my first project

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Okay Im going to first say, without lurking on here forever and reading and re-reading the same posts and new posts and old posts. Gleaming every ounce of knowledge from the incredible craftsmen we have on this site and some great artisans as well, this wouldnt have been possible. I am far from being a good welder. I have been in construction for the last 24 years doing commercial glass work, so I do know construction. Anyway I have far to go and much to learn but being the ambitious soul I am I had to put what I have learned to use. please let me know what guys think design wise and offer any and all input, I have thick skin and I think there might be one or two of us on here that sometimes have an opinion on things...anyway here are the links of a couple shots,the rest are uploaded to my album..It goes to the powder coater today....and I have to glue the spear points on because I dont have a O/A unit to try to weld the cast iron on the steel...so black silicone will be my cheat...it not installed yet it was just semi-installed to make sure it was good enough to paint...tAnyway thanks for looking everyone...Sure I can, hold my beer.Miller 211 with spool gunMiller Spectrum 375 X-Treme ...wait for it....with the XT30 torchMy old lincoln tombstone arc welderRigid 14" abrasive sawCan I include my cool Sioux Die grinders too...lol
Reply:If it's not twisted and it fits I'd say job well done. very ambicious for a first project.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Awesome first project, dude!Some here would like to see close-ups of the welds to pass judgement.  Keep that thick skin calloused up!Alternative to gluing on the cast points would be to drill through and pin them on with roll-pins.  Might prevent thefts of the points.- MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Hey Logical,I think that is awesome, especially for a first project. How did you cut the holes in the tube for the pickets? That would be the hardest part in my shop.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Originally Posted by wb4rtHey Logical,I think that is awesome, especially for a first project. How did you cut the holes in the tube for the pickets? That would be the hardest part in my shop.
Reply:As the OP is from Portland OR, it doesn't matter what the welds look like, as long as he's happyLittle story here.........................................We got together for a little get-to-gether a few years back, up in Oregon.  A select few of the planet's top/best weldersAfter a big group of refugees from the 60's had a little to-do next door, we ambled over to taste the victuals.  Some sorta rice stuff  Supposed to be goooor-mayThe bunch of us brought our own beer (wasn't a beer to be seen at the shindig, mostly pansy wines)So anyhow, I got a little lit, and started talking to this chick.  Not a real looker, but I wasn't lookin real good at the time eitherShe starts talking about HAPPY COWS.  Ya know, the type they got in Kallyfornia.Being the honest dood that I am, I decided to enlighten her on the state of Happy Cows in The State of California........................................  .............Beer in hand, looking at her square in the eye, I described what happens on a kill floor in a packing plant.  I've been there, I know.I got all the Slaggers, in a semi circle like coyotes (happy coyotes), behind me as I'm splainin the facts of life to this middle aged hippied chick  They're waitin' for the killYou could see the color drain out of her face as I proceeded to describe how her hamburger got to be her hamburger.I would imagine she had to smoke a pound of pot just to get right with the world after I got done with her"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Roy, you missed the time of a lifetime"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by MondoAwesome first project, dude!Some here would like to see close-ups of the welds to pass judgement.  Keep that thick skin calloused up!Alternative to gluing on the cast points would be to drill through and pin them on with roll-pins.  Might prevent thefts of the points.- Mondo
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammAs the OP is from Portland OR, it doesn't matter what the welds look like, as long as he's happyLittle story here.........................................We got together for a little get-to-gether a few years back, up in Oregon.  A select few of the planet's top/best weldersAfter a big group of refugees from the 60's had a little to-do next door, we ambled over to taste the victuals.  Some sorta rice stuff  Supposed to be goooor-mayThe bunch of us brought our own beer (wasn't a beer to be seen at the shindig, mostly pansy wines)So anyhow, I got a little lit, and started talking to this chick.  Not a real looker, but I wasn't lookin real good at the time eitherShe starts talking about HAPPY COWS.  Ya know, the type they got in Kallyfornia.Being the honest dood that I am, I decided to enlighten her on the state of Happy Cows in The State of California........................................  .............Beer in hand, looking at her square in the eye, I described what happens on a kill floor in a packing plant.  I've been there, I know.I got all the Slaggers, in a semi circle like coyotes (happy coyotes), behind me as I'm splainin the facts of life to this middle aged hippied chick  They're waitin' for the killYou could see the color drain out of her face as I proceeded to describe how her hamburger got to be her hamburger.I would imagine she had to smoke a pound of pot just to get right with the world after I got done with her
Reply:I'm torn on that mid-rail.  It breaks up those nice vertical pickets.  You gonna add mid-rails to those panels to either side of the gate?  Maybe some finials/spikes for the posts (and panels) too.  The construction of the gate looks good.  How heavy is the whole thing?  What kind of hinges did you use?
Reply:Originally Posted by OkieDaveSo I was sitting on campus one day, eating a sandwich and minding my own damned business, and a Sweet Young Thing walks by.  Upon seeing my roast beef, SYT exclaims "how can you eat meat?!"In my best drawl, I looked her straight in the eye and said "well, first I go out in the woods, with a rifle...."She decided to be someplace else at that point.
Reply:BTW Logical1,  that black silicon you glazers use is some good stuf and I noticed it can look like a weld if done rite.
Reply:Originally Posted by dbotosI'm torn on that mid-rail.  It breaks up those nice vertical pickets.  You gonna add mid-rails to those panels to either side of the gate?  Maybe some finials/spikes for the posts (and panels) too.  The construction of the gate looks good.  How heavy is the whole thing?  What kind of hinges did you use?
Reply:Logical, I wouldn't use silicone.  Silicone will rot steel.  The windshield guys use black butyl rubber.  No acid in it like silicone. I learned this the hardway after the windshield in my Corvette had been replaced using silicone rubber.   After I replaced the entire subframe because of rust and rot, the experienced glassier that came to put the next shield in showed me how and where it rotted from the silicone.  Sad it's the most common reason that old cars rot where weather tight connections are made.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Well, Logical, all I can say is "WOW"!If you lined all those picket pieces up and welded each part individually, you do have a ton of time in it. I know some people have a metal worker machine to punch the square holes for the pickets and some, like Jack Olsen cut about a million by hand I think on his fence project. And I think you can buy rails pre-punched from King Architectural Metals. I'll bet you're a much more experienced welder now than when you started! Again, good job.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Look's good to me, welcome aboard.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:Gate looks great! I like the design. For future reference, the vertical pickets will add the lateral support you were worried about to add the mid-rail. Gate design and hinge placement when properly done will allow you to use a lighter gauge material. for the majority of our gates we use a 16 ga. 1.5" square tube. We offer the option of 14 gauge as well, however, our 16 ga. gates are plenty sturdy with the use of 3 hinges. Our picket spacing is usually a standard 4" internal gap spacing to comply with local pool barrier code. this was originally because that is what our picket jig was made for, however, we have also discovered the amount of pickets per linear foot that the 4" spacing provided was enough to add the structural integrity needed to use a lighter gauge steel. Now we also live in Tucson, AZ where rust through is not a problem and customers prefer a surface rusted finish more often than not. If you live in a rust belted area then the use of heavier gauge steel is probably recommended to prolong the life of the gate. anyway.... Excellent work bud!
Reply:For simply welding decorative cast iron fence tips to mild steel, you can do it easily.  Check out this video..... Disregard some of the incorrect terminology the guy says in the video.  The point of the video is just to show that for what you want to do, it can be done with ease.  In fact, I welded the very same cast iron fence tips as depicted in the video, but I used 3/32" 7018's that I had on hand and were old.  I only kept the 7018's in an air tight container for years and never "cooked" them in a rod oven.    It was the perfect project at the time to burn up and use those old rods, rather than throwing them away.  My fence spear tips are till holding strong, four years later.   "Hey I didn't come to look and learn, I came to turn and burn.... If I can't light up, I'm gonna light out!"-JodyIdealarc 250 "Fatman"MM 252MM 211 "Little boy" Victor Torches
Reply:I wish I would have watched that prior to sending off for finish paint. I have one more I may build for the side of the house, I may be able to give that a try then.Thanks for all the input thus far everyone. This is a great and supportive online community to say the least.Sure I can, hold my beer.Miller 211 with spool gunMiller Spectrum 375 X-Treme ...wait for it....with the XT30 torchMy old lincoln tombstone arc welderRigid 14" abrasive sawCan I include my cool Sioux Die grinders too...lol
Reply:Right on, well back from the powder coater and on to the installation.Here are the closing pictures of this project. I look forward to showing the next one.I think the wife wants me to do some really cool ornate security screen door type thing...I just want to say once again, this a great forum. The feedback either way is a great way to either develope thicker skin or better welding skills. Sure I can, hold my beer.Miller 211 with spool gunMiller Spectrum 375 X-Treme ...wait for it....with the XT30 torchMy old lincoln tombstone arc welderRigid 14" abrasive sawCan I include my cool Sioux Die grinders too...lol
Reply:That's something to be proud of, great job.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.