Using Lighter Materials

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Just got done posting on a project, and got to thinkin' about this.What with the price of steel, how many of you guys are building lighter where you think you can get away with it.  This doesn't include engineered specification stuff, where you don't have a say as to the materials used.  (I wonder if the engineers aren't under pressure to use lighter materials too, and the old safety overload factors might been changed somewhat)Are the limits being pushed??Last edited by farmersamm; 01-09-2009 at 06:00 PM.Reason: reword"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I 'm not really pushing any limits. I have always tended to over build stuff. I trying to be a bit more reasonable with what I use. I'm no engineer U just tend to go with what I know will work and then add some moreTough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Well I know some of the manufacturers have come into our place that we provide tooling for and they tried to recommend cheaper/lighter materials. And we have told  them we wouldn't comprise safety or the reputation of our company. When one of our large clients  tried that on their product rebuilds they got nailed by the Dept of TransportationLast edited by specter; 01-09-2009 at 10:15 PM.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Anybody can overbuild stuff, real engineering and craftsmanship is building something to the limits required, with no excessive waste in material or effort.Last edited by mark8310; 01-09-2009 at 10:24 PM.
Reply:The tree pushing thing I built recently had over maybe 30% 11ga tubing instead of the usual 3/16 wall tubing I usually use.  Mostly in places that had to resist straight line, or lateral loads.  And for bracing.I didn't use it anywhere that had to resist a torsional load, or where heavier members had to be welded to it.AND, ALL MY ANALYSIS WAS NOT WITH ANY TRAINED INSIGHT, SO IT MAY BE FLAWED.I'm starting to look at structural material in terms of the web.  In other words, a 3x3 element has the ability to resist breakage because of the 3" web, not necessarily because of the wall thickness.  Granted, that only goes so far.  And I don't build things that people's safety depends on.I realize there's a limit, but how far can you push that limit?"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammAre the limits being pushed??
Reply:"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:If prices soared any higher,  the only thing people on this site would be able to weld on would be aluminum foil and dropped railroad spikes.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Lugweld-  I think the price is starting to moderate.I bought some 3x3 tubing on Thursday for 68 a stick, and today I bought one more stick because I had to redesign the thing I'm building.  It was 59 a stick.  Seems like it's coming down"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Thats right Lugweld......and also old bed rails  Gotcha Duane55I paid 6.55$ a foot for 125 wall DOM 1 3/4" last week.  20ft stickI heard wood is down.  Anybody else know if thats true? weld it like you own it
Reply:Dunno about the price of lumber, haven't worked with it in a long time.  It's gotta be comin' down, the housing industry is in a slump"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Bought a sheet of 3/8x5'x10' for a belly pan on a tractor yester day:  $308.00Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:We go through a lot of steel and haven't seen any drop in prices except for the scrap that is left, lol.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I priced a  6" x 3", 12-lb I-beam the other day and it was $366 for a 20' piece.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op