Welding Tips and Tricks

Is there a site or app that you guys use when calculating working load limits? I know my father in law has a book, but he is ill (out of contact most of the time) and lives an hour away (hard to make that drive for just a book). I am trying to see what size material I should use for this press.

So, here's what's happening with this brake:

1. I got 250# of of structural shapes and brake dies for $80. Score. It is all 50ksi steel, and the best part is that 100# of it is a premade frame of C6X10.5 channel that is 36"X20" inside dimensions.

2. I figured out that the frame will take 50 tons. I used a calculator recommended by an engineer at work. I am going to use two 20 ton bottle jacks for my load. And I confirmed from the engineer that the whole of the load will not be on each horizontal part of the frame (20 tons will be upward pressure and 20 tons downward pressure). This puts the 40 tons within my working limit.

3. I sourced bottle jacks from my father in law who no longer needs them.

4. I'm sitting in my garage fitting everything up and I'm only going to have to cut one stick of I-beam, and it will all fit up within 1/8". How much luckier can you get with a pile of random scrap?

5. I even got a TIG torch, so I have gotten the bulk of my two biggest projects done.

I have no idea what to look for on craigslist now lol. I spend my free time sitting on the toilet searching craigslist and Facebook. Now I'm getting on here and Instagram, so my life is changing because of finally completing a project! Lol

AndersK, those are great tools and top notch work.

plain ol Bill wrote:I used to make a lot of Damascus steel for knives I made. I made a press to forge weld under and use it for general forging work. Will add in a pic of it. Used a 4" cylinder on one side and a 6" on the other. This monster would press a 1" wide x 6" long x 6" tall Damascus billet down to 2" wide without any problems - of course this billet was around 2200 degrees at the time too.

Am I wrong to call that an ironworker? Or is it more of a power hammer? You just inspired my next project.

AndersK wrote:I like tp make tools but they are mainly smaller hand tools for sheet metal.

Here is a good site for inspiration
http://www.homemadetools.net

Jon here from HomemadeTools.net.

I know this thread is an old one, but thanks for the mention

To celebrate our 20,000th homemade tool, we made a new ebook featuring our top 50 homemade tools. You guys are welcome to it for free:

http://download.homemadetools.net/50MustReadTools.pdf

homemadetools wrote:

AndersK wrote:I like tp make tools but they are mainly smaller hand tools for sheet metal.

Here is a good site for inspiration
http://www.homemadetools.net

Jon here from HomemadeTools.net.

I know this thread is an old one, but thanks for the mention

To celebrate our 20,000th homemade tool, we made a new ebook featuring our top 50 homemade tools. You guys are welcome to it for free:

http://download.homemadetools.net/50MustReadTools.pdf

Awesome, thanks for posting.

Thanks, Jon,

That's fabulous!

Nothing beats "free", and it lets you get a great plug for your company without actually violating the "commercial/advertising" rules here. Well played, sir!

Be aware that I and several others will be searching your website, now...

Steve S

I'm part of the email list already. Lots of cool ideas on that site!

Thanks for the thanks, gentlemen. Enjoy

I've got a 12in long pcs of 14in sch 40 SS and a pump set aside for a liquid cooled tig rig.

Poland308 wrote:I've got a 12in long pcs of 14in sch 40 SS and a pump set aside for a liquid cooled tig rig.

That'll be a sexy water cooler! What kind of pump are you gonna use?

procon pump on a 1/4 hp motor

Going to use a condenser coil and fan assembly from a trashed out dehumidifier.

I've been making, rebuilding procon pumps for Tig coolers.
Now I've found a place I can buy them rebuilt cheaper than I can do it myself.
JC Beverage. Forty something, like new, ready to go. Right flow, right pressure, and tech support.
AND, they're nice to deal with!

Hey guys - we have a new ebook out: How to Make a Belt Sander. 100% free of course. Click the graphic below to check it out:

a few tools i made to use with my table saw and router table.
lately i have been mixing wood with metal on my projects.

motox wrote:a few tools i made to use with my table saw and router table.
lately i have been mixing wood with metal on my projects.

Nice, looks professional. Do you have a mill or lathe in your home shop?

LT
yes both lathe and mill.
craig