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Love SWells eagle! Reading that he's using some scrap metal (car and even computer parts) got me to wondering if anyone has any good types of places they're finding scrap metal. I have no projects in mind, I just want to play a lot and learn to weld well (within the limits of my toy welder for now) and learn to grind, too -- flux core, I'll get good at grinding over time. Found a HUGE metal supplier here with pretty much everything and bought some small 6" x 12" x ?? (I need a metal gauge as I'm clueless) pieces to practice on but would like to know of sources of scrap metal (aka tossed) to learn with. There's probably scrap metal in bins, allies, at yard sales, etc., but how does a newbie know what he can weld on? I read you can tell what metal something is made of by the sparks when grinding and using a magnet but if I'm just rummaging a yard sale, etc. I may not have either -- might be annoying if I had a rechargeable grinder. Anyone have suggestions of types of places to look, type of things to look for, etc.? Much appreciated.Warning: I have been wrong before!New small workshop, small MIG, oxyacetylene set with a DHC-2000 that I'm learning to use and really like. Life is good!Typos are there for those that look for them. I try to do something for everybody.
Reply:find a machine shop..fabrication shopsomewhere that "plays with steel" all day...go in find the boss..and explane exactly what your doing (practicing)..if one place won't another will..9 times outta 10 if your nice you will get all sorts of shapes and sizes to play with..stay with mild or (cold rolled) steel..its easy to clean and is just your basic steel..get going there and we'll get you going.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:A friend just had a manufactured house moved in and the movers left the tow-bars. They stated they were made special for each house and belonged with the owner.Since this is a permanent setting and not a trailer park the tow-bars will never be reused. I asked for and got them free since my friend has no use for them.I ended up with 4 7' I-beams and half a dozen reinforcing angles, along with two screwjacks. The beams are about 10" deep and 1/8" thick (just a guess) and will give me a lot of practice material.I am a total newbee and need that practice!
Reply:How about the local high school shop class scrap bin?If you don't have the time to do it right, then you definitely don't have the time to do it over.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterfind a machine shop..fabrication shopsomewhere that "plays with steel" all day...
Reply:Originally Posted by Knotbored I ended up with 4 7' I-beams and half a dozen reinforcing angles, along with two screwjacks. The beams are about 10" deep and 1/8" thick (just a guess) and will give me a lot of practice material.I am a total newbee and need that practice!
Reply:*sometimes* the local landfill will have a metal scrap pile that you can look through.In my town, you can dig thru it on two conditions... a) you don't get caught, 2) if you get caught but are being safe about it, most of the time the employee will just look the other way. ( you're not supposed to here, but just depends on who's working, how sneaky you are... etc etc)
Reply:Follow the trail. Your fab shops, weld shops, steel suppliers, plumbers, electricians, all throw their scrap in bins that go to the scrap iron yard down by the RR tracks somewhere.Kinda like junkie heaven. Mountains of metals.
Reply:Originally Posted by slamdvw In my town, you can dig thru it on two conditions... a) you don't get caught, 2) if you get caught but are being safe about it, most of the time the employee will just look the other way. ( you're not supposed to here, but just depends on who's working, how sneaky you are... etc etc)
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyFollow the trail. Your fab shops, weld shops, steel suppliers, plumbers, electricians, all throw their scrap in bins that go to the scrap iron yard down by the RR tracks somewhere.Kinda like junkie heaven. Mountains of metals.
Reply:Stopped off at another metal supply and they have some nice remnants and get $1-2/pound for them. Don't know if that's a good price or not.
