Little tricks I've came up with

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Ya'll probably have heard enough from me lately but, what the heck. Denny asked for some pictures of my truck and while looking for them I found a couple of more that some on here might find interesting.One of my personal pet peeves is guys who think because they're a weldor someone else should pick up all their rod ends.  I walk up on a weldor and he's got rod ends everywhere he could sew up the crack of dawn and I'd figure he still has no class.I've got a saddle maker here in Wylie that makes me these.  This is the second one.  The first one lasted about ten years.  This one is an improved model.It's made from blacksmith apron grade leather.  All of my rod ends go into the rod holder.  When it gets too many in it I dump them into a post or trash can.I have a place for my pliers and I can hold a couple of pounds of rod at a time. But I can wear it in the truck and not have to worry about tearing up the seat because I've forgot some rod or a pair of pliers were in my pocket. Attached ImagesLast edited by wroughtn_harv; 01-21-2006 at 08:08 AM.life is good
Reply:There's a lot of suitcase welders out there.At one time I used one occasionally over a gate table.  I didn't want to roll it around the perimeter of the gate so I hung it overhead.The track is unistrut.  Unistrut has a roller bearing carriage rated for five hundred pounds.  Sliding barn door track with a door carriage will provide the same effect. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:The gate jig was outside so I didn't want the welder exposed to the weather.  The carriage is really quite simple.  A piece of two inch channel to hold the handle of the welder.I really like this machine.  It's a two twenty volt hundred and thirty amp old Lincoln that's served me well.I've welded up eighteen foot gates with this set up.  It makes it handy having the welder above the work on a carriage. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:Every now and then I have to remove wood posts.  I made this half circle to fit on my skid steer's bucket.  It not only pulls post reall good it's also handy as a pocket on a shirt for placing telephone poles in a trailer. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:This is a jig I made for bending flat stock the hard way cold with a hammer.  This is half inch by one and a half inch.That's my favorite welding table.  It weighs about eight hundred pounds and is indestructible.  I weld jigs up to it all the time and then break them off when I'm done.  If you look below the bar I'm hitting you'll see my receiver for holding the truck tools. Attached ImagesLast edited by wroughtn_harv; 01-21-2006 at 08:30 AM.life is good
Reply:Yeah, you have to swing a hammer.  But sometimes doing it with a hammer is easier than writing a check for someone else to make it and then you have to adjust their work to make it fit. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:Sometimes you like to do something to make others stop and do a second look.  A lot of guys put plasma cut outs in their gates.  Expanded metal's okay I guess.  And metal rods work too.But I wanted the cut out to appear to float in place. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:how long you figure it took you to pound that out? I've got a poarch hand rail to make like that. Also though I 've got to put a cap on it. So bending it is a question I have too.good morning by the way
Reply:The only thing better than making yourself a tool is to make yourself a multi-tool.Here's an example of a multi-tool.These are chop saw rollers.  The sides are one by four tubing.They're handy because you can put a couple of them together and feed material into your saw.  They say in place because you can put three quarter rod, bar, or tubing inside the 1 X 4 to keep them in line.Then you can turn them upside down and use them for casters.But you'd already figured that out, right? Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:Ever thought of using that bobcat attachment for a new extreme sport...bobcat jousting!!!  Now, I'd watch that!!!Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Here's a better shot of the rollers with a guide rod in place. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:Originally Posted by smithboyEver thought of using that bobcat attachment for a new extreme sport...bobcat jousting!!!  Now, I'd watch that!!!
Reply:In another thread I show receivers on my truck for tooling.Here's a shot of how it works.One corner has a pipe vise.  The other has a hitch insert for a guide into the vise.  And if you look down at the receiver hitch you see my Vogel pipe notcher ready to get after it. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:Originally Posted by TPnTXhow long you figure it took you to pound that out? I've got a poarch hand rail to make like that. Also though I 've got to put a cap on it. So bending it is a question I have too.good morning by the way
Reply:HarvI would like to submit some of my work, however I have trouble getting the files small enough to fit.  What is the secret?  They don't appear to have any more detail than yours.  I am using a digital.  Though I do have polaroids I can scan, haven't tried that.Did you make the trip hammer, too?  Multitool, cool.  I used to have my mig over head.  It is quite convient.  I tried to beat my cap once.  It had too many marks and flop on the cap.  I am much more satisfied with heat and water for bending cap along long arcs  and pure heat for short tight stuff.  Just go slow, slow, slow and it issmooth--hence, charge accordingly.
Reply:if you keep the images in jpg format and re-sample them to about 60k-100k in size, they should work fine.  More than one pic per post turns them into links instead of showing the picture.  The dimensions of the picture seems to matter also.  I had some that were oddly shaped (tall) and they would not upload no matter how much I shrunk the size.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I had some that were oddly shaped (tall) and they would not upload no matter how much I shrunk the size.
