Removing weld seam in tubing

[BukitCase]

Buying by the 20' stick my cost for the receiver tube is right at $8.25 per foot - The 2x2x.250" wall runs about $5.50. If you're actually gonna be in the Albany area and want some, PM me here ahead of time and let me know how much you'll want; I usually don't reorder til it's down around 2-3 feet left. During the week I get orders within 2 days (usually the NEXT day) of calling it in.

BTW, the HF 18" piece weighs 6# per foot, the tubing I get is just over 8# per foot, so basically 3/16" wall vs. 1/4" wall. Realistically, if a person isn't using a LOT of this stuff (or doesn't need the extra strength of the thicker wall) it probably isn't worth messing with.

Here's a few of the "tinker toys" in process, the place they usually hang out when not in use, and a handy little 120 volt winch that can plug in wherever I have a reciever (or a place to clamp to) - runs fine on the little 2kw inverter genny.


... Steve

 

[Train]

Why not use his method for the round tubing on the square tube? Then you don't have to worry about where the weld seam is. It may wear a little more but easy to touch up if it dulls.

 

[Sodo]

Yah 1/4 is a stronger socket (if necessary). The HF one can be beefed up too, in fact their collar is lame, you have to burn the paint out & re-weld it anyway.
But Steve you are out of control.
Ive half a mind to stop by just to see How bad it is.
It would help to ease my mind (the good half) that Im not the only crazy person here.

Train that guy was just having fun (probably like Steve).
Sometimes you can get a better fit removing the seam thsn choosing the oversize.

I once did a plug something like his but not a cutter, I pushed it thru, with a little raised weld bead that just shoved the seam up out of the way.
With a 20T press. I wondered if it might just get stuck but it had no trouble.

 

[BukitCase]

"Steve you are out of control.
Ive half a mind to stop by just to see How bad it is.
It would help to ease my mind (the good half) that Im not the only crazy person here"

Nope - quite the opposite, my tinker toys actually keep me IN control - between having pairs of 2.5', 4' and 6' pre-drilled 2x2 "arms" and nearly any combo of male/female, both male or both female adapters in straight, 90 and 45* (at least two of each) I can piece together a safe way to rig nearly ANYTHING up for safe lifting/carrying.

Add to that my "super plank" (3/4 ply over 2x4 frame, non-skid top, built in removable "wheelbarrow wheel" (sucker is HEAVY) and I can put a 3'x10' work platform anywhere I can get to with the loader.

Jobs i've already used this "system" for include

Moving bundles of steel down my driveway and into containers with the bundle PARALLEL to direction of travel (driveway is NOT 20' wide) - this lets me use bucket curl to control the angle it enters the container, so the first end to enter the container can rest on a car dolly while I reposition the lift further back and get the entire bundle inside the container WITHOUT having to either rig up a separate lift OR hurt my back.

Change bulbs on pole lamps (safely) by having Mrs. Bukit play "elevator girl" - with a "tinker toy" safety rail surrounding me

Pick up an entire downed tree (endwise, about 10" at the butt) from my neighbor's yard and move it to my burn pile so I could cut usable firewood out before burning, WITHOUT making a mess in the neighbor's yard (the shorter, inboard pair of tubes were to act like a bale spear to keep the crown from shifting on its 300 yard trip to the burn pile)

Use the super plank when roofing the 24' square modular roof I built over the 20' container, so I could get my entire weight directly over the impact driver when using self-drilling screws

Rigging/lifting the above roof frame into place (and relocating/re-using said roof later[module by module], should my future plans actually materialize) )

cobble makeshift gin pole (using chain as upper brace) for moving smaller bundles of steel around

Creating a "pull point" where there WAS NONE for pulling the rods out of hyd cylinders to rebuild (still have 6 more to do on the 580B)

Using my 100# vise anywhere the 580 can drive

Raising my ZTR up high enough for a quick sharpen job with side grinder (and yeah, supporting same with a pair of underhoist safety stands)

Probably another half dozen things I've forgotten about...

One of the reasons these things may be more important to ME than others - 56 years ago (when I still thought I was invincible) we had an actual hurricane in this area, and I permanently injured my back moving things to dry areas after the wind removed the roof of the warehouse belonging to the grocery store I was working at - 2-3 years of chiropracty didn't help much, and it hasn't gotten better over the decades.

These days I have to be REALLY careful if I lift more than 50-60#, and I'm NOT ready to throw in the towel when my overactive brain still works. Add to that working alone 95% of the time, and my "craziness" starts to look more like "foxiness" - that's my story, an' I'm stickin' TO it :laughing: ... Steve

 

[Sodo]

....I'm NOT ready to throw in the towel when my overactive brain still works. Add to that working alone 95% of the time, and my "craziness" starts to look more like "foxiness" - that's my story, an' I'm stickin' TO it :laughing: ... Steve

Steve you and I could pat each other on the back all day long.
(no video or sound recorders please - what happens in Albany stays in Albany).
Plus I want in on them polished 20 foot sticks.

 

[BukitCase]

" I want in on them polished 20 foot sticks"

I do 'em same as you; 6" at a time (on a GOOD day)

 

[k0ua]

Holy cow Steve! You are out of control! In a good way. Those are all pretty darn ingenious.

 

[BukitCase]

Thanks James, there are quite a few more but I think it's maybe time I STARTED a thread on some of my ways of getting things done alone, instead of sidetracking OTHERS - once I get the rest of the pics I've taken more in order, I may introduce you to the scarier side of my convoluted thoughts (evil grin emoji goes here :laughing: ) ...Steve

 

[sodamo]

Thanks James, there are quite a few more but I think it's maybe time I STARTED a thread on some of my ways of getting things done alone, instead of sidetracking OTHERS - once I get the rest of the pics I've taken more in order, I may introduce you to the scarier side of my convoluted thoughts (evil grin emoji goes here :laughing: ) ...Steve

Hoping you start that thread, Steve. My primary helper is 100% medically disabled but 100% mentally supportive. I can get more done with her help than many I’ve hired. Of course, I’ve been training her 36 years. If she doesn’t help me, then it’s usually just me. It’s gotten so I prefer not to ask for a hand let alone hire someone because I have to rethink my approach. I like your collection of helper and would like to see more.