Welding Tips and Tricks

So I bought a Ram ProMaster high roof that I will turn into a mobile shop for my own projects. Since it is an enclosed van, I chose brazing for a welding process because I looked at TIG off of an inverter and it looked like I would need too many deep cycle batteries. At home, I have a 220V AC/DC TIG/stick machine and no O/A setup. So this van will only be for brazing, cutting, grinding and drilling.

Ryobi has the ONE+ system which gets me large https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/ ... ss-grinder and small https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/ ... le-grinder grinders, drill https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/ ... -drill_797, impact driver https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/ ... act-driver, work light https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/ ... work-light and fan https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/ ... hybrid-fan, all charged by the van's DC charger https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/ ... le-grinder. The light and fan look pretty wimpy; I might need two of each. I'm also not sure if that drill is the best ONE+ drill for drilling steel.

I won't have a computer, so I am trying to do all of this with no 110V power.

I have pulled the trigger on the van, but I don't yet have any of the tools. I will be renting cylinders as I will be thousands of miles from home in the Ohio winter.

I plan to braze the metal workbench. It will contour to the lines of the van, and I will make the bench as long as I can. At home, my workbench is 24" deep which I find too shallow. My welding table is 30" deep which is always deep enough for me. I am thinking 3/16" steel plate for the work surface.

My immediate concern is air quality! I guess that I will be wearing a respirator the whole time that I am working. This van does not have either an extended wheelbase or an extension. It is just a regular length van. Hopefully, fans can solve this problem.

My other concern is spraying sparks and the welding flame. I will have to put up some fire proof fabric or steel sheet pretty much everywhere.

I'm not sure how I will blow out all of the steel dust. Maybe with this https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/ ... compressor.

I was thinking about putting up some protective thick steel plates on two sides of the O/A cylinders in case the worst happens, but I will be using spark back arrestors so that ought not come up.

Here is my tentative floor plan, which is approximately to scale. Safety has to be at the forefront here, thinking of the acetone, rags, cylinders and air quality, even working with all of the doors open.

This is what the inside of the van looks like; it was obviously a delivery truck. It has no rear windows. Even though I will be in a cold place, the rear and side doors will be open while I am working in order to maximize air quality.

I will upload a picture when I am done converting it to a mobile brazing rig.

Anybody who wants to come to Troy, OH approximately 1/20/19 can have the shelves (including the support columns, but not the walls or mat) for free. My cell number is (707)293-8973.

I would consider placing the bench to the rear over the wheel well so no floor space is wasted and then you can place a welding curtain between the bench and the forward area where I assume your tool storage will be you can always make a vice that slides out the back to do grinding only outside

If anybody has any ideas on how to do things differently, particularly with regard to safety, I would appreciate it.

I want to make the largest effort possible in order to eliminate the possibility of explosion, fire or health problems due to poor air quality.

I was talking to a friend today that has some Ryobi ONE+ tools. He says that they are okay, but he thought that I should use LED lights and/or a headlamp. I am trying to do everything that I can with the ONE+ tools, so I will still be looking to those for all of my lighting needs.

My friend suggested daisy chained strips of LED lights tapped into the dome lamp at the rear of the vehicle, but I won't do this unless the ONE+ lighting is inadequate.

A rechargeable headlamp would work if I could charge it in the 12V car charger, but I could not find one. Having no 110V, I would have to use AAA batteries.

So the van deal fell through due to CA emissions on an out of state van. Back to the drawing board...

Trailer.

Move out of Ca.

LtBadd wrote:Move out of Ca.

And take your trailer and new welder with ya!

LtBadd wrote:Move out of Ca.

It would be stupid to leave my job. I have to stay until I am 65 (12 1/2 more years). But then I'd be crazy to stay here--the housing prices are completely unaffordable!

LtBadd wrote:Move out of Ca.

It would be stupid to leave my job. I have to stay until I am 65 (12 1/2 more years). But then I'd be crazy to stay here--the housing prices are completely unaffordable!