Reply:Thanks guys.  I guess I was entering small stuff as you were responding,  I'll work resizing other stuff.
Reply:Harv,Does that post puller work on leverage against the bucket lip for traction to pull the post/pole or are there some teeth or locking mechanism to hold the post/pole as its pulled out of the fround.I've got a Bcat and that looks handy.Appreciate all the tips and pics..BRPS: MS photoeditor downsizes pics qwik.
Reply:Gee Harv, looking at that shed ('shop' to you guys), I'm not surprised you mount that welder overhead. It's a great idea, though. Just yesterday I had to move a pile of stuff to get my welder closer to where I needed it. Now I'm going to work out how I can get it overhead. What a good resource this forum is.Scott
Reply:Originally Posted by BlueravenHarv,Does that post puller work on leverage against the bucket lip for traction to pull the post/pole or are there some teeth or locking mechanism to hold the post/pole as its pulled out of the fround.I've got a Bcat and that looks handy.Appreciate all the tips and pics..BRPS: MS photoeditor downsizes pics qwik.
Reply:I lift the bucket while keeping tilt pressure against the post.  It's a technique that has to be learned. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:But man can it make it easy on an old man working by himself removing an almost as old fence. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:One of the things I'd like to see from my cohorts in crime is following their hearts instead of their minds.One of the most rewarding projects for me personally was the rose gate.  It turned out good I believe. Attached ImagesLast edited by wroughtn_harv; 01-22-2006 at 09:03 PM.life is good
Reply:But I'll always wonder about "what if?"My heart wanted to get a little wild and my mind was afraid to follow. Attached Imageslife is goodAnother project that was fun started with a phone call from a large fence company doing a job at the Ft Worth Zoo.  He wanted to tell me about an idea some crazy architect had about using pipe rails and cedar posts.I told him it was doable.Then he called back some time later wanting to know how.Then he called back wanting me to do the job.I told him I was too busy.When it was almost over the deadline he offered me more money than he should have.Think "Gorilla Glue".  Gallons of it. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:lol   looks nice HarvIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:Of course any architect that would want cedar posts and pipe rails would want a gate that's different too, right? Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:Sometimes our iron isn't supposed to be the star and it sure as heck isn't supposed to take away from natural beauty. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:I can't see iron competing with this.My wife wanted a coffee table for her aunt's patio.  I told her to go out and find a piece in my scrap pile of granite.  This piece has some great colors but it was a remnant with many rough edges.  So I got out the worm drive with a diamond blade and my wife held the water hose for me.  I just kept cutting off corners.  If you cut off enough corners you'll end up with smooth curves.  I hit it with an angle grinder equipped with a rock and then had a shop wet polish the edges. Attached ImagesLast edited by wroughtn_harv; 01-22-2006 at 09:16 PM.life is good
Reply:Some of my favorite people are firefighters.  Some of those are even volunteer firefighters.I made two of these firefighter holders for our grass fire trucks some years ago. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:They even got winch mounts you can't buy at Dave Cepeks.  (Ries is grinning from here to there and saying "Hossfield!".) Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:The guys claim to have stalled out the twelve thousand pound winches and the mount still works. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:Thats a beauty Harv.What does the unit on the back do?  whats its purpose...just a stand?  or does it serve some other purpose...its really nice setup for whatever its uisedIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:Chris on the news you'll see grass trucks running across pastures with some volunteer firefighter holding on for dear life while manning hose.What I've designed back there will hold two firefighters and they can be contained by wearing our standard safety harnesses using the top rail as a safety bar.  It also gives them a good place to brace themselves as the vehicle goes over uneven terrain.Originally I was pretty tweaked when it was explained to me that I couldn't sell them because they're against the national fire truck codes.  But now I understand that it isn't just about men being contained while fighting a fire across a pasture.  What if they pulled out onto the road and another vehicle hit them.It's the creative persons constant nightmare.  You make something you believe has all of the base covered and then a situation arises you never dreamt could happen.life is good
Reply:Hmmm...and theres nothig you can do to be withen the limits of this nat'l fire code?  Oh well its a great idea and I totally see what youre talking about. I like itKeep up the good work HarvIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:When you're welding in a hand rail like this. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:With the posts notched and a middle rail. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:And it's a quarter of a mile long with places like this. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:You need one of these.Vogel pipe notcher set up for two inch (2 3/8") schedule forty pipe on a wheelbarrow kind of thingy dingy. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:................IF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:Well thanks for the photos and description. that curved pice is kinda weird but i reckon it works huh? Was that used on the utility poles or were they too big?You've created some real nice fences and gates too. Heck of a deal! YOur quite talented.Im suprised the Arch didnt want to use copper pipe. I saw one like that down the street except the coppuer pipes were verticals and it looked really nice.About the gates. Im building a new house and garage and shop way out in the woods this summer(well starting it all) and I want to build a fulcrumed gate kinda like the rrcrossing gates. See we get lots of snow here and that wld be an easy gate to manage. Do you have any info or pics on that type of gate?BR
