Millermatic 140 for bucket hooks

[Shield Arc]

Arc weld where the pad eye was welded was on top of a spud. 99% of all derricks have deck winches that pick the spuds. This little chicken **** out fit wouldn't spend the money to set it up that way. When ever we wanted to move the barge we had to pick the spuds with the crane, pin them off move then set the spuds on the bottom with the crane. Before I went to work for this out fit this pad eye got bent. When the owner of the company made me a foreman, then general foreman I begged him to let me cut that pad eye off and re-weld it, but he was too cheap! I did some research and found out who originally welded the pad eye on. He had worked for me a few years before this, not a bad weldor. But you can't blame him, because the pad eye was damaged.

In the states if you work on navigable waters you are under the laws of USL&H act, not Labor & Industries.

For the ones who don't know what spuds are, in this picture they are the square units on the left side of this picture with the chocker on top.

 

[Arc weld]

Did the company get fined or anything? That's something you don't want to mess around with for sure. I've worked for some cheap outfits but nothing like that.

 

[Dano33]

Well, I ordered a set of weld on hooks and backing plates from Ken's Bolt on Hooks. Great outfit to deal with. He shipped very quickly and even reduced my shipping fee since I am apparently only a few hours away from him.

Anyhow, the hooks and backing plates were of rock solid quality and made for an easy install. After removing the bucket paint with a grinder, I was able to tack the backing plates into place and then finished them off with solid beads. Once the plates were in place, the hooks were tacked and welded into place. I used the grinder to lightly clean up a couple areas after everything was welded up. Came out well although I did get a little carried away with the grinder when cleaning up my work. All I have left to do is apply paint.

This past weekend, I had an opportunity to put the hooks to work. I purchased a Woods Land Plane that is about 650 pounds and had no problems connecting a chain to the implement and lifting it off my trailer and moving it to the yard. Something tells me that these hooks are going to be very, very useful.

 

[Shield Arc]

Did the company get fined or anything?

Not that I'm aware of. I always kept a daily log, I documented every time I ask the owner to let me fix that pad eye. It took about 4 1/2-years to get to federal court, my lawyers could care less about my documentation. Seems as no one cares who's at fault, they're only interested that it was not self inflicted. Then how much lose you have. Even though I was working as a superintendent I got 100% disability. The day I went back to work, my wife called the insurance company to tell them. They stopped my payments. When we were in court the judge asked the insurance company "who told you to stop his payments". The insurance company rep said "he went back to work". The judge got mad and said "working in a position that generally people with engineering degrees do"! "He does not have an education"! "You will continue to pay him, and you have 14-days to pay him retroactive or it will be a 20% penalty". In the states there is a law where the employers have to provide a safe working environment. Evidently that place wasn't too safe!

Guess how many times I wish I would have just cut that pad eye off and re welded it without permission?

Well, I ordered a set of weld on hooks and backing plates from Ken's Bolt on Hooks. Great outfit to deal with. He shipped very quickly and even reduced my shipping fee since I am apparently only a few hours away from him.

Anyhow, the hooks and backing plates were of rock solid quality and made for an easy install. After removing the bucket paint with a grinder, I was able to tack the backing plates into place and then finished them off with solid beads. Once the plates were in place, the hooks were tacked and welded into place. I used the grinder to lightly clean up a couple areas after everything was welded up. Came out well although I did get a little carried away with the grinder when cleaning up my work. All I have left to do is apply paint.

This past weekend, I had an opportunity to put the hooks to work. I purchased a Woods Land Plane that is about 650 pounds and had no problems connecting a chain to the implement and lifting it off my trailer and moving it to the yard. Something tells me that these hooks are going to be very, very useful.

Good deal! Got pictures?

Dano33 sorry to hijack your thread so bad!

 

[kennyd]

Well, I ordered a set of weld on hooks and backing plates from Ken's Bolt on Hooks. Great outfit to deal with. He shipped very quickly and even reduced my shipping fee since I am apparently only a few hours away from him.

Anyhow, the hooks and backing plates were of rock solid quality and made for an easy install. After removing the bucket paint with a grinder, I was able to tack the backing plates into place and then finished them off with solid beads. Once the plates were in place, the hooks were tacked and welded into place. I used the grinder to lightly clean up a couple areas after everything was welded up. Came out well although I did get a little carried away with the grinder when cleaning up my work. All I have left to do is apply paint.

This past weekend, I had an opportunity to put the hooks to work. I purchased a Woods Land Plane that is about 650 pounds and had no problems connecting a chain to the implement and lifting it off my trailer and moving it to the yard. Something tells me that these hooks are going to be very, very useful.

Thanks for the kind words Dano!

+1 on the pics, we'd like to see them!

 

[Dano33]

Will post some pics this weekend. It's dark when I leave for work and dark by the time I get home, so this weekend will be the first opp I get.

And no worries Shield Arc. Your experience makes for some interesting stories.

 

[Shield Arc]

Your experience makes for some interesting stories.

Oh I got a million of them.

 

[Dano33]

Finally got around to posting some pics. This past weekend, I was able to spray some paint on bucket and finish the job off. I can see these hooks coming in handy for several jobs around my farm, so hopefully they will stay put!

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Dano,
I don't want to throw cold water on things, but those welds are very suspect. Without picking it apart, I see several issues, including cold lap, incomplete fusion and porosity. Please don't rely on those for any serious weight or use them with someone near by. Not trying to be a pain, or trying to flame you. Just concerned about this and the safety issue it presents. Most 140 migs really peak at 90 amps, a little known fact. Rarely do they reach the 140 mark. If you had done it at 140 amps stick, it would be plenty.

 

[steverino101]

while those welds look fairly sturdy, the heat may have not been quite enough. not really a problem as long as you don't trust them
with life and limb. keep an eye on them from time to time to see if any cracks or separation show up or if they appear stressed in any way.:2cents:

just saw that it was a mig weld. ran one for years and they are notorious for cold lap as the fella says. i'm revising my statement to say be very very careful.