Silverado custom bumper

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I've sat back and read tons of forms on here and stole some great ideas. I decided to give it's shot for myself, my bumper finally rusted away. Everything was done with a chop saw, angle grinder with a cutting, grinding and flap disk. And a 110 volt Lincoln. 20ft of 3/16 x6 in, 20 ft of 3/16 x2 in, and 1/4 plate for the mounting brackets. Let me know what you think!Sent from my XT907 using TapatalkLast edited by Roubo8895; 02-25-2014 at 08:53 PM.
Reply:Which end, front or rear?
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895I've sat back and read tons of forms on here and stole some great ideas. I decided to give it's shot for myself, my bumper finally rusted away. Everything was done with a chop saw, angle grinder with a cutting, grinding and flap disk. And a 110 volt Lincoln. 20ft of 3/16 x6 in, 20 ft of 3/16 x2 in, and 1/4 plate for the mounting brackets. Let me know what you think!Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:I like what I'm seeing...
Reply:Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:i like the chamfered (spelling?) corner. nice.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:It looks great!I have been putting off my front bumper build after it got hooked at work by a customer.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Looking good! plate bumpers are a ton of work! and they evolve as the job goes on! keep  up the good work'14 HTP invertig 221Thermal Arc 201ts'15 HTP 2400'13 Hypertherm Powermax 30Esab 875Esab 251Clark Metal Servicespecializing in stainless steel exhaust systems
Reply:They are very hard! The angles kicked my ***.. I finally gave up on the math part and started to cut and fit with card board haha. At some point I'm putting some round LED lights and weld on D-rings on the bumperSent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:I hope those D rings are for decoration only. If you put them on with a 120 V MIG, then they aren't going to stand up to much pulling force.In the middle picture of post #6, where is the cab of your truck?Last edited by Bistineau; 02-27-2014 at 07:32 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895They are very hard! The angles kicked my ***.. I finally gave up on the math part and started to cut and fit with card board haha. At some point I'm putting some round LED lights and weld on D-rings on the bumperSent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveI like the bumper - don't fret over the math, I have a degree in math and would have just eyeballed the parts and cut cardboard for the bumper as well. Bumpers are not too critical on measurements.More important that both sides are symmetric for my eyes
Reply:Looking good. If you cant fix it with a hammer, it must be an electrical problem."Boy, everyone starts with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before the bag of luck is empty."-Grandad circa 1990ish
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895Do you know how to figure out those kinds of angles? Is it a formula or just knowing how to measure themSent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauI hope those D rings are for decoration only. If you put them on with a 120 V MIG, then they aren't going to stand up to much pulling force.In the middle picture of post #6, where is the cab of your truck?
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895Lmao! It was about 5degrees here in new Hampshire... And my garage isn't big enough... So I parked half the truck out and blocked of the sides and bottom. It held about 50 degrees ask day with a wood stove. And I'm not doing the finish welding with the 110v. I'm using the welder at my night class. Either tig(depends on how good I can make it look.) Or the big mig we haveSent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauThat sounds mo bettah on the finish welding. For a little bit, I was beginning to think this was a trailer made from a pick up bed from the picture I was seeing. Make sure to paint it out in the cold so the paint will freeze dry for a durable finish.
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895What kind of paint? I have never heard of paint holding up when done in the coldSent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveI use Ice Blue from Walmart when painting below freezing...three ounces of Peak antifreeze per gallon...
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895I have never heard of that
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveI use Ice Blue from Walmart when painting below freezing...three ounces of Peak antifreeze per gallon...
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveSeems as reasonable as you believing Bistineau
Reply:I'll stick with making the bumpers.. Not painting them Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:if you are worried about penetration with the 110 welder, preheat your weld area with a torch b4 you weld it.'14 HTP invertig 221Thermal Arc 201ts'15 HTP 2400'13 Hypertherm Powermax 30Esab 875Esab 251Clark Metal Servicespecializing in stainless steel exhaust systemsOriginally Posted by BistineauIt's a Latex based paint, works excellent in freezing temperatures. Just don't use more than the recommended three ounces per gallon, or it won't freeze dry correctly.
Reply:That's just not right about the paint, haha. Nice work, that thing is going to look good when you have it all finished and painted.
