panels and 2 custom gates for our front courtyard remodel. Should be back from powder coat this week

that looks really good! you do the scroll work? Or were those pre-made pieces? looks like that will be a very nice either way!

 

[danielbuck]

I was just reading that something like 15% of the US population suffers from tinnitus. Does that mean that only 15% of the population uses power tools, hammers and guns?

Seems like everyone I know suffers from it.

most of my tinnitus is probably from driving open top jeeps with no doors mostly year round for 15+ years.

 

[Beerhippie]

most of my tinnitus is probably from driving open top jeeps with no doors mostly year round for 15+ years.

Yeah, I forgot the pre-quiet age of motor vehicles! Add in motorcycles before helmets and recreational explosive devices....

 

[msharley]

A few of my projects....

 

[Beerhippie]

A few of my projects....

I used to make those, too. Second pic is a spinner game--try to drive the spinner, mounted on an Acme thread screw, to your end of the target while someone else is trying to drive it the other way. Turned out to be ridiculously dangerous, with ricochets flying past our heads.

That was back when my moniker was Gunhippie....

 

[PugetDude]

that looks really good! you do the scroll work? Or were those pre-made pieces? looks like that will be a very nice either way!

Purchased the scrolls from an architectural iron supplier in Phoenix. They are rolled out of 1/2" square tube to match the pickets. I actually tacked the pickets in full length on 4" centers, then cut them out with a 3" wheel in my M12 cutoff saw where I wanted the scrolls. Made it a lot easier to keep everything square and parallel.
Used two cases (55/case) of the 1/2" cast steel knuckles; only had 2 left. And they only went on every other picket...

 

[kaymccampbell]

I was just reading that something like 15% of the US population suffers from tinnitus. Does that mean that only 15% of the population uses power tools, hammers and guns?

Seems like everyone I know suffers from it.

It means you hang out with the right people.

 

[Beerhippie]

It means you hang out with the right people.

And I completely forgot hanging out in front of the speaker at Dead shows!

Did you just say something? Are you talking to me?

 

[kaymccampbell]

And I completely forgot hanging out in front of the speaker at Dead shows!

Did you just say something? Are you talking to me?

That's me without my magic ears.

 

[Firstram]

Purchased the scrolls from an architectural iron supplier in Phoenix. They are rolled out of 1/2" square tube to match the pickets. I actually tacked the pickets in full length on 4" centers, then cut them out with a 3" wheel in my M12 cutoff saw where I wanted the scrolls. Made it a lot easier to keep everything square and parallel.
Used two cases (55/case) of the 1/2" cast steel knuckles; only had 2 left. And they only went on every other picket...

It’s hard to beat the iron suppliers prices, beautiful work on the panels!

 

[sqznby]

I was just reading that something like 15% of the US population suffers from tinnitus. Does that mean that only 15% of the population uses power tools, hammers and guns?

Seems like everyone I know suffers from it.

Mine really kicked in at a manufacturing plant I worked at. The area that was mine, which was the easiest for the engineers to get to just so happened to be right behind and old turret punch machine that was designated for only punching 12-gauge material, 3 years of that does a toll. Shook the floor. Before that erecting steel and beating on thick material didn't help either. I have always worn hearing protection with the pew pews, learned my lesson once and won't do that again.
This is why my wife yells so much, because I can't hear

 

[sqznby]

I used to make those, too. Second pic is a spinner game--try to drive the spinner, mounted on an Atlas thread screw, to your end of the target while someone else is trying to drive it the other way. Turned out to be ridiculously dangerous, with ricochets flying past our heads.

That was back when my moniker was Gunhippie....

That spinning target is a great idea well, at a safer distance of course haha

Is that a Savage 22 with the thumbhole stock? I have that exact model but 17HMR, but it has a green tint to it.

