ALL IN A DAYS WORK!

[MUDONTHETIRES]

Hello All!
Today I welded hooks and toothbar plates to my bucket and also finished my carry all! I bought a stick welder because I got impatient waiting on a welder to come out to the house. I've been practicing welding for a month or so and it just seems to get tougher. Anyway, first I sanded all of the paint off in the weld area. Then I clamped down the 2" X 3" X 1/4" thick angle iron and sat back and told myself "Whats the worst that could happen"?

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

So after about an hour of thinking of all the worst things that could happen being a novice welder, I decided it was time. I unhooked my tractor battery, grabbed some 7018AC rods and hoped for the best! I don't know how many rods I used but dang I'm tired. I ran two beads the full length of the angle iron on top and bottom. Then I welded the toothbar plates. Welding vertical is very tough for a novice like me. I can confidently say that these are really ugly welds but hey if they hold, who cares, right? Welding, chipping slag, brushing with a metal brush and grinding definitely took up most of the day.

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

After what seemed like half a day, wait, it was half a day later, the welding was done. Although it takes much practice, I couldn't do this much if it weren't for the guidance of Brian(xlr82v2) and
Rob(3RRL), so thanks guys! I started grinding on the bucket to improve the aesthetics then I got out the Mahindra spray paint. Oh, did I mention that I'm not a painter either? After two coats I was getting tired and I still wanted to finish my carry all.

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

I bought the treated wood for the carry all frame a few weeks back. I already cut the boards in four foot sections. All that was left was to secure them with the galvanized carriage bolts and screw on the tie-down hooks. This was much easier than welding! Well, I finished the carry all now its time for a big glass of iced tea! I'm looking forward to tomorrow so I can test my new bucket hooks. I think I'll pick up my bush hog (1100 lbs.) for starters. Hopefully my welds will hold. If they do indeed hold, then I'll spend the last three days of my vacation picking up things for the burn pile. I hope no one minds me sharing my experience here. I learned a lot in just one day. One really important lesson I learned was to never never never forget to put your welding gloves on. Man those rods are hot!

 

[milkman]

Good job, like your Harbor Freight locking pliers. Good idea reinforcing across the top of the bucket, you won't have to be afraid to use those hooks and they WILL come in handy. You reminded me that I still need to weld my plates on my bucket for my toothbar, everytime I put it on, I promise myself that I will weld them on, good job for today.
Really neat carryall, almost as handy as a pickup.

 

[firemanpat2910]

good job but can I ask why you bolted the carry all directly to the pallet forks? What if you need to move a pallet? Say sod, bricks, concrete? seems like a lot of work to take carry all apart. Hopefully you have other means for moving pallets or the need never arises.

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

Hey firemanpat2910,

Thanks for the compliment! Tractor Supply Co. has two items that are close in appearance.
A pallet mover (pic 1) and a carry all frame (pic 2).
I purchased the carry all frame and added the wood. I'll use the carry all for carrying things out in the field like my generator, welder, tools etc.
As for pallet moving and the likes, I use my pallet forks! (pic 3)

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

Good job, like your Harbor Freight locking pliers. Good idea reinforcing across the top of the bucket, you won't have to be afraid to use those hooks and they WILL come in handy. You reminded me that I still need to weld my plates on my bucket for my toothbar, everytime I put it on, I promise myself that I will weld them on, good job for today.
Really neat carryall, almost as handy as a pickup.

Thanks Milkman!
I went to Home Depot to get those locking pliers but all I found in that size was $22.00 a piece. I went to HF and picked up four for under $20.00. I know they're low quality but I've used them several times in the last two months practicing my welding and so far so good! While I was there, I picked up an 8' X 8' welding blanket. It sure came in handy covering up my FEL's hydraulic lines!

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

I'm happy to report that my hooks stood up to at least 1000 lbs!
I didn't get to try them out on anything heavier as I spent most of the day moving dirt into my barn. I'm trying to level it before I add rock and close in the front. Tomorrow I'll test the hooks more by moving some good sized logs to the burn pile.

 

[milkman]

I don't think you'll have to worry about those hooks, that's one beefy looking tractor. Got my plates welded on today and repainted the ends of my bucket. Wish our weather looked like yours so I could get out and do something.