Roof raise brackets

[incubus]

Looks like your running a little cold. Turn heat up or slow down some. Many places have adult training which include welding. Usually night classes. You could also ask the local vote tech school to have someone weld them for you, they're often very happy to have the practice

[flattracker]

I have been using a Miller MIG welder with inert gas for most of my welding. I grind the plating of the Unistrut before welding and get good welds. I also grind the welds mostly flat when done.



Even if welding unplated steel I like to have fresh clean metal to weld on.

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

You shouldn't be discouraged, but you should practice your welding more before you set about actually welding your roof raise. What you have on your brackets is basically just a bunch of tacks, many of which haven't even achieved much in the way of penetration or fusion. Even if your brackets were to hold during the raise (which they might), you really wouldn't want your hat channel extensions to be welded in a similar fashion.

Amen to what he said.

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

You shouldn't be discouraged, but you should practice your welding more before you set about actually welding your roof raise. What you have on your brackets is basically just a bunch of tacks, many of which haven't even achieved much in the way of penetration or fusion. Even if your brackets were to hold during the raise (which they might), you really wouldn't want your hat channel extensions to be welded in a similar fashion.

Amen to what he said again. Once you get your welding skills under control. Consider some square tubing guides in the hat channels and long shaft hydraulic jacks from harbor freight.

Both of the guys who did Thier roof raises here used that method and had no fears even though it got windy.

[musigenesis]

Can I get an "amen"? Apparently two!

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Can I get an "amen"? Apparently two!

Amen. 😁 Since a simple amen was too short, you get another. I just have seen too many failures caused by inexperienced welding that lead to minor catastrophe. It's not difficult to take some time to learn this basic skill and crucial to fundamental security of welded parts.
One way to not have to repair bad work is to not do bad work.

[ron70]

You absolutely can change polarity on a mig only machine. The polarity lugs are typically inside of the wire feed compartment. Also you can run downhill with stick, mig, and Tig. You do have to have the rod, or wire that is made for running downhill. I’m a pipefitter and have many years of welding and MANY certifications.

Have fun, don’t give up if you don’t see progress. Once you get the feel for it you’ll surprise yourself how quickly you can lay a good bead.

[allupinc]

Is this a legit post or an account that admins use to post silly questions to generate activity?

[Tejon7]

Originally Posted by allupinc

Is this a legit post or an account that admins use to post silly questions to generate activity?

Are you a legit member of this community, or just a troll that likes to make people feel bad about themselves?

It wasn't a silly question. Everybody starts somewhere, and I for one have a lot of respect for the OP for being brave enough to ask and show pics of welds that they suspected were bad. It's when people DON'T ask when bag stuff happens (see DeMac's example pic in post #3).

[Guydingus]

Watch out for that Zinc-oxide