Customs Mig or stick weld mount brackets

I was qualified pipe welder . Hate the stick , burnt up lots of clothes and skin with the spatter . Seemed to me always a little ball would work its way to the end of a finger tip inside of my gloves . Couldn’t stop to shake it out , just let it burn out and keep burnin rods !

 

How about the guy standing there with a hose being the Firewatch. Watches your pants leg catch fire and then gets to be the hero for hosing you down while putting out the small fire on your coveralls.

 

Welding is a skill and to be at peak proficiency, you need to weld constantly. If you don't weld for 6 months ,some people need to run a few practice beads, to get back to your old self. Another thing is your vison. Sitting in the corner of a restaurant and the bill comes, young people can read the small print in the dim light and I have to get out the phone and turn on the light.

 

I have a Miller 250 with .030 or .035 wire that I use in the shop.... It is too much work to drag it outside in a gravel yard so I use stick outside, I have a little Inverter powered DC machine that burns 1/8 7018 as smooth as ****er.... Going to use the stick machine tomorrow on a wench mount for my car trailer....
Also have a Lincoln 135 with .023 wire for lighter (sheet metal) stuff....

LynnW

 

I have a 2x magnifying cover on the lens of my helmet . Really helps me to see what I’m doing today . I was in welding school laying on the floor welding overhead 2 in root p*** for my final exam . The grinder / spotter was kicking me yelling your overalls are on fire . I just kept burning until I finished my rod . The strings of worn cotton clothes ignite up easily ! Also no matter how small a weld you are running always but roll up ear plugs in your ears , if not you will learn the sizzling spend as a piece of spatter burns into the ear c**** . I put these in even when TIG welding anymore , not taking a change of burning what hearing I have remaining out .

Back to the question on the shock mount welding , you will know in your own mind if you are up to the task of welding the mounts on to your frame . I still say if you are asking , maybe ask someone more qualified to complete the task for you . Don’t do it if unsure , safety 1st on the build is my answer .

 

You bring up a good point in overhead welding. In the real world, not all welds are on a bench, horizontal position and easy to get to. If OP is welding to a Model A size frame and is actually 1/4", it would weight in the neighborhood of 500 lbs., he would need a lot of friends or over head gantry or crane to rotate it to weld the mount in the horizontal position for every weld. Welding in the real-world would-be combination of horizon, vertical, and overhead welding.

 

Normally I like being a welders helper however you’re on your own lol
Dan

 

It's great fun to be sitting at a bench stick welding a couple pcs. of 1/2" plate together and have some ****hole toss a baggie full of Acetylene and Oxygen at your feet... it will get your attention!

 

I would stick weld with 7018 rod. My experience with MIG id it give a brittle bead whereas stick welds are as malleable as the base steel. Plus, my Lincoln buzz box is capable of 220A whereas I have a 110 MIG. Never have a problem with 100% penetration. If I had a bigger MIG my opinion might change but since rod welds are bulletproof, why chance it. MIG has its place in tons of lighter weight, less stressed welds.

 

Funny you mention this. I didn’t one day, ended up in the ER at U of M hospital, where the Kellogg school of whatever they call ears and hearing. And the head doctor/professor and his cl*** of about 12 residents took care of me. They all looked in my ear. The professor asked the residents what would they recommend for treatment. The alpha male spoke right up, saying we should remove the slag as it was stuck on my eardrum. He didn’t get to finish as the professor jumped in and said that was wrong. The mousy woman standing in back then said well we know that it was sterile as the patient said it was essentially molten steel going in. We can just let it stuff off over time and treat for secondary infection and swelling. The professor was very pleased with her!

And I had ear drops for about two weeks and a follow up appointment… she was correct, it stuffed off, the swelling went away and no infection. And I make sure that never happens again to this day!

 

Stick welder, guarentees good penatration

 

This video shows exactly what I've been saying ever since I started reading all the threads on here about welding. This particular example is with a person using a MIG machine, but notice what he's doing, he's not just pulling the trigger and dragging the puddle. He's moving that puddle from side to side and not letting the middle build up. It's constant speed, constant motion, combine that with the right heat and you get perfect welds. It's the same with TIG, MIG or stick.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1274971537904616

 

Yep, it's all about puddle management. And good vision!!

 

IMPORTANT!!! Listen to me, not to anyone else!!!!! If you are still welding with an old fixed small shaded lens hood or even an automatic blue tone adjustable darkness lens hood, dump them and get one of these. The big guys sell versions for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ but this Harbor Freight affordable hood has changed my life. It has all the necessary technology improvements as the big guys. Huge viewing area, very clear visibility when welding or just setting up a weld, no need to keep flipping up the hood to see the part. Has adjustable darkness and response speed settings and even a 'grinding' setting for radiation and particle protection without changing goggles. At 76 I was to the point with old hats that I had to stop a bead and lift the hood to see if I was welding anywhere near the joint. Forget managing the puddle that I couldn't see properly. With this hat I am really enjoying doing quality welds again.