Reply:most of my practice scraps were scrounged from the small engine shop where i work. lawnmower blades galore, and metal snowblower pallets all sitting in the trash pile, not to mention junk lawnmowers/tractors/snowblowers. i cant imagine a shop owner saying "no you cant have our junk" if they know its purpose. just gotta clean the crud off = }
Reply:Finding good scrap to weld can be hard but how "very" thin steel and aluminum? Pop cans!Lincoln AC Tombstone Lincoln AC\DC Miller TIG OxyAcet Many Many Tools
Reply:I'm not clear on what I can and cannot weld at this point. Say I find a pile of unknown scrap metal (painted, unpainted, etc.), I assume that I should start grinding the edges looking at the spark colors, right? I know, from another thread, not to play with galvanized in unventilated areas (or, safer, not at all). Other than that, I'm at a loss.What happens if I take my basic flux core setup and try welding a pop can, for example? I know it's aluminum but is it okay to screw with the wrong wire, settings, etc.? Is it safe to experiment?Also, I haven't a clue on metal thickness/gauges. What should I get so I can pick up a piece of metal and measure the thickness so I know what I have? Thanks!Warning: I have been wrong before!New small workshop, small MIG, oxyacetylene set with a DHC-2000 that I'm learning to use and really like. Life is good!Typos are there for those that look for them. I try to do something for everybody.
Reply:Originally Posted by LuzRDmost of my practice scraps were scrounged from the small engine shop where i work. lawnmower blades galore, and metal snowblower pallets all sitting in the trash pile, not to mention junk lawnmowers/tractors/snowblowers. i cant imagine a shop owner saying "no you cant have our junk" if they know its purpose. just gotta clean the crud off = }
Reply:Originally Posted by SandySeems pretty dern high to me. Not sure what they call remnants tho, or what types of iron your dealing with.
Reply:Originally Posted by VisorblueAlso, I haven't a clue on metal thickness/gauges. What should I get so I can pick up a piece of metal and measure the thickness so I know what I have? Thanks!
Reply:scrap prices are so high, it's hard to find "good" junk.***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy
Reply:The metal thickness gauge is great. Or, you could do it the old fashioned way of actually measuring it with a cheapo Harbor Frieght or comparable pair of Cailpers (digital are even easier) that read in decimals, or thousands of an inch. Then, all you need it to know the thickness of the gauge of metal. You can find an equivelant chart online, or some pocket drill charts have gauges on them.Example: 1/2" = .500 1/4" = .250 16g = .060Check out this or many other sites for free info.http://www.sheetmetalguy.com/sheet_m...auge_chart.htmAlso, carry a magnet to test for ferrous metal (steel) that you can easily weld with your setup. Don't try burning any metal with an unknown coating of any type. Always clean it off to bright condition. Some coatings can be poisonous such as lead, cad or galv.Last edited by Rick Moran; 12-18-2006 at 11:48 AM.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:go to the local scrap steel buyer, they will sell scrap to ya. i'm getting 1st rate seconds and scrap plate for .34 lb. but look in the phone book, find steel service centers. they scrap all day long. they will usually give ya the plate, or charge the scrap price, which is 4 cents right now."Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:Originally Posted by backuprollergo to the local scrap steel buyer, they will sell scrap to ya. i'm getting 1st rate seconds and scrap plate for .34 lb. but look in the phone book, find steel service centers. they scrap all day long. they will usually give ya the plate, or charge the scrap price, which is 4 cents right now.
Reply:Originally Posted by rloaircoolPick up one of these sheet metal gages, they are real handy.
Reply:28 bucks seriously, no wonder mine disappeared at work.
Reply:Originally Posted by Rick MoranThe metal thickness gauge is great. Or, you could do it the old fashioned way of actually measuring it with a cheapo Harbor Frieght or comparable pair of Cailpers (digital are even easier) that read in decimals, or thousands of an inch. Also, carry a magnet to test for ferrous metal (steel) that you can easily weld with your setup. Don't try burning any metal with an unknown coating of any type. Always clean it off to bright condition. Some coatings can be poisonous such as lead, cad or galv.
