Container Weld Shop build -

[BukitCase]

Moving (sorta) right along - Tightened the bars down with short bolts while welding the nuts inside the tubes -

Closer view -

Further back -

Before and after running a 5/8-11 tap thru all 8 holes to clean up threads -

And a couple shots of the sliders mounted on the heavier I beam -


Anybody catch my latest boo-boo yet? in the last pic, the welds are too close to the holes in the lower plates for nuts and washers to sit flat - I was trying to keep those holddown bars as far apart as possible and still fit the factory plates on the top of the posts - so I (correctly) left enough room for nuts/washers at the ends of the tubes... Then I INCORRECTLY forgot to NOT weld across the tube ends - I think it's called "LABTYD" - as in, Life's A *****, Then You Die...

Seems like it's always my NICER welds that end up havin' to go bye-bye :drool:

The GOOD news (sorta) - just stick a 1-1/16" cutter in the mag drill and "kiss" each end, centered on the holes - might even look like I PLANNED it that way - Any dissenting opinions on that should re-read my very first sentence in my very first post in this thread/odd-isy :laughing:

That's it fer now, I'm 'bout done for the night... Steve

OK, tried a different approach on the pics - same order (maybe), but all together

 

[Xfaxman]

I didn't catch your latest boo-boo, because the pictures didn't post.

 

[BukitCase]

Sorry 'bout that; I did it same as always and it didn't seem to work, so I added some spaces and it looked OK. Seems to be OK now, crossed fingers... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

Anybody catch my latest boo-boo yet? <<<<<<<<<<<Yes it was terrible, how could you, it's the worst mistake ever, I never seen anything like it, Oh the humanity of it all.............The color is totally wrong.

 

[BukitCase]

I know; I'm just sooooo ashamed

Guess I'll just hafta SCRAP this whole project and start over - hmmmm, wonder what kinda welder cart I should do THIS time??!? ...Steve

 

[BukitCase]

On second thought, who said ya can't put lipstick on a pig??!? :laughing:




Fixed the previously mentioned boo-boo easier than I thought; those holes only get 1/2" bolts (the HF supplied ones will be replaced with Grade 8's) so all it took was a few gentle "kisses" with a cutoff disk held flat against the flat bars those tubes are welded to - I'll put locks and nuts on THAT side, and the bigger FLAT washers on the thinner (HF "industrial duty") side (the top plates of the uprights)



Over the primer with satin black -




It's only about 52* out, so I'll leave the quartz heater on 'em til after supper ('bout 3 hours), then they'll have a few days to finish curing out while I get the I beam prepped for paint... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

("Guess I'll just hafta SCRAP this whole project and start over")<<<<<<<<That's the great thing about welding steel together, with the right tooling it can be taken apart for a do-over with minimal effort. Are you familiar with carbon arc gouging? Works real good taking stuff apart when something has alot of weld on it, and if done right it just leaves slight scar that can be filled back in with weld if need be. The down fall is it's tremendously smokey and loud.

 

[BukitCase]

Yeah, they did a lot of carbon arc at work, mostly scrapping old stuff; you ain't kidding about the smoke and noise, they used to try and get gouging done on dark shifts - less people around to set on fire :laughing:

One of the "goodies" my pre-retirement forced overtime produced was a Hypertherm PM45 plasma, got gouging tips for that - it's a LOT quieter, and almost "surgical" if you crank the power down a bit - I used that to gouge off the HF (too thin) hitch receivers I had on the loader of the 580B - no burn-thru, just a TINY bit of flap wheel and it was ready for the new 1/4" wall receivers...

Well I wasn't too thrilled with the Krylon primer I used the other day, the cover coat kept wanting to "slip off" and leave reddish marks; had to go back and touch up several places... so I found Rustoleum "rusty metal primer" (works on clean metal too) on Amazon for $3.98 a 12 oz. can, ordered 8 cans - some of that'll get used on the HF crane's upsized I beam, but the paint won't be here for at least a week :thumbdown: - so I spent today puttin' a few more LED shop lights under the small container roof, lot better vision there now.

While I'm waitin' fer paint, I'll get back on the weld cart, get the floor mat and aluminum trim on it and it'll be (semi) done for now. I did find the full-suspension drawer glides I knew I had, but I think I'm gonna hold off on that drawer til I get some hood time with ANOTHER "OT goodie" - I've had this
Power i-TIG 2T - TIG Welders | Everlast Generators

For over 2 YEARS now, haven't plugged it IN yet - been too busy runnin' WIRE on projects so far. Guess I better check it out BEFORE the 5 year warranty runs out First (and last) time I tigged anything wuz about 1974, thinkin' I'm gonna be just a tad rusty

Once I get around to adding a bottle of tri-mix I have some stainless scraps I'll use to tig up a "flip-top" chimney cap, had a big stainless SALAD BOWL over the chimney for about 10 years, gettin' to be a pain to get it off to knock the creosote down into the cleanout so a "flip-top" seems like a better plan...

