ATV Trailer build

[handirifle]

Don't look too closely at my welds. Due to my advanced cutting techniques on my compound bevels, I had to piece in some small pieces to fill in where I inadvertently "removed" parts I shouldn't have. When I break out the 7" grinder, it will get a lot better looking. I figure if it weren't for guys like me, people would start to think EVERYONE on here was a perfect welder and machinist. I just help keep it real!

I need to use something to cover the holes in the axle stubs. I got some flat plates but they didn't have any that small, so I either need to cut these down, or do something else.

Also, will have to wait for the ball coupler. Tracking says somewhere between Feb 4-9. I hope it's earlier. I THINK I want to finish the tops of the side rails, to allow me to add sides for tall brush, but that idea is waning.

I also need to start building the door frames for front and rear, then sand down the whole thing to ready it for painting.

 

[Jim Timber]

You should already be on the hottest setting for the machine, but try turning down your wire speed just a touch and see if you get a better puddle.

After not having a 120v welder for over a decade, I got one again and my first instinct was turn up the wire speed for more heat - only it didn't have enough juice to run the wire that fast. When I backed it down, I got a much better arc and much better puddle.

 

[handirifle]

Thanks. It might have gotten bumped. It's real touchy in that respect and I often forget to check it. Usually it barely reaches 3 on the dial. I have been eyeing the Everlast 200, but it would prob be a year before I am even close. Oh well, there's worse things.

 

[Jim Timber]

3 doesn't mean anything to me, but neither would wire speed not knowing what your voltage and amperage actually were too. I've found running a bit longer arc works better with the smaller machines. What I can get away with on my big welder would end up with really cold welds on yours. The more wire speed I push, the more amps the power supply delivers. 120v welders just don't have the power to do that.

 

[handirifle]

Yea I get that, it's on a scale of 1-10. No idea how many IPS it is, I just know it will push the wire a LOT faster than it can melt it. It's not much of machine, as welders go, but I've had and used it for over 10 years (and yes I am still that bad ) and it keeps doing all I ask of it.

I go in spurts. SOmetime I lay down welds that look like something from a text book, and sometimes not! It's about a 60-40 split, of bad/good. I did notice something in one MIG video, the tip was protruding out from the shield, about 1/4", but mine is recessed. When the stickout is only supposed to be 3/8 to 1/2" inch and the tip is recessed, you cannot see what you are doing. Are there different length tips?

 

[woodlandfarms]

Not to jump ahead, but what are you going to use for the dump cylinder

 

[handirifle]

Not using one. The bed is balanced over the axle to it's just a matter of tipping it up to dump. It has a bracket on the tongue of the trailer with a quick pin through it to keep it in place when loading or transporting.

I got it sanded today and painted all the black parts (tongue, and axles and braces underneath) with the first coat. Will wait till tomorrow afternoon to put on second coat of black. I left the front 8" or so, sanded bare, so when the ball coupler arrives, I can weld it in place and get it painted. Once the black is done, I will mask it and do the orange. When that is done I will have a rolling chassis at least. Still waiting back from sheet metal shop for a quote. I am going to wait till I get the sheet metal on before I build the front and rear end panels. I want to make sure they fit with the sheet metal installed.

Won't be looking for a tight seal, I am more concerned with making them too small before metal goes on.

 

[handirifle]

Not using one. The bed is balanced over the axle to it's just a matter of tipping it up to dump. It has a bracket on the tongue of the trailer with a quick pin through it to keep it in place when loading or transporting.

I got it sanded today and painted all the black parts (tongue, and axles and braces underneath) with the first coat. Will wait till tomorrow afternoon to put on second coat of black. I left the front 8" or so, sanded bare, so when the ball coupler arrives, I can weld it in place and get it painted. Once the black is done, I will mask it and do the orange. When that is done I will have a rolling chassis at least. Still waiting back from sheet metal shop for a quote. I am going to wait till I get the sheet metal on before I build the front and rear end panels. I want to make sure they fit with the sheet metal installed.

Won't be looking for a tight seal, I am more concerned with making them too small before metal goes on.

 

[Jim Timber]

I did notice something in one MIG video, the tip was protruding out from the shield, about 1/4", but mine is recessed. When the stickout is only supposed to be 3/8 to 1/2" inch and the tip is recessed, you cannot see what you are doing. Are there different length tips?

There's different length tips, and you can get rid of your nozzle if you want with the flux core (doesn't serve any purpose other than maybe helping you guide the tip), but you also want a little more stickout with the flux core wire.

I tend to run a short stickout and a shorter tip with a longer than ideal nozzle. I just get right up in there to where I can barely see the puddle in the gap, but when I started I had a lot of stickout (probably too much). Eventually, you just figure out what works best for you and go with it. The arc/puddle should be your guide.

 

[handirifle]

Yea I always remove the nozzle when using flux. I will try to get some various length tips when I fill the gas up, and experiment.

On a REAL good note, my ball coupler that wasn't supposed to arrive until at least Friday, came today. Tomorrow the wife has a minor surgery in the morning, and not sure what after that will be. I will at least get a second coat of black on it. I haven't gotten a 2" sq tubing piece yet, and unsure if I will be able to tomorrow, so it might be Friday before I can get that and install the coupler.