Show us your welding projects

[MadeByMiller]

Finally made progress on my fab table leg project. This is something I've wanted to do since I've owned the table. The factory legs are really fat tube, and they're not mounted all the way to the corners, so it limits what you can fit under the table.

I was going to just use some smaller tuning but I had an epiphany while standing in Harbor freight one day, so I started collecting these trailer jacks every time they went on sale or I had a coupon.

Anyway, I had to fab the plates and weld them to the tube, but only after disassembling them and replacing the hand cranks with appropriately sized bolts. I ordered some inserts and swivel feet and installed them in the finished legs.

Anyway, I can now adjust the table from 26" to 44" high easily, but the best part is being able to nest my plasma table/welding tool box underneath.

This is very cool! Great use of space. Love seeing the Fixture Table Plugs, as always!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Here's the small thing in the small shop. Made up a new little mounting wing for the upper blade guard on the new blade guide.

 

[KwikFab]

Related - my ball lock pins finally arrived from Texas Metal Works.

Will add they've got great customer service.

Anyway I ordered 4 to use with the table extension I recently made.



Can use them for attaching either 3/16" or 1/4" to the top, as well as the sides.



For the extensions, I'll need to use the top holes as the table sides thin out to 5/16" towards the bottom. The table top itself is 3/8" thick.



I'm digging it.





Now I just need to put the bin under my table in storage and figure out an under the table shelf. Maybe not so much a shelf but some sort of cart or stand.

 

[WoodsTruck]

If the old erector sets were only built this stout...

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Finished up welding the base. Put five 1x1 tubing sideways, then put some 1/4x2 flatbar to support the shelf.

Painted with some really thick rustoleum and chopped up some leftover countertop and pounded it in.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Loaded up with all the heavy press stuff. I wanted to put it on 8 inch cast iron wheels, but they didn't come in in time, so permanently bolted on the poly/steel wheels. Rolls easy, even rolled it through the gravel/mud to get from one shop to the other (before I added all the heavy ****).

 

[kaymccampbell]

I guess 3/8" counts. Welded up the corners of the dogeater chute extensions. I think it's the least welding I've ever done for one project.

 

[Gutman]

Made a coat hanger today for the wife.



Actually, it's for hanging her scuba diving buoyancy compensator vest, made out of 1/4" 304 stainless rod. She asked because the typical plastic or metal hangers don't last very long.

It provided an opportunity to test my compact bender skills too. I was able to plan, measure, mark, and make all the bends in the correct sequence and plane using a single piece of rod and then do a little TIG weld (which I don't do enough of to maintain any sort of proficiency) to tie it together.

Probably nowhere near as fast as a coathanger building machine, but more rewarding for me.

 

[Sweetcorn]

Made a coat hanger today for the wife.



Actually, it's for hanging her scuba diving buoyancy compensator vest, made out of 1/4" 304 stainless rod. She asked because the typical plastic or metal hangers don't last very long.

It provided an opportunity to test my compact bender skills too. I was able to plan, measure, mark, and make all the bends in the correct sequence and plane using a single piece of rod and then do a little TIG weld (which I don't do enough of to maintain any sort of proficiency) to tie it together.

Probably nowhere near as fast as a coathanger building machine, but more rewarding for me.

That's cool man.

I've made a lot of really cool stuff for a lot of people over the years, but my favorite thing to do is make something for my wife or son. I can't think of much thats more rewarding that that.

 

[VR6ix]

Made a coat hanger today for the wife.

I have made a few replacement toaster oven wire shelves and cooking racks from stainless TIG rod. Once you have a supply of metal and a TIG machine there's really no limit in finding household projects to make repairs or just make things better and not rely on buying iffy-quality off-shore junk. Nice job the beefy hanger! I'll have to file that idea away for later...

 

[Lumpy102]

Made a coat hanger today for the wife.

Nice job! Been making gear hangers for my work buddies for years, pretty satisfying. 1/4 inch mild steel and rustoleum.

 

[LXCam]

I must say you two hanger dudes. Ya make me feel like a *****. All these years of hanging my fab garb on plastic and kinda cussing when it breaks every couple of years, it never occurred to me to make a forever one or two Orr three

 

[Lumpy102]

I must say you two hanger dudes. Ya make me feel like a *****. All these years of hanging my fab garb on plastic and kinda cussing when it breaks every couple of years, it never occurred to me to make a forever one or two Orr three

Early on, one of the guys said they weren't built strong enough to last through a career, so I did a chin-up on his hanger, not sure I could still do it, or whether the hanger would hold my mass. (we are both retired now)

 

[Gutman]

my favorite thing to do is make something for my wife or son. I can't think of much thats more rewarding that that.

This.
Ended up making two more today, for a daughter and her BF. They all just returned from a dive trip to Bonaire.

