SSQA Plate

[AlbanySamurai]

Got a plate. Trying to figure out what to use it for.

 

[chim]

That looks fairly heavy. Is it 3/8"? First one I got is now part of an 8' power angle snow plow. Found a very heavy QA frame cheap on Craigslist that became a brush fork. They make a great starting point for lots of stuff.

 

[AlbanySamurai]

It’s 5/16”. Very solid 81lbs. Trying to find a cheap multiprocess plasma cutter/welder and cutting off any excess. Snow plow would be an option. Maybe a platform to transport tools or stuff. 2” hitch would be useful. I have some clamp on pallet forks but I will probably buy some real pallet fork QA. I probably can’t make ones as good.

 

[chim]

Way back I bought a Millermatic 175. It's a 240V machine that will run either solid or flux core wire by swapping polarity and drive rollers. Solid wire and C25 make pretty welds, but most of the time it gets used outdoors. For that I use flux core. Recently I've been trying to avoid the temptation to buy an inverter welder. It would be fun to have one, but the Miller does a great job on everything. At less than 1/2 the price of a decent MIG welder the inverter welder would be a nice piece of equipment.

My plasma cutter is a Hypertherm Powermax30 Air. Not exactly cheap, but nice and handy. Had a project at church that involved slicing stainless in place. With the 120V plug and a good exhaust fan (hexavalent chromium not good to inhale) the job was a piece of cake. I don't do real heavy work, so the dual voltage and self-contained compressor make it ideal for me.

 

[metalbender]

Is this a contest? Put me in for a stump bucket. On my list of things to build. Guess it depends on your available fab equipment what your oprions are. Nice position to be in.

 

[Xfaxman]

How about lift pole or loader boom:

 

[k0ua]

Convert an old pin on bucket to SSQA to have an additional "beater" bucket . The pin on buckets are a dime a dozen at tractor dealers, as people, after the fact convert their tractors to SSQA and most buy a new bucket, the dealers take the pin on buckets in on trade and throw them in the weeds at the back of the lot or sell them for scrap steel. They offered me $100 for mine on trade in, mostly as a courtesy. I said that I would just keep it. I converted it to SSQA and now have a second smaller "beater" bucket. It is handy at times.

 

[BlueKnife]

I have some clamp on pallet forks but I will probably buy some real pallet fork QA. I probably can’t make ones as good.

Depends what you want them to do. My forks are much more versatile that any commercial set I've seen. Stronger frame, multiple chain hooks positioned to pull or rig things off of it, strong cross bar across the top to push or pull with. Obviously the end result and whether or not it'd be better than a commercial set would all depend on your welding and fabrication skills.

 

[AlbanySamurai]

Way back I bought a Millermatic 175. It's a 240V machine that will run either solid or flux core wire by swapping polarity and drive rollers. Solid wire and C25 make pretty welds, but most of the time it gets used outdoors. For that I use flux core. Recently I've been trying to avoid the temptation to buy an inverter welder. It would be fun to have one, but the Miller does a great job on everything. At less than 1/2 the price of a decent MIG welder the inverter welder would be a nice piece of equipment.

My plasma cutter is a Hypertherm Powermax30 Air. Not exactly cheap, but nice and handy. Had a project at church that involved slicing stainless in place. With the 120V plug and a good exhaust fan (hexavalent chromium not good to inhale) the job was a piece of cake. I don't do real heavy work, so the dual voltage and self-contained compressor make it ideal for me.

I am an absolute beginner. I did some small projects with a harbor freight 90 amp flux core welder. I would like to learn and do things on my own. I don’t need high end and expensive tools that I wont use enough. I was looking at these on amazon that gets good reviews.

PrimeWeld 3-in-1 50 Amp Plasma Cutter, 200 Amp TIG Welder and 200 Amp Stick Welder - Welding and Cutting Combo, Mobile Welding Machine, Portable Plasma Cutter, Multipurpose Welder and Cutter, CT-520D https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014ECTCB2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YiNYEbCY9V8FQ


Lotos LTPDC2000D Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter Tig Welder and Stick Welder 3 in 1 Combo Welding Machine,½ Inch Clean Cut,Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DO7VDM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AmNYEbVTW9G5Q

For the price, maybe they would serve my needs. Opinions are appreciated. Thank you!

 

[AlbanySamurai]

How about lift pole or loader boom:

View attachment 656926 View attachment 656927

Thank you! That would be incredibly useful! I can see moving logs and it would be so much safer too! Its like having a crane!

 

[AlbanySamurai]

Convert an old pin on bucket to SSQA to have an additional "beater" bucket . The pin on buckets are a dime a dozen at tractor dealers, as people, after the fact convert their tractors to SSQA and most buy a new bucket, the dealers take the pin on buckets in on trade and throw them in the weeds at the back of the lot or sell them for scrap steel. They offered me $100 for mine on trade in, mostly as a courtesy. I said that I would just keep it. I converted it to SSQA and now have a second smaller "beater" bucket. It is handy at times.

I was totally thinking that. Ended up trading my pin on for $150 for a discounted used back blade ($300 cash out the door for 5’). I didn’t think my skill was up to the task for this project. I ended up buying a new bucket when i converted to ssqa. The bucket I got is much better than the factory one though, so I am happy.