Supper's here, time to do sumthin' IM-POTENT :licking: ...Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

("Well I wasn't too thrilled with the Krylon primer I used the other day, the cover coat kept wanting to "slip off" and leave reddish marks; had to go back and touch up several places... so I found Rustoleum "rusty metal primer" (works on clean metal too) on Amazon for $3.98 a 12 oz. can, ordered 8 cans - some of that'll get used on the HF crane's upsized I beam, but the paint won't be")

Well you know when Krylon prime get 30 years old it sould thrown out. Doesn't Rust Oleum make special triggers to use on those spray cans, it might save ware on your trigger finger so you can still type out responses to you fan club.

That tig machine looks great, sound like no scratching to start the arc. I tried to pass the tig test five years ago, did the best I could, the weld came out nice but failed the die test, they wanted to know if I wanted a do over, after 4 weeks of tigging I had enough, to slow of a process for me plus my good eye sight is not so good as it was 20 years ago. The people who tig weld has what I call raw talent.

I use to have a turn stile cap on my chimney, ran a 1/2" rod 16' down along side the chimney, when I wasn't using the stove I'd turn the lever and no rain came down it.
My new SS pipe chimney I made a fixed cap out a discontinued SS grill panel, have it on double wall SS chimney pipe, it looks like an upside down box above the chimney pipe, around 12"x12" with 2" in sides, couple angle bars clamp to pipe hold it up and those are welded to the cap box.

But I just wonder if a fixed cap degreases draft, not sure but my sove once it gets going it heats great.

 

[BukitCase]

Yeah, this red Krylon was less than a year old, when I went lookin' there were OTHER complaints like mine - we'll see how the Rustoleum does - I think I've seen those trigger things, but my MAIN gripe is that almost NOBODY has a real FAN spray tip on their rattle cans anymore - Krylon DID, then they QUIETLY did away with it and didn't say anything :thumbdown: - only reason I still use their newer paint is that they haven't changed their CAN, just the nozzle - so I'm hoarding the older, GOOD FAN SPRAY nozzles. Each one seems to be good for 4-5 cans before it's shot, and you can actually get a finish that DOESN'T look like you just threw buckets of paint at it...

The Tig/stick machine doesn't do AC, but I'm not really into aluminum or magnesium, the only two common metals you need AC for - also, the Hi Freq on this one is NOT a mechanical spark gap like a lot of 'em, so there's nothing to adjust. Once I get started using it I'll probly end up getting a cooler and a water cooled torch, but not til I get some hood time on it...

When I get to it, my new chimney cap will have the low side (and hinge) on the windy side, should help draw some with the airplane/Bernouli? effect - that salad bowl (it actually WAS one) is stood off high enough so the bottom of it's maybe an inch above the top of the chimney pipe - draws OK, but would've been better if the guy that put that chimney in understood draft; it's 8" ID, shoulda been 6". He also didn't make it TALL enough, but he'd used 30" sections of triple wall so I found 36" sections and replaced 'em - that gained 1-1/2 feet which helped it draw better...

I got sidetracked a little today, remember the "tinker toys" I talked about in post#71?
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...531642-container-weld-shop-build-dscn2875-jpg

Well, here's one use - Front bucket set up for moving full bundles of steel - then rear stabilizer, and a sketch of the (yet to build) insert for rear stabilizer -



My steel supplier delivers on the road, so those 2 hooks sitting in the FEL bucket go in the two upper outside receivers - those and a couple 6' straps and I pick the load, sign and he drives off - but MOST of my driveway is NOT 25' wide, so in order to get the bundle down to the shop (100' driveway) the load needs to be PARALLEL to the tractor - I made a couple of "log bunk" add-ons for 2 of my jack stands, so I can set the bundle on those, then drive up alongside the bundle so those "sidewinder" arms (see pics) go UNDER the load - when both front and rear are in position, I raise the bucket and the stabilizer and I pick up the load LENGTHWISE (BESIDE the TLB.)

That lets me get it down the driveway to the shop area and put at least 3' of the bundle into the container - Then I set the front end of the bundle on one of the car dollies, put a jack stand under the BACK end of the bundle, lower that stabilizer and back out from under - Now I can pick up the back end of the load with the FRONT arm, and as soon as I get it pushed just over halfway into the container I can "pick" the load with the (eventually completed) bridge crane.

Worst exercise I'll get once this is all done is moving a jack stand or two, and getting on/off the tractor a few times. This situation is called "Happy Steve"

For now though, that sketch is all there is til I get some of the current operations done; I just didn't wanna forget my plan so I drew it up while I was still thinking about it... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Well, about 40 posts ago I mentioned getting some self-stick rubber matting from HF to put under the gas bottle on the weld cart - changed my mind (again??!?) and decided to mat the WHOLE FLOOR of the cart for now - if'when I add a deep drawer it won't slide on the bottom ANYWAY, so may as well...

