I have built trusses like that, I build in prestress camber to compensate for loaded girders or trusses. Crown up, in other words. As stated above, no copes needed. 2" 'pipe' would have an ID of roughly 2" and an OD of around 2-3/8". 3/4 sched 40 would have an OD of just over an inch....

There was enought material left at the top of the arc that he could have brought it around some, maybe not to the tangent points. but enought to make it look better. I could still see where to cheat that some before it's welded. I get what you are saying, though. I built a project recently where I ...

Sometimes I will exaggerate a cut to give it the essence of a cope. Larger pipes I will cope so to minimize heat fatigue on the joint. I have repaired numerous instances where they followed a cope line only to end up with half a wall thickness of weld. The point so sharp that they had to forego pene...

Tubing is different than sched 40. And only with aluminum. After welding this stuff every day, you get used to being able to instantly focus the heat on the main pipe or the heavier part of the joint instead of cut edges. I have tried it both ways with AC on aluminum. You can't tell the difference a...

I say that because if I had to notch every little part that goes into one of my typical projects, I would starve slap to death. Many people don't know that you don't have to fish mouth everything. Especially with aluminum. As a matter of fact, people who normally don't weld pipe or tube, will be inc...

I noticed that as well but I also noticed it looked like he was using drops of material. The compressor looks dated. Perhaps the cost prohibited cutting into a larger piece, or purchasing material for the job.

The rigging guy at our shop was always the designated 'holder.' I rarely had to use him and he would comment how machines were taking his job. Last place I worked, the owner was one of those types that just had to be useful. A real mover and shaker type. Him helping was just bad news. He wasn't a fa...

There is often times where I am having to balance a pipe nipple on another pipe at odd angles. I actually have a bunch of different kinds of third hands of sorts. I have been caught using string and masking tape as well and clamps clamped to other clamps. The practice used to be to get someone else ...

If you can afford it, go for it. But, if you are new to TIG welding I think it better to learn without it, with tungsten exposure closer to the cup, especially with aluminum. I have used both and it really is of no benefit to my work. I find it better to use a more compact setup, and then customize ...

Agreed. Also why this forum seemed like a good place for this topic. I like the answers I have gotten.

You do have a respectable job and you do respectable work. Half of why I follow your threads here. It's obvious that you and the company you work for aren't just trying to get over. My trade used to be the same way when the "old money" was paying for it. It wasn't uncommon for a customer t...

Has anyone noticed the quality of manufacturing as of late in this country? It's not just the actual offshore jobs they are trying to return here, but the lesser import quality and wages as well. They are basically adhering to the walmartification of America. If it looks like the real thing from 50 ...

A disposable razor can snag metal slivers as well.

You either need a crook stand, or clamp the short leg down to something substantial and just tweak it by pulling on the long one. 3/16 will move really easy, especially while it's still hot. This way, two of your corners are square. After that, alternately weld the remaining two corners and take you...

I charge enough to make building a new one a better option. Why? Because of the hazmat clause with our liability insurance and workman's comp. If they found out we were welding gasoline tanks, our rates would go thru the roof no matter how diligent we were with the cleaning. I weld a lot of open gas...

Welcome to the forum. I used my 20.00, school issue, Fibre-Metal hood for 25 years. Only has a 4" x 2" lens but I never needed more than that and the cheater lens fits right in there. It was one of the most leak free hoods I had ever used. Just butt ugly is all, but so was E.T., and all th...

Welcome to the forum, Spokesy.

Anyway, I shouldn't have any problem selling these on e-bay. There is an older fellow up the street from me who collects all the bicycles/parts that people throw away these days. He refurbs them to better than new functionally, and then sets the fleet of them up in his driveway. No for sale sign, n...

Welcome to the forum Fat Bob. Don't be afraid to post projects in the project section. Many of us like to live vicariously thru others handy work.

Tampa, FL. I will be from two places soon. Southern NJ., and likely Tampa when it gets too cold up there. I may come back to do some boat projects in between. Does this make me a welding Gypsy?

Welcome to the forum.

The Easter bunny is not real??? Hope Santa is not watching you two!

Very handy indeed. Nice looking weld to boot.

Interesting places your welding takes you on the show biz side of things. That's pretty cool, actually. Do you get to interact with any of the stars? From my experience, that is not a bad scene to be working in as they typically pay top dollar and extra for what seems as typical, unrealistic time co...