All these years of hanging my fab garb on plastic and kinda cussing when it breaks every couple of years, it never occurred to me to make a forever one or two Orr three

This too.
Previously accepted that the plastic ones I've used for my dive gear and waders and other assorted heavier **** would sag and fail and I'd just throw another plastic one at the problem.

Nice job! Been making gear hangers for my work buddies for years, pretty satisfying. 1/4 inch mild steel and rustoleum.

My FF buddy saw my first one last night when he brought some paneling he needed cut for his bathroom renovation and asked for one for his turnout gear. Won't show him your pic because he'll want the numbers too. I considered adding hooks at each end but there was no need for them for holding the buoyancy vests. Your center hook is a great idea, but I'll wait until they've been used a bit.

I did not weight test by chin-up, but the bottom one got a pretty healthly 'pull test."

The last one came together quickly and more satisfying; required no trimming for length.

Fun little projects that improve my bending skills. Next up will be storage for waders and a closet-based weapons stowage system.

 

[Lumpy102]

My FF buddy saw my first one last night when he brought some paneling he needed cut for his bathroom renovation and asked for one for his turnout gear. Won't show him your pic because he'll want the numbers too. I considered adding hooks at each end but there was no need for them for holding the buoyancy vests. Your center hook is a great idea, but I'll wait until they've been used a bit.

I don't particularly like the centre hook, real pain in the **** to make, it's there to hang a fire helmet by the D-ring on the brim. It's the most requested option aside from the numbers (which are worse to make). Takes two or three times as long to make numbers as the hanger itself. I've think I've made more than a hundred, so I've got a bit of a pattern worked out. I also make a swivelling hanger and have included the helmet hook, but that's another level of crazy. You gotta be a real good friend for that one.

 

[PugetDude]

When we had the ranch in Wyoming I welded up a bunch of game gambrels out of (you guessed it) 3/8" rebar.
Basically just big oversized coat hangers with hooks on each end. They were plenty strong for antelope, mule deer, or elk quarters.

 

[scooterbum46]

These are from an older project, thought someone might like to see an 80 MPH '56 Cushman Eagle (with 40 MPH brakes). Arrows point to areas of fab/welding. This one is a little different as I used an original '62 Silver Eagle two speed transmission in back of the 18 HP Vanguard, 99% of these repowers use a Comet belt drive like snowmobiles use. I still ride it occasionally the experience is similar to what my Dad would have had on his prewar Indian Scout. It's hand shift/foot hybrid clutch (centrifugal plus throwout bearing).

 

[NUTTSGT]

Early on, one of the guys said they weren't built strong enough to last through a career, so I did a chin-up on his hanger, not sure I could still do it, or whether the hanger would hold my mass. (we are both retired now)

I've made gear hangers for here at the station but not much welding. The only welding needed is attaching the bicycle hook to the flat bar.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Friend wanted a removable rack to hold ice auger bit and milwaukee drill in it's case. He bought the $$$$ BRP linq brackets, so this thing is removable off the top of the lid.

I picked up an old atv rear rack on the side of the road and chopped it in half.

 

[BD55]

Kids’ play set rotted out and became super janky after several years of use so we decided to rebuild anew.

Here’s my build thread Link. 5” diameter 10ga steel tube for the frame. Still figuring out the roof. Decks will be composite decking. Swings and monkey bars not shown in the CAD, but you can see where they’ll be. The uprights are around 15’ feet tall.

Lots of cutting and welding. It’s been a fun project with the kids helping out. Mix of MIG and TIG.

 

[elmer]

love the pictures of the kids.

 

[Beerhippie]

^Dang, those kids make some nice welds!

Do you hire them out?

 

[KwikFab]

^Dang, those kids make some nice welds!

Do you hire them out?

Paid child labor is against the law as far as I know!

Which means, they should work for free

 

[BD55]

They did have a fun time stomping on the pedal when I was tacking things up. To my youngest, that means he's now a pro-welder

 

[Beerhippie]

Paid child labor is against the law as far as I know!

Which means, they should work for free

As someone who spent most summers from about 10 yrs of age picking berries and beans, I wonder just how that works....

 

[kaymccampbell]

As someone who spent most summers from about 10 yrs of age picking berries and beans, I wonder just how that works....

Same as on any farm. You're slave labor until you get smart enough to run away from home.

 

[Beerhippie]

Same as on any farm. You're slave labor until you get smart enough to run away from home.

We were paid. We were paid ****, but we were paid. 5 AM in what city kids called "summer break" we loaded up on ancient retired school busses and rode out to the farms where we labored in rain and heat and whatever until the bus dropped us off again at 3 PM.

I used this experience in college, when I found that I could work for "boutique" berry farms--farms that sold to established customers (high-end restaurants)--to fill orders. I could show up at the field around 6 AM and pick until 11 Am and walk off with a hundred in cash--usually. A good berry picker demanded top-hand wages back then.

