Show us your welding projects

[Hot Chop shop]

I like your clamp storage as well. I'm going to steal it and make one improvement (maybe)...Use square tubes that slide out from under the table. So, maybe have a 1 x 3 tube welded back under the table about 18". Weld parallel 3/4" square tubes to the 1 x 3. Add gussets to keep the 3/4" tubes from sagging. Then slide 1" tubes over them. That way you can adjust for more clamps and they're mostly under the table instead of sticking out. I guess this could be done with round tubes just as easily.



Side view:

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Thats a smart idea. I have no clue way I haven't added anything to the underside of the table like a middle shelf for additional storage or more hooks... I go back and forth with adding a cabinet... But I think the original idea was to keep it simple so I can roll it around easily and work on it from either side... But the Swiss army welding tables that people have been posting are very cool and I'm always looking for projects to practice welding on.

 

[WakonTonka]

The sliding clamp storage idea is solid. However, the turned up tip will reorient itself if fabbed with round tube. If each pair is connected the rotation would be prevented & the thing would pull out akin to drawer action. Good stuff for the neural net going on here...

 

[Jhmt]

One of the six

 

[Joe69]

I was wanting to try out my new-to-me finger brake, so I made a toolbox to keep my torch tips and accessories in, in my service truck. Here's the finished product.

Joe

 

[Duker]

I was wanting to try out my new-to-me finger brake, so I made a toolbox to keep my torch tips and accessories in, in my service truck. Here's the finished product.

Joe

That's pretty cool Joe. Did you pop rivet hinges or weld a hinge to the top?

 

[Joe69]

The piano hinge had screw holes in it, so I plug welded it in the holes.

Joe

 

[Robert Hall]

Nice box!

 

[Robert Hall]

Ok Robert..... I think we need to see some pics of how you use that jig...

So glad you asked

 

[toddoky]

Welded up a couple of engine brackets...not very exciting, but I'll take the seat time anyway I can get it.

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[alpinewhite]

Welded up a couple of engine brackets...not very exciting, but I'll take the seat time anyway I can get it.

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I wish I can weld this well. This is TIG, right? Is there any way this can be done this nicely with MIG?

 

[wagzilla]

trying to get some seat time, I shake more these days

James

 

[toddoky]

I wish I can weld this well. This is TIG, right? Is there any way this can be done this nicely with MIG?

Yes, it was done by the TIG process. I have seen guys develop special techniques to make some MIG welds that do approximate the appearance of a TIG bead, but I have doubts as to the structural soundness of the welds made in such a fashion since MIG welded beads always begin in a cold-start state. I see no shame in producing a properly executed MIG weld as producing one that is strong and looks good is difficult to do.

 

[Jhmt]

One of the six

Better picture

 

[steel 35]

Better picture

Welcome from another part of the world; and what in the world is it?

 

[Jhmt]

Welcome from another part of the world; and what in the world is it?

Thanks!

Well, isn't it obvious? It´s part of the pontoons. I'm building myself a Houseboat.

 

[BD1]

Thanks!

Well, isn't it obvious? It´s part of the pontoons. I'm building myself a Houseboat.

You gonna have a basement ???

 

[steel 35]

Please put cross bracing in it.
I truly did wonder as I have done something similar and it didn't go well until version 3

 

[Jhmt]

You gonna have a basement ???

Not a basement but i can use the space for fueltanks etc.

Please put cross bracing in it.
I truly did wonder as I have done something similar and it didn't go well until version 3

I will add crossbars when everything is welded together.

started a thread about houseboat http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277986

 

[Ronniexj]

https://scontent-b-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10923234_1012843498743450_65260155202439228_n.jpg?oh=88fbeebad5dff7d88c89538f6f5cb5f7&oe=55697225

 

[kyrbz]

I had previously posted a few photos of a mobile motorcycle work table I was working on. Here's the whole thing from start to finish. The holes that run along the side are for various attachments that I'll use at different points of a restoration such as there are times when I like to have the frame hanging. After this bike, I'm restoring a '62 Cezeta scooter which are usually restored with the body upside down, so I'll be making attachments that bolt to this table that will support the Cezeta body upside down.

BZ

 

[ADSR]

kyrbz, that's awesome work right there!!!

 

[1/2 Cup]

As above, that's a work of art.

 

[Duker]

Kyrbz, nicely done. I also noticed some pretty high grade woodworking equipment as well i.e.Vega lathe with duplicator.etc. Are you serious hobbyist or are you running a Cabinet or restoration shop? With the cars and cycles it appears to be the latter but your wood storage would suggest otherwise.

 

[Jhmt]

Kyrbz, Very High class craftsmanship

Good looking angle clamps, Bessey? I've been looking for similar clamps but they seem to be really expensive, at least here in Finland.

Like this

30-year warranty, but the price is high 208,15 EUR = 233,09 USD

 

[Man Cave]

Nice work Kyrbz. I have the commercial Handy brand lift and I made casters for it. Seems like when I wasn't able to move it around the shop it was always in the way,at least with casters there is options. Your projects look more interesting than mine.

 

[kyrbz]

Thanks for the comments!

Kyrbz, nicely done. I also noticed some pretty high grade woodworking equipment as well i.e.Vega lathe with duplicator.etc. Are you serious hobbyist or are you running a Cabinet or restoration shop? With the cars and cycles it appears to be the latter but your wood storage would suggest otherwise.

I do sculpture, design, and fabrication work for a living. Generally I work with many different materials and processes, so I have a variety of tools. The motorcycles and microcars are a hobby that are starting to take up too much shop space. That's why I wanted to make mobile work tables for them, so I can push them into a corner of the shop when I need space. Oh yea, I live/work in a 100+ year old building that was a wreck when I bought it, so that's been an ongoing remodeling project. I'll probably move out of my building before I ever finish it. I've been fantasizing about a low maintenance 1 story building with a concrete floor that I can have a fork lift, full size mill, and all the other large tools that the floors of my building can't support.

Kyrbz, Very High class craftsmanship
Good looking angle clamps, Bessey? I've been looking for similar clamps but they seem to be really expensive, at least here in Finland.

Ouch, that is expensive. The clamps I bought don't have a brand on them. I bought them from an online welding shop. They were the more expensive ones they sell because of having the outside faces machined flat. It's been several years since I bought them, but I think they were on sale for around $85.00 ea. Not on sale, I think the price was around $100.00+ ea. I really like them and use them a lot.

BZ

 

[Magneto]

Great string! You folks inspired me to take a welding class at the local tech center. Of course, I was the old man in the class. It was 6 sessions, 4 1/2 hours each. It was hands on from day one. Stick, Mig, and Tig welding. Plasma & torch cutting. I don't think I have a need for any Tig work. I enjoyed stick welding until I picked up the Mig gun. Needless to say I purchased my first Mig welder. It came a few days ago.

I set it up and played around with a few scrap pieces. Here is one of my better welds. Would appreciate some honest feedback on the looks of it.

Mag

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=200815

 

[longlivepunk]

Magneto, I'm no welder, but that looks like a pretty nice bead to me! You could probably improve by just getting a bit more of the mill-scale off the material before welding. Good for you on going straight to a quality brand machine and a gas setup. Too many guys think "Oh, a Mastercraft flux-core will be fine" and then once they try a good gas-setup they are left kicking themselves. Can't wait to get my welders set-up and get more torch-time in.

Kyrbz, what can I say? That was an awesome post to wake-up to today. Makes me feel inadequate with my crappy little bike-stand I made years ago. Might have to give it to a friend and fab up something nicer now. That looks like an amazing shop you have, beautiful fab-tables too! You can tell it's an old building by seeing the bit of the wall in the background of the one shot of your wood-storage shelves! What wheel-truing stand is that you have in the background? Also, did you make that wheel-vise or buy it? Looks nice!

 

[kyrbz]

Great string! You folks inspired me to take a welding class at the local tech center. Of course, I was the old man in the class. It was 6 sessions, 4 1/2 hours each. It was hands on from day one. Stick, Mig, and Tig welding. Plasma & torch cutting. I don't think I have a need for any Tig work. I enjoyed stick welding until I picked up the Mig gun. Needless to say I purchased my first Mig welder. It came a few days ago.

I set it up and played around with a few scrap pieces. Here is one of my better welds. Would appreciate some honest feedback on the looks of it.