 

[AlbanySamurai]

Depends what you want them to do. My forks are much more versatile that any commercial set I've seen. Stronger frame, multiple chain hooks positioned to pull or rig things off of it, strong cross bar across the top to push or pull with. Obviously the end result and whether or not it'd be better than a commercial set would all depend on your welding and fabrication skills.

I would love to see some pics. I have very little fabrication skills at this point but I am very interested in learning. I will try to take a class once they are offered again. Perhaps get someone to teach me as I practice on smaller projects.

 

[GeneV]

I am an absolute beginner. I did some small projects with a harbor freight 90 amp flux core welder. I would like to learn and do things on my own. I don稚 need high end and expensive tools that I wont use enough. I was looking at these on amazon that gets good reviews.

PrimeWeld 3-in-1 50 Amp Plasma Cutter, 200 Amp TIG Welder and 200 Amp Stick Welder - Welding and Cutting Combo, Mobile Welding Machine, Portable Plasma Cutter, Multipurpose Welder and Cutter, CT-520D https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014ECTCB2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YiNYEbCY9V8FQ


Lotos LTPDC2000D Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter Tig Welder and Stick Welder 3 in 1 Combo Welding Machine,ｽ Inch Clean Cut,Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DO7VDM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AmNYEbVTW9G5Q

For the price, maybe they would serve my needs. Opinions are appreciated. Thank you!

Ha, I'm absolutely in same boat as you, got a 90 amp fcaw, and was looking at both the primeweld and lotos 3-in-1's for the future. One thing that kinda put me off, I was watching youtube reviews of them, saw somebody complaining that the primeweld works out well as a plasma cutter and does ok with tig, but he wasn't too happy with it as a stick welder.

 

[chim]

I am an absolute beginner. I did some small projects with a harbor freight 90 amp flux core welder. I would like to learn and do things on my own. I don稚 need high end and expensive tools that I wont use enough. I was looking at these on amazon that gets good reviews.

PrimeWeld 3-in-1 50 Amp Plasma Cutter, 200 Amp TIG Welder and 200 Amp Stick Welder - Welding and Cutting Combo, Mobile Welding Machine, Portable Plasma Cutter, Multipurpose Welder and Cutter, CT-520D PrimeWeld 3-in-1 5 Amp Plasma Cutter, 2 Amp TIG Welder and 2 Amp Stick Welder - Welding and Cutting Combo, Mobile Welding Machine, Portable Plasma Cutter, Multipurpose Welder and Cutter, CT-52D: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific


Lotos LTPDC2000D Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter Tig Welder and Stick Welder 3 in 1 Combo Welding Machine,ｽ Inch Clean Cut,Brown Lotos LTPDC2D Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter Tig Welder and Stick Welder 3 in 1 Combo Welding Machine, 1/2 Inch Clean Cut, Brown: Power Plasma Cutters: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

For the price, maybe they would serve my needs. Opinions are appreciated. Thank you!

Those do look interesting and the plasma cutter has more cutting thickness capability than my Hypertherm. I don't really know much at all about them. The first Amazon review (and a 5 star review at that) starts out by saying the first machine he received didn't work?

I do have an itch for a stick welder that in all honesty I don't really need. Been waffling between an AC and a DC machine. One day it's look at Craigslist for an old tombstone. Next day is an inverter from Harbor freight. Then check with Airgas for pricing on a Miller 160A Thunderbolt. I'm overthinking this.

 

[MF RED in MT]

How about lift pole or loader boom:

View attachment 656926 View attachment 656927

I do not have a SSQA, but I built a tooth bar, and a set of brush forks to attach inside of my bucket.

I can add my jib attachment to either one, and have used it to set the wife's greenhouse framed walls from the garage floor to the greenhouse.

KC

 

[DK35vince]

Convert an old pin on bucket to SSQA to have an additional "beater" bucket . The pin on buckets are a dime a dozen at tractor dealers, as people, after the fact convert their tractors to SSQA and most buy a new bucket, the dealers take the pin on buckets in on trade and throw them in the weeds at the back of the lot or sell them for scrap steel. They offered me $100 for mine on trade in, mostly as a courtesy. I said that I would just keep it. I converted it to SSQA and now have a second smaller "beater" bucket. It is handy at times.

I have 2 SSQA buckets.
The 72" bucket is for general use, and the 60" bucket has a tooth bar mounted for the harder digging.

 

[BlueKnife]

I would love to see some pics. I have very little fabrication skills at this point but I am very interested in learning.

I'll get one tomorrow if I remember.

 

[BlueKnife]

I would love to see some pics.

 

[k0ua]

Those do look interesting and the plasma cutter has more cutting thickness capability than my Hypertherm. I don't really know much at all about them. The first Amazon review (and a 5 star review at that) starts out by saying the first machine he received didn't work?

I do have an itch for a stick welder that in all honesty I don't really need. Been waffling between an AC and a DC machine. One day it's look at Craigslist for an old tombstone. Next day is an inverter from Harbor freight. Then check with Airgas for pricing on a Miller 160A Thunderbolt. I'm overthinking this.

Buy and everlast DC stick machine and don't look back... The Everlast rep is an advertiser on this board and will give you a TBN discount. least he did for me.

 

[k0ua]

I have 2 SSQA buckets.
The 72" bucket is for general use, and the 60" bucket has a tooth bar mounted for the harder digging.

Yep...:thumbsup: