Cactus..................

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I had 7' of 4" schd 40 laying around from some abandoned project for 2014......... I decided to make a Saguaro Cactus out of it........ I did some math to get the most use from the material and did a basic fitup.......I immediately didn't like the design.... seemed to "robo-cop" to me......So..... went to Ferguson here in Austin and paid 50 bones for a couple Sch 40 long leg 90's...... I fit it up again...... I was much happier....The next step was to figure out to cope the pipe...... not just coping pipe but how to do it on the elbow...... This was harder than it sounds..... A pipe cope template was nearly useless here since the bend messes it up completely...... so... I made my best freehand drawing and marked the pipe.....I didn't take pics of the torching.... but when I was done... I put a 1/16" gap on the straight pieces of pipe that I put a 30 degree bevel on...... and then fit the 90's as best as I could....... and tacked with 6010.....Just for grins I put the root in with 5p+ and fixed the cactus to the table so I could practice welding a fixed piece.... I ran at about 80 amps and I was moving like a son of gun.... Once done I was running out of daylight so took a quick pic before calling it a day...... NOTE: I had lack of fusion in 3 places on the three welds which bothered me but since it's just yard art.... I didn't lose any sleep.... I just ran the hot pass REALLY hot to push it on through.........Precision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:I decided to cover the roots with a TIG weave........ again i deciding to weld it in position just for the practice........ and I NEED the practice based on my results.......But....... here are a few pics of results.....At this point I needed to put a base on it so I opted for a 1/2" piece of 8"X8" plate........ this would help it from tipping over.......I used 7018 H4R that's been in the oven for about a year....... that's how often I use it......... I took the opportunity to put in 2 tie ins just for fun....... What's next you ask? Well...... I already cut a mouse hole in the back........ why?   So I can put dry ice and water and make the whole thing smoke....... or maybe runs vines through it...... Or maybe birds will live in it.... I dunno......Precision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:Nice ! What about the needles ??? You could have rolled the two elbows on the stubs first but that would be too easy .
Reply:Yep..... Too Easy....I chose on purpose to not do that......It's all fun and games until you have to weld to code for a living..........I don't have too..... so it's all fun and games.......Precision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:Thats real nice Fex! Are you gonna cap the ends?Safety 3rdGump
Reply:Cactus are cool. I am planning on making a prickly pear. Here's a Saguaro I made out of two very corroded pieces of what I believe is a fertilizer roller. I welded the two together after setting a steel pipe to slide them over, and made the base out of a piece of 1/2" plate which is all anchored in concrete with J bolts. I still need to round off the top and make some fruit on my forge.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:Originally Posted by GumpThats real nice Fex! Are you gonna cap the ends?