Mag

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=200815

Good choice on the Millermatic 211, but I'm very biased towards Miller welders. If you're just starting welding, you're off to a good start! When I'm welding a corner like your example, I like to push the weld and use a slight zig zag stitching action as I move the torch.

BZ

 

[wyo george]

After my headaches of the last few days I'm a bigger fan of miller than before. I've been fighting with Lincoln reps over our very expensive (about $50k total) sub arc welder that has been a piece of junk since day one. Finally after four months and countless complaints and getting down right nasty they finally conceded to replace the feeder. Friday they showed up to show up what we were doing wrong (of course, we weren't) the dang mechanic and Lincoln rep didn't even bring tools with them since they were soo convinced that nothing could actually be wrong with the welder we have been complaining about for months now.....

Sorry, just had to vent about my current Lincoln woes.

Magneto, good choice on a welder, that unit should last you for quite some time to come.

G

 

[DarkMonohue]

^Interesting note. Our local Airgas store offers Lincoln and Miller. One of the guys there feels that the machines are generally similar enough, but Miller's level of parts and service support after the sale is outstanding, whereas Lincoln isn't really all that interested.

I've been absolutely delighted with my Lincoln SP-125 plus, and have never owned or used a Miller product, but will probably go that way when it's time for an upgrade. I can't remember ever hearing anything negative about them.

FWIW, I usually like a little zig-zag when welding a fillet like that, too. I have no idea how right or wrong that technique is, but it seems to produce a wider, smoother, flatter weld.

 

[kyrbz]

Thanks! I wimped out and bought the wheel vise. I figured the time and materials that it would take to make one exceeded what I could buy one for. The wheel truing stand is a "Black Widow" but in retrospect I might have been better off making one. Too much slop in the parts that hold the hub. I was having lots of problems with wheels moving while I were truing them. I ended up buying an assortment of rods and stop collars that are the various sizes of axles on bikes I own. Using my own rods (axles) and stop collars works much better than using the set up that came with the stand.

BZ

 

[kyrbz]

I agree, a slight zig zag action flattens the weld and ensures you're getting good penetration of both pieces metal.

BZ

 

[shortykorte]

Nothing special. A pipe on a plate for a dual bench grinder stand. Thankfully for the great welding advice on GJ, I'm proud of my newbie welds. To see what type of penetration I'm getting, I made up some practice blanks and will cut it in half.

 

[Dragster guy]

Some of what iv been up to.

 

[bmxdad]

Forget the motorcycle work station ... I'm in awe of those nice welding tables. Matched set, height wise I see. Did you make those too?

 

[kyrbz]

Forget the motorcycle work station ... I'm in awe of those nice welding tables. Matched set, height wise I see. Did you make those too?

Yes I made the welding tables. I like having two smaller tables so that if I'm working on something large, I can bridge the piece across the tables and easily get to the middle of what I'm working. I use to work in a shop that had a giant Weldsale fab table. If I remember right it was 5' x 12'. Really nice table, but I was always on my hands and knees on top of the table to weld in the middle of large projects. Mine are small and light enough that I can move them around, and then level them with each other depending on what I'm working on. The tops aren't thick enough that I would be rolling an engine around on top of them, but for the tubular frame type of stuff I do a lot of, it works fine, plus the tops would be inexpensive to replace if I ever need to.

Sometimes I slide the top from one table over to the other giving me a larger work surface.

Other times I have them separated so I can get between the tables to weld in the middle of larger pieces

Hanging a piece up vertical off the side of the table. My welding area also doubles as a spray booth. Depending on what I'm spraying, sometimes I move the tables out of the booth, other times I just throw a tarp over them. When I originally built my welding/spray booth, I had my wood shop in the same space. Now I've got my wood shop moved to a different part of the building and I wish my welding/spray booth was a little larger. At least the welding curtains allow me to spill out of the booth when I'm working on something larger than the booth.

BZ

 

[Will S.]

BZ, I'm also very interested in hearing more about your welding table. I wonder if you have a build-thread here on GJ, that you can link to. But meanwhile, I'd like to know the table dimensions, and a material list, if at all possible. Also wonder if there have been problems with the top warping while you're welding, causing the work pieces to move?

Also want to ask you what you were building, in the last couple pics, AND where did you get those 3 gray boxes under the bench? I've been out looking for something like them just this afternoon.

 

[t100]

some random stuff

 

[t100]

more