That little glob of white in the pics is a small heater - there were just enough complaints about those 1'x1' rubber tiles not sticking to make me think that those people tried to put 'em on COLD - so I put that little heater on one side, blowing UNDER the floor, let things warm up (from about 42 up to 80+) and left all 4 tiles sitting on the cart floor so they'd soften up - then trimmed with tin snips (paper backing still in place) til each tile fit around stuff, then placed 'em one at a time, weighted each one down with some scrap steel, took about 1-1/2 hours for all the cut/fit/swear action :laughing:

That piece of 1/8"x1" aluminum angle will get cut to fit all the bigger openings first and used as a hold-down - I'll probably clamp each piece in place (vertically) and just use self-drilling screws (horizontally) to act as a hold-down AND a "scuff plate" -

It's still early, might get some of the angle cut before supper... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Must be almost supper time it's 'sposed to be about 22* tomorrow morning, not ideal workin' weather fer wussy ol' farts, so getting those pieces screwed on might not happen til afternoon

Guess I shoulda bought a 5 foot piece of that aluminum angle, except HD only sells 2',3' and 4' pieces. Still tryin' to decide if I even CARE about those 2 small sections... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

" it's 'sposed to be about 22* tomorrow morning, not ideal workin' weather fer wussy ol' farts, so getting those pieces screwed on might not happen til afternoon"

This morning at 18* I went to work and seen some guy walk in the yard with just a T shirt on and a heavy shirt thrown over his shoulder, I was triple layered and then some. That black matting really looks nice, good choice laying it over the whole bottom floor.

 

[BukitCase]

Thanks, I'm likin' it that way too -

Didn't get ANYTHING screwed down today, decided that if I'm EVER gonna get a place to work on stuff I need to just bite the bullet and DO it; so I called my "container guy", he's got a line on some 40' hi-cube containers that're still fully seaworthy, nice doors/seals, etc, for $3k each - he's gonna check 'em out tomorrow, and put a hold on 2 for me.

Then I called my "rock guy" (gal, actually, real nice lady) and I'll get 2 loads of 1-1/2- rock on Monday morning, get just enough of that spread so the truck won't get stuck, and those cans'll get set next to my fence temporarily (til dry ground happens about June) -

Plan is to set those on the flat ground just south of the existing pair of 40's (one being the weld shop) - new ones will go parallel to each other, 40' apart - then when I can afford it I'll pour a 40x40 slab between 'em and put a 14' eave roof/walls/doors in, that'll give me a place tall and wide (and smooth) enough to play with the dump truck, 50' manlift, hoe, tractors, etc... might even get 'em where they're USABLE instead of just more "projects"...

'sposed to be rainy but warmer manana, sounds like a good day for "screwin' ON" instead of "OFF"

I probly got the only wife in the state that'll say "goody" if I tell her those containers are her valentines day present :thumbsup: ...Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Fairly productive day today, weld cart is pretty much as done as it's gonna get for a while -

Got the aluminum angle screwed down, should keep the mat from curling around the edges -



Next, left and right rear view, left and right front view - Notice the "lift cage" also doubles as a "roll bar" to protect the gauges...



Couple closeups of holddown angle...



MM211's ready to go, fresh 12-1/2# spool of .035 L56, tension set, new tip, etc - next I need to get the I beam "upgrade" for the HF crane de-rusto'd enough for primer and paint so I can get THAT assembled and out of my way - not sure how far I'll get on THAT before the 20 yards of rock shows up Monday morning.

I'll spread just enough of the rock to keep the container truck out of trouble - Hopefully the next 2 containers will be here soon after that, but they'll sit off to the side til about may or june (dry weather so I don't end up with my container guy's rollback mired in the back yard )

Supper's here; later... Steve

 

[dragoneggs]

Wow... looking good. Too fancy. See you have the new 211. How are you liking it? I have the 211 transformer. My stand is a modified HF cart to also hold my plasma cutter. A bit top heavy. Might need to go 'balls out' on a stand like you did. :thumbsup:

 

[BukitCase]

Thanks; yeah, probably a teensy bit over the top :laughing: - but every "feature" has a purpose (for ME, anyway) - I needed max portability in a reasonably small footprint, since at times I'll be either trying to lift the whole thing onto a trailer or truck bed, towing it around the property with a tractor or lawn mower, tilting it back onto the big tires for moving over gravel (relatively short distances)... I'm not sure how well it'd work with the older MM211 - I had one, and it's almost TWICE as heavy WITHOUT a spool of wire as the NEW one is, WITH a 12# spool...

