Welding Tips and Tricks

Here's a small welding fixture I made a while ago.
Comes handy for small stuff that needs welding in different positions.

Made two plates from 2mm sheet metal that squeeze a trailer ball using an excentric lever. The table can be rotated 360 degrees and tilted 30-35 degrees.

Very creative and functional.

Len

I like that a lot, might have to steal that idea one day!
-Jonathan

Very clever, and a lot more compact than this one:
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?37 ... &p=3869381

That's the second very creative use I've seen for a trailer ball. The other is adjustable feet for a heavy welding table - I seem to recall Kevin Caron came up with that one, sourcing them from a local junk yard.

Cheers,
Richard

AndersK - that is the nicest one I've seen so far

Who's dimple dies are you using?

Thanks guys.

Good ideas are meant for stealing, copy at will
Here's more detailed pics of the locking mechanism. Easy to make without a lathe.
The bowling ball version probably handle heavier pieces. I like that idea too.

The dimple dies are my own. I make them from wood or aluminum with a holesaw and a router
Some examples: They can be made in various shape I usually use them on aluminum but they work for steel too.
For the fixture I made it from oak that held for these two but ended in the bin after that abuse, 2mm is tough

Anders,

I'd like to hear more about these dimple dies... How do you use them? I gather the routed piece is the back form; is there a mirror piece for the top, or is the round plug used? Arbor press or hydraulic ram? The work is very clean, and certainly doesn't look hammered.

Seeing these kinds of techniques gets me thinking in new directions - it's great!

Cheers,
Richard

Sorry for late reply Richard but I didnt have any photos so I went out today to get some.

You are right, the routed part is the back side but there is no need for a mirror part.


In this case I will use a form with a 32 mm hole and 3 mm rad. Suitable holesaw for this is 25 mm. Center the die using the plug by either eye-balling it or use the holesaw There are several ways to work with the die.
One way is to use a "base ball bat" mallet but then the die has to be clamped to the workpiece to prevent movement
Place the mallet in the hole and hit it with another mallet. This will avoid getting tooling marks and denting he metal. If needed to get the edges to contact fully, place a round stock and hit it as my finger points. Here is the result This can be time consuming and difficult so if you have a press and a steel ball that's much easier A few made

Now that is inventive lol I like it!

I think creating new results from old ideas DEFINES genious.

Brilliant!

Anders,

Thanks a bunch for the explanation and the photos. Those are some very creative techniques, especially the baseball bat.

I have access to a small but hefty 55-ton hydraulic press, and I continue to come up with new ways I might use it. The steel ball idea is also excellent. Now if I can just remember these cool tricks when I have the need!

Cheers,
Richard

I agree this is great information, thanks for sharing!

do you do a lot of sheet metal fab?
craig

motox wrote:do you do a lot of sheet metal fab?
craig

When I have the time I try to.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing