Show us your welding projects

[ZTFab]

In the process of rebuilding the back-half of a sand car...

Built a new sheet metal bulkhead. It's approx 2' tall x 4' wide and 1.75" thick made of 10ga (.141").

 

[AussieDan]

Beautiful work as always ZT

 

[nitrohog]

Decided to build a sheet metal valentines present. I tried to reproduce her favorite flower, a stargazer lily. It was my first attempt at any sort of art so don't be too critical LOL.

 

[colt zantop]

thats pretty cool! I really dig metal art

 

[jinjaninja]

totally tried to do the same thing after work valentines day..... im not an artistic person so its not amazing, but i think the thought was appreciated

 

[NUTTSGT]

Beautiful work as always ZT

The awesomesomeness and unfreakingbelieveabilty of his weld are unobtainably undeniable.








yes, just made them up as they rolled off my fingertips while typing

 

[ZTFab]

Thanks guys.

Eric, that made me laugh.

Got the bulkhead placed in the car...

 

[welder4956]

I wanna weld like ZT when I grow up...just sayin...

 

[ME87]

Is the sheet metal bulkhead strictly aesthetic or is there a structural purpose for not continuing with tube work? Looks very nice.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Totally nice as usual ZT! To bad there just gonna beat the **** outta it when your done.
What do you use for bending your tube?

 

[MichaelUser]

Hello,

I mostly linger because I am on so many forums that I get lost. Anyway, I am finishing up my buggy project. This was my first attempt so the welds aren't perfect.
The first pic is the first go around with the buggy. It was assembled and then sat while I remodeled the house for 2 years. Then the black and gray version is recent with the frame powder-coated and the pan sprayed with bedliner. I then painted the body flat black a-la cheap rustoleum from HD. One coat and done.

 

[muibubbles]

Here's some TIG welding from today.

20ga (.037") Stainless Steel

SEE I KNEW IT. I called it waaaaay back in the other thread that you weld with a caliper and measure the distance from each weld to ensure .0000001 tolerances!!!!!

 

[grego]

Decided to build a sheet metal valentines present. I tried to reproduce her favorite flower, a stargazer lily. It was my first attempt at any sort of art so don't be too critical LOL.

Dude, that rocks!!!

 

[ZTFab]

Is the sheet metal bulkhead strictly aesthetic or is there a structural purpose for not continuing with tube work? Looks very nice.

Thanks. Just a different way of doing it. The chassis originally has tubing in that area but it failed miserably and I wanted to incorporate the trans mounts and some additional bracing.

Totally nice as usual ZT! To bad there just gonna beat the **** outta it when your done.
What do you use for bending your tube?

Thanks. That's what they're built for! This one will have a Ford 351, aluminum heads, and a Vortech supercharger making 600+ HP running through a Fortin 5spd H-pattern transaxle.

I use a JD2 model 3 bender with an Enerpac 10 Ton Air/hydraulic setup.

 

[ME87]

I use a JD2 model 3 bender with an Enerpac 10 Ton Air/hydraulic setup.

Did you buy the adapter setup from JD2 or make your own? I've got the same bender and I'm trying to figure out the cheapest and best way to convert it to an air over/hydraulic setup.

 

[XSKEETERX]

Every time ZT posts pics, I'm just in awe. How many years have you been welding?

 

[bggrnchvy]

I was wondering if the tig/ plasma cutter that is next to your Miller machine has worked out for you. I see them listed on C/L all the time and wanted a review.

I have been looking into some classes for tig at the local college and maybe picking up the tig and plasma combo on special from Eastwood. I would love a nice Miller watercooled one but I am not sure my abilities are ready for that kind of a machine.

The plasma function works well enough. I've had to replace the gun though as the stock unit was junky. It's cut quite a few more complex sheetmetal parts up in it's 5 year life time.

The tig I've only used once (for lack of an Argon specific bottle) and works fine for a DC scratch start. I'm looking for a well love Syncrowave currently however.

 

[ZTFab]

Did you buy the adapter setup from JD2 or make your own? I've got the same bender and I'm trying to figure out the cheapest and best way to convert it to an air over/hydraulic setup.

I have the adapter from JD2.

Look over on offroadfabnet.com and you will find a lot of people who have converted their benders to hydro for less money.

Every time ZT posts pics, I'm just in awe. How many years have you been welding?

Thanks.

Almost 15 years

 

[richtersrodz]

There is some amazing work shown on here..

 

[nitrohog]

Dude, that rocks!!!

Thanks guys, in the end its the fact that she loved it that matters but a little positive reinforcement from you guys makes me want to keep my creativeness going lol And to think I bought the welder to do exhaust and body work

 

[ZTFab]

There is some amazing work shown on here..

I'm sorry...I have no idea what you say in any of your posts...I am too fixated on your avatar.

 

[Krokodil]

ZT, your work always amazes me!

 

[Mario428]

Updating the front strut mounts on my T-Bird

When I originally built the T-Bird I used this setup.