Only thing I DON'T like (about EITHER version) is that autoset is too hot (a common complaint) - I just recently learned that (reportedly) the autoset "assumes" you'll be doing FILLET welds, which would explain the "too hot"...

The newer one lets me use a 15' gun - has the down-firing feed and a stronger drive; autoset has a LOT more options including all THREE wire sizes, + flux core, stainless, mild with C25, mild with CO2, and spool gun/aluminum. IOW, nearly everything I DIDN'T like about the OLD mm211, got fixed on the NEW digital one -

They both spec the same (24.5 amp/240 volt) draw at rated output, BUT - the transformer version is NOT recommended for 50 hZ, while the digital version is rated at 50-60 hZ - and I spoke to a Miller tech about generator THD, he claimed the digital version "didn't care" - I hope he's right, 'cause ONE of the "eventual" projects is over 3000 feet of new fencing with welded-in-place H braces every 20-rod roll (330 feet) and my genny is 7kw continuous but NO spec on THD - that project will probably be the ONLY time it sees flux core wire (if I LIVE that long ) but it's possible it'll hafta run on the genny for other indoor projects (my son's garage doesn't even HAVE a 240 outlet so if he ever needs something welded I would probably put both the welder AND the genny on my small trailer to do that)...

"Might need to go 'balls out' on a stand like you did." - Well, ya got a LOT of pics and "features" to pick and choose from - but given the weight of the transformer 211, I think I'd be tempted to do a lower slung, "over-under" setup - the 211 low, but angled up like I did - then the PM45+ above that on a second set of angle "rails" -

Things I watched VERY carefully for, was ZERO interference with side door WITHOUT having to take the welder off the cart, zero interference with air flow, gas connection, power cord, etc - and no metal-to-metal connection between welder and support angles (found some EPDM self-stick weatherstrip at Lowes, goes on BOTH surfaces of ALL the angles) - NO reason ELECTRICALLY, just didn't want scratched up paint on either Miller's creation or MINE

IF you do one, you probably DON't need EVERYTHING I did - like a trailer hitch, maybe not even an adjustable balance picking eye - but the larger wheels and "hand-truckability" is nice, in that it also provides a "roll cage" to protect gauges AND a way to support a dust cover - also, the locking casters are something Miller shoulda thought of on their carts...

Man, now I'm startin' to sound like a freakin' SALESMAN, and there's NO WAY I wanna build MORE of these :laughing: ... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Dang it Mark, now I'm REALLY gonna hafta HURT ya

Your comment on the plasma cranked up my twisted brain (like it NEEDS any help wid dat )

So I went out and measured my PM45 vs. the "dead air space" ABOVE the MM211 - it's do-able, but do I WANNA "do-able" it??!? NFW, but Hmmmmmm.... - Pm45 is NARROW enough it'd fit above the welder WITHOUT interfering with either bottle in/out OR fully opening the mm211's side door; it's "un-tall" enough to NOT stick above the "roll cage", SHORT enough front-to-back to NOT hit the rear vertical OR stick out past the front handle on the MM211 - AND, there's room on the other side for another lead hanger.....

Just WALK AWAY Steve, go look at the purty I beam that actually NEEDS your attention - big heavy grinders and wire cup brushes can be FUN; FUN, I tell ya

It's working; MAYBE... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

Didn't get ANYTHING screwed down today, decided that if I'm EVER gonna get a place to work on stuff I need to just bite the bullet and DO it; so I called my "container guy", he's got a line on some 40' hi-cube containers that're still fully seaworthy, nice doors/seals, etc, for $3k each - he's gonna check 'em out tomorrow, and put a hold on 2 for me.

I probly got the only wife in the state that'll say "goody" if I tell her those containers are her valentines day present :thumbsup: ...Steve

I'm getting the idea that you live in Container City, after the containers are in place we need you to get your drone out with your go-pro camera and get some areall pictures. And to think all I got my wife for valentine's day was some bite size Reese's Peanut butter cups, but they was in a heart shape container.

I give your weld cart Two Thumbs up and I do think you will want a roll out draw above the weld helmet sometime.

 

[BukitCase]

No drone or gopro (yet) - with the "neighbors" I got on ONE side, I'd be too tempted to include a 7.62 option -

Heart-shaped boxes are better than heart-shaped candy; the box is still there as a reminder after the candy's long gone - brownie points last longer that way - my wife knows the containers will eventually get my stuff out of HER vision (AND more secure from the sub-trailer trash next door...)

Thanks for the :thumbsup::thumbsup: Yup, still gonna do a drawer, probly two - big one on bottom for hood/gloves/leathers, smaller one (with a removable divider) for tips, couple pliers, bottle wrench...

If I decide the container's the best place for the plasma, I'll probly do a clamp-on type shelf (above the MIG) with tiedowns - hate to start over on the paint job

Also, that'd keep the clutter down, gonna be kind of snug in there anyway... Steve