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So I've fabricated a few projects in the past working out of my step fathers garage back home in Missouri. He had a 110v Miller running flux wire and a plasma, cutters, grinders and a very large welding table. My very first time doing any form of metal fab to include welding I made this tire carrier, took about 20 hours, just picked up the welder without any guidance or instruction and started making my idea. I'm not putting up these pictures to show off (clearly), they are the only photos I have of my only major welding venture. So welds of at least that level, whatever level they are, can be achieved. Tire carrier functioned perfectly and lasted for 8 years before I sold the Jeep.I have a Jeep JKU and 2 modified Rubicon Axles that I'd like to weld Trusses and Control Arm brackets to. The cost of having this done by an off road shop is nearly what it would cost me to buy a new Lincoln 210 powermig, tank and mask. So I'm considering doing it myself. I've read about the difficulties of welding in a truss, like going slow and welding to the cast steel center (although I have a lot more questions about that for another post). However the truss isn't structural, if it fails it's not gonna kill me. I'm really nervous about the control arm brackets, knowing that my Jeep's control arms and therefore my @$$ will be supported by my welds. My question to my new friends here on this forum is; judging by the photos below would you attempt this after a little practice or would you recommend going to a shop and having professional do it? Looking for honest feedback. Thanks!
Reply:for something safety related, I would get a certified professional to do it.that way, if anything goes wrong, you're covered.
Reply:Welcome to the forum. The welds aren't perfect but probably better than one built on a production line.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:From what I can see from far away,the tire holder plate welds are iffy.That being said if your a beginner you did all right,but as previous poster noted you have to be aware where this piece is going to be used.But I see potential in your welds.....keep it up weld,weld,weld and weld again. GH
Reply:Your welds look ok. But if you are questioning your ability on some like the A-arms, I would have pro do it. Don't rick you or your familiy's life.But keep on welding, hood time is best teacher.HF 98233 Stick/TigHF 95136 PlasmaEastwood TIG200Eastwood MIG250Damn, I cut it twice already and it's still too short!
Reply:Well crap, this is why I asked. Thank you guys for the honest input. I guess I didn't make it clear in my first post, I now live in San Diego and don't have access to any welding gear. So I thought this was my chance to buy my own welder and do this myself for the same dollar. Either way you guys re-inforced my concern. I'll skip buying my own welder and pay a pro to ensure my Control Arm Brackets are welded on properly.
Reply:Spend the money to have it done properly. There is far more to producing welds appropriate to the requirements than pretty beads. Yours are not bad for a first time but they are neither pretty nor safe even for the task. That tire rack has to survive years of vibration, stress, corrosion and fatigue. And when it cuts loose, the rack and tire could kill someone following that vehicle. You don't know what you don't know and aren't in a position to judge your work.Spend the money and be smart. If you want to weld things that will expose others, then go to school and not just a community college course which is all I ever did. But the thing I came away with from that experience is the saying "A good welder is underpaid. Period."Good luck with your mods.
Reply:If it is either/or at this time...Buy the welder.Take a class or two.Do the work.Hobart Beta-Mig 2511972 Miller AEAD-200LEMiller 250 TwinNorthern Ind. Hybrid 200Longevity Stick 140Longevity Migweld 200SThermal Arc Pak 3XR
Reply:Rereading my response to your question I was crabby and I apologize. There's smart talented knowledgable people here who can give you good feedback and I'm not one of them. The point of my post should have been that folks like us don't know enough to judge suitable welds and "suitable" means a lot more than what they look like especially in a photo on a computer. Clearly you aren't untalented and put some effort into the spare rack build. T?he thing that concerns me is that car things aren't like a welder cart and have to withstand a lot more with a lot more at stake if there's a failure. The Lincoln Procedure's Handbook for Arc Welding really opened my eyeballs and brain up as to proper design of welds -- I didn't learn how to design them but I realized I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to welding something that matters. Thanks for not bottoming out on my head for my first post.
Reply:Keep practicing. As for having it done, get references from the shop doing the work and look at it. It maybe worse then yours !Everybody is a welder today but some are professionals.
Reply:X2 on the Lincoln Procedure's Handbook...it's the bible. Maybe a few welding classes and quality hood time on some non-critical projects MIGHT be enough. Take a look at the weld quality of the OEM control arm brackets; with a little practice a monkey could probably do better. If you wheel hard and smash rocks; you have already ripped off a bracket or two. BTDT...I like to mock up my projects with the same gauge material and joints that are critical. I use these mockups to dial in the welds; you really don't want to ruin an axle tube. Welcome to the forum.
Reply:Buy the welder . Get er dun.
Reply:Heres an idea to consider. Buy the welder, do all of the math, fab and mock up. Tack weld your tabs into place, then find a weldor to do the critical welds. Most guys charge by the hour, if you have four tabs ready to weld it shouldn't take too long. When I say ready I mean clean shiney metal, welder rolled out, area to be welded easily accessible, fuel and vapor sources shielded etc etc. you get the point. Put your location in your info and ask if anyone is close to you that is willing to help. Some of the guys on here would do it for a case of beer, if you ask properly. Good luck.Thermal arc 211iCk flex-loc 150 & 130Clamps, saws & grindersHarbor freight 80 amp inverter |
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发表于 2021-8-31 22:11:49