Reply:great thread
Reply:I second that.Millermatic 251Century 180 migSpectrum 625 Syncrowave 250DX
Reply:Originally Posted by BlueravenWell thanks for the photos and description. that curved pice is kinda weird but i reckon it works huh? Was that used on the utility poles or were they too big?You've created some real nice fences and gates too. Heck of a deal! YOur quite talented.Im suprised the Arch didnt want to use copper pipe. I saw one like that down the street except the coppuer pipes were verticals and it looked really nice.About the gates. Im building a new house and garage and shop way out in the woods this summer(well starting it all) and I want to build a fulcrumed gate kinda like the rrcrossing gates. See we get lots of snow here and that wld be an easy gate to manage. Do you have any info or pics on that type of gate?BR
Reply:Thanks Harv, I apprecitate that advice.I have a lot of building to do, mostly by myself, unless i can talk the Aussie & Malmute to help.  YOu did give me an idea of how to collect on some insurance if i can talk "she who must be obeyed" to buy some.  Several yrs ago I fnd a site on the web that had the plans for installing a swing gate that used a garage door opener. The opener was layed on its side and installed on a post in the ground. It was was pretty neat. The end of the opener that ran in the track was attached to a solid pole that then hooked to the gate. It was pretty creative and it worked. Just not sure how it wld be up here in AK in the -20 to -30 temps we get sometime(not for long tho). Thats why im thinking fulcrum gate to eliminate the snow problems.See ya.
Reply:Harv I think that is a valid concern. I have built three of these gates for a local fence guy and helped him install them. I'm not sure it's very likely in the installs I've done and I have not heard of any deaths of injuries caused by kids playing on the tracks. For one thing I don't know anybody in their right mind who would let small children play in an alley. You get into the area of endless "what if" scenarios. Do you do a full walk around every time before you backup your car? There might be a kid playing under your right rear tire? I'm not trying to be a smart-a I just think that scenario you mention isn't entirely plausible at least in alley installs.The only one I've used is the Elite SL-3000 slide operator. It has many safety features and options. Regarding the "Open" operation, I only know the default resistance setting is pretty sensitive. While it's opening if you simple pull on the gate with one hand in the opposing direction, it doesn't stop and change directions, it stops completely and set off an alarm.  Now if you install one of these gates in an area where children are likely to play unattended, front entry for example, then you may want to re-consider everything.  Using the available safety features these gates can be installed safely.I bid on one of these yesterday. I will take a long look at it and consider necessary precautions. It would be fairly easy to safeguard.
Reply:Originally Posted by BlueravenThanks Harv, I apprecitate that advice.I have a lot of building to do, mostly by myself, unless i can talk the Aussie & Malmute to help.  YOu did give me an idea of how to collect on some insurance if i can talk "she who must be obeyed" to buy some.  Several yrs ago I fnd a site on the web that had the plans for installing a swing gate that used a garage door opener. The opener was layed on its side and installed on a post in the ground. It was was pretty neat. The end of the opener that ran in the track was attached to a solid pole that then hooked to the gate. It was pretty creative and it worked. Just not sure how it wld be up here in AK in the -20 to -30 temps we get sometime(not for long tho). Thats why im thinking fulcrum gate to eliminate the snow problems.See ya.
Reply:Originally Posted by TPnTXHarv I think that is a valid concern. I have built three of these gates for a local fence guy and helped him install them. I'm not sure it's very likely in the installs I've done and I have not heard of any deaths of injuries caused by kids playing on the tracks. For one thing I don't know anybody in their right mind who would let small children play in an alley. You get into the area of endless "what if" scenarios. Do you do a full walk around every time before you backup your car? There might be a kid playing under your right rear tire? I'm not trying to be a smart-a I just think that scenario you mention isn't entirely plausible at least in alley installs.The only one I've used is the Elite SL-3000 slide operator. It has many safety features and options. Regarding the "Open" operation, I only know the default resistance setting is pretty sensitive. While it's opening if you simple pull on the gate with one hand in the opposing direction, it doesn't stop and change directions, it stops completely and set off an alarm.  Now if you install one of these gates in an area where children are likely to play unattended, front entry for example, then you may want to re-consider everything.  Using the available safety features these gates can be installed safely.I bid on one of these yesterday. I will take a long look at it and consider necessary precautions. It would be fairly easy to safeguard.
Reply:Believe it or not the inside looks exactly the same.  The equipment is built into a compartment with access doors in the fence.  The gate slides in and out like a picket door with only three quarter's of an inch play on opening between the gate and it's receptacle.Here's an inside shot of another gate. Attached Imageslife is good