Welding Tips and Tricks

Well, first post on this forum, might as well introduce myself with some pictures.

I'm a beginner hobby welder and my mojo is to always practice on something that is useful. My first project was with a borrowed 120V flux core welder to build myself a work bench a year and a half ago. This led to me falling in love with welding and buying my own setup.
Once I got my new welder, I needed a rack for my steel stock, so made some small wall racks for it.
Then, I had to of course buy a band saw... and build a vertical portaband stand...
And then I was set to weld anything I could get my hands on.

A shock bleeding reservoir stand... Night stand tables from reclaimed oak tops... A console table from the same oak top and my old 26in MTB wheels. My first aluminum project - a tuna fishing rod rack.
And finally a new welding cart, inspired by weldmonger himself.

deni822, welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the forum
Nice fab work!

Thanks guys. Looking forward to learning from you all.

Nice work! Love the tables!

good stuff!

Cool stuff! Great job!

Nice work. How did you weld the aluminum?

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Simclardy wrote:Nice work. How did you weld the aluminum?

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Thanks guys.

Tig'ed it with the SW200. And finally installed it on my father in-laws blue fin tuna boat this past week.

I am suspect of the strength of those rod holders. Typically, they're made form schedule 40 and fully welded down their sides. I couldn't see welds more than tacks at top and bottom. If they're only for use while running, then no big deal. But if your FIL trolls those reels from those holders, you could have a serious problem on your hand if they break and his $1,000 saltwater rig goes for a swim in the Atlantic...

Just saying-

cj737 wrote:I am suspect of the strength of those rod holders. Typically, they're made form schedule 40 and fully welded down their sides. I couldn't see welds more than tacks at top and bottom. If they're only for use while running, then no big deal. But if your FIL trolls those reels from those holders, you could have a serious problem on your hand if they break and his $1,000 saltwater rig goes for a swim in the Atlantic...

Just saying-

No trolling, just storage. No rack mounted to a fiberglass lip would hold an 800lb tuna...

Finished another beginner project this weekend. Pretty happy how it turned out and my MIG technique is getting much better. There is no replacement for burning wire to get better that's for sure. Now we can creep on neigbours in style...

Just curious if the table tops are made from oak van truck flooring? I have done work in a local plant that manufactures it and have heard of people finishing it but have never seen the end results. Whatever you used it all turned out very nice.

homeboy wrote:Just curious if the table tops are made from oak van truck flooring? I have done work in a local plant that manufactures it and have heard of people finishing it but have never seen the end results. Whatever you used it all turned out very nice.

No, I found some cheesy really old 70's or 80's coffee tables and just refinished and re-purposed them to these.

Great looking bench. I think you've just given me an idea.

Thanks Tbaugh. Glad to give others ideas. I got this bench design and idea from someone else as well.

Looks great Deni, I like your work bench design. And that chair is very kool.

Pete

pgk wrote:Looks great Deni, I like your work bench design. And that chair is very kool.

Pete

Thanks Pete. Haven't been on here in a while, so just saw your post.

Cheers.

Another beginner project finished. Posting to give some other beginners more project ideas.

Window well cover with escape hatch so the kiddos and doggos don't plunge into the pungie sticks.

Looks real good deni882

Thanks Richard.

Finally finished a pirate chest that’s been a work in progress for a few months. Mild steel mig and tig welded with a black oxide finish and oak. Name tag was silicon bronze on mild steel.

And, here is one from last winter. A kitchen helper. 1in tubing and walnut scraps.

deni822 wrote:And, here is one from last winter. A kitchen helper. 1in tubing and walnut scraps.

Just make sure that "helper" can't reach the liquor cabinet standing atop your handsome work

Time to start marking the bottles...