I had a bunch of these shim plates I used for targets, thankfully they were out between 60 to 100 yards with a slight lean to them, the ricochets were chopping branches down a good 60 feet up haha.
This was the latest I made for a co-worker out of a the same shim plates, this one was used and I just filled them in.

 

[sqznby]

A few of my projects....

THAT looks like some fun times

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

I was just reading that something like 15% of the US population suffers from tinnitus. Does that mean that only 15% of the population uses power tools, hammers and guns?

Seems like everyone I know suffers from it.

Maybe it means the rest of them enjoy it...

 

[PugetDude]

It’s hard to beat the iron suppliers prices, beautiful work on the panels!

I thought the 1/2" square tube C scrolls were pretty pricey at ~$11.00 each. The S-bends were $15.00. Spent more on them than I did on almost a thousand feet of square tube.
Found some similar C's out of solid stock (albeit a much thinner profile) at Industrial Metals for ~$2.00 each- after I was halfway through the project and too committed to switch.

 

[Firstram]

I thought the 1/2" square tube C scrolls were pretty pricey at ~$11.00 each. The S-bends were $15.00. Spent more on them than I did on almost a thousand feet of square tube.
Found some similar C's out of solid stock (albeit a much thinner profile) at Industrial Metals for ~$2.00 each- after I was halfway through the project and too committed to switch.

Definitely need to shop around! You really do need to commit to setting up for scrolls, most projects don’t need enough of any one size to make it worth your time.

I’m blown away by the current steel pieces! I picked up 800 feet combined of 3/4, 1 and 1x2 tubing recently, it hurt!

 

[Beerhippie]

That spinning target is a great idea well, at a safer distance of course haha

Is that a Savage 22 with the thumbhole stock? I have that exact model but 17HMR, but it has a green tint to it.

I had a bunch of these shim plates I used for targets, thankfully they were out between 60 to 100 yards with a slight lean to them, the ricochets were chopping branches down a good 60 feet up haha.
This was the latest I made for a co-worker out of a the same shim plates, this one was used and I just filled them in.

I used 1/4" mild steel plates for my targets, as they were meant for .22/handgun use. The spinner had to be at about 30 yards or the .22 wouldn't have the oomph to get it going, putting the shooters well within the ricochet zone.

You can see one of my knock-downs didn't respond well to .223 Rem.

The rifle is one of my custom Ruger 10/22 builds. The only part that was actually made by Ruger is the receiver. Stock is a modified/customized Boyd's Blaster. That one weighs right about 12 lb, so it mostly sees use from a bipod. I built another ultra-light for field use--squirrels, grouse, etc.



That one weighs in at 4 1/2 lb, using a Tony Kidd/Walther-Lothar aluminum sleeve barrel. The stock is Ruger, cut down to my pull length.

I need to get them out and play with them more often. Unfortunately, asshats using the various old gravel pits around the county as dumps and just expressing their general ***-hattery have caused nearly all of the informal shooting ranges in the county to be shut down and gated off. The formal shooting range is a little too formal for my tastes.

I just realized that the stock on that first rifle wasn't yet finished in the photo.

Here it is, all finished:

 

[PugetDude]

Definitely need to shop around! You really do need to commit to setting up for scrolls, most projects don’t need enough of any one size to make it worth your time.

I’m blown away by the current steel pieces! I picked up 800 feet combined of 3/4, 1 and 1x2 tubing recently, it hurt!

The place in Phoenix I got the scrolls from quoted $12.40 for a 20' stick of 1/2" x 1/2" x .065" tubing. I needed 30 sticks. Plus $3.00 each to cut them in half for transport.
Steel supplier in Mesa was $8.00 each with no cut charge.
Similar % price differential on the larger sizes, too.

 

[mattthemuppet]

I dewelded this

To get this

Which will get made into a rolling stand for my drill press, a kayak rack and maybe some kind of dead deer transportation rack for my neighbor

 

[PugetDude]

Which will get made into .... a kayak rack...

Whatever you do, don't put strobe lights on it.