Search found 394 matches

by homeboy
Sat Apr 03, 2021 9:48 pm
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Best flooring option for a welding/fabrication shop?
Replies: 20
Views: 6103

Re: Best flooring option for a welding/fabrication shop?

The trick for a shop/garage floor finish is to know when to quit finishing. Basically a trowel pass or two short of a hard shine. Done right it will be durable, sweepable but not slippery under normal circumstances. ;)
by homeboy
Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:38 pm
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Deciding right rating for earth clamps
Replies: 5
Views: 783

Re: Deciding right rating for earth clamps

I have a 300A Magswitch on a 250A mig that never gets warm. Get the one with the cooling fins as the body is a one part casting from the wire lug to the base. The 2 part, non finned style that's bolted together can corrode between the parts, short a bit and get hot which requires occasionally taking...
by homeboy
Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:50 pm
Forum: Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
Topic: Upgrading my trailer to A-frame design
Replies: 8
Views: 1105

Re: Upgrading my trailer to A-frame design

By extending the sides you will be effectively adding some weight to the tongue anyway as the majority of the added material will be ahead of the axel with no gain at the tailgate. If you haven't already spend a couple extra $ on a wheeled jack. Much easier to move around. :D
by homeboy
Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:32 pm
Forum: Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
Topic: Upgrading my trailer to A-frame design
Replies: 8
Views: 1105

Re: Upgrading my trailer to A-frame design

The reason why I wanted to possibly add the A-frame (or replace it with) is the side-to-side wiggle I find with heavier load (but no more than 600 lbs I haul most of the time). Like mentioned above, wiggling side-to-side could be an indication of a couple things. It may be that the trailer is loade...
by homeboy
Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:01 am
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Sandblasting at home
Replies: 19
Views: 2116

Re: Sandblasting at home

My big shop compressor is a full 5hp, 60 gal tank, rated just over 20cfm at about 100psi.( Don't remember exact figures) Running my similar pot blaster it will maintain about 100psi running continuously once the pressure drops to kick in. Guess that would be the FAD! :?
by homeboy
Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:58 pm
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Sandblasting at home
Replies: 19
Views: 2116

Re: Sandblasting at home

Agree on the need for much bigger reservoir. What does Displacement 18 CFM and "FAD" 13 CFM mean? :?
by homeboy
Sat Feb 20, 2021 12:21 am
Forum: Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
Topic: Flux-core with a Millermatic 35?
Replies: 3
Views: 1018

Re: Flux-core with a Millermatic 35?

My welder supplier didn't list a knurled roller so for a while I used a V grove roller with the outer V lips flattened down a bit with a fine diamond file card and it worked ok. This is using Outershield Flux Core ( not gasless) and a 15ft work lead. Tried it with gassless and feed was a bit erratic...
by homeboy
Sun Feb 14, 2021 11:05 am
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: What’s best way to cut expanded metal?
Replies: 20
Views: 6173

Re: What’s best way to cut expanded metal?

[quote="bplayer405"]Depends in the dimensions of what you'll be needing and the direction of the diamond pattern (if using specifically for traction), but a thin kerf cutting wheel can leave the diamond intact on both sides of the cut when following the angle of the expansion. Makes it muc...
by homeboy
Wed Feb 10, 2021 1:56 pm
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Low amp flash
Replies: 4
Views: 954

Re: Low amp flash

Are the arc sensors clean? I had a brand new helmet ( different make) do that well over 50 amp. Returned for exchange and the new one worked perfect. Defective somehow.
by homeboy
Sun Feb 07, 2021 10:16 am
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: THE carbide-tipped metal cutting blade thread
Replies: 57
Views: 16171

Re: THE carbide-tipped metal cutting blade thread

BugHunter wrote:I bet that sounded nice! :lol:
Happened so fast I actually never noticed! :P
by homeboy
Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:27 pm
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: THE carbide-tipped metal cutting blade thread
Replies: 57
Views: 16171

Re: THE carbide-tipped metal cutting blade thread

I recently cut off a piece of aluminium evestrough dounspout with a 14" x 72T Diablo blade. Just needed a bit of burr clean up on the back side of the cut. :D
by homeboy
Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:31 pm
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: What’s best way to cut expanded metal?
Replies: 20
Views: 6173

Re: What’s best way to cut expanded metal?

I tend to agree with the circular saw and grinder. When I buy the stuff, I usually tell the place where I'm getting it from all my dimensions and have them Shear cut it. I then call it money well spent when it arrives. Couple of suppliers in my area wouldn't shear the heavier raised expanded metal ...
by homeboy
Sat Feb 06, 2021 1:16 pm
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: THE carbide-tipped metal cutting blade thread
Replies: 57
Views: 16171

Re: THE carbide-tipped metal cutting blade thread

krl wrote:Do You know, what are these stock blades meant for, and what blade is suitable for cutting tubes?
I got a similar blade in my Evolution 10" compound mitre saw and only used it for 1 test cut on 1"sqare tubing :o You need more teeth. Evolution and Diablo make good blades.
by homeboy
Sat Feb 06, 2021 1:07 pm
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: What’s best way to cut expanded metal?
Replies: 20
Views: 6173

Re: What’s best way to cut expanded metal?

I just use a 5" rat tail grinder with a thin .040 cutting disc and it goes quick. ;)
by homeboy
Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:53 pm
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Annular cutters?
Replies: 3
Views: 1057

Re: Annular cutters?

Annular cutters work great. They start in size at 1/2”, so between 1/2 and 1” you won’t get 6-8, but you can get them in 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 3/4 and 1” that I know of. You need to be aware that they have a cut depth due to the length of their “cup”. And they do create a “plug” like a hole saw. Most hav...
by homeboy
Tue Feb 02, 2021 12:08 am
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Annular cutters?
Replies: 3
Views: 1057

Annular cutters?

Sometimes I need to drill larger holes up to 1" which I do with a fairly inexpensive set of Silver and Deming bits in a Rikon 30-212VS bench top VS drill rated for 1". Min drill speed is 150rpm. I am considering the 3 flat Weldon drill adapter and probably a 6-8 cutter set up to 1". I...
by homeboy
Sat Jan 30, 2021 10:42 am
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Oldest machines you have run?
Replies: 7
Views: 1361

Re: Oldest machines you have run?

At around the same era a local farmer was selling stick welders door to door. He hooked one up and gave a demonstration. He had extra helmets for onlookers and that would be the first time I actually saw an arc weld in progress as dad only had one helmet. Dad didn't buy but carried on with his homeb...
by homeboy
Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:51 pm
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Oldest machines you have run?
Replies: 7
Views: 1361

Re: Oldest machines you have run?

Can't remember if I was ever allowed to try it but when I was a little kid in the 50's my dad had a stick welder he built from a huge army surplus generator mounted on a 2 wheel trailer. It was run by a pto hookup and the amperage was adjusted with the tractor throttle. At that time blacksmiths were...
by homeboy
Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:56 pm
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: THE carbide-tipped metal cutting blade thread
Replies: 57
Views: 16171

Re: THE carbide-tipped metal cutting blade thread

Quickest way to knock teeth off of a dry cut blade is to contact the material at under the rated rpm. Don't ask! :oops:
by homeboy
Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:22 am
Forum: Welding Projects - Welding project Ideas - Welding project plans
Topic: Scrap Slab Bench
Replies: 12
Views: 4179

Re: Scrap Slab Bench

I built a large oak, live edge table with steel base and used a pre drilled flat across the top of the legs for mounting and blind drilled the top for short lead expansion anchor inserts and just 1/4" lag bolts. I Gorilla glued in the inserts before mounting the top. Glue in the the inserts wit...
by homeboy
Sat Jan 16, 2021 9:43 am
Forum: Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
Topic: 3/4" plate weld.
Replies: 5
Views: 1695

Re: 3/4" plate weld.

I think he meant preheat not for stress control, but to help with penetration/whetting on the 3/4" bar since it is a 3 to 1 thick-to-thin and an edge weld on the thinner tube at that. Preheat of the bar to maybe 300-400F certainly wouldn't hurt, IMO, but probably not really necessary. That's w...
by homeboy
Sat Jan 16, 2021 9:40 am
Forum: Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
Topic: 3/4" plate weld.
Replies: 5
Views: 1695

Re: 3/4" plate weld.

I think he meant preheat not for stress control, but to help with penetration/whetting on the 3/4" bar since it is a 3 to 1 thick-to-thin and an edge weld on the thinner tube at that. Preheat of the bar to maybe 300-400F certainly wouldn't hurt, IMO, but probably not really necessary. That's w...
by homeboy
Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:32 pm
Forum: Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
Topic: 3/4" plate weld.
Replies: 5
Views: 1695

Re: 3/4" plate weld.

Mild steel won't benefit from preheat above room temp. Your power source has enough grunt for stacked smaller multi passes. Your outer shield is going to give good peno. Given one side is only 1/4" you can't go to hot on it. Focus more to the 3/4", stay with your 035, give it plenty if gr...
by homeboy
Fri Jan 15, 2021 4:45 pm
Forum: Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
Topic: 3/4" plate weld.
Replies: 5
Views: 1695

3/4" plate weld.

I am welding welding a 3/4" x 3" flat ball mount plate to the 2" x 2" x1/4" vertical of a drop trailer hitch insert, all hot rolled mild steel. The vertical tube is beveled aprox 45% leaving about 1/8" of flat. Am thinking preheating the plate to about 350 degrees F (ha...
by homeboy
Tue Jan 12, 2021 11:21 am
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: Preferred metal cutting circular saw blades?
Replies: 4
Views: 2987

Re: Preferred metal cutting circular saw blades?

Can't speak for the 8in blades but I have had very good service from both the Evolution and Diablo 14in blades. As too how many times they can be sharpened that depends on how badly the blade is beat up. I normally get 5-6 sharpenings before the blade is worn out for example. On the chop saw busted ...