Today's Welding time!

[Sodo]

My recollection of 1/16" stick welding (from 40 years ago).

Stick welding even 3/32" is difficult. You barely feel the flux on a 3/32, there's none of that feedback on 1/16. . 1/16" is an exercise in patience. Most stick welders don't consider items less than 1/8" thick as even "repairable". 1/8" rod is the minimum - if 1/8 rod can't fix it its not fixable. If you can get 1/16" stick-welding to work at all - you probably have the dexterity and control to consider TIG as "easy".

Well there ya go. A free pass to buying a TIG rig!!

Just watch that duty cycle!!!
:laughing::laughing::laughing:
Ooops ..... Agreed if you want capability to weld 1/4" Aluminum then its a bigger (AC) machine. And aluminum tends to be thicker materials.

 

[PJSprog]

Yeah, I don't see myself welding nearly enough to justify that ... at least not at this point. I'm really just having fun developing a new skill. I like the challenge of stick.

 

[vulcancowboy]

Working on a stand for my new to me leg vise.

 

[California]

Working on a stand for my new to me leg vise.
View attachment 502842View attachment 502843

I like that!

I need to make something similar - and I have a 15" automotive wheel for the base. Has anyone done this, and can recommend it?

 

[Big Barn]

I like that!

I need to make something similar - and I have a 15" automotive wheel for the base. Has anyone done this, and can recommend it?

Using a wheel makes it easy to tilt and roll into position. Personally, I find them functional but aesthetically unappealing. (butt ugly).

Edit: I didn't mean to sound critical about the wheel idea. It's just that's there's so many more creative ways to do it utilizing recycled materials.

 

[dragoneggs]

Using a wheel makes it easy to tilt and roll into position. Personally, I find them functional but aesthetically unappealing. (butt ugly).

Seen some that spin as well but I agree.. ugly.

 

[California]

Using a wheel makes it easy to tilt and roll into position. Personally, I find them functional but aesthetically unappealing. (butt ugly).

Maybe I should paint it then?

Functional is the primary objective. Aesthetics ... well ... would be overkill in this 'shop'. It's a simple barn stall intended for parking equipment, so simple that it had a dirt floor for the first 50 years.

I need to roll the welder (and big vise) out in front of the stall to weld away from everything flammable so an easily movable vise will be an improvement.

 

[Big Barn]

Maybe I should paint it then?

Functional is the primary objective. Aesthetics ... well ... would be overkill in this 'shop'. It's a simple barn stall intended for parking equipment, so simple that it had a dirt floor for the first 50 years.

I need to roll the welder (and big vise) out in front of the stall to weld away from everything flammable so an easily movable vise will be an improvement.

Aesthetics are NEVER overkill IMO.

Here's a few pedestals I've done for inspiration.



Terry

 

[California]

Aesthetics are NEVER overkill IMO.

Here's a few pedestals I've done for inspiration.

Terry

Gorgeous. I dream of having a shop, and equipment, like that. Well done!

 

[muddstopper]

best little grinder stand I have seen is in my buddies shop. He took a 1 ton rear brake hub. welded a little reebar inside it and filled with concrete. Made plate to bolt to the lug bolts and welded a tube for the upright that the grinder sets on. the weight of the concrete makes it stable and if he wants to move it, it just tilts it on the edge and rolls it to where he wants it.
I used a large engine flywheel to make my grinder stand.

 

[vulcancowboy]

Aesthetics are NEVER overkill IMO.

Here's a few pedestals I've done for inspiration. View attachment 502866

View attachment 502867View attachment 502868View attachment 502869

Terry

Hope you won't mind if I steal some ideas from you, especially like hardy storage solution! Great job.

 

[Big Barn]

Hope you won't mind if I steal some ideas from you, especially like hardy storage solution! Great job.

Absolutely!

FYI the post vice stand is a cast iron water pipe filled with rebar and 250 # of concrete. Lengths of 3/4" all thread protrude out the top so that the table can be changed out for something else in the future.

I've standardized all my hardies to have 1.25" square shanks. The 3/8" plate holder has 1 5/8" round holes for storing them.

Terry

 

[vulcancowboy]

Finished my stand today and mounted the vise. Had to use the 2x10's because the vertical 2x3 steel I had on hand was too short.

 

[Sodo]

Where do you fellers get those cool vises?

 

[Surreal001]

Where do you fellers get those cool vises?

Those are blacksmith style vises, I think. I saw a couple for sale once at a local used tool store for crazy $$$. They are cool to collectors too, apparently! I would love to stumble on one at a garage sale...

 

[vulcancowboy]

Where do you fellers get those cool vises?

I've been looking for months, they are out there and the prices are all over the place. I gave $140 for mine, probably high average for this area.

 

[Surreal001]

Little pulse mig on some heavy plate brackets.
View attachment 501401View attachment 501402

Might be the prettiest welds I've seen yet.

 

[BukitCase]

Sodo, use the search term "post vise" when you're lookin' - but be prepared to spend as much (or more) than new "regular" vises, I sometimes wonder if they are made from the same "un-obtainium" ANVILS are ..Steve

 

[California]

Where do you fellers get those cool vises?

My post vise came from Dad scouring every Estate Sale he saw listed, for years after he retired. I inherited the post vise and another Columbia bench vise at least as large, plus a large and medium Craftsman, and several smaller vises, all bought for what had to have been under $10 each or he wouldn't have bought them. Yard-saleing every weekend in the city was his entertainment. I don't think there is any other way to find those old vises for less than antique-store or Ebay price.

I visit yard sales far less frequently but I found my $50 Wards PowerKraft 230amp AC stick welder (tombstone equivalent) at a neighbor's estate sale. (Now that I have a TIG/DC stick welder as well a mig, I expect to use this antique less).

 

[vulcancowboy]

Sodo, use the search term "post vise" when you're lookin' - but be prepared to spend as much (or more) than new "regular" vises, I sometimes wonder if they are made from the same "un-obtainium" ANVILS are ..Steve

They're also known as a blacksmith vise. Also search using both vise and vice!