Oops, I think I killed my bale spike

[Eric Salop]

Although I'm keen to learn, my arc welding skills are still very limited, so this bale spike has been taxing me to my limit and then some. The old MIG welds are now cut out and ground off and I have a new bottom piece, made by cutting out the middle section of the old rectangular tubing and then butt welding a 5 inch length of thicker walled tubing onto each end.

Today I got on with the thing I had been dreading - welding the bale spike sleeves on. I struggle at the best of times welding round tube onto a flat surface and I feared with heat distortion, I would not be able to keep the spikes parallel and level. I've been taking it very steady and kept re-checking everything was in line.



Just hope these novice welds will hold up when I get it back together.

 

[Eric Salop]

I think I would still put an angled brace in the corner. If you are like me you go way passed the limit of your equipment. So brace the heck out of it the first time. I have a saying. Do it right not twice.

:thumbsup:

 

[Egon]

Looking good.

 

[k0ua]

Ain't nothing wrong with your welding skills. I would put the little angle brace in there too. It would only take a few minutes and would make things much stronger.

 

[4570Man]

Those welds look fine to me. I would add some reinforcements though. Here's how I would do it.

 

[mrmikey]

Nothing wrong with your welding, looks better than somepeoples that call themselves a weldor......Mike

 

[txndncowboy]

Nothing wrong with your welding, looks better than somepeoples that call themselves a weldor......Mike

Or some of us that glob weld. Self taught isn't the best but gets the job done. I still can't weld upside down under something though. But I do agree the skills here are better than many that do call themselves welders. I'm not one. I say I'm a fairly smooth glob welder. Took me for ever to learn penetration was key. That's about the time things started looking smoother too. Still learning here. I break too many things to go running to a welder so had to learn. My stuff stops breaking now but the need for better hydraulic pump because of extra weight might be a factor.

 

[Eric Salop]

I need to move bales tomorrow, so I took time today to finish the modifications.




Many thanks for all the great ideas and support you have given me - much appreciated.

 

[k0ua]

I need to move bales tomorrow, so I took time today to finish the modifications.

View attachment 491781 View attachment 491782


Many thanks for all the great ideas and support you have given me - much appreciated.

Looks great! That is many times stronger than it was.:thumbsup:

 

[Egon]

Looking good.