Welding chain link fence/rails

[Red Horse]

Guys, I'm building a screen frame about 6' by 7' to reycle 4-6" rip rap that is a silt screen on edge of drive and has-guess what-silted in.

I using chain link fence and verticle frame is 1-3/4"galve sq. stock that is used typically for hi way signs. cross bars are 1-7/8 galv pipe-typical top rail in a chain link fence- all junk from a buddy's scrap pile

I'll also be making some brackets with 1/4 steel to hold the support legs

I have a Millermatic 180, 035 wire and gas.

Other than don't sniff fumes (duh) any other thoughts
thsx

 

[Shield Arc]

Coming from a marine construction back ground, I've welded tons of galvanized steel. The best wire I've seen is Hobart's Fab Shield 21B. Its a self shielded wire.
If you use this wire, you can set up a small fan and blow the smoke away from you.

 

[flyerdan]

If the top rail tubing is electo-galved, it will weld fine and look good with no special prep, not that cosmetics are vital in your project. The stuff with a heavy galv coating, especially the dipped coating will be difficult unless you grind down to bare metal where you weld. It can be powered through with enough amps, but there will be small pea sized zinc globs rocketing out of the puddle, and they have a high accuracy rate of finding open neck, cuff or other exposed skin areas.
I used to have to do bolt down posts and they were welded to dipped 6x6 or 8x8 plates. I bought a rotary table and some 1/2" end mills to cut circles through the zinc as they would load up a sanding disc almost instantly.