Reply:I hurry up and paint parts right after welding while they are still warm on cold days.  In fact with a rattle can if you paint while the metal is still hot the paint will bake on.
Reply:Be Advised: The factory receiver hitch on those trucks are bolted to the bumper for a reason.  The bumper is part of it's support and those hitches aren't much to start with.  Your probably fine with a lawnmower size trailer but if you ever use it for hauling anything like a skidloader or car you need to do something different.
Reply:Originally Posted by cd19Be Advised: The factory receiver hitch on those trucks are bolted to the bumper for a reason.  The bumper is part of it's support and those hitches aren't much to start with.  Your probably fine with a lawnmower size trailer but if you ever use it for hauling anything like a skidloader or car you need to do something different.
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895Yeah the stock bumpers are really solid in the middle. IM doing 3/8 plate on the bottom then gusseting all the inside corners. Any ideas on how to get easy strength out of the bumper?Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895. Any ideas on how to get easy strength out of the bumper?
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauYou need to concentrate on getting strength INTO the bumper not OUT OF it. Tack it together with the 120 v MIG and that's about as much strength as you can get OUT of it. Weld it up solid with the bigger 240 V MIG or stick weld it, and you will be getting MORE strength INTO it.I hope you realize I was kidding about the freeze drying paint. Get it someplace warm to paint and keep it warm till it is thoroughly dry.
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895Haha after a few posts I realized you were. Im using a 240 v mig To fully weld it. Im trying to figure on where to put gussets without having to fully box the bumper. I'll post pics of the inside of itSent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Get the mounts to the frame welded in first, then look to decide where to put the extra gussets. After getting the frame mounts welded in you will be able to triangulate off them for the extra gusseting you need. If you put the gussets in first, they may get in the way of trying to get the frame mounts securely welded on. All the extra strength will be for nothing if the strong a$$ bumper falls off due to insufficient mount welds.Last edited by Bistineau; 02-28-2014 at 07:54 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauGet the mounts to the frame welded in first, then look to decide where to put the extra gussets. After getting the frame mounts welded in you will be able to triangulate off them for the extra gusseting you need. If you put the gussets in first, they may get in the way of trying to get the frame mounts securely welded on.
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895Haha after a few posts I realized you were.
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895 How much will the full weld up strengthen it?
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauIt should be considerable over what it is now. You should probably do 2" or so of weld on each section at a time, skipping over to the other end then go back to the first, rather than making one continuous weld in one place that may lead to warping. You don't want to concentrate too much heat on one end before moving to the other end. Just do some on one side then the other while the first cools some, then go back and forth from end to end till it's done. Maybe do a weld at the outer edge on one side, then the same place on the other end, then go to the center section welding toward the frame mount each side then go back to the outer edge again or start at the frame mounts working away from them either side at a time.
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Reply:Are you going to add a flat plate to the inset section above the receiver hitch? I think there needs to be one there to make it look right. A piece of 1/4" may be all you need, or possibly 3/8" at most.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauAre you going to add a flat plate to the inset section above the receiver hitch? I think there needs to be one there to make it look right. A piece of 1/4" may be all you need, or possibly 3/8" at most.
Reply:So I laid some weld today... Learned I need a crap load of practice!! I started to get the hang of it as the night went on. I'll post some pics tomorrow morningSent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895So I laid some weld today... Learned I need a crap load of practice!! I started to get the hang of it as the night went on. I'll post some pics tomorrow morningSent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Came out good man!
Reply:Originally Posted by sausage450ryou will be grinding and blending them anyways right? that is another "fun" chore.
Reply:Originally Posted by Roubo8895I know... I've had to do lots of grinding before I even welded.. At least I don't have to grind the inside Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauAs Fexal likes to say, "don't weld more in the morning than you can grind off in the afternoon".  Are you trying to be a grinder or a welder?
Reply:Don't forget, you need to cut two holes by the inset portion to mount your license plate lights. Looks like you could use the ones from the stock bumper. Then drill and tap 2 holes to mount the license plate to. Have you decided on a finished color for it yet? Some of the guys on here have used truck bed liner on the bumpers they have made, looks pretty good too. I would put two or three coats of Rustoleum primer on the backside to prevent rust,. Paint is optional after that on that side.
Reply:Looks good.