Reply:I don't think I'm articulating this well. When I say I'm looking for scraps/junk metal I mean discards, metal that used to be something else, like computer cases, car parts...general odd shaped and irregular junk metal. Not the kind of stuff you'd find at a metal supply. I have access to some decent flat scrap now: This is the back end of a big cutter. For scale the rusted pieces are approx. 24 long by about 10 wide and 10 gauge, the pieces in the back are about 5'. Some of the stuff is 1/4" and above. I came home with a 50-pound box of it today. However, what I want is irregularly shaped, twisted, bent, curved, etc. metal to learn to weld and follow the shapes (I don't have a bender...yet). Seeing SWells eagle and reading how he's incorporated some car parts is how this "quest" for junk metal started. If you haven't seen it, check it out. I'm a LONG way from doing anything like that (even if I could already weld) but the process is fun to follow:http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread...ighlight=eagleWarning: I have been wrong before!New small workshop, small MIG, oxyacetylene set with a DHC-2000 that I'm learning to use and really like. Life is good!Typos are there for those that look for them. I try to do something for everybody.Originally Posted by 12,000 Doors28 bucks seriously, no wonder mine disappeared at work.
Reply:Hey, those chimney stacks are good for stationary work. They won't transfer the heat out or burn up. I guess the thing about the calipers is they are good for more than one thing in the future, and you'll get comfortable with dealing with decimal measurement. I use mine all of the time and keep a drill/tap/fractional conversion chart close by for size references. Loose drills, screws, materials, and layout for fabricating.The circular gauge is great for a lot of quick checking. Pretty much brainless w/o needing to reference a chart. Of course over time, you actually get to know your sizes by heart in decimal form.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:Originally Posted by Rick MoranHey, those chimney stacks are good for stationary work. They won't transfer the heat out or burn up.
Reply:Look at the circular gages closely, there are at least two variations, maybe more. You can get one that is sized for non-ferrous wire and one for steel sheet. There may be others. There are at least 4 different gage sizes. Non-ferrous 16 gage wire is a different size than 16 gage steel plate. The circular gage will have the decimal size in addition to the gage size, but if you ask for 16 gage sheet and check it with a non-ferrous wire gage, it may show a different gage number. The other thing that will affect that is tolerances. The circular gage is a fixed size but the parts you are measuring have tolerances. When a steel vendor buys metal he pays by the pound. He usually sell it by the gage size. If it is at the low end of the tolerance size wise he will make a greater profit. There can be several pounds difference in the weight of a max tolerance 16 Ga sheet and a min tolerance 16 Ga sheet.If you are not too far from a rural area, old farms can be a good place to look for scrap metal. Also body shops and other repair type shops.
Reply:Originally Posted by ulav8rLook at the circular gages closely, there are at least two variations, maybe more.
Reply:Follow the trail. Your fab shops, weld shops, steel suppliers, plumbers, electricians, all throw their scrap in bins that go to the scrap iron yard down by the RR tracks somewhere.Kinda like junkie heaven. Mountains of metals.Junkie is it. Have been hauling scrap to a salvage yard and end up hauling some back out. They just weigh my truck and trailer so I just don't get as much money. Our salvage has all types of stuff all sizes, shapes and metal types.Also if you can make it out to the country try asking some farmers. Some have old machinery that just setting and you can have for hauling it off or a small offering. I have been cleaning up my fathers ranch and part goes to the scrapper and the rest goes to my iron pile. Also farm sales are sometimes jackpots. He who dies with the most tools wins
Reply:For the circular metal gage at $14 see below, and go to the catalog page for choice of non-ferrous gage:http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...PMAKA=615-6275
Reply:Originally Posted by sail2uFor the circular metal gage at $14 see below, and go to the catalog page for choice of non-ferrous gage:http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...PMAKA=615-6275
Reply:Originally Posted by Rick MoranThe metal thickness gauge is great. Or, you could do it the old fashioned way of actually measuring it with a cheapo Harbor Frieght or comparable pair of Cailpers (digital are even easier) that read in decimals, or thousands of an inch.
Reply:When I was getting started mig welding. I went to the local scrap yard and they were happy to give me scrap steel for free. They said that they dont take steel back and everyone just dumps it there. So I got lucky on that, but I had a buddy that was learning and went and garbage picked the doors from a steel refrigerator and learned on that. Free steel is all around you just have to be willing to go out and look for it.
Reply:Originally Posted by deadman11699When I was getting started mig welding. I went to the local scrap yard and they were happy to give me scrap steel for free. They said that they dont take steel back and everyone just dumps it there. So I got lucky on that, but I had a buddy that was learning and went and garbage picked the doors from a steel refrigerator and learned on that. Free steel is all around you just have to be willing to go out and look for it.
