Welding Tent?

[Captain Spaulding]

I was doing some gate building today on sawhorses outside. Had to use flux wire and really was wishing I could use solid but it wasn’t going to work out.

Thought occurred to me I could maybe build a frame out of EMT and hang welding blankets to make a shelter to stop the wind.

Anybody done anything like this? Is it a crazy idea? I do a good bit of outdoor repairs and it would be a lot easier to take the shelter to the weld instead of trying to get the equipment (trailers, farm implements, cattle working equipment) indoors.

 

[sqznby]

We used to use those pop up canopies and hang fire blankets from them to block the wind.
I think some may have curtains included.

 

[gofastwclass]

If you're doing a lot of on-site work where you can't control your environment I think your idea is a brilliant temporary solution.

 

[BukitCase]

I have 3 of the 6'x8' weld blankets from HF, and 3 of their "under hoist safety stands" - a few clamps, 3 10' sticks of 1" EMT and a couple handfuls of those orange "cable cuffs" from Homeless Despot and i've done quite a bit of "in the breeze" welding with C25/hard wire. A dozen or so of those $.99 2" spring clamps from HD will keep the weld blankets closed where they meet, the leeward side can be your entrance.

Another spring clamp and a couple feet of toilet paper is my "wind sock", if it's doing more than a slight "waft" I set up the wind break. The "sock" is also a good indication of getting your metal too hot

The left half of this 24x24 roof was about 90% welded in place with MM252/30A spool gun/C25/.035" solid wire, other half was built as 3 separate identical 8'x12' modules, then assembled in place, pinned to left half, 3 modules bolted to each other and swung up into place as a unit with my backhoe and "tinker toys".

A few of the welds on the left half, closest to the camera, needed a little more creativity (wind breaks) with some 4x4 blocks and clamps spacing 4'x4' sheets of 1/4 plywood, but most of 'em I just waited for the toilet paper (er, wind sock) to calm down and went for it.

Walls are just tarped ATM, plan on more 2x2 tube frames/fiberglass, and the 3 legs will be perpendicular/lagged to the (yet to exist) slab - for now, they're out of the way for tractor work.

Tinker toys in use for lift, frame lifted in place, my "super plank" put me in perfect position to apply maximum force to screw gun installing roofing. Plank is 2x4 frame, crossmembers on 2' centers, top is 3'x10' 3/4 ply. 3 coats of brushed on machine gray oil based, heavy non-skid tape... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

BTW, depending on which welder you have you might wanna check out my "go anywhere" cart, in this thread
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=416912

HTH... Steve

 

[Captain Spaulding]

BTW, depending on which welder you have you might wanna check out my "go anywhere" cart, in this thread
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=416912

HTH... Steve

I've thought of several ways to offroad by welding cart, but I kind of like that idea. Thanks for posting the pictures!

 

[BukitCase]

You're welcome - forgot to mention, in the pics before painting - all the parts that still have yellow paint were the "seed" for the project, they were initially part of a safety rail that got scrapped and "dumpster dove" - it sat around my place waiting for a project for over 10 years before finding a new purpose in life ...Steve

 

[thooks]

It's done all the time with commercial/industrial "pre-fab" welding - with Stick, TIG, MIG.

Lots of pipe projects inside working industrial plants - where the welders/fitters will set up outside under tents/welding curtains to fabricate pieces to take inside so that just a few position welds can take place inside.

The trades folks call it a "hooch".

 

[BD1]

A cheap Menards 6' scaffold and a welding blanket works. It's less to blow over in the wind and add a piece of metal on top of the scaffold plank and you have a table.
https://www.menards.com/main/home-d...ing-utility-scaffold/2002/p-1444436078787.htm