Bale Spear

[Brad_Blazer]

Made a bale spear this weekend. Tubing is 3x3x3/16. Spear and socket from Agri Supply. Fired up the SA200 and used 1/8 7018 for everything but the upper pin clevis where I used 7014 because I was running low on 7018. I still need to cap the vertical tube and paint it. Had to test it out first. The closeups are after I unloaded that little bale.

 

[DT86]

That looks as good as any could buy.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Thanks, Forgot to mention I cut out for the spear socket by tracing it with a sharpie and cutting freehand with my Longevity Forcecut 50D, finishing with a die grinder.

 

[stuckmotor]

Good job. I've got an Agri Supply spear myself. It's waiting for me to make it a frame.

 

[Reyer Farms]

Looks too good for the hay I fed this year!!
Nice work.

 

[Arc weld]

Round the corners on the attachment points so it looks finished.

 

[Arc weld]

Round the corners on the attachment points so it looks finished. It looks like you welded the lower 3 pt. brackets with a wide downhand weave. Downhand 7018 has very little penetration and leaves a concave weld. I'd take the spear out and put 2 good passes on in the flat/horizontal position.

 

[creekbend]

Nice job.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Thanks for the positive replies.

Good Advice Arc Weld. I did make those welds in the position you described with the frame face down and the hitch tabs pointing up. No weave, just fed the rod in a straight line. I should have added another pass like I did on the upright, don't remember why I didn't. That particular weld was one of the worst. The rod must have been damaged because I saw a big chunk of coating flake off as it approached the puddle and I got some porosity. Here are some more pics of the welds.

 

[Shield Arc]

I don't mean to criticize, just trying to help! You need to fill your craters more. Also a good way of welding something like this, leave the craters in the center, not out on the edge. Generally the crater is the weakest point of a weld, especially if you don't fill them up.
Otherwise some very nice looking welds! :thumbsup: