zook off road trailer AKA Tadpole

[christover1]

[christover1]

Its now ready for welding of chassis and frame

[christover1]

Wheels etc have been removed and its now on jacks ready for some welding.
Things have slowed again, as I've decided to save for my own welder.
Even a cheapy is going to be good to have around the place.
Better than paying others, and/or sponging off me mates welders.
Then all I gotta do is learn how to weld.
Got plenty of off cuts to practise on.
Then I'll probably think of heaps of uses for a welder over time.
It'll be an arc welder, as this is all buget will allow.
This is keeping in mind maintainence costs and consumables associated with migs.
Altho it seems a welder isn't too dear, but add costs of all the safety gear and ancillaries needed, then price gets a little higher.

christover

[cj!]

A stick will be fine Chris. The slag a pain but it is cheap to get started. Practice though is important because even though you can get a nice looking weld that doesn't necessarily meant that it is a strong weld. Play with those offcuts and check the penetration that you are getting. Grab a book on welding with some photos of what the look of the weld can tell you so that you will learn about speed etc. Also preparation makes a real difference and as you should be able to flip the trailer around, do it to make the welding easier as there is no point doing a more difficult weld if you don't have to.

Good to see the progress.

[Webmaster]

Yeap, learn to arc weld first. Once mastered, mig is a piece of cake. I like gasless migs cause I am lazy, but there is nothing quite like 24V DC field welding (which I have done quite a bit of on the track over the years).

[christover1]

I plan to use the bolt holes, presently pinning it together, to fix on the floor and sides.
This should back up any dodgy welds

Much liking the new forum color, and it fits my screen better, too.

christover

[christover1]

I can't just sit around waiting for a welder
So I've looked around fer more tasks while waiting.
Have found front half of guards is a bit floppy, so I am in the process of fitting tie down bars that will double as support for guards and also act as a slider to push guards away from obstacles. pix to come when I get started.
christover

[christover1]

This project is now known as the Tadpole

[gwagensteve]

Nice work Chris.

I would steer clear of an arc welder though. In all honesty, most of the welding you will be doing will be light (thicknesses 3mm or under) and arc is a PITA (or impossible) at those thicknesses.

One of the hidden costs of arc is that the rods get wet and typically end up being discarded. Personally, I would buy the cheapest flux core mig you can find. You would weld the whole trailer with a $30 450gm roll of wire so the consumable cost is negligable, but no matter how good you are, you will never weld body panel (or really anything under about 3mm in all honesty) with arc. There's lots of jobs you can do with mig you can't do with arc, but there's nothing you'd want to do with arc you couldn't do easier with mig.

Mig is just so much more versatile it more than makes up for the (slightly) increased cost. try the trading post, Ebay, second hand shops, theft converters.... you should be able to pick up a second hand flux core only mig for next to nothing- they're only a couple of hundred bucks new.

As I said, chuck it on the back of your car and drag it up - I'll weld it for you, but save your money and buy a mig- you'll regret getting an arc.

Just my 2c

Steve.

[christover1]

As I said, chuck it on the back of your car and drag it up - I'll weld it for you.
Steve.

Thanx.
That is still in my mind as a major possibility.
Presently, tho, lifting is a bit dodgy till my back heals.

But it can get tiring bludging off mates all the time.
I'm sure if I have a welder, I'll find other future uses for it.

Long ago in another life I tried welding, when arc was all that was available.
Wasn't easy, but.
I have no intention of welding body panels or anything light, as I understand blowing holes in stuff
If I get a welder, I intend to only weld the 5mm to the 5mm, ie suspension hangers and main frame.
This would make it safe to tow to get the 2mm welded to the 2mm and 2mm to 5mm part of the job.
Basically the box bits.

Still giving thoughts to options
Thanx for input
Always appreciated.

christover and Tadpole