Reply:Originally Posted by PitalplaceAlso if you can make it out to the country try asking some farmers. Some have old machinery that just setting and you can have for hauling it off or a small offering.
Reply:called a local scrap yard today to see about getting a 2'x3' 3/8" plate, they didn't have any scrap today, but i could have bought NEW for $145.00Guess i will wait til they get some scrap.MikeHH210Hobart Champ 10KLincoln Buzz BoxCampbell Hausfeld 115Victor JourneymanMilwaukee 14" Chop Saw7" Chop Saw4/12" horz band sawmetal benderother toys forthcoming.
Reply:Originally Posted by crenshawjmcalled a local scrap yard today to see about getting a 2'x3' 3/8" plate, they didn't have any scrap today, but i could have bought NEW for $145.00Guess i will wait til they get some scrap.
Reply:If anyone can get it cheaper let us know!
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterall i need to do is go to the stock rack and say "i want that"and its mine...free i love my job i love my job...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterall i need to do is go to the stock rack and say "i want that"and its mine...free ...zap!
Reply:DooLittle ! ! ! one might think that it is a good price at 145.00 except me, since i had just bought a frame. that someone tried to put together, for a welding table, granted their welding lacked a lot to be desired. but at least the person did use 1" Sq Tube steel for the legs, 2" angle for the bottom shelf, and grate for the lower platform. the person put 18 ga steel on the top for what reason i don't have a clue. so i wanted to get 3/8 plate for the top. now the frame weights 90 lbs and cost me 25.00 so thinking along that lines i will find 2x3 3/8 plate for around 50.00 or less. the guy that runs the scrap yard said if i wasn't in any big hurry to wait and he would have some, just not sure when.... so for the price difference i can wait.... but if you put the numbers to the table it works out to be .28 Cents a pound.now i got time invested in rewelding the joints but that was fun anyway.... it looked like someone put a 1/8" rod in 6011, on AC, at 150 amps and tried to weld 1/8" 1" sq Tube, it had burn thru in a lot of places, then others had travel speed waaaaayyyyy tooooo fast... but i took a little 7018 rod and fixed all that.... it will hold... Pretty = Nope but it is a lot better than when i got it.fitup was very bad, hence all the burn thru he tried to weld on... but it was fun taking a 3/16" 7018 rod at 75 amps and filling up the holes, and then welding the joints like they were meant to be done.... it needs sand blasting to get all the rust off it, so i can paint the lower end, but i guess i will forget that since it will be outside all the time anyway, ya see i don't have a shop. i weld outdoors, maybe someday i will win the lottery and i too can have a nice well lite shop with concrete floors....Have a Safe, and Happy New Year from me and mine to you and yours...Mike MikeHH210Hobart Champ 10KLincoln Buzz BoxCampbell Hausfeld 115Victor JourneymanMilwaukee 14" Chop Saw7" Chop Saw4/12" horz band sawmetal benderother toys forthcoming.
Reply:Oh and i almost forgot to mention... Visorblue . . . Get a hair cut... MikeHH210Hobart Champ 10KLincoln Buzz BoxCampbell Hausfeld 115Victor JourneymanMilwaukee 14" Chop Saw7" Chop Saw4/12" horz band sawmetal benderother toys forthcoming.
Reply:Originally Posted by VisorblueStopped off at another metal supply and they have some nice remnants and get $1-2/pound for them. Don't know if that's a good price or not.
Reply:Originally Posted by crenshawjmit looked like someone put a 1/8" rod in 6011, on AC, at 150 amps and tried to weld 1/8" 1" sq Tube, it had burn thru in a lot of places, then others had travel speed waaaaayyyyy tooooo fast...
Reply:Originally Posted by ZRx61Local scrap yard charges 20c/lb......... I now have a piece of 1/2x4inx7ft that "will come in handy"
Reply:Originally Posted by rloaircoolPick up one of these sheet metal gages, they are real handy. |
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发表于 2021-9-1 00:58:37