Mechanics stool

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So I saw a mechanics stool at orielly, and was eyeballing it, thinking of purchasing, when I realized I had 100 feet + of metal and 4 spare wheels at home!Got it all together, going to use plywood for the bottom, and then cover some spare mdf in cushion for the top. Here are some of my welds.  I'm open to critique of them. .030 wire - material is around 16 gauge
Reply:Much better off building your own! I have one of those boughten mech. stools, I had to fix it about 8 times because of cheap parts.
Reply:The welds in the first picture looks just like a Lincoln MIG welder, how did you make'em look like that
Reply:That's quite the welder.    When you upload pictures, put them on top of each other instead of side X side.Chad
Reply:Hmm. They were beneath when I made the post I thought. I use tapatalk for all my forum stuff, maybe it's an issue with the app?Anyway, finished for now. I threw this together to make some other projects easier. I used the plywood on the bottom so the base would be a place to store things as I'm rolling around.
Reply:Nice job..better to make it yourself than to buy!
Reply:Very cool!!!! The 140C.  Is an awesome machine!!!!!!Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:What no padding? thats gonna hurt your tushy. Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:It must be nice having clean, shiny, new stock.
Reply:Are you using the open end tubes as a mini-receiver or something?  Why not miter? Welds look good - C25 almost NO splatter and ridges.  I'm using vertical down (c'mon guys, 16ga is NOT structural!) for my inside and outside corners, with a special thanks to "Blackbird" for reminding me to chamfer all ends before welding!  Which of course was AFTER I already welded these! Next batch with chamfered ends butt joint "flattened" out nicely, with a little root "bead" inside!  Attached Images
Reply:Nice stuff!My tool stool got put aside and never used again after I got myself a leather office chair with adjustable height, reclines, and wheels.You can see it behind the motor, I'll never go back to working out of anything else! The absolute best tool ever after getting a car hoist!
Reply:Ahh, I'm glad you asked about the miter. I had been trying miter cuts, and gave up on them in the middle of this stool for now.   Problem is now matter how hard I clamp the piece into my chop saw, the blade flexes and doesn't cut straight. I end up with a 16th of an inch difference. I'm using a porter cable 14 inch abrasive chop saw.  Any ideas?
Reply:Originally Posted by BrownfauxAhh, I'm glad you asked about the miter. I had been trying miter cuts, and gave up on them in the middle of this stool for now.   Problem is now matter how hard I clamp the piece into my chop saw, the blade flexes and doesn't cut straight. I end up with a 16th of an inch difference. I'm using a porter cable 14 inch abrasive chop saw.  Any ideas?
Reply:Abrasive blades deflect on 45 degree and other angle cuts, so what I do is to touch the metal lightly, with minimal pressure, allowing a groove to be ground into the material by the abrasive until the blade "seats" itself. Allowing the blade to cut a groove in the material deep enough to "grip" both sides of the blade so that it doesn't allow the blade to wander to the side when you increase the downward pressure for a faster cut. Cutting the groove deep enough allows the cut to be 90 degrees "inside the material" minimizing deflection (your cut power is at 90 not 45). Establishing the grove allows for much better cuts, not perfect, but definitely much better. Be patient, it only takes a moment to get it in there, but is well worth the extra time, you'll find that you have superior results in fit-up. Of course, best cuts are with a bandsaw, but until I got mine, this was the technique I used.   Last edited by bearston; 04-22-2013 at 12:22 PM.When a welder tells you to "stick it", what do they really mean?"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
Reply:I built some similar:  http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=44252Rev. 1Rev. 2
Reply:New project idea... I will add it to the list of 5,000 others I want.Good looking stools guys!
Reply:That's a lot of hard top stools...to borrow a joke, maybe this will help? Dave J. Attached ImagesDave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by BrownfauxAhh, I'm glad you asked about the miter. I had been trying miter cuts, and gave up on them in the middle of this stool for now.   Problem is now matter how hard I clamp the piece into my chop saw, the blade flexes and doesn't cut straight. I end up with a 16th of an inch difference. I'm using a porter cable 14 inch abrasive chop saw.  Any ideas?
Reply:If you ever weld while sitting on that stool, you may regret not haveing expanded metal for the seat. Splatter can hit the solid top and roll right back against your most valuable assets.
Reply:here's mine..i made this a month ago..[IMG][/IMG] i use galvanized sheet for the tool pan..[IMG][/IMG]and rivet it in the inside wall of square tube..[IMG][/IMG]
Reply:Wow, those stools look great!  Looks like what I had wanted mine to look like!About the saw, that's good advice I'll try.
Reply:Pic 2 second post...........make sure to close your corners with the weld."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nice job guys! . . . All those look nice! Hobart Handler 190Hobart Spool-Gun 100Lincoln 225 ACMiller & Pipeliner HoodDewalt 14" Chopsaw, GrindersHarris O/AVictor TorchCustom Built O/A CartCustom Welding CartHeavy Duty 16 Speed Floor Drill PressPipe-BenderDrill Doctor
Reply:If the metal starts glowing hot real quick when I cut slowly, is that ok or should I back off and then begin again?
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammPic 2 second post...........make sure to close your corners with the weld.whoa I like the office chair idea - I have a spare one I kept mening to throw out - might as well just abuse it in the garage.miller syncrowave 250hobart handler 140home made 400 amp engine driven in progress...
Reply:Very nice stools guys.   I've always planned on making one with a traditional metal "tractor" seat.  Those seem to be more comfortable.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I like this desing ... Pretty nice  Originally Posted by bugeloohere's mine..i made this a month ago..[IMG][/IMG] i use galvanized sheet for the tool pan..[IMG][/IMG]and rivet it in the inside wall of square tube..[IMG][/IMG]
Reply:Originally Posted by BrownfauxAhh, I'm glad you asked about the miter. I had been trying miter cuts, and gave up on them in the middle of this stool for now.   Problem is now matter how hard I clamp the piece into my chop saw, the blade flexes and doesn't cut straight. I end up with a 16th of an inch difference. I'm using a porter cable 14 inch abrasive chop saw.  Any ideas?
Reply:Bugeloo...  I'm liking your paint theme thing.  Sure would like to see a photo of the rest of the shop.  Also.. how high is your seat off the ground? Seems lower than others I've seen.  I like it!--Zip
Reply:Thanks zip..my stool is 9 inches high..I'm only 5 feet 8" tall so i think it suits to me..Maybe I'll post it in another thread So i wont clutter brownfaux post..been too hesitantTo post my work here because lot of guys here are amazingly good when it comes to welding..anyway thanks again zip..
Reply:I'm proud to have an active post. Lol.