Nice job! Yeah we all buy welders so we can build stuff for cheaper. Rarely is it ever cheaper in the end tho [emoji16] However skid steer and loader attachments are crazily overpriced. I’ve built a couple that were actually money savers. My latest was a custom pusher/rake for scraping out and clea...

That is a neat and handy looking cart. Little projects like that are the kind of simple things I'm beginning to love owning a welder for and wonder how I got along without one for so long. I've got a garden cart from Tractor Supply that has been used way beyond paying back its $90 cost. I think som...

Thanks guys, I'm glad it's done. It's tractor repair season... I can't be seen having fun with my new welder when I'm supposed to be rebuilding the rear end in this:

This was a fun one. I bought a multi-process machine for the farm (Lincoln 210MP) and wanted to get to know real mig welding with this project (.030 solid wire, C25 gas). I'm used to stick welding and initially I had trouble with my mig welds piling up and not wetting in well, but I think I'm gettin...

Hi all, hope everyone's been well. Slow day today so I thought I would pop in and post a couple farm projects. :? I have a toolbox I lug around to work on small tractors around the farm - mostly for tune-ups and minor fixes. I used to wheel it around on an old power washer frame (see below), but it ...

You guys are awesome, I appreciate all the tips and info. I got nicely started on the fixes this weekend. Dragged a nice 4" tube out of the junk pile and stuffed it between the loader arms. I cut the end plate off and found it was 5/16" wall thickness. Couldn't ask for a better piece :D ht...

BillM wrote:Nice step. Teach them all you can now. They grow up to quick.

Thanks, Bill! You're not kidding - they're growing like weeds. It's hard to keep up

That was kind of my point about the plug welds. In my opinion , you are not nuts to add that stifferner. Sorry to hear about your back. I just went through the same damn thing. Thank God for my acupuncturist! Thanks - I seem to be on a 2 year cycle. Good for a couple years, then out of nowhere I bu...

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. Lots to ponder. Be relieved you have the skills to fix it and continue using it I hope I do… I sure as hell don’t have any money for new equipment :roll: I've re-injured my back so I've been laying low, which has given me time to think. I got looking at loader desi...

Thanks for all the comments, guys - this is all really helpful. I’ll stick with 7018. The best I can figure is that the cracks happen when the bucket shifts violently from side to side. We mostly move round bales with a bale spear attached to the bucket (which has suffered too), and it’s so far out ...

Hi All – I've really been enjoying the forum and I'm blown away by the expertise here. If anyone has a few minutes, I'm looking for a sanity check on my repair technique. First, a look at the cracks I usually see on our old farm equipment (this front end loader is a good example - I think it's mostl...

Aha, that makes sense. X's I can do. If I had to do this, I'd probably need some LSD to get in the zone:



The internet is a strange and marvelous place to learn about new things.

Ha! I think you’re right on the money with your Massey tractor combinations. We bought the gasser hoping for easier starts in the winter. We still use the old Allis and Farmalls from the 40’s and 50’s for odd jobs in the summer just because they’re paid for and do certain things really well. We rais...

For the type of work you are doing you wouldn’t notice any difference. Penetration and strength will be the same. Thanks, Coldman, I'm glad to hear it. I was starting to feel a little buyer's remorse over this new machine. I do appreciate it's portability though. I've already been up 12' on a ladde...

Thanks for the feedback, Brian! A hinged design with a shear bolt would be brilliant. :shock: When I dug that first trench I hit a root about 3" in diameter and about sh!t my pants. What you said about a replaceable triangular wear bar on the leg makes a lot of sense. I could easily add a piece...

Just for something new to look at, here’s another farm project I kept some pictures of. I had some time last summer to make a 3-point middle buster for digging potatoes. Digging potatoes by hand is about as fun as amateur eyeball surgery, so I was desperate for an escape plan. Also, I’d seen how che...

MinnesotaDave wrote:Some inverter machines don't run 6010 very well. But they run 6011 just fine.

Bummer Will I be missing out in life if I only ever run 6011? Does 6010 have any meaningful advantages over 6011?

LtBadd wrote:cute kids

do you think he'll grow into those gloves, or wear them out first?

when I let him wear his own gloves he welds better than me. That’s hard on a man.

Right? All his little brain does is come up with things to make.

Actually, that's not true... his little brain also comes up with stuff for ME to make

As partial as I am to that stool... I have to agree with tungstendipper

Those pics are from a couple of years ago, my son has moved on a little since being hired as my inspector

Thanks CJ! I'm on a mission to identify and kick my bad habits (like not cleaning, bad rod angle, and others I'm probably not even aware of), so I appreciate the tip.

This was a fun little project to use up some shop scraps. One of the rare times it's safe to use my little 115v flux core mig machine :? https://i.imgur.com/dzrBGAi.jpg https://i.imgur.com/gUhigE1.jpg https://i.imgur.com/jeyoa3E.jpg Weight check, for safety :lol: https://i.imgur.com/TJPS4OU.jpg http...

Hi all, new member here. I’ve always just welded here on the farm, but thought I’d start posting some of my projects from over the years. I’d appreciate any tips, seeing how I’ve never been properly educated on the matter :D Last week I picked up a Hobart 210i DC stick welder and I’ve been seeing wh...

Thanks Bruce, I appreciate the offer! I'd love to try TIG someday. Just need to find something thinner than 1/4" to weld around here

Hi All! I’ve been welding things around the farm for 15 or 20 years, mostly with a trusty Lincoln AC-180-S buzz box. My approach has always been to lay down enough metal and gussets so the “thing” will stop breaking when I drag it through the dirt, and experience has been my primary teacher (along w...