1st Welding Project - Bucket hooks

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 30, 2003

Bill,

A lot of what you wrote I swear I could have written. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I took an ARC welding class in the fall and MIG welding in the spring. I also opted not to try to do anything in that un-airconditioned building during the summer months. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I, too, wish I'd taken it 30 years ago. What a handy skill to have (even in a severely limited amount). I'd heartily suggest you go for the MIG welding class this fall. After taking the ARC class the MIG is a relative piece of cake. I'm going to go a different route this fall. I'm thinking of taking a cabinetry class. It's not exactly tractor related, but I think it's something I'd enjoy.

As to welding, I've got a fair number of projects I want to tackle as soon as it gets a bit cooler. The first one is pretty obvious. I want to make a welding table and maybe a couple steel saw horses. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Congrats on your first welding project. I'm sure there will be many more to come. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Skeptic · Jul 30, 2003

I am currently taking a welding class from our local technical college. The facilities are great. We have class on Tues, Wed, and Thurs nights from 5:30 to 9:30. It will be 80 hours of class time at the end of August.
The class is pretty freeform as far as the process you want to work on. I was just starting so for the first week or so I did Oxy-Fuel. Lap Joints, T-Joints, Butt Joints, Inside and Outside corners. After about 4 nights we moved to stick welding.
The welding booths do get very warm during the summer evenings. In the Seattle area our warmest part of the day is in the afternoon to evening (nothing like the heat in other parts of the country though).
Now I am doing overhead stick welding (not that I am planning on ever needing to do that on my tractor!) and will probably move to vertical tomorrow or the next night.
I am having a great time. One thing that is really great is the equipment available. There are 39 stick booths (about 2/3 are set up for MIG), 12 oxy-fuel stations, and a TIG room with 12 stations.
There are people in the class that are working on their certifications.
This certainly has been the best $225 I have ever spent on a class.
So I am going to be putting hooks on my FEL bucket soon and build a log splitter /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif gotta work on my projects.

Mrwurm · Jul 30, 2003

Cool project. Your welds look pretty consistant.

EdKing · Jul 30, 2003

PS...boy am I going to be /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif if I try to lift something and a hook falls off... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif


Looks pretty good Bill, I don't think you'll have to worry about pulling a hook off. A word of advice, when you lift or pull, try to have the hook lined up for a straight pull, less chance of tweaking the hooks or the bucket edge (you've seen what the top of my bucket looks like /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif).

Henro · Jul 30, 2003

A lot of what you wrote I swear I could have written. 

Gary,

It was your previous postings last year that got me interested in the welding class I think. I remember several others posting about welding back then...but for some reason I remember your posts...and six months later I was in a class myself.

Got to thank you for that... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Henro · Jul 30, 2003

So I am going to be putting hooks on my FEL bucket soon and build a log splitter gotta work on my projects. 

Skeptic,

Welding classes seem few and far between around here...I am going to try to take somehing else this fall...no, guess I can't...we are going away for a month in October...shucks...well, maybe in the spring then!

You got it right as far as working on projects. I did a lot of practice welds on scrap pieces before starting on the shed and setting the welder aside for probably 2 months. Almost got sick of practicing...making something is SO MUCH BETTER than just welding scrap!

I was afraid to start doing anything but practice until I got to the point where I figured things would hold together and look half ok when I was done...

Anyway, I couldn't wait anymore...much more fun doing than it is just practicing... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Henro · Jul 30, 2003

Cool project. Your welds look pretty consistant.


Mrwurm,

Thanks for the encouragement!

We'll have to give the 6013 rod credit for that. The 6010 root passes on the hooks were pretty rough...and that's giving myself the benefit of the doubt... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

jimg · Jul 30, 2003

Nice job! From the pics your beads look pretty nice! What rod did you use? BTW youll want to get a gas rig as theyre super handy and they really dont cost that much. Ive used the gas rig probably more than my welder b/c its so versatile (heating, cutting, brazing).

I learned to weld last summer and it was very fun. This particular summer the dept head taught the class and in 8 or 9wks we learned to gas weld, braze, gas cut and stick weld (flat, horizontal and some vertical). All told its one of the best bargains Ive gotten in a long while. Im planning to go back for more vertical and overhead and fabrication along w/ learning TIG. After the class was done I picked up a Miller Maxstar 200 and a gas rig which Ive used quite alot for repairs of various broken things around my place. I also made a great set of swingers from some A500 steel. That project cost me $30 plus some gas and a couple 7018 sticks. Having a tractor and welding go hand in hand.

Again...nice job!! jimg

Henro · Jul 30, 2003

when you lift or pull, try to have the hook lined up for a straight pull, less chance of tweaking the hooks or the bucket edge 

Ed,

I hope that 2x2x1/4 angle being welded in all around will make the top of the bucket much stronger.

My thinking was to put that one large hook in the center for lifting straight, and to use the outside one either by themselve or with the chain hooked in a V, with the lift in the middle. In this case there would be some side pull on the hooks....we'll have to see how things hold up.

I've wanted bucket hooks any number of times...now that I have them I can't think of anything to use the for! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I'll probably dream something up soon though...

gsganzer · Jul 30, 2003

I bought a Lincoln SquareWave Tig 175 for my shop a bunch of years ago. This is an ideal welder for a home shop. You can stick weld in AC or DC (either polarity) or tig weld. The square wave is especially well suited for aluminum. I can't see needing more then 175 amps for any homeshop projects. I think the welder ran me about $1500. I recommend getting the torch mounted amp-control rather then the foot pedal. It's a pain to try to control the foot pedal when you're under your truck tig welding the exhaust.

I put 50' leads on it and also have a 100' extension cord so I can weld things outside the shop if they're too big. The first project you should make is a cart with good wheels and flip up drawbar to help roll it around or hook it to your little tractor to pull it outside. I have 220 VAC at a couple of different locations around my place (well house, shop, eventually a barn) so with the 50' leads and 100' extension cord I can weld in most places needed.

If you think you'll be doing more remote projects, I recommend a Miller Bobcat, Trailblazer or NT at around $2500 bucks.