Subsoiler build

[Jim Timber]

Been sitting on the 1" thick chunk of AR400 for my shank for this for a while, and decided I'd build it as a project while running my STD production this week.

Yesterday I started by adding the eye tabs to the cross tube, and gusseting them.

Then today I started working on the upper section.

A buddy posted a mig bead on Fb with the whole stack of nickels look, so I had to take one of mine.

Then I discovered that these tabs aren't cut with 1" holes, but 1-1/16" holes. Grrrr Which bugged me enough to sleeve them.

To start that process, I brought them out to 1-1/8" to give a little more meat to the sleeves.

Then whipped up the inserts and welded them in.

Made some caps for the ends of the 4" tubes and welded those on (I did the bottom bracket last after taking the overview shot).

Then welded it all together.

Tomorrow I'll start working on the shank and the mounts for it to attach it to the frame.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Looks great! What size MIG wire are you using?

 

[Jim Timber]

.035 wire is all I run for the most part. These being 1/2" plate tabs, I was running around 190A on the mig. I'm up around 166A on TIG doing the corner beads since the tube is 1/4 (cross bar) and 3/16 (top leg).

 

[Deezl Smoke]

Great job. You weld like a pro. One thing about the laser cut holes that always bugs me is that the metal surrounding the laser hole is compressed and somewhat hardened, so when I try to bore it, it gets tough on cutters.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

.035 wire is all I run for the most part. These being 1/2" plate tabs, I was running around 190A on the mig. I'm up around 166A on TIG doing the corner beads since the tube is 1/4 (cross bar) and 3/16 (top leg).

TIG on the outside corners? What is the advantage?

 

[Jim Timber]

TIG on the outside corners? What is the advantage?

Look at 'em. :laughing:

I weld tubes like this sealed shut so they don't rust out. If you have a pinhole leak from a cold lap on a mig bead, you end up trapping water inside and accelerating the rust process. By sealing them, only the free oxygen contained within the tube can react with the steel and it runs out of fuel in short order.

 

[Jim Timber]

Great job. You weld like a pro. One thing about the laser cut holes that always bugs me is that the metal surrounding the laser hole is compressed and somewhat hardened, so when I try to bore it, it gets tough on cutters.

Plasma's much worse for creating dross. I haven't noticed any significant edge hardening from this supplier (local steel yard). These tabs are a big time saver though. They cost between 2-5 bucks depending on size, so even if I have to open the holes (like I did on the bottom pin mounts), it's not that big of deal. This yard has a fabrication department and someone got the bright idea to use the laser to make stuff to offer in the yard to the retail customers. It's a great resource and they're generally reasonably priced with multiple size/thickness options.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Nice work. Thanks for the pics. Waiting to see the rest.

 

[dstig1]

Plasma's much worse for creating dross. I haven't noticed any significant edge hardening from this supplier (local steel yard). These tabs are a big time saver though. They cost between 2-5 bucks depending on size, so even if I have to open the holes (like I did on the bottom pin mounts), it's not that big of deal. This yard has a fabrication department and someone got the bright idea to use the laser to make stuff to offer in the yard to the retail customers. It's a great resource and they're generally reasonably priced with multiple size/thickness options.

Is that Discount Steel in Mpls?

Looking good!

 

[Jim Timber]

Yep, it's Discount. Discount is a misnomer though, they're one of the highest priced places to get materials. Used to be a lot cheaper, but they're only about 8 miles from my house and they have a good array of drops. Now that they've got it all inside, it's not rusty like it used to be when it was back in the corner of the yard - so it is what it is.

Before I start in on my flatbed for the f350, I'm going to make a trip down to McNeilus. I've heard all their less than bar length stuff is dirt cheap.