Welding tractor seat to make stool

wawajake · Oct 9, 2013

I am making a stool out of a old steel tractor seat by welding it to the cut off axle of a antique farm implement that had a gear hub with a nice design and had a 20 inch diameter so it was a good base. I assumed it would be easy to weld some casters from hardware store to the 20inch base after I cleaned off the rust..

The casters are a two inch steel wheel with a flat plate three inches by two inches . the plate is at most maybe one eighth thick shiny cheap china steel with four holes . (I guess normally they would be screwed to wood.)

So this 20 inch base had enough of a flat edge facing down that I thought easy enough to spot weld these casters to the 20 inch base.

But it did not go so well (I will get pictures tonight) I grinder cleaned everything even dremel ground lightly the casters in case they had galv clear coat on it. At first I used a 6013 3/32 rod at 95 amp on my Lincoln AC tombstone arc welder , I figured low penetration to not destroy the caster plates but that was tricky enough but welds broke easy on the heavy steel 20 inch base, they did not seem to penetrate there.
So second try I used the 7018 3/32 rod at 120 setting but basically destroyed the plate but got better penetration in heavy steel base.

Any other suggestions for welding the casters ? I have some 1/8 7014 rod and some 3/32 6011 rod . I used the 7014 to weld the seat to my axle plate it worked great . And welding the axle permanently to the 20 inch base hub the 6011 rod penetrated nice and deep??but the casters and thin metal confound me ????

Shield Arc · Oct 9, 2013

I wouldn't be surprised if the gear hub was cast steel. If so, or no matter what take a weed burner and warm the hub up. Get it warm enough that it is uncomfortable to touch with the bare hand, use your 7018, and tack the casters on. When done lay some insulation over the casters and hub until cool. You should be good to go.

cletus99 · Oct 9, 2013

Your thread reminded me of a picture I seen somewhere recently. I thought it was online at a local Kioti dealership near me, but I can't find it now. Anyway, they were selling tractor seats welded to old used suspension coil springs. I thought it was a great idea for repurposing something at the time I saw it.

Sysop · Oct 9, 2013

Old man I know has an entire "tractor" picnic table he made. Six tractor seats, each mounted to a piece of pipe that goes down to the ground and bends to lay flat on the ground oriented like the spokes of a wagon wheel. In the center the pipes bend back up from the ground and hold up a large tractor rim which serves as a base for a large clear tabletop. The clear tabletop he used was originally from a picnic table and had an umbrella hole in the center, he used a large 6' green and yellow JD sun-shade umbrella on it.

wawajake · Oct 10, 2013

Thanks Sheildarc I think you are right, I will try it when the next wheel falls off, for now they are sticking on.

Here is a picture of stool and my bad welding.........I will be just spray varnishing to keep the rusty petina (like the American Pickers show tells us) and will paint the casters a rusty brown to not be obvious.

k0ua · Oct 10, 2013

I wonder if some of these would have been easier.. just drill and tap the ring for these threaded stem casters, in between the gear teeth.

Shepherd 2 in. Rubber Wheel Threaded Stem Casters (2-Pack)-9344 at The Home Depot

Big Barn · Oct 10, 2013

Great looking design Jake. Looks great! I would take the other's advice(s) though and secure the casters better In case they do break off. I've worked around farm machinery and heavy equipment safely all my life and had the most serious (and embarrassing) injuries around the "little" things. Rolling stools with only four casters instead of five are usually prone to tipping when getting on but yours should be okay because of the heavy base.

Terry

wawajake · Oct 10, 2013

thanks for the suggestions guys........it is actually for use in our bathroom , it will replace the chair we have beside the showerstall that you sit on to put your socks on etc. So not much rolling needed at all. Bathroom is rustic with farm deer and bear type pictures , so it will go good with decor.

Brad_Blazer · Oct 13, 2013

That's a really cool stool. 6 castors to match the spokes might look even nicer. I guess you'll keep a rug under the steel castors?

I'm not much of a welder but it takes a certain amount of energy to weld to thick steel so low amps with small rod will give poor results. Weld mostly on the heavy part just kissing the thinner part with the edge of the puddle. Grind the old part down to shiny metal with a grinding rock and warm it up like SA recommended. Do it now before you spray it because the weed burner on varnish will be nasty.

Propane Torch