 

[PugetDude]

We were paid. We were paid ****, but we were paid. 5 AM in what city kids called "summer break" we loaded up on ancient retired school busses and rode out to the farms where we labored in rain and heat and whatever until the bus dropped us off again at 3 PM.

I used this experience in college, when I found that I could work for "boutique" berry farms--farms that sold to established customers (high-end restaurants)--to fill orders. I could show up at the field around 6 AM and pick until 11 Am and walk off with a hundred in cash--usually. A good berry picker demanded top-hand wages back then.

I grew up in Missouri- we hoed soybeans instead. Local farmer would pick us up at the local gas station at 6AM. If you were late, you got left behind. He would drop us back off before noon so he didn't have to worry about lunches. $20 cash. Half a dozen kids in the back of his pickup truck, big Igloo jug with a block of ice in it, paper cone cups. Dusty ,dirty, hot, and sweaty after a morning hoeing weeds, that water sure tasted good.

 

[M.Brane]

I love how you all have derailed the welding project thread into picking crops. Seriously. Great stories.

 

[Beerhippie]

Well, like so much of industrial welding, berry picking has largely been allocated to the machines... so there is a link here.

What berry pickin', Scouts and the YACC didn't teach me about life I had to make up on the job.

 

[PugetDude]

I love how you all have derailed the welding project thread into picking crops. Seriously. Great stories.

Scrolled back quite a few pages in this thread and can't find where you've posted any welding projects, pictures, tips, or techniques.
Am I missing something?

 

[Old Man Roger]

Scrolled back quite a few pages in this thread and can't find where you've posted any welding projects, pictures, tips, or techniques.
Am I missing something?

Anyone who knows me knows I’m the biggest off topic postwhore around, but don’t hate on the guy for not posting welding pics. You can participate and post in a welding thread without posting welding pics.

And again, I‘m not judging, because I probably go off topic more than anyone, but he ain’t wrong.

Hell, I’m surprised you ain’t kicked me out of your threads.lol

 

[zmotorsports]

Same as on any farm. You're slave labor until you get smart enough to run away from home.

Kay, although I realized I was slave labor from an early age, like many of us "farm kids", we were poor but didn't realize it until later in life, for me it was middle school, but I had clothes on my back, food on the table and roof over my head at all times. As much as I hated farming, I had a great childhood and was taught so many of life's lessons on my parent's farm working alongside my dad, who taught me an incredible work ethic. As much as I too wanted to run away from the farm, there are days I wish I could take my son and grandson back there to even have a small taste of the experience.

 

[Gutman]

Kids’ play set rotted out and became super janky after several years of use so we decided to rebuild anew...

Lots of cutting and welding. It’s been a fun project with the kids helping out. Mix of MIG and TIG.

It's good to see your help hard at work, but am I the only one who thought of this when I saw your thread?



Not not a throwback to slave labor, rather, a throwback to making kids tougher again.

Now back to welding projects.

 

[PugetDude]

Kay, although I realized I was slave labor from an early age, like many of us "farm kids", we were poor but didn't realize it until later in life, for me it was middle school, but I had clothes on my back, food on the table and roof over my head at all times. As much as I hated farming, I had a great childhood and was taught so many of life's lessons on my parent's farm working alongside my dad, who taught me an incredible work ethic. As much as I too wanted to run away from the farm, there are days I wish I could take my son and grandson back there to even have a small taste of the experience.

Did any of your farm slave curriculum involve welding?

 

[zmotorsports]

Did any of your farm slave curriculum involve welding?

Why yes it did Scott. My dad put a stinger and electrode in my hand at age 12 and I've been trying to learn ever since.

 

[LXCam]

Damn!, I’m glad I didn’t grow up that way guys. I’zz spoiled rotten. My ole man built pools for a living so all I had to do was swing a pick and shovel my *** off digging trenches with the more than occasional sledgehammer removal of patios and sidewalks.

 

[PugetDude]

Damn!, I’m glad I didn’t grow up that way guys. I’zz spoiled rotten. My ole man built pools for a living so all I had to do was swing a pick and shovel my *** off digging trenches with the more than occasional sledgehammer removal of patios and sidewalks.

Always thought you lived a sheltered existence, Cam.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Did any of your farm slave curriculum involve welding?

Absolutely. My grandfather disliked welding, so somewhere between 8 and 10 I started butchering things. The first project I remember is repairing a whole set of unobtainium celery planter fingers.

 

[Beerhippie]

Absolutely. My grandfather disliked welding, so somewhere between 8 and 10 I started butchering things. The first project I remember is repairing a whole set of unobtainium celery planter fingers.

I thought the celery planter fingers were attached to the child planting the celery. Didn't know you could weld that.