Some crap welds on a bucket

[David R]

My customer wanted a "stone sifter" for his bobcat. A new one is about $1600.00. He asked me if I could convert an old bucket. I said Sure! First he wanted 2.5" spacing between the bars. I cut out one section and put in one bar. Looked way too big for me, so a phone call and we agreed on 1.5". Stock is 1/2" X 1" hot rolled. I cut the bottom out leaving the two strengtheners in place along with the cutting edge. There is 80 feet of steel in this bucket.

First I put the bars in and welded with the mig gun pointed down going up hill. Welds were terrible. No wet edges, bulged in the middle. Embaressing, so out came the gouge and away went the crap welds.

[David R]

Then I used the mig gun from underneeth and went up with the gun pointed up. Space was limited, so it was not easy.

.045 wire, 150 ipm, 19 volts give or take. Co2 gas.

[David R]

I stood the bucket on end and finished all the welds flat because I was not going to sit under it and weld.

[elvergon]

Any reason why you didnt clean the metal before?

I´m looking for what sifter means 8S

but looks nice and heavy

[David R]

Originally Posted by elvergon

Any reason why you didnt clean the metal before?

I´m looking for what sifter means 8S

but looks nice and heavy

I did clean the metal before I welded, but not the whole bucket.

Sifter is get the stones out of the topsoil.

David

[MicroZone]

Great conversion David - so how much did he save?

[David R]

Originally Posted by MicroZone

Great conversion David - so how much did he save?

About a thousand dollars, give or take.

David

[zapster]

Screw the Bobcat..
That would make an awesome grill..

...zap!

[David R]

Never thought of it that way.

Musta made 10 of em. 2 more by July 7th. I just happen to have some of that 1/2" X 1" left. I also bought 80 feet of 1/4" round stock.

David

[backuproller]

i agree with ZAP, make him a cover piece for it and voila, they can grill during lunch.

[sam -oz]

good looking conversion there , when you make your own equipment you save heaps which means more income at end of the day

[usmcgremlin]

good looking work dave

[redhatman]

Very nice work, how long did that take you.

David R, in order to make a grill it doesnt have to be stainless for sanitary reasons does it?

[zapster]

in order to make a grill it doesnt have to be stainless for sanitary reasons does it?

No not at all..
I've made many firepit grates over the yrs..
You can use any steel but I've found that hot rolled works the best...
Many commercial Grills are made of cast iron..

Stainless will bend and twist with all the heat/cool cycles..

...zap!

[TozziWelding]

Originally Posted by zapster

Screw the Bobcat..
That would make an awesome grill..

...zap!

Get out of my head Zap, I thought the same thing the second I saw the pic.

[TozziWelding]

Originally Posted by redhatman

Very nice work, how long did that take you.

David R, in order to make a grill it doesnt have to be stainless for sanitary reasons does it?

The heat off a good bed of coals will kill any bacteria long before they think of coming near you. Number 4 rebar makes nice grills.

[Patriot Performance]

Originally Posted by zapster

Screw the Bobcat..
That would make an awesome grill..

...zap!

Now that would be a machine to take to a job site!


Just scoop up a cow and hold it over the coals!!

[WelderBoy]

Originally Posted by TozziWelding

The heat off a good bed of coals will kill any bacteria long before they think of coming near you. Number 4 rebar makes nice grills.

Ya, but rust is the main concern. Just wire wheel it every once in a while and coat with vegetable oil before and after use. Voila!

btw, #4 rebar would leave some sweet grill marks!

Would make a badass grill if you used some of this STAINLESS REBAR



SWEET!

[Greyhorse]

Ok, gotta ask. What do you use stainless rebar for? I'm going to guess nuclear powerplant or some sort of chemical plant.

[DirtyLittleSecret]

patios

[redhatman]

Thanks for the info guys, maybe that will be a future project of mine. Some sort of grill or smoking pit.

You guys mention rebar and hot rolled steel. What about Cold Rolled?