Where to buy tabs

[handirifle]

I'm modifying a trailer from ag use to on the road use. I'll be adding some side rail stakes and building short and tall sides. I also want to weld some hold down tabs along the sides, to secure rolling loads. On the front I used the pieces I cut off the original draw bar hitch. They were 1" thick with 1 1/4" holes in them.

I checked the local welding shop to see about some other tabs, and they said they would have to fabricate them, at $45 min labor.

Does anyone sell something like this premade? I'd like 1/2" or thicker, with 1" hole or larger, so I can weld them to the sides of the trailer.

Other suggestions also welcome.

Also, where would I find those nice spring loaded chain hooks for the safety chain? They look like a weedless fishing hook, a big one though:thumbsup:.

 

[Argosy]

Look at a trailer supply site or Northern Tool for D rings.

Trailer Rope Rings | Trailer Hardware | Trailers + Trailer Parts | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[J_J]

Perhaps some U bolts. You could also bend some 1/2 in rebar in a U shape and weld to the sides. El cheapo.

 

[gwdixon]

Truck and Tow has just about everything you could possibly want for your project. Just search their site.

I you join their email list they will give free shipping on your first order (a least they did in the past). That makes a considerable difference when shipping metal.

https://www.truckntow.com/default.aspx

 

[Soundguy]

Perhaps some U bolts. You could also bend some 1/2 in rebar in a U shape and weld to the sides. El cheapo.

that actually works good.

we have a beat up tripple crown hd flatbed at work.. we did just that.. torch heted and bent some rebar around a 3" round pipeusing another pipe to slip the end into then bend around... worked great.. once painted shiney black, looks fine too.

soundguy

 

[BillBeyer]

I think I have some tabs like you describe at my shop. Will look when I get home tonight. Shipping may be a killer, do not know where you are located.

 

[handirifle]

Bill, thanks for the offer. I'm in Central Coast of CA, so a long ways off.

I like the rebar idea. been using that to make my fireplace tools anyway, might as well find a new use.

Cheap, is ALWAYS good, in my book.

 

[Soundguy]

just make you a jig to bend them. we use a piece of 3/4" id pipe at a right angle to a piece of 3" od pipe.. slid the rebar ( 1/2" ) into the pipe a ways heated with smoke wrench with rosebud tip while a buddy curled it around the form ( 3" pipe" ). then we quenched them in a 5g pail and chop sawed them and did another.. went fast.. turned out good. ground the paint ont he frame with a 4.5" grinder.. vice gripped one at a time on and buzzed it in place with 6011/6013 root pass /top pass then hit it with matching paint.

soundguy

 

[Shield Arc]

Not all rebar is of weldable grade steel, might want to read this link.

Rebar Info - Welding

 

[Soundguy]

i guess I've been lucky. I've picked up rebar scrap for years and never had a single issue welding with it...ever..?? and I'm certaintly no pro welder.. nor is my ac buzzbox anything special..

soundguy

 

[J_J]

To deviate a little. Here is something else one can make out of rebar.

 

[Shield Arc]

i guess I've been lucky. I've picked up rebar scrap for years and never had a single issue welding with it...ever..?? and I'm certaintly no pro welder.. nor is my ac buzzbox anything special..

soundguy

Soundguy I have never welded much rebar at home, but on the job I don't even want to think about how much I've welded. One time in Alaska 7 days a week 12 hours a day for 7-weeks!

There is more to welding rebar than the average guy really knows, generally the bar will have a "W" on it.

Scroll down to 5.1.
Wapedia - Wiki: Rebar

 

[/pine]

TSC has weld on stake pockets, weld on tie downs and chain pockets etc...

tractorsupply.com/

 

[kennyd]

What about AW Direct? They have all sorts of stuff like this.

 

[Soundguy]

To deviate a little. Here is something else one can make out of rebar.

i'm planning on making a knife and a small hatchet with a hammer hear rear out of 2 railroad spikes I have. just waiting for some spare shop time.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Soundguy I have never welded much rebar at home, but on the job I don't even want to think about how much I've welded. One time in Alaska 7 days a week 12 hours a day for 7-weeks!

There is more to welding rebar than the average guy really knows, generally the bar will have a "W" on it.

the diagrams look pretty and all.. thanks for posting them.. however.. my previous statement remains unchanged. I've yet to -ever- come across a piece of rebar that I have been unable to hotglue to another piece of metal.

One thing I have NOT done is weld rebar to rebar. I have welded rebar to mild steel, ( hot and cold rolled as well ) to cast steel, cast iron, and some forgings. all with about the same results as I would expect welding a piece of hot or cold rolled or mild steel bar stock or round stock to those same materials.

can't even begin to imagine all the tractor 3pt upper and lower 3pt lift arms I've seen with a rebar grafted onto them after a bow or break. I've always treated them like mild steel, and just used a 6011 and turned the amps up.. sometimes I dress downt he ridges with an angle grinder right wher ethe bead will be, depending on what I'm welding to or for.

I'm sure what you say is true and there may be some hidden science behind it.. but all I can think is I've been lucky.. every time.. nuttin I've made with rebar has come apart yet...

soundguy

 

[digger2]

Soundguy,
You've "welded" rebar to cast iron??? No offense,but its really hard to believe that it held any load at all.What kind of rod did you use?Do you mean brazing by any chance?

 

[handirifle]

Wow the knives are cool. I like em. By the way, I guess sometimes ignorance IS bliss, cause i made two rings from some rebar this morning and they wleded to the frame just fine.

Let me ask you guys another question,
My trailer was used to move grape bins that weighed 1,000lbs each (2 of them on the trailer) and thats the heaviest this trailer will move. It's a heavy built 4ft by 8ft trailer. My MF1010 might get a ride on it, but it might be too short for even the little MF. What size chain would you use for a safety chain. I have some length of 1/4" on hand, no idea what grade it is though.

Should I use heavier?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have to agree with ShieldArc to some extent on welding rebar with any 60XX series rod. The welds will be very brittle with this rod. They dont tend to bend any at all, just catastropic failure when they let go. MOST rebar will weld with 7018 or higher rod and the weld produced is more malleable than the 6011-6013 welds and more accomodating when welding rebar with high carbon content. There may or may not be any difference in chemistry of W grade rebar. W just means it was tested for carbon content and meets the max allowable for carbon. Generally anything with more than .04% carbon gets very brittle when welded and is more like spring steel than mild steel after welding due to the carbides formed during welding which makes them very hard. It acts like spring steel also in that it will hold till it snaps, no bending is usually evident in the break. The higher carbon content in rebar makes it an exceptional material for hardening. I have made very good center punches from rebar by just grinding a point on it and tempering it. they are better than any store bought

 

[gwdixon]

Wow the knives are cool. I like em. By the way, I guess sometimes ignorance IS bliss, cause i made two rings from some rebar this morning and they wleded to the frame just fine.

Let me ask you guys another question,
My trailer was used to move grape bins that weighed 1,000lbs each (2 of them on the trailer) and thats the heaviest this trailer will move. It's a heavy built 4ft by 8ft trailer. My MF1010 might get a ride on it, but it might be too short for even the little MF. What size chain would you use for a safety chain. I have some length of 1/4" on hand, no idea what grade it is though.

Should I use heavier?

5/16" grade 70 chain is sold for tie-down and is the minimum accepted by the CA Highway Patrol. They require four tie-downs (at the corners). Check your state's laws.

Usually you can by bags of the chain at discount auto stores or big box hardware stores.