Only problem was I ran out of adjustment and I have very little up travel of the strut. Tried a couple of different variations of the cup and brackets but could not get it where I wanted.

Decided this was the winter I would fix a lot of the little problems the car had and the strut mount was one of them.

So drew the front end setup in Solidworks and designed some brackets that held the top of the strut where I wanted it. Made up some holders to put the front wheel at ride height, some blocks under the frame to get it to ride height. Had laser cut and bent the brackets last weekend.
This is my new setup

Closeup of how I did the cup and bracket. I can change ride height by mounting this under or on top of the frame bracket. Or take another cup and weld a flange at a different point on the cup. Not an easy way to adjust ride height and travel but easy enough to do when the car is together in the spring.

All welded up, just need to add a gusset and paint it.

 

[mordantly]

**** frame work guys!

 

[ZTFab]

Got the front trans mount welded, bent, and mocked up in the car.

 

[Zengineer]

ZTFab, are you using a CNC plasma to cut out your raw parts? Do you have a thread somewhere here about it you can point me to?

 

[bronson_91]

Damn, that is just beautiful. . . If I may ask, how thick is that trans-mount plate and what did you use to cut it with (particularly the inside cuts)?

 

[ZTFab]

ZTFab, are you using a CNC plasma to cut out your raw parts? Do you have a thread somewhere here about it you can point me to?

I don't own a CNC Plasma. I usually hand cut all my parts on my bandsaw but recently started using Cody at So Cal Plasma Craft to do all of the parts on this project.

I designed everything in SolidWorks then sent him the files. He definitely knows how to run his machine, which is a Torchmate 2x4 with a Hypertherm plasma.

Damn, that is just beautiful. . . If I may ask, how thick is that trans-mount plate and what did you use to cut it with (particularly the inside cuts)?

Thanks....see above about the cutting.

The mount is 3/16" thick.

 

[ZTFab]

Updating the front strut mounts on my T-Bird

....

Looking really good Mario.

 

[mordantly]

ZT: root only 220 mig?

 

[cnc-me]

ZT, your welds and fab work is fantastic!
Its almost better than the "Hot Women" thread here on GJ.

 

[ZTFab]

ZT, your welds and fab work is fantastic!
Its almost better than the "Hot Women" thread here on GJ.

Woah, woah, woah....let's not get out of control here.



Thanks.

 

[ZTFab]

ZT: root only 220 mig?

I'm not sure I understand your question.

 

[NUTTSGT]

mario, I see the front end is off that Bird, along with the doors, any of the body left on it or are you doing more chassis work ?

 

[Mario428]

mario, I see the front end is off that Bird, along with the doors, any of the body left on it or are you doing more chassis work ?

Takes 5 minutes to strip most of the body panels off, all the fiberglass is 1/4 turned on. Doors are on pins, lift off once they are open 45 degrees.

 

[Mario428]

Got the front trans mount welded, bent, and mocked up in the car.

Very very nice work, drawing stuff like that to fit tubing is a bit of a pain in Solidworks but really worth it when it fits up so nice.

 

[Mario428]

Looking really good Mario.

Thank you

Saw your post about using Solidworks, used Solidworks to draw up my front frame section to fit all the stuff. I measured the drivers side and made the parts to suit but ended up grinding a 1/16 here, an 1/8 there to make it fit really well. Pass side fell right into place, just clean the parts and paint, then weld. GRIN

 

[ZTFab]

Thank you

Saw your post about using Solidworks, used Solidworks to draw up my front frame section to fit all the stuff. I measured the drivers side and made the parts to suit but ended up grinding a 1/16 here, an 1/8 there to make it fit really well. Pass side fell right into place, just clean the parts and paint, then weld. GRIN

Yes, Solidworks is a great tool and a tremendous resource to have but like any other tool you have to know how to use it for it to be a benefit.

I've had clients who think that SolidWorks is a "fix-all" and a magic program. "Can't you just put it into Solidworks and have it tell you what to do?"

Um, no.

I've rarely had a tube chassis that I could simply mirror parts on and have them fit perfectly. Taking time to set reference plane(s) and an origin for measurements helps tremendously but the world is an imperfect place.

 

[Duker]

ZT, (and others as well), when you post up a project onto the site of that beautiful handiwork could we impose upon you to maybe tell us the type of machine and perhaps the gauge/type metal and the settings you used to create those welds?

I know I am asking a lot as you have already been generous in posting your projects and answering questions, but for us rookie and wannabe welders and fabricators it would be huge help in our learning curve.

I can only dream of laying a bead down like the welds you have shown us but if I can at least get in the ball park through some expert knowledge... to me that is a home run!

Again, thanks for posting the projects and for the help you have already given to many of us.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Updating the front strut mounts on my T-Bird

When I originally built the T-Bird I used this setup.

All welded up, just need to add a gusset and paint it.

Looking great Mario!