Handles for my welding cart - part1

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Decided to make some grab handles for my welding cart (see http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=38570).  Didn’t really need them but I wanted to try my hand at TIG on stainless.Handles: 1” 304 square tubingEnd brackets: 1” x .125” 304 flat barFiller: 1/16” 308Electrode: 1/16” 2% thoriated tapered pointMachine: Miller Dynasty 200DX @ 90 amps DCGas: 20 scfh argonPic 1:  Made a fixture out of ½ angle to hold/align the pieces.Pic 2:  Pieces cut and fit (less the brackets).  I used a belt sander to clean up the mill marks from each piece before welding.  Came out with a nice brushed finish.  Experimented with 220 then 400 sandpaper followed with a buffing wheel and red rouge.  Came out really mirror bright and smooth but I liked the brushed finish better.Pic 3:When practicing on some scrap stainless tubing, I noticed that the back side of the weld was all black and grainy.  Sometimes the front looked just as bad.  I understand (from this forum) that this is accelerated carbide precipitation and will reduce the “stainless” properties and strength of stainless steel.  Decided to try some Solar-B flux as I heard this was as good as back purging.  I tried mixing it up thin and dipping the ends of the tube.  Then I wiped the flux off of the outside and the edge leaving flux on only the inside surface. Pic 4:Flux on the inside only. Attached ImagesMiller 211 w/ spool gunMiller Dynasty 200DXLongevity 60i IGBT plasmaO/A w/ crappy chinese torch/gaugesSouth Bend 10K latheGrizzly 4029 10x54 millGrizzly 7x12 hor bandsawangle grnders, bench grnder, bench belt sndr7.5 hp 80gal cmprsor
Reply:Pic 5:  Here’s all the pieces (except the end brackets) welded up.  I think the color looks nice and no black stuff.  I guess the flux worked. Pic 6:  Here’s the finished handles.  I cleaned them up with a scotchbrite wheel and used ¼-20 SST socket head cap screws, washers and nyloc nuts to attach to the cart.  Got to go back to the hardware store as I only bought 4 each and I needed 8 but the handles feel really solid.  Pic 7: A close-up of one of the handles.Next project…cable hangers.Thanks for looking! Attached ImagesMiller 211 w/ spool gunMiller Dynasty 200DXLongevity 60i IGBT plasmaO/A w/ crappy chinese torch/gaugesSouth Bend 10K latheGrizzly 4029 10x54 millGrizzly 7x12 hor bandsawangle grnders, bench grnder, bench belt sndr7.5 hp 80gal cmprsor
Reply:Those are SWEET! I would have just bent some rebar and welded it on, I have to start taking the time to not just "do it", but to do it really nice like you did here. I always just over build everything and forget about the "design" factor."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:awesome handles!! also a very nice setup
Reply:X3 here...  Great job on those Handles and indeed, a very nice setup!  Thanks for the Tip regarding the flux too....!Cheers,/J...Miller Diversion 165120 amp Buzz BoxVictor Oxy/Ace Oxy/LPGSmith "Little" Oxy/LPGHypertherm Powermax 30Lot's of Misc. tools n' crap....
Reply:Bling For The Lowly Shop Fixtures! They look really nice.Just another clown trying to be cool
Reply:I like em' alot..........good job!Lincoln 255XT Power Mig                                                                    Lincoln Precision Tig 225Hypertherm Powermax 30