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Old 12-07-2019, 03:41 PM   #241
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First corner patch welded in place

Welded a floor patch in place. 14ga sheet welded to 3/16" angle all around. I attached to the center beam by drilling holes just through the sheet and then welding in.

I think I need to toss my HF welding helmet and get a decent one. I can barely see the seam I'm trying to weld so I can't go for any great length without wandering off the seam, so lots of stops and restarts. Such an urge to take a grinder to these welds, but they're going to be covered up anyway.

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From underneath. Pre-painting members that will later be welded onto seems not ideal.

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Old 12-07-2019, 04:57 PM   #242
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For areas you know you won't be able to reach later but want to leave protected during the project try a weld through primer --
I like this stuff -- should be able to find it cheaper too at your local auto-body supply store
https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...RoCZJ8QAvD_BwE
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Old 12-11-2019, 06:39 AM   #243
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Part of the new floor, believe it or not

Tacked together the box that will be going into the hole behind the driver's side wheel well. This is where my "sunken" closet will go (or I might end up using the extra space for something else). This is more or less a test run of the box I'll be building on the opposite side for the sunken tub, although that one will be frame with angle steel since it has to support my weight.

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Took it to the bus for a test fitting, and as I was carrying it in I was thinking "how did I screw this up?" because it seemed like it would be twice as big as the hole. But it is the correct size, perception is just weird sometimes.

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I'm going to finish up the full welding on this today, good snow day job.
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Old 12-11-2019, 08:18 AM   #244
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Nice job on the box.
If you find you have warpage issues from the welding heat.
Try doing an inch at a time on a section, move to an opposite section, do another inch -- keep leapfrogging about. You can also use a water soaked rag to spot cool the metal as you go along.
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Old 12-11-2019, 10:10 AM   #245
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Nice job on the box.
If you find you have warpage issues from the welding heat.
Try doing an inch at a time on a section, move to an opposite section, do another inch -- keep leapfrogging about. You can also use a water soaked rag to spot cool the metal as you go along.
Thanks. I did the full welding on the box last night and heat warpage was not a problem. This is 14ga and I'm using 0.023 wire on low voltage. I'm also just doing an inch or two at a time because I can't keep the bead on line any longer than that. I'm finding that doing these seams uphill is the only way I can keep the line of the corner in sight - I really, really need a new welding mask, or maybe just new eyeballs.
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Old 12-11-2019, 11:44 AM   #246
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Thanks. I did the full welding on the box last night and heat warpage was not a problem. This is 14ga and I'm using 0.023 wire on low voltage. I'm also just doing an inch or two at a time because I can't keep the bead on line any longer than that. I'm finding that doing these seams uphill is the only way I can keep the line of the corner in sight - I really, really need a new welding mask, or maybe just new eyeballs.
Actually, you can do both if needed! But first,
Getting a better mask, auto darkening is a must -- no reason to "pay the dues" of learning how to flip a mask down! Get one with a larger field of view than the cheapie HF ones. Northern tool has a good selection..

and if reading glasses are a part of your life -- or even if they're not...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QXWJ92/
(you'll need one to fit your helmet -- this is just to show the option exists!)
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Old 12-11-2019, 12:26 PM   #247
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In some ways, I am so glad I have contacts!
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Old 12-11-2019, 12:51 PM   #248
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Quote:
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Actually, you can do both if needed! But first,
Getting a better mask, auto darkening is a must -- no reason to "pay the dues" of learning how to flip a mask down! Get one with a larger field of view than the cheapie HF ones. Northern tool has a good selection..

and if reading glasses are a part of your life -- or even if they're not...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QXWJ92/
(you'll need one to fit your helmet -- this is just to show the option exists!)



At one time I rigged up a welding station with 4 double bulb florescent shop lights and every other light I could find to point at the work to make it easier to see with the mask on. It helped, but only when the work could be positioned right. Conclusion, more light does help but only if it doesn't require much effort. Those halogen bulb work spot lights work good in the winter, but are too hot in the summer. Reflectors to reflect the weld arc back onto the work help also/ but are a pain to rig up. Better helmet is best bet, but really good ones are expensive.
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Old 12-12-2019, 08:31 PM   #249
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Tacked together the box that will be going into the hole behind the driver's side wheel well.
Looking good! What do you use for a welder?
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Old 12-12-2019, 08:44 PM   #250
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Looking good! What do you use for a welder?
It's a Metal Man MP140T that I got on Craigslist for what turned out to be basically the regular list price, so not any kind of deal but it works very well and has been perfectly reliable. It's multi-process but I only use it for MIG, even though keeping my little bottle gassed up has been kind of a pain. I plan to try using it for flux core and stick next spring when I don't have to worry about fumes as much.
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Old 12-27-2019, 09:55 PM   #251
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Closet box tacked in place

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View from the wheel well:

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Only casualty was an old folding TV table that I used to support the box from below. Once the box was tacked in place I couldn't get the table out, so I had to saw off the legs.
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Old 12-28-2019, 02:30 PM   #252
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Old 12-31-2019, 12:29 AM   #253
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You really are getting the hang of fabrication. Nice job(s)!
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Old 12-31-2019, 01:52 AM   #254
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What is your plan to keep all of this from rusting out again?
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Old 12-31-2019, 02:04 AM   #255
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It's a Metal Man MP140T that I got on Craigslist for what turned out to be basically the regular list price, so not any kind of deal but it works very well and has been perfectly reliable. It's multi-process but I only use it for MIG, even though keeping my little bottle gassed up has been kind of a pain. I plan to try using it for flux core and stick next spring when I don't have to worry about fumes as much.
Flux core has the advantage of being able to tolerate a bit of wind while welding outside. It doesn't leave as nice of a weld as solid/gas.

I switched from my little bottle of Argon - CO2 mix for a much larger bottle of straight CO2. Filling the big tank of CO2 costs about half as much as filling the little bottle with the argon - CO2 mix.
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Old 12-31-2019, 06:56 AM   #256
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You really are getting the hang of fabrication. Nice job(s)!
Thank you!
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Old 12-31-2019, 06:58 AM   #257
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What is your plan to keep all of this from rusting out again?
Well, paint and seam sealer, of course (I pre-painted the underside of the box but still need to paint and seal all around it). The original rust damage here was the result of the windows above the wells leaking badly, and since I removed all my windows and resealed them, they're not leaking any more.
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Old 12-31-2019, 07:06 AM   #258
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Flux core has the advantage of being able to tolerate a bit of wind while welding outside. It doesn't leave as nice of a weld as solid/gas.

I switched from my little bottle of Argon - CO2 mix for a much larger bottle of straight CO2. Filling the big tank of CO2 costs about half as much as filling the little bottle with the argon - CO2 mix.
I definitely want to try out flux core, but I hate to change up something that I'm sort of getting the hang of. My 60cf bottle of AR/CO2 costs $28.50 (and 40 minutes of driving) to fill which isn't too bad. I think I've filled it like 5 times since I started on the bus.
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Old 12-31-2019, 12:57 PM   #259
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I definitely want to try out flux core, but I hate to change up something that I'm sort of getting the hang of. My 60cf bottle of AR/CO2 costs $28.50 (and 40 minutes of driving) to fill which isn't too bad. I think I've filled it like 5 times since I started on the bus.



The flux core is so expensive that I doubt there will be any savings, except the 40 minute drive, and the spatter and clean up will drive you crazy. Just buy a small (2 pound?) roll next time you fill your bottle and try it before committing. Just plain CO2 works for steel if your trying to save $$. Personally, I'd try to buy a second bottle or bigger bottle to cut down the drive and stick to gas. Delivery is probably out of the question (whatever that means).


Fumes? I bought a setup years ago off of EBay for remote breathing air that I really liked. Uses an electric turbine/fan thru a 3/4" lightweight corrugated plastic hose (that I suspend overhead in the work area to keep it out of the way) to deliver cooled or warmed oil-less breathing air to my helmets for welding, painting, sandblasting, whatever? Don't use it much but it is great when I do, just set the fan up where the air is not contaminated (indoors or 50-100 feet away) and pipe it to where you are working. Also works great for airing up air matresses.


I tried making a cheap system out of a 4" hose and fan but it was too unwieldly.
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Old 12-31-2019, 02:48 PM   #260
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My Handler 140 likes flux core. But if you're already setup and running gas stick